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Volkswagen Transporter T1 gallery (1950–1967)

The legendary first-generation Volkswagen Transporter T1 ('Bulli') became a worldwide cultural icon and symbol of freedom.

All photos 16 T1 0 1950–1967 T2 0 1967–1979 T3 0 1979–1992 T4 0 1990–2003 T5 16 2003–2015 T6 0 2015–2024 T7 0 2021

The Volkswagen Transporter T1 (Type 2 T1) entered series production in March 1950 in Wolfsburg. Conceived by Ben Pon based on Beetle underpinnings, it placed its air-cooled flat-four engine in the rear driving the rear wheels. The iconic design featured a split windshield ('Splittie') and a distinctive V-shaped front fascia. Body variants included a panel van, Kombi bus, pickup truck, and the famous 23-window Samba microbus.

Air-cooled engine outputs grew over time from 24 hp (1.1L) to 44 hp (1.5L). In 1956, production relocated to a dedicated commercial vehicle facility in Hanover. Over 1.8 million T1 vehicles were produced in Germany.