1978 Volkswagen Kombi Eight-Seater Minibus
No Reserve

Registration No: DHN 612T
Chassis No: 2372010260
MOT: Exempt

• Imported from South Africa in late 2020
• UK Registered and supplied with a current V5C document
• Upgraded with a water-cooled Ford V6 Engine

Volkswagen’s second ever model wasn’t what many expected. The idea for the Kombi (short for ‘Kombinationsfahrzeug’ or cargo-passenger van in English) came from a factory-adapted Beetle. The usefulness of this parts mule, used to transport panels around VW’s vast production complex, soon lead to the idea of a customer Beetle-based van. The Type 2 or Transporter was subsequently launched in 1950 and immediately found fans around the world. VW’s export-or-die tactic (borrowed from its post-war British caretakers) meant it didn’t take long for these quirky vans to turn up all over the place, most famously in America. The hippy counter-culture movement of the 1960s couldn’t get enough of them and soon the utility image of the VW ‘Bus’ was replaced with one of board shorts and flower power. The inherently simple Type 2 platform made it easy to adapt to all kinds of body styles, with VW selling Type 2s with everything from pick-up to camper bodies. The ‘shed on wheels’ design not only made this VW versatile but also ensured it garnered a well-loved reputation that endures to this day. Astonishingly, the final brand-new Kombi only rolled off its Brazilian production line in 2013; killed-off by its lack of an airbag. There’s certainly an irony to the fact that the symbol of the no-rules, free-love culture was axed due to health & safety legislation.

This recently imported (November 2020) Kombi is what’s known in the VW community as an eight-seater ‘Bay Window Minibus’, differentiating it from the earlier split-screen model. This is a right-hand drive Kombi, which was supplied new to the car-friendly climate of South Africa. The vendor informs us that they would categorise this VW as a ‘recommissioning project’, although they also point out that it’s mechanically not in rude health and has been running recently, since arrival in the UK. As was common in Africa, the air-cooled VW powerplants were often replaced with larger capacity units and this example features Ford’s legendary Essex V6. Having unlikely seen rain or salt throughout its life, the structural and cosmetic condition of the minibus is described to be “very good”. Offered completely without reserve due to a change in motoring direction, this ‘Type 2’ should be a straightforward and rewarding project for the new owner.

For more information, please contact:
Adam Sykes
adam.sykes@handh.co.uk
07429 600332