Car Volkswagen T3  COBI 24634 – Action Town 1:35

MODEL VOLKSWAGEN T3 | COBI 24634 

Building set of the Volkswagen T3 in canary yellow with round headlights, black bumpers, wipers, and engine ventilation grille. Inside, there is a steering wheel and front seats. The first Volkswagen T3 rolled off the production line in Germany in summer 1979 as the third generation of the popular transporter. The building set is officially licensed by the Volkswagen Group.

Did you know:

After the great success of the Volkswagen T2, chief designer Bodo Mulder developed the new T3 model. Before it went on sale, it had to be tested under extreme conditions. Test drives included Alpine passes, freezing Scandinavia, and dusty deserts in hot Africa. For export to the USA, crash tests were also required – a frontal collision with a stationary vehicle at 64 km/h. It was shown that the safety of the new transporter was comparable to other vehicles in its class.

Thanks to the boxy design and lower engine position, interior space for passengers and cargo was increased. Interestingly, the cargo volume was 5.7 m³, surpassing not only previous generations but also the later T4, which had a 15 cm longer body. The engine remained rear-mounted. The Volkswagen T3 was the last vehicle with a rear engine and the first with a water-cooled engine, the so-called WasserBoxer, introduced in 1983. This increased power significantly and added an additional grille above the front bumper.

Over time, the vehicle was offered in many versions, such as pure van, minibus, campervan, or special off-road versions, where the all-wheel-drive “Syncro” was first used in 1984. The Syncro was no longer produced in Hannover but in Graz, Austria.

In total, 1,227,669 units were produced in Germany and Austria. Another 61,903 units were built in Graz from 1990–1992 while Hannover was already producing the T4. The Volkswagen T3 was also produced in South Africa, where production exceeded 260,000 vehicles.

Technical specifications: 

• Vehicle length - 4570 mm
• Vehicle width - 1840 mm
• Engine displacement - 1913 cm³, water-cooled Boxer 4
• Top speed - 118 km/h
• 4- or 5-speed manual transmission
• Fuel tank 60 l, petrol
• Fuel consumption 9–12 l/100 km
• Load capacity up to 1000 kg

What the original T3 brochure said:

“High-performance and state-of-the-art technology make the new generation of Volkswagen Transporter not only stronger and faster but above all safer and more economical. Result of 36 years of continuous development. Lasting value, reliability, and safety – that’s our promise. It’s not just a car, it’s a Volkswagen.”

About the COBI building set:

• COBI building set 24634 is made of 123 high-quality ABS pieces
• Action Town collection 1:35
• Pad printed – no stickers
• Detailed design
• Made in the EU
• Compatible with other building set brands