Car Volkswagen T3 Winter Adventure COBI 24639 - Action Town 1:35

Did you know:

• The foundation of the legendary Transporter was laid by Dutch Volkswagen dealer Ben Pon, who noticed supply carts on the assembly lines with a flatbed in front and the cabin behind the load. In post-war Europe, vehicles of all kinds were scarce, so the enterprising B. Pon began offering these supply carts to his customers. The demand was huge, but Dutch authorities refused to approve a vehicle in which the driver sat behind the load. However, this did not discourage Ben. He cut up a period leaflet, pasted an image of the cab in front of the cargo area on a white sheet of paper, and went to Volkswagen.
• The VW management reviewed and accepted the concept. Thus, a legend was born — one that continues to be produced today, now in its seventh generation.
• When competitors such as Ford, Renault, and Toyota introduced modern commercial vehicles to the market, it was high time for VW to replace the outgoing second-generation Transporter.
• Mass production of the T3 began in May 1979 at the main Volkswagen plant in Hanover. Later, production expanded to Austria and South Africa.
• To meet customer demand, Volkswagen had to gradually increase production to 600 units per day.
• Engineer Gustav Mayer incorporated the very best of German engineering into the new model.
• Virtually everything on the “T3” was modernized — from the chassis and engine to the braking system — and once again, it was a bullseye.
• Over time, the standard delivery lineup expanded to include the Multivan, pickup, Caravelle, Westfalia, and Syncro.
• The T3 was the last Transporter with a rear-mounted engine. With the next, fourth generation, the era of modern Volkswagen commercial vehicles as we know them today began.
• The third-generation vehicle was the first commercial van that could be ordered with an automatic transmission. Another innovation was the plastic dashboard with an integrated heating system.
• The design of the vehicle was more angular than its predecessors. In the debate between designers and marketers, the angular version won for better interior space efficiency.
• The third generation was produced in Germany until 1990, but production continued in South Africa with AUDI engines until 2002.
• A total of 1,281,000 units were produced in various versions.

Technical specifications:

• length 4570 mm, width 1845 mm, height 1990 mm
• curb weight 1400 kg
• petrol engine, air-cooled Boxer with a displacement of 1970 cm³ and output of 51 kW
• number of gears: 4 forward + 1 reverse
• fuel tank capacity 60 l
• maximum speed 125 km/h
• fuel consumption 12 l/100 km
• number of happy passengers 1+8
• cargo volume 1400 – 3200 l

Travelers R. Hochecker & T. Hadinger:

“For our journeys, we chose the T3 for its sufficient power and space. It wasn’t a classic trip around the world. Our goal was the Balkans, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan. We didn’t plan further — we left it to chance. Right in Bulgaria, our gearbox broke down. When something like that happens at the beginning of a trip, you feel like giving up and going home. But something surprising happened. We managed to find a small workshop — actually just a garage with a mechanic who lived in the house above it. That same afternoon, we pushed the van into the garage together and, exhausted, went to sleep. When we came out in the morning to discuss the repair, our T3 was running and waiting in front of the garage. It was unbelievable. That skilled man had disassembled, repaired, and reassembled the gearbox overnight. But the biggest shock came when we paid — the repair cost just 50 leva, about €25.”