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The Volkswagen Kombi is a true ‘70s icon. Also known as the Microbus, Transporter, or simply the “hippie van,” the iconic vehicle celebrated its 70th birthday last year. The Kombi Multivan was conceived by Dutch businessman Ben Pon, and was officially designated as the Volkswagen Type 2, which was the second model to come after the Type 1 Beetle. The VW Type 2 Multivan is the forerunner of modern passenger and cargo vans and its moniker “hippie van” was a product of the counterculture movement that started in the ‘60s.
As of May 2020, the Kombi has sold over 13 million units, making it the world’s bestselling multivan. For those who grew up in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the first generation Kombi was a cultural bond for family and friends that defined the love of on-road mobility for the second half of the 20th century.
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Brazil had the distinction of having the last factory in the world that produced the T2 series of Type 2, which was an updated version of the split-window T1 Kombi. Production ceased in December 2013 because of more stringent safety regulations which marked the end of rear-engine Volkswagen vehicles.
The South American country has been producing the Kombi since 1957, and to commemorate this, it produced a limited edition run of 600 units of the Kombi Last Edition, a special series of one of the most successful Volkswagen models in Brazil and the longest-produced model in automotive history.
The Kombi Last Edition came with a special two-tone white and blue body paint and each model was fitted with a numbered identification plaque on the dashboard. Special retro-chic details such as whitewall tires, white center wheel caps and tinted rear windows provide an extra touch of nostalgia for the series.
Volkswagen Philippines says that the new Kombi will be introduced in this country sometime in the third quarter this year. VW PH has been aggressively introducing new models in the market, the latest of which was the VW T-Cross SUV. No word yet on the pricing and specs of this new Kombi.
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