“Bem-vindo” and welcome from Brazil
The Volkswagen Type 2 goes by many names. The Transporter, the Kombi, the VW Wagon, the VW Bus, in the UK the Camper, in Germany the Bulli. In Brazil, where today’s feature was originally manufactured, you might also hear it called the ‘Perua’, which is Portuguese for ‘Station Wagon’. It also has an adorable little nickname of ‘Corujinha’, which means ‘Little Owl’, presumably because it resembles one in the front profile.
While the T2 Van is still in production, and on its sixth generation, the first generation went out of production in Europe in 1967. However, this is a first-generation model made in 1969, and that’s because Brazil continued manufacturing this design until 1975. In 2023, this van was completely refurbished, inside and outside, and even given a new engine under the hood, before being imported to the current owner here in the States.
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Twenty-three windows to the soul
A lovely silver paint covers the entire outside (and parts of the undercarriage) of this Volkswagen Van. The bumpers have also been done in matching silver, and there’s plenty of shining chrome to go around, including framing for some, but not all, of the twenty-three windows installed as part of the modifications. A central ‘VW’ logo sits at the center of the front panel, with two sweeping lines forming a ‘V’ or flat bird beak, accentuated by the wispy side mirror arms and small round mirrors aligning perfectly with the angles to make the line sweep out past the main body.
Up top, a retractable cloth sunroof has also been added to let even more light in. The suspension has also been lowered, presumably for better handling and perhaps looks as well. As part of that effort, replacement suspension and brake components were installed. The five-wide 15″ Porsche 356-style wheels shine in a gleaming chrome finish, which have been clad in 175/65 Tritton tires.
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Into the wild blue yonder
The inside has been completely re-upholstered in a delightful moderate blue vinyl, somewhere in the Prussian Blue hue, perhaps. The door paneling, dash, and carpeting are likewise blue. Each bench seat has white piping along the edges, and you’ll find two such benches in the rear compartment, with the front one split ever so slightly between driver and passenger. Replacement seatbelts have also been added.
The dash features completely retrofitted Cronomac gauges, though this was primarily for swapping from metric to imperial, and they seem to be in the realm of period-appropriate. In addition to a speedometer that maxes out at 120 mph and a tachometer that reads all the way to an 8,000 rpm red line, there is also a fuel level gauge and a combination readout of warning lights. A two-spoke steering wheel is mounted more horizontally than vertically, like what you might find on a much larger bus, and the dash also features a small tray on which trinkets can be placed. A grab handle is located on the passenger side, and both doors have map pockets. In the rear, chrome-finished luggage guards have been installed at the rear windows.
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A brand new engine
The entire 1.6L (98ci) flat-four engine has been replaced as part of the modifications, and power is sent by way of the manual four-speed transaxle (combination of the transmission and differential) to the rear wheels, which is possible and practical due to the engine also being in the rear. The flat-four engine features dual down-draft carburetors and electronic ignition, as well as aftermarket air cleaners. The owner indicates that these and other electrical components were added/replaced during the 2023 refurbishment. The odometer only shows the 94 miles that have been put on since the engine replacement, however, and the true mileage is unknown.
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Final thoughts: From Brazil, with love
A whole lot of work went into making this rather unusual 23-windowed refurbishment into the beauty that it is now, and the fact that it’s a South American-made van adds to its curiosity factor in the American market. With a brand new engine, a fresh coat of silver paint, and a blue vinyl interior, it’s almost like a new car. However, it is also a vehicle rich in history, iconic to its era, and certain to turn heads and strike up conversations. If that excites you, why not check out the auction before it’s over and place a bid?
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