Wolfsburg Bus Company VW Bus Model Codes

The Beetle was designated Type 1' so it was logical that the next generation of vehicles - the Transporter - should be Type 2. However, just to add to confusion there are four generations of Type 2 - T1 are Split Screens, T2 are Bay-Window Buses, T3 (also known as T25!) are Vanagons and Brick shapes, while T4 is the designation for the newest range of Type 2s. The prototype Transporters were designated Type 29 (interestingly, the Plattenwagens were registered as VR029), and the original handwritten ledger, which records all sales, actually used this designation until mid-May 1950. With the introduction of the Kombi and Microbus came new model numbers, with the letter A suffixed to show the standard LHD production model. Officially, this designation started on the 1st of May 1950. As new configurations became available these letters were expanded to indicate LHD or RHD, position of loading doors and sliding roof options. From 1953, the model type was prefixed with a 2 to indicate Transporter (for example, 2/21 for a Panelvan), but this was dropped at the end of 1958 when models where simply Type 21, 22 and so on. M codes are also used for particular configurations or options such as Deluxe with no sunroof, double loading doors, twin locker beds or walk-through models. From January 1959, the M Plate showed the exact configuration with the addition of a third digit after the model number, for example 211 is a LHD Panelvan with loading doors on the right.

21 Panel/Delivery Van

22 Microbus (nine-seater)

23 Kombi

24 Deluxe (Samba)

26 Pick-Up and Double Cab

27 Ambulance

28 Microbus (seven-seater)