VW Celebrated 60 Years Of Its Microbus By Throwing A Huge Party.
We didn't know what to expect when VW told us it was celebrating 60 years of Microbus production. They were having a shindig in Hannover, Germany where the latest T5 versions are built. Sales in the US ended in 2003 with the T4 Eurovan, but in Europe the T5 carries on the traditions of versatility and practicality that set the Microbus apart. Although we should say the VR6 versions we experienced, with four leather captain's chairs in the rear and electric doors, were anything but utilitarian.
The affection people hold for their vans is compelling. What started as a small-scale event turned into a logistical nightmare for VW as more and more people expressed interest. By the time it took place, they had expanded the available parking and camping areas three-fold to accommodate more than 4000 vans that turned up from 21 countries.
The magnificent exhibition center in Hannover could barely contain the more than 40,000 visitors who came to see the earliest versions and wonder at the incredible diversity.
More than 4000 buses parked/camped/displayed at the showgrounds
Plucked from VW's museum were examples of the first rear-control flat-bed pickups used in the Wolfsburg factory to replace the electric carts the British army had once used during reconstruction after WW2. According to legend, a visiting Dutch importer named Ben Pon noticed these oddities and quickly sketched a body for it, creating the original Type 29 or T1 by 1950.
Using Beetle mechanicals, the T1 became a great success, helping to mobilize Europe as it recovered from the war. The versatile platform allowed it to be utilized as buses, vans, fire engines, ambulances or whatever came to mind.
Microbus, Camper, Eurovan, Vanagon, Caravelle, Combi, Multivan; there are thousands of names, but in Germany they're known simply as Bulli. And VW organized an incredible event for owners and enthusiasts.
It started with a rally from VW's Hannover plant to the exhibition grounds. The very best examples were brought into a central area for display alongside VW's own museum exhibits. Many were driven onto a giant stage where a German TV presenter interviewed owners and discovered some of the remarkable stories behind each van. This was interspersed with music from German bands and the day culminated in a concert by The Who on the main stage in the evening. They performed an incredible set, including "Magic Bus," which received a roar from the crowd.
The entire event was free to attend, although it was rumored to have cost VW 20 million euros. But the goodwill it created will be reaped for years to come.