This 1970 Volkswagen Type 2 is a rare pickup-bodied example with the novel fold-down sides that surround a flat-bed loading bed behind the single cab. A different take on the classic VW Bus design, these pickups are a rare find these days in the U.S. The seller maintains that this example is an incredibly solid runner with no major rust repairs needed other than the typically troublesome area in the battery box. The Transporter benefits from numerous upgrades under the hood and within the chassis that should make it far more pleasant to drive than originally designed, and it’s listed here on eBay with bidding up to just under $16K and the reserve unmet.
The Type 2’s bed is really one of the more clever engineering feats to come out of 70s-era truck design, with side panels that fold all the way down to reveal a perfectly level loading platform. VW had a knack for building utility vehicles that fit a range of uses, from small business owners to larger enterprises with delivery fleets. It’s a shame relatively few of these pickup-bodied Type 2s are still seen today, but like most vehicles built for a life of hard use, the survival rate is always a toss-up in terms of how many will live to be preserved and upgraded like this example has been. The seller notes the installation of a Fat performance exhaust and that an OEM straight rear bumper will be included in the sale.
The interior has been nicely updated, with the seats recovered in factory-style vinyl, and a later Blaupunkt CD player installed. The listing does note the dash pad as being cracked, but an uncracked replacement is included in the sale. The seller confirms the only rust found was in the battery box and that even the vulnerable cab floors and step-in areas have never been repaired due to rust issues and remain solid today. The next owner will enjoy the performance improvements offered by a lightened flywheel, fresh clutch/throwout bearing, and Rancho Freeway Flyer transmission. A spare factory steering wheel will also be included in the sale.
Now, driving a vehicle like this requires a good amount of patience for how slow your progress will be (especially if you live somewhere with hills). Fortunately, the next owner will likely find driving such an underpowered vehicle slightly more enjoyable courtesy of a total engine overhaul featuring new cases, a new crankshaft, new cylinders and pistons, factory con-rods, mild aftermarket camshaft, new CV cylinder heads, and new rocker arms. Coupled with the performance exhaust and dual Kadron carbs, this Type 2 pickup should move out with a bit more confidence than a standard model. This looks like a fun driver, but I’m not surprised the reserve has yet to be cleared.
Nice.
It’s a big number and you really have to want this to pay that much money for it. They are wonderful and very unique. If you have the funds, do it.
Weren’t there boxes under the bed for shovels and rakes?
Yup.
https://www.autoclassics.com/photo/4939292/haul-some-sunshine-into-life-with-a-1969-volkswagen-type-2-pickup/
The fold down sides are not a product of 70’s design, they started building them in 1952! They also had storage under the bed, and they introduced a four door model a few years later. I love these things!
Actually, no 4 door version – rather – a double cab (dopplekabine) that had three doors. The rear passenger compartment only accessed with a door on the passenger side. I had a 1969 dopplekabine – it was argualy the most useful vehicle I have ever owned: carried up to 6 people in the cab, decent cargo bed, the fold down sides gave a lot of versatility in loading and unloading and made the bed a great mobile work bench, it had decent payload, decent gas mileage, and was decent on dirt roads. They were always “rare” in the US, and rust has made them rare worldwide. Love these. Too pricey now.
Right MCH, I was thinking “crew cab” and typed 4 doors! A guy I knew waaaay back had one of these (early body style) with ramps added for his VW bug drag car. Added removable extensions/ramps to the back with a manual winch… It looked at first glance to be really top heavy, but after looking a second time not so! That was such a cool setup.
It’s got a Blaupunkt!?
“I got a Porsche already. I got a 911 with a quadrophonic Blaupunkt!”
” you don’t need a quadrophonic Blaupunkt! What you need is a curveball in the Show, everyone can hit a fastball. “
This is in awesome shape ! My Uncle worked for a VW dealership and one of the guys back in 68 or 69 massage a super shorty out of my Uncle’s transporter. My dad ended up with it and I would drive it around in the parking lot doing donuts and practicing shifting a stick. I was 12 at the time. My dad was suppose to keep it for my first car but never did. It was painted dark green and yellow with bubbles like all over it. For awhile I thought I was in heaven.
That lightened flywheel isn’t going to help this thing get going! :)
What does a pre-67 single cab in the equivalent condition go for?
Your firstborn son, and maybe one of your appendages.
Sold for $18K nice little truck
It amazes me what these bring!!! My older brother and I use to race these in the field next to our house!! We would knock fenders off and hit trees!! They were cheap and didn’t use lot of gas!! If we only could have seen the future but that damn crystal ball fell and broke too!!!
Y’d they never do the greenbriar thing (or ramp side, watever that was) and have the ‘lower’ and ‘upper deck’ sorta thing? Can’t U get bigger things in there, the idea behind a p/u? Not ‘bottom and top’ (two smaller items?).
I would much rather have a syncro doka
I know a guy that lives about 40 minutes away from where I live that has a crew cab style of 1 of these. I don’t remember what year his is but it is nice also. The 1 in this ad is a really good looking vehicle and it would be fun to drive also.