The Volkswagen Type 2 T1 Transporter was one of the most successful vehicles in history – and not just by its sales numbers of over 1.9 million from 1949 through 1967. The T1 came in some thirty different body styles. They did duty as ambulances, taxis, delivery vehicles, campers, hearses, fire trucks, rail trucks, and personal transportation. If that wasn’t enough, owners found them easy to customize. They were also easy to work on, got great gas mileage, and were cheap to buy. They dug into our culture, showing up in movies and at concerts. And they inspired other makers to step up to the plate and be better. Here on eBay is a 1960 Volkswagen T1 Transporter single cab, bid to $20,000, reserve not met. We also found it advertised on TheSamba.com, where the asking price is $25,000. Its current home is in Torrance, California.
The engine was rebuilt about 6000 miles ago and the entire vehicle was converted to a twelve-volt system. This VW would have come with a 1.2-liter flat-four air-cooled engine making about 34 hp, but motor swaps are very common. The transmission is a four-speed manual with synchros on second through fourth. Considerable work has been completed by the owner, who has had this VW since 2018. Most of the work was done by Roth Vintage in 2021, including a new rear axle seal kit, new rear brake shoes and wheel cylinders, a new oil sump plate gasket kit, and a new twelve-volt battery. The vehicle has seen regular use and it runs and drives well.
The interior was completely refurbished five years ago. The body is dented and mostly paintless, but a clear coat has been applied to prevent further deterioration. Portions of the finish appear slightly contrived to me – “patina paint jobs” are “in” right now. The seller notes there is a small hole in the floor behind the passenger seating, but no other rust is mentioned. The bed has an honestly aged appearance.
The amiable face of the Type 2 T1 was one of its most endearing features. This shot shows the wind-out split front windshields. The original Transporter design was rounder in the front end, but the height of the vehicle combined with the shape made it flunk its aerodynamics tests, so the windshield was slightly V’d, inadvertently adding to its iconic looks. Price-wise – though it seems astonishing for a slow, underpowered vehicle that’s not particularly rare – the seller is close to the mark. Transporters have increased dramatically in price as a glance here will reveal.
unbelievable prices.
I paid $60 for a ’67 Type II in 1980.
It was missing only the engine and I had a new rebuild on hand from a totalled bug…..
I bought my first VW Camper Van for $500. I drove over 100k before selling it for $900.
Another ugly VW vehicle….
A “Preserved Patina” is NOT something I am looking forward to.
So paint it…
Or as the great Foghorn Leghorn would say- “Ya gotta, I say, ya gotta pay attention son” or “That boy is about as sharp as a bowling ball”
Pa Tina … it’s ” as sharp as a sack of wet mice” …
You patina haters are so tiresome. Nobody GAF about your opinion of patina, we’ve all read it a hundred times. I would rather buy the vehicle in this condition so I can see exactly what I’m getting into. The fools want one that’s been painted, so they can’t see all the bondo and chicken wire pile of junk they just bought. Because they are as sharp as Foghorn Leghorn. I never saw anything work out for him either.
This is the condition of the car right now. It doesn’t have to stay like this forever. That’s why I say if you don’t like it now, feel free to buy it and PAINT IT!
preserved patina = clear coating rust.
Ok, I know the car world is crazy but these things except for unique styling are JUNK. Go carts are faster, they drive horrible, are horrible to work on which you do frequently, yeah, watching the one I had get picked up by a Prentice and take its last ride up the conveyor and dump into oblivion was a treat. Good riddance as the term goes, although now I wish I had kept it and few others as they would be great chicken coupes, which is the only other use I can think of for any of these except scrap.
I’m stunned to read that so many of these were produced. I can’t recall ever seeing but a few on the roads in Ohio, where I grew up, or in Texas, where I currently live. But it IS a cute lil truck!
Oh you naysayers! I own a 66 Transporter single cab. I bought it to have some fun with, clean and fix it up and then sell it.That was years ago. I love “Speedwell” and, owning two vintage Porsches, I find it incredibly useful. You can load up the back, sit three across and it gets more thumbs up than even my 56P Outlaw.I cant imagine life without “Speedy”. If you live around the Sonoma wine country you’ve probably seen it!
If you want to drive something slow and overpriced which looks like it was parked among a herd of incontinent bulls for several years, your day finally came up.
Cool.
Typ 2 – best car ever made!
It is a Type 2, I don’t know why they keep saying T1. Also, the 1960 bus was a 40hp and it says converted to 12 volts but it still has a very rare rev-limiter.
No mention of what year motor.
Hi Ron.
Type 2 is the official name for all the VW-Transporters (Type 1 is the Beetle).
T1, T2 (T2a/T2b), T3, T4, T5, and so on, are the different transporter-models.
T1 was the first one till 1967 (splitscreen), T2 followed (baywindow), T2a till 1970, T2b till 1979, then came the T3, …
They all are Type 2’s.
I sold VW parts from 72 until the end of 2010 and never heard that or saw it in print anywhere.
best prts: fold dwn sides (human lift hight or skid in w/a fork); ‘hole/hold’ in center (in frnt of motor) for other gear or more haul load. But basically useless for real work (C how used in europe). A mini p/u is more useful. This isa nostalgia item like the bus’n bug.
“…You patina haters are so tiresome. Nobody GAF about your opinion of patina, we’ve all read it a hundred times. I would rather buy the vehicle in this condition so I can see exactly…”
Odd comment, I thought this was abt vehicles, not other people(‘s opinions on a vehicle). Here’s mine: slight & minimal finish rust seen ona survivor (this is not either) is unavoidable. Once extensive should be cared for. INcreased, or faked (still talkin my opinion) is disingenuous (local goes at it w/tiny household brillo pads, soap’n all). Clear-coating that is over-the-top-rude to me. I’m wid Mr Tina on this topic (o0OP, I’m onto ppl w/that last 1, myself).
I wouldn’t even consider a Type 2 if there are no undercarriage shots esp. of the outriggers.