VW Bus (Suttons Photographic History of Transport)
by Laurence Meredith
Category: Transportation

The unique VW Bus is one of the only commercial vehicles to achieve iconic status. The original idea of a Dutchman, Ben Pon, the classic box on wheels began in 1950 as a crude, but practical utility vehicle. With its rugged construction, reliable mechanical package and cheeky good looks, the classic first generation of split-screen transporters had colonized the globe by the mid-1960s. It became a firm favorite among tradespeople and family motorists, and it continues to attract a worldwide following of devotees. This pictorial history of the VW Bus uses over 200 photographs to show in detail the evolution of its simple but enduring design. It recalls the more sophisticated second generation Bays which appeared in 1967, the growth of the enthusiastic Bus cult that is still so strong today, the third generation Buses, launched in 1979, and the current breed of powerful, front-wheel drive Transporters.