First produced in the late 40s, the T1 went from drawing board to production line in just 13 months. In 1954, having tested the water in Volkswagen’s home market, the Transporter T1 made its public debut at the Earls Court Commercial Motor Show.
The T2 that replaced it in 1967 retained much of its underpinnings. Even the boxy third-generation T3 that appeared in 1979 employed the neatly balanced, load-friendly rear engine layout of the original.
It wasn’t until the fourth-generation T4 arrived in 1990 that Volkswagen switched to the now familiar front-engine, front-wheel drive layout.
The fifth-generation Transporter (T5) appeared in 2003 and raised the bar even higher with an even bigger load area, broader range and a host of advanced new technologies. See a video here of the vehicle's evolution.
Now one of the world’s biggest-selling light commercial vehicles, with variants such as the camper enjoying cult status, the Transporter has been used by millions of business owners over the years.
The vehicle has also been a commercial success for the brand. From humble beginnings – just 786 were sold in its first year in the UK – UK sales of the Transporter reached a record 18,350 in 2013. Globally, total Transporter production stands at 11.5 million units.
