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If there was one people mover that set the trend for all to follow it was undoubtedly Ben Pon’s microbus. Ben who? Whilst Porsche gets automatic credit the world over for configuring Volkswagen’s Bug, Ben rarely gets a mention. I suppose, strictly speaking, Ben’s idea wasn’t a ‘people mover’ at all, more a factory ‘stuff’ mover. However, from the sketches he made in 1947 came the now worldly famous VW Bus.
Dutchmen Ben Pon operated a VW dealership and it was during a meeting with one Major Ivan Hirst, the Brit recognised as the one that managed to cobble together a factory out of the rubble left after the allied bombing campaign of World War II, that he scribbled a drawing of a box type vehicle based upon Beetle mechanics; steering at the front end and under-powered by an aircooled engine at the rear. Just two years later and the 'van' version was alive and performing various tasks on German roads. In the 1950s the base model ‘Transporter’ lent itself to a number of configurations – pick-ups, ambulances, little people movers (called micro-buses) and of course, camper vans.
Those early models, loosely referred to as Split-screens due to their front windscreen design of two pieces of toughened glass set at an aero-dynamic V-angle, are now quite rare. They were built up to 1967 at which time they were replaced with a superior build of vehicle that continued on the success carve out by the earlier model. This, the Bay-window or Wrap-around model (the front screen no longer being split into two parts) ran from 1968 through to 1979 and can still be seen on the road today. This model was deemed more friendly and more maintenance free by its owners and that probably accounts for its longevity and popularity even as a mode of transport today. The engine was still aircooled, although the 1100, 1200 and 1500cc power-plants of the Split-screen had been surpassed by a new range of 1600, 1700, 1800 and 2000cc flat four engines.
 
In 1980 the VW Transporter range once again moved with the times and became much squarer in design. It was also slightly bigger although the engine continued to be aircooled with just the 1600cc and 2000cc engine being offered. Then, in 1982 the aircooled engine was replaced with a water-cooled engine. Still of the flat four design, something VW was quite famous for now, and still in the rear to afford the best traction in all weather conditions, driver noise reduction and to supplement rear passenger safety - well, you were responsible for what you hit up front but who knows what idiot followed behind? Perhaps I made that last bit up but once you’ve driven one and been hit from behind you have a sense that maybe it really was put there on purpose just to protect you from the late breakers. Engine sizes offered were a sturdy 1900cc and a buzzing
2100cc in moderate and high compression form. Now VW had a people mover that could almost do (160kph) 100mph should the need ever arise. Two diesel
forms were released, using the VW Golf powerplant in a way that the very early models of Transporter based themselves on the Beetle. This was a mistake. The non-turbo version chugs along all day at a top speed of 80kph (50mph). So you’ll need to leave very early in the morning and never stop until sun down. A turbo version was released and it was much better, but you’ll never find one. The design of both the 2100cc and the vehicle itself was so good that VW released the VW Syncro. This 4 wheel drive version sits higher all around and could really go anywhere you pointed it.
And after 1992 VW went silly and built something that looked like a Ford and only your grand parents would own, or safety conscious parents with littl'uns strapped neatly in the back.
What should you go for? The Split-screen model is an unlikely candidate. If you’re travelling around Australia you’ll be concerned about budgeting and the thought of buying a road-worthy example of a Split-screen makes your dream a nightmare. Avoid them anyway because the engines are slow, the brakes appalling and the spares almost unobtainable without a long wait. Where talking about travelling around Australia – not a daily trip to work and back. Much more affordable and certainly much more reliable are the Bay-window models. These are less than half the price and yet twice the quality. The bigger engines, in particular the 2000cc motor, make for relaxed motoring whenever a hill is encountered and they’ll cruise beyond the legal limit if you can afford the petrol bill. They may not be the fastest people carrier on the planet but there’s enough of them for you to make lots of friends along the way and specialists throughout Australia are always willing (and able) to get you out of trouble. From 1972 these models were equipped with front disc brakes, and that’s good. Some even come with a brake servo but power-steering is unnecessary.
The later models, affectionately known as T3s (Transporter 3), Wedges, Bricks or Vanagons (not Flat-screens as one would imagine they would be) are cheaper still and you really can pick up a bargain now. They are as robust as the Bay-window models they replaced and some would say even more so. Bodies tend to be galvanised, the suspension is based upon real springs rather than torsion bars (there’s nothing wrong with torsion bars, by the way, but the spring ride is a little more comfortable and the spring rates can be changed) and there’s more room inside to camp. On the downside, there are not many for sale and a fully kitted out one with pop-top (elevating or side-elevating roof) and all the camping niceties like quality stainless cook top, electric fridges, air-con, easy clean cupboards and surfaces and generally a quality of kit that won’t /doesn’t disintegrate over time makes them a mean camper for the long journey ahead. In air-cooled form you’ll only find the 2000cc engine in Australia,
the weaker 1600cc model being prone to cracking heads in the heat of Europe so VW opted not to bother with it in Australia. As for the water-cooled 1900cc and 2100cc engines, they’re a two pointed beast. They are actually superior engines to their air-cooled cousins but they do have a slight problem with head gaskets, or more precisely with head studs that snap and release the cylinder head a little so that the cylinder head seals begin not to do the function for which they were supposed to. If air-cooled engines drop valves and crack heads it was inevitable that something awful was going to happen once VW had solved that problem. The studs run inside the water-jacket of the engine and, by the use of special VW recommended anti-rust anti-freeze, the steel studs last a life-time. However, who uses the correct anti-freeze? In fact, who uses any anti-freeze in the far north of Australia? So the studs begin to corrode (rust) and a slow drive up a hill in top gear is usually when a weakened stud
gives way. Will it happen to you? Who knows?
My choice, for the traveller who wants real fun and a sense of adventure across Australia, is to buy a Bay-window with the bigger 2000cc 70bhp engine and better gear ratios. They’re also the most popular on our roads. However budget for getting the vehicle checked and repaired for your journey after buying it, or better still, arrange for a pre-purchase check by a specialist. The latter isn’t always possible, depending on the owner of course, but what you must remember is that these things have probably been twice around the clock and five times around Australia’s rugged hot and dusty roads, so what you’re buying is someone’s hand me down. Servicing on the road sadly isn’t an option for the mere traveller who doesn’t have the convenience of a garage to work in so you should budget for repairs and services along the way and at the very least hope that the camper of your choice comes with an easy to understand fix-it manual, some useful tools, a spare alternator belt and a suitable jack and ground pad. The good news is that if you treat it well you’ll more than likely get back what you paid for it and if you spend a day cleaning it out and polishing it you may even make a profit. Some come with awnings or pull out canopies from the side. Some with metal windscreen and light protectors and the mandatory roo bar – believe me, you don’t want to hit anything furry so avoid driving in the bush at dusk and never drive close behind a truck at night thinking you’re protected. You won’t see the remains come hurtling at you from under the truck in time to avoid the mess and even a less than happy skip can ruin your day and put a big hole through your screen and into your wallet. Roos tend to stare vehicles down night time and usually lose the match. They win when last minute panic braking and swerving causes the driver to lose control and overturn. I’ll repeat myself just for the sake of saving a few lives. Don’t drive at dusk or during the night time if you can avoid it.
 As ever there is a less painful way to travel Australia in a VW camper and once again that depends on your budget. This world beater of camper vans can be hired. It may not be as cheap as others but it will be cheaper than a lot more too. Plus, there’s the satisfaction that you’re not driving a bogged up, crudely painted over Japanese ex-trademan’s van with a primus stove and little else that’s a permanent fixture. These old Volksies of the seventies are, in my humble opinion, the only way to get around Australia. They’re everywhere you look and that’s because they’re being used by travellers and real people that still drive them today as a means of everyday transport. They’re also backed by a fairly good source of mechanics across the land although don’t expect compliments from those that have grown up working on more sophisticated machines. They won’t understand them and they certainly wont understand you!
Enjoy the trip and have fun in your VW camper, kombi, bus, best mate… PC.
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