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The Volkswagen Kombi
- A trip to the past
It’s probable that you’ve seen at least one, either in
person or in a movie. The Volkswagen Kombi is an iconic vehicle. It made its
introduction in 1950 as the second model from the Volkswagen company. Many
people recognize this vehicle and are reminded of “Hippies”. Many people
purchased and loved their Kombi, with some people still restoring them today.
However loved they were, the Volkswagen Kombi was an unsafe car by today’s
standards. But who couldn’t love that innovative design?
When you love something, it’s easy to overlook some of it’s
faults. Safety was a fault that many people chose to overlook. The Kombi’s
box-y design and weight being located mostly in the back caused frequent
over-steering if a curve was taken too quickly. People have reported that some
of the vans could break down easily, but this would prove to not be too big of
a problem as many mechanics could work on one of these. The inner workings of
the Kombi was simple to a professional. It was German engineering at it’s
finest, a car that brought something new and improved to the table.
But this car wasn’t made for comfort, so you had to make the
most out of what you could. A few people chose to do this by placing
decorations on the inside. The back was roomy enough to swap out the seats for
a small mattress. The rear seats were easily removable by one person, so if you
couldn’t afford a room for the night or didn’t have a place, the Volkswagen
Kombi quickly paid for itself.
Despite the lack of legroom and the bit of dangerous tendencies,
people still drove them. Some were known to live in their Kombi’s, while others
used it as a car for commuting.
People today still enjoy them, though much less than when
they were still being produced. Production started in Germany, but stopped
there in 1967. Brazil continued to produce them, though they put their spin on
things by changing the wheel tracks. The production of the Volkswagen Kombi
stopped in 2013 with the introduction of more strict safety regulations.
Other than Germany, Brazil and Mexico also produced these
vans. Mexico produced a nine person Volkswagen Kombi, since it was illegal for
a German-made Volkswagen to be sold within it’s borders. This Kombi was
recognizable because of it’s unique black bumpers and moldings, and was very popular
as it became one of the main transportation systems used in Mexico City.
There were many alterations added to different versions
stemming from this iconic van, allowing it to live on for six generations, with
many features to choose from.
Even today, people still share their love for the Kombi with
others, giving tips and tricks on how to get the most out of it. The Kombi is a
great van, and dearly loved. It’s design was still something new and
unexplored, and while it may not be explored again, it definitely helped shaped
the cars that are driven today.
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