If you’re thinking of re-building the engine of your VW campervan, here’s a good guide on getting started. It’s an aircooled engine so will be good reference for those of you with Type 2 VW campervans.

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If you’re interested in VW campers but confused about the different models, here’s a quick tour.

Type 2 Split Screen 1950 – 1967

This was the VW first camper van, which was adapted from the VW bus (known as the Samba) – which itself was adapted from the VW panel van. The campers were fitted out by Westfalia, a coachwork company who worked in partnership with VW for many years. There were a huge number of configurations of the furniture, and other conversions too. The campers had the same air-cooled engines as the panel vans and 6-volt electrics.

Type 2 Bay Window Camper 1967-1980

The taller and larger VW bay window camper van had 12-volt electrics, a sliding side door and larger engine. It still had the friendly, rounded shape but with better visibility and more space. Westfalia continued to do conversions, and a large number of other companies such as Devon, Danbury, Canterbury and Dormobile joined the market too.

There are also VW camper vans that have been converted by small companies and DIY conversions as well. Most were conversions from buses, but some companies (and amateurs) did the conversion from vans. Versions of the VW bay window were still in production in Mexico and Brazil long after VW had stopped production in Wolfsburg. The bay window campers are often known as Kombi’s - particularly in Australia and South Africa, and, confusingly the California was a VW Camper Van conversion which didn’t come from California!

Type 25 VW – the Vanagon 1980-1991

The VW t25 was larger again and provides substantial space. The shape is much more blocky with very 80’s square styling. It was known as the Vanagon in the USA and is often referred to now as the VW t3.

Type 4 1991-2003

This is known as the Eurovan in the US with camper versions by Westfalia and by Winnebago. This big difference is where the engine is - in the front! So it has a pronounced bonnet.

Type 5 2003-

This van is a direct successor to the T4 so it is a sizeable van . They are not avaiable in the US.

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A few pictures that demonstrate just how many different VW Camper Van models there are…

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There have been a number of campervan concepts developed recently, this one has some environmentally friendly additions, but remarkably keeps the old rock and roll bed!

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If you’re a relative newcomer to the workld of VW campervans, you might find this a helpful article. it helps you through the early models, from the first split-screen campers to the bay window, plus the VW Beetle and Kharmann Ghia. There’s another article with more detail on the development of the VW camper van at http://www.vwcampersforever.com/vw-camper-models/what-came-before-the-vw-camper

Volkswagen Camper & Beetle Guide - A History of VW Bay Window & Split Screen Camper Vans & Beetles

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mike_Aarons]Mike Aarons

Camper Van / Bus

The Split Screen Bus

Split screen buses were first produced in 1949 and continued on for the next 18 years. They were known unimaginably as the Type 2. The first Type 2 was called the Bulli and came in 2 models the Kombi and Panel van. The Microbus was introduced a year later in 1950. Splitties, Type 2, or Split Screen Volkwagen buses came in many guises; barndoor, panel van, kombi,minibus, standard, deluxe, barn door, ambulance, fire van, single cab pickup and double cab pickup, Samba, with various options due to their age such as walk-through, double door, semaphore and safari to name but a few. However it is the Samba model that is the most desirable of all.

The VW Bay Window Camper Van

The VW Bay Window Camper van, still known as a Type 2, was first produced in 1967 and continued being produced in 1979. It was much improved on the split screen, offering a slightly larger body so could carry larger loads, larger and more powerful engines up to a 2 litre model towards the end of production, better electrics, a more refined and comfortable ride. However for many the bay window lacks the original design of the Splittie. It is really the Bay Window bus that really accelerated the use of these unique vans as a mobile home or camper van. These vans were converted by various firms, such as Westfalia (also known as a Westy, Danbury, Devon, Dormobile and Viking. These firms offered different interior configurations for sleeping, cooking and storage as well as differing elevating roof types. These ranged from small staight up vertical pop top roofs to front hinged, rear hinged and side hinged roofs, sleeping between 2 to 7 people!

Volkswagen Beetle / Bug

The Volkswagen Beetle (known unimaginatively as the Type 1 was produced as an economic and robust little car for the people. Ferdinand Porsche was instructed to build a car that was capable of transporting two adults and three children at a speed of 100 km/h. The VW Beetle started production in 1938, finishing a massive 65 years later in 2003. It was designed to be mechanically simple, economical to maintain and robust, with as little to go wrong as possible. This has probably underpins why so many Beetles are still on the road, and why it has its reputation for reliability and sturdiness. Production continued in Mexico until the New Beetle was introduced.

Karmann Ghia

The Karmann Ghia started production in 1955, the results of Volkswagen, Karmann a German coach building company and Ghia, an Italian design company. It was marketed by Volkswagen as a 2%2B2 coupe and convertible and was built using the running gear of the VW Beetle. Although the Karmann Ghia had the looks of a sports car, it never had the power or speed. The Karmann Ghia in both coupe and convertible forms is still a very sought after car and is very desirable. In 1961, VW introduced the Type 34 Karmann Ghia (or Razor Edge Ghia), based on its new Type 3 platform. It featured the new 1500 cc engine and the result was the fastest, most luxurious, and most expensive Volkswagen at the time.

Click here to view a VW Split Screen camper van / bus for sale —> http://www.onlyaircooled.com/forsale.asp?t=6

Click here to view a VW Bay Window camper van / bus for sale —> http://www.onlyaircooled.com/forsale.asp?t=2

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Aarons http://EzineArticles.com/?Volkswagen-Camper-and-Beetle-Guide—A-History-of-VW-Bay-Window-and-Split-Screen-Camper-Vans-and-Beetles&id=1749846

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Technorati Tags: split screen volksawgen camper, type 2 camper van, VW bay window camper, VW Camper, vw camper history, vw campers, vw campervan