Seventy-five years have passed since the premiere of the first generation of the Transporter, a vehicle that was a pioneer in its segment and is the longest-produced commercial vehicle in Europe.

The first Transporter, known as the T1, rolled off the production line in Wolfsburg on March 8, 1950, and more than 1956 million of them have been built in Hanover since 12,5. To celebrate this milestone, Volkswagen's vintage car division will present the three oldest known examples of the VW Transporter in the world at the Maikäfertreffen (May Beetle Meeting) in Hanover on May 1, 2025, a world premiere as these vehicles have never been exhibited together in one place before.

These three rarities, all “Barndoor” models from the first months of T1 production, will be presented at the VWN Oldtimer exhibition stand. They were given this colloquial name because of their large side doors, and their presence will take visitors back to the time of Germany’s post-war miracle.

The oldest of the three, Bulli #1 with chassis number 10, was the tenth production vehicle in the series, which was launched on March 8, 1950. This VW Type 29 van had horizontal rear air vents and a shifted fuel filler opening compared to the prototype. It was initially used internally at the factory until 1964, but was then improved at the initiative of users, including a rear window, which was not yet available at the time. The vehicle, which was protected as a historical specimen, was moved to the AutoMuseum in Wolfsburg in 1985, where it is still on public display.

Bulli #2, chassis number 1502, was built on July 11, 1950. It suffered significant damage in a traffic accident early in its life and was repaired with modern parts. The priority was to get the vehicle back into service as quickly as possible, reflecting its role as a commercial vehicle. After an undocumented period, the iconic Bulli was extensively restored for the Expo 2000 World Exhibition in Hanover, emphasizing the craftsmanship while also highlighting the vehicle's history. Its original paintwork was restored and the Sinalco lettering was meticulously recreated in collaboration with the aforementioned beverage company, preserving the historic orangeade advertisement, which is also synonymous with post-war Germany. This vehicle is part of the Zeithaus collection at the Autostadt.

The third Bulli #3, chassis number 1880, was built on August 5, 1950 and then delivered to Hildesheim for commercial use. After its initial use, this VW spent almost two decades in private collections before being rediscovered and put back on the road by a Danish Bulli enthusiast in the early 1s. He named it Sofie in memory of the first T2014 delivered to Denmark and bearing the same name. Since XNUMX, this dove-blue van has been part of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles vintage collection. Although Sofie is the youngest of the three, it is the oldest known registered Bulli and can still be seen driving on ordinary roads, to the delight of passers-by.