VW Bus Day: Bull as far as the eye can see

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The VW Bulli is a cult. The first generation T1 was produced at least 1.8 million times. Later generations also gained great popularity over the years. Even electromobility has already reached the van.

Bulli isn’t just part of the hippie era – the United States loves the VW bus. Crossing the Atlantic from Europe in 1950, he leapt into the land of opportunity for the first time. While the Bulli was a more practical commercial vehicle in Europe, it became a cult vehicle for an entire generation in the US in the late 1960s. So iconic that June 2 was introduced as the International Volkswagen Bus Festival. This was celebrated with about 300 Bullis in Huntington Beach, California.

Bullis and more Bullis

The powerful show stage in Huntington Beach’s beach parking lot would also make a nice figure at a major music festival. But this time it was all about the hippie bus. People flocked to California’s Pacific coast from all corners of the United States. Some are just Bulli fans, others have been enjoying life in a small trailer for a few years and still others use the van to spend their free time together.

Custom tuned T2 vans with an open loading area made of precious wood, reinforced T3 Wolfsburg versions, historic ambulances or crazy conversions: Huntington Beach offered everything a Bulli could desire. Here is a T1 with an artificially rusted wooden interior, there a blue and white Samba bus, a converted T3 off-road version or a Shorty with a shortened wheelbase by just over half a metre. And right in the middle is the new Stromer Bulli ID. Buzz your premiere.

Electric Bulli coming to USA

The Bulli legend also got a fresh press in the US over the weekend. After Volkswagen introduced the identity. The Buzz was introduced in Europe last year, the electric model will also arrive in the US in early 2024. “For decades, the VW bus has had a unique attitude towards life in Europe as well as the USA and Canada,” says Lars Krause, 52, Sales Director, VW Commercial Vehicles. «The appearance of the legendary Light-Bus T1 at Woodstock is unforgettable. The DNA of this symbol of freedom lives in our identity. buzz.”

Thus the new VW identity. The Buzz XL is a bestseller in the US, has a 25-centimeter longer wheelbase than the previous European version, seats up to seven and has significantly more powerful electric motors. The ID Buzz XL customer can choose whether they want to be on the road with 210 kW (286 hp) or as an all-wheel drive vehicle with 250 kW (340 hp).

When it comes to prices, Bulli collectors in the US need no adjustments, as well-maintained T1 buses quickly cost the equivalent of 65,000 to 100,000 francs when perfected. The new XL bus should start marginally below. It will look very similar in Europe as the long version will also be available across the Atlantic from 2024. Whether it will become a cult remains unclear – but at least it brings basic sentiments to the Volkswagen model range. (buzzing)

Source: Blick