Wednesday, December 11, 2013

So Long, Oh Minibus...

View of different models of Kombi during an exhibition at the Volkswagen plant in Sao Bernardo do Campo, southern Sao Paulo, Brazil on December 8, 2013*

A read today that the VW bus--the original VW bus will no longer be produced. The article surprised me because I thought--if for no other reason than safety issues--they had stopped making these a LONG time ago. You can read the original story: HERE.

Detail of a Kombi during an exhibition at the Volkswagen plant in Sao Bernardo do Campo, southern Sao Paulo, Brazil on December 8, 2013*

Apparently not. They're still cranking out these puppies in Brazil, but I guess the tide has finally turned on the iconic vehicle. Even South America has decided to throw in the towel. The decision comes 10 years after the last original VW beetle was made. I can't believe how long those cars were produced.

 View from inside a Kombi, exhibited at the Volkswagen plant in Sao Bernardo do Campo, southern Sao Paulo, Brazil on December 8, 2013*

I've owned a lot of VW beetles in my day, but never a van. Not that I haven't wanted one, but it just never worked out. Who knows? Maybe I'm alive today because I never actually owned one. My high school buddy Darin (who did own these back in the day...) told me once as we puttered around Kaysville that the crumple zone in a VW bus are your legs. Those of you who have owned them or driven in them or been around them know just how safe they aren't. I guess if you never drive the thing you'll be okay, but somehow, I don't know if that's even true.

Volkswagen Kombi owner Wanja Fuhrmann sets up a camping table next to his Volkswagen T2 camper van built in 1975 near Landsberg, southern Germany, on November 1, 2013*

Still with all the issues that come with the VW minibuses, I'd still take one. Looks like my chance to own an original, hot-off-the-assembly-line VW bus is coming to an end.

* Photos used without permission from: http://news.yahoo.com/end-road-vw-39-iconic-camper-vans-184738228.html

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