Officially the year 1979 is considered to be the end of the T2 series. In Hanover, space must be created for the new T3. And yet the old continues to live, namely in Mexico and at VW do Brazil near Sao Paulo. It survived even two of his successors, however, using appropriate technologies. Most be changed mixture preparation and exhaust system.
Those who do not look closely might think, there still is the carburettor installed, but it's just the throttle body. At the end of the double tubes are found, the injection valves. The whole is complemented by a huge air filter. On the exhaust side are first combined all from the respective cylinders coming pipes without heating (!) and direct the exhaust gases to the rear transversely located catalyst including lambda probe. Then there is a round around the entire drive with each a silencer on the left and right.
Even on the exhaust system can be seen that the former quality is probably not quite reached. Also the selection is limited to vans and 8/9 seater and the colors white and silver. Visually, the car is a hybrid between the two T2 of the first and second series. Different the roof which reminds of a Westfalia camper however, from sheet metal and not foldable. After all, the price is okay in Brazil. For the top model are only to pay about 6,000 euros in 2005.
Typical for the country was the alcohol-variant, which with increased compression even brings a little more power. Inside, you have just get used to a new steering wheel, probably rubberized for safety reasons. Else you will feel back at least by approximately 20 years ago when looking ahead. There is even an improvement, the steering had become more precise.
The VW Bulli was built as T1 in Brazil already since 1957. Although the T2 was available in Germany since 1967, the production changes in Brazil not until 1975. Much later, one took over the window arrangement and sliding door of the new model. Under the sheet metal, however, all was T2, including the novel rear wheel suspension with double joint shafts. Later, it outdid even the original with two carburettors and 41 kW (56 hp).
A double cabin and a T2 variant with the diesel engine from the Golf came in 1981, but upright and not inclined as in T3. Parts were taken from this nevertheless. But the double cab and the diesel were not a success, disappeared from the offer after four years.
Large differences existed between the vehicles built in Mexico and Brazil. The T2 made in Mexico in 1981 had to manage with the performance of the predecessor T1 because its compression was reduced due to unfavourable fuel quality to 6.6: 1. 32 kW (44 HP) have only been achieved in this way. For the two locations was typical the partly quintuple production in South compared to Central America.
Even Karmann it moved to Brazil. One produced there, e.g., the model Safari, a full-fledged motor home partly even with alcove, in which only the cab of the platform truck pointed to the VW Bulli. VW do Brasil remained with the air-cooled boxer engine in the following years. Here were to list hardly changes, except front disc brakes, seat belts, and the T2-typical operation of the handbrake.
Quite different Mexico. Here, the black radiator grille shell was created, to be seen on the last model above including the forebody specially equipped with exhaust shaft. The whole thing was even intensified by black plastic bumpers. However, because the water boxer engine remained in Germany 1988 only two years until the appearance of T4, a petrol engine with 1.8 liters and 55 kW (75 HP) was installed in Mexico, also upright as once the diesel engine in Brazil.
In 1995, the production ended in Mexico and Brazil took over the manufacturing facilities and the marginal 20 centimeters higher metal roof to enlarge the loading space, introduced in Mexico in 1991. The in-line engine, meanwhile more powerful by injection and contactless ignition at 59 kW (80 HP), now had to make way for the boxer engine built in Brazil furthermore.
The but was then changed also to electronic fuel injection and now had even 43 kW (58 HP). Much more important was the torque increased to 111 Nm at 2600 rpm. The engine there was in top model 'Carat' with seven seats, sliding windows and carpeting.The cheaper models remained with the old engine version. The alcohol version with 49 kW (67 hp) was surprisingly few ordered.
It went downhill with the variety of products from 2000. The platform truck dropped out of the program, the Furgao (van) old style 2002. So only now disappeared finally folding doors and small window panes of T1. The air cooling disappeared in 2005 and the Mexico cooler appeared again together with front-remodeling. Not the in-line engine with 1.8 was installed, but a newer with 1.4 liter displacement. Also the plastic rods stayed away.
So the VW Bulli had to spend with an extremely unusual drive of 57 kW (78 HP) at 4800 rpm and two HP more in the alcohol version during its last years until 2013. Despite a lower displacement, the new engine supplied with 125 Nm more torque, but also at a higher speed (3500 rpm). Just the Brazilian production came to 1.12 million in the 45 years, a little less than a third of total manufactured T2. 06/14