You don't see many of those old VW camper vans around these days but the ~25 hp beasts are amazing to see when a classic restoration drives by. I assume most have upgraded the engines a bit.
I see a ton of them, but I live half way between the VW Hannover plant where they built them, and the VW California plant where they convert the camper variants. They also have a museum for them and regular meet-ups seem to happen.
I might see one per year up here in Washington State. A lot of them seem to have old hippy stickers from the 1960's but they are very cool to see driving around.
Yeah. I think the US ones were mostly made in Brazil, instead of here in Germany. Here in Hannover the “Bulli” as it’s called, it’s an iconic piece of local history.
I've only been to Germany once but Switzerland, Netherlands & others nearby many times. One of my cars had a deal where you can pick up the car at the factory & drive it to a port where it's shipped back to the US. I was travelling to Zurich on business so I came over from there. Beautiful country.
Apart from athe aesthetics, they need to make them bigger, at least. The trend towards tiny headlights has meant that they have had to become very bright (for oncoming road users) for the same actual amount of illumination.
No they don’t. They sold all of their factories in Russia when the invasion happened because they were opposed to the invasion.
It’s the company that BOUGHT THE FACILITY that has resumed production.
I stand corrected. It's been a long time since I looked into it. Last I heard they were forming a company, i.e. just changing the name of the owner. I need to look further into this AGR company and when it was formed.
Keep in mind that the Buzz is primarily aimed at (affluent) urban and suburban people who explicity not want to drive a SUV or small truck. In this environment, a Buzz makes sense.
Besides, a higher range does always come with a compromise of weight and space.
I love the Buzz. Too bad I'll never afford one. My first car was a Super Beetle. I used to get a magazine full of chop top and stretched Bugs. They were fun to dream about.
I remember seeing an early 1960’s Mad Magazine article that had an illustration of what a 2000 Cadillac Sports Car (non-existent) might look like (it was close to the CTS) and estimated the cost to be about $40,000.
A new 64 El Dorado w/325 hp engine then was around $6000
I fell out of the sliding door when I was about five years old. My mom was only driving like 10 miles an hour at the time. She denies this story…said it never happened. It was a green one. *Shrugs*
Aww I had a split screen camper back when you didn't have to sell a kidney to own one.
Guess I could always sell said kidney to get an I.d. buzz now....
I CANNOT do this alone!! We need to start pressuring bigger creators to post about
#holidaymediablackout2024
This will ONLY work if we work together. Pressure creators not only on bluesky but tiktok, X, Instagram and other platforms. Post in their comments. #strongertogether
#lettheCEOseatcereal
Thank you for sharing this, Hank. I've been trying to determine when the VW Type 2 became part of youth culture. It came out in 1950 but it's more associated with the '60s.
These contemporary magazines help paint a picture of its image and customer base over the years.
I can't get past the idea of making an entireLOTR version based on "what can we do about Smaug" being the white box headline, instead of "smog". Why did you do this to me
Well versed in recent history I see. The idea of applying European vehicle needs to American’s range stress is dumb, though I’m all in for smaller vehicles especially trucks and vans.
I had a 66 VW van in the '80s when I was very poor. I liked it and it did a lot of things really well . . . Not start in cold weather, but other things. An electric one would be cool in theory, but after the diesel emissions scandal I don't know why anyone would trust VW ever again.
I had a split screen VW kombi bus that we didn't convert to a camper. Took out the passenger seats, put a mattress on the floor, a burnt orange coloured black and white TV on the engine bay, with a burnt orange coloured kettle. (1970s!) A fly screen in the sliding roof. Perth to Cairns v Melbourne
It's good, but until something can do better then gas without bringing lithium into the equation we aren't really getting anywhere. That and the one third coal electric grid are serious problems that are going to get worse.
I'm waiting on iron-air or diamond batteries, and nuclear plants.
Iron-air Batteries? They solved the oxidation problem of the Edison Iron battery (which helps the air version), but physical size and slow recharge rates make them ideal for Bulk storage. Lithium from Geothermal Wells should help, with Graphite or Sodium Anodes for stability and fast charge.
You're right about the downsides. The problems with lithium that go beyond mining, like bursting into hellfire, make it seem unlikely to really take off until we can replace it safely and efficiently. That second part is the issue, lithium being as efficient as it is.
Even if the specific EV models that we have today are a bandaid it's still a net good and possibly a necessary step. We must think in terms of the broader overall effort of electrification of transportation because it gets us off petroleum and decouples the source of power from power storage.
With electrification in place we can still solve the problems of cleaner energy sources and better batteries. It's a mistake to dismiss current solutions that move us forward because they're not perfect enough. That's a losing strategy and the one that's left nuclear long neglected.
Most freight trains are hybrids but only GE added battery storage and in only one model to replace the resistance heaters. Battery bus options have had cold temperature range and fire issues (not Li-Fe versions). Solid State batteries solve both, but have always been expensive and are not offered.
Even today's Solid State batteries would be game changing, albeit tripling the cost per car or bus. European freight trains have the best potential for mass electrification. Some on-train storage is required for long-haul routes to help the local grid when climbing grades.
You may be conflating concepts. For ICE vehicles the source of the fuel is ultimately going to be petroleum out of the ground or in smaller quantities biofuels. The storage is going to be your fuel tank, the storage tank at the gas station, the tankers that transport fuel, etc.
Yeah...that car with 50% more range and a <50K price (American) would rule the world. Problem with a practical car is it has to be practical by every metric.
$80,000(+) for terrible range. VW totally wiffed the ID Buzz. A van - especially one that can be kitted or like this one can - should be a road trip vehicle. 370 km is not nearly enough to be decent for this purpose.
I was lucky enough to see one at the dealership recently. It's incredibly roomy inside, making full use of the body shape and tucking all the electrics under the floor.
I *highly* doubt anything of the sort will happen, but the Buzz is perfect for a factory Camper conversion.
I really like the ID Buzz (even though they nixed the modular interior) but I'm having pareidolic difficulty ignoring what can't possibly be an accidental stoner face. Hopefully they come out with an alternate fascia option
I think you’re over estimating the sense of humour of the design team. It’s a mixture of design cues used across the ID range with a conscious attempt to look like a classic T2.
I'm sorry. I am a huge proponent of EVs and I *LOVE* the ID Buzz, but it is *SO* overpriced. They took an icon of hippie counter culture and turned it into something only the wealthy (or at least very well off) can afford.
Comments
What a time, when people understood how bad pollution was.
It’s the company that BOUGHT THE FACILITY that has resumed production.
Besides, a higher range does always come with a compromise of weight and space.
A new 64 El Dorado w/325 hp engine then was around $6000
😂😂😂
READ WHAT VOLKSWAGON DID WITH THE 25’ ID.Buzz
Guess I could always sell said kidney to get an I.d. buzz now....
#holidaymediablackout2024
This will ONLY work if we work together. Pressure creators not only on bluesky but tiktok, X, Instagram and other platforms. Post in their comments. #strongertogether
#lettheCEOseatcereal
These contemporary magazines help paint a picture of its image and customer base over the years.
Out of my league...$$$$
Lmao
ID BUZZ????
Page 2: motor
Page 3: lights and windscreen wipers
Page 4: brakes
Appendix 1: Number plates.
Appendix 2: Doors
Appendix 3: Paint?
I'm waiting on iron-air or diamond batteries, and nuclear plants.
Right now, EVs are bandaids
I *highly* doubt anything of the sort will happen, but the Buzz is perfect for a factory Camper conversion.
God I miss Popular Mechanics
https://youtu.be/JwVCF4S3erE?si=MAT2uKxX7xR9bFiG
Pisses me off. I want one!!!