Just a Bunch of Lovely Old Volkswagen Buses to Enjoy

It’s impossible to feel sad when you’re in a VW bus.

There are a few things that I wholeheartedly love in this world: The Arctic Monkeys, tiramisu and the Volkswagen bus in all its forms. Whether it’s a people-carrying bus, a converted camper or even a retro pickup, the VW Transporter is perfect in every way. Just like The Arctic Monkeys.

So imagine my excitement when I heard that the German automaker was celebrating all things Transporter with a new class at the super-fancy Amelia Concours d’Elegance car show. The event, which is usually filled with million-dollar motors from the likes of Ferrari, Bugatti and Lamborghini this year cornered off a whole area for these humble buses, and some of the vans that showed up were truly exquisite.

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This year’s celebration, which coincided with the 2023 launch of the new ID. Buzz, showcased some of the best first-generation Volkswagen Type 2 Transporters that you can find in America. From flower-power-inspired buses and immaculate pickups, to a restored Type 2 that had its rear wheels replaced with tank tracks, there were some wonderful machines on show.

So, sit back, relax and throw on some Grateful Dead while we enjoy some wonderful chunks of 1950s automotive history.

What Happened to Woodstock?

Let’s kick off this VW Type 2 celebration with this, a faithful recreation of The Light Bus that went on display at the famed Woodstock music festival. As with the original, this replica bus was painted by artist Dr Bob Hieronimus.

Winner, Winner

You might think this was just a celebration of all things VW, but it was in fact a competition. And, as is always the case, competitions must have a winner. At the Amelia Concours d’Elegance, this 1951 Volkswagen Deluxe 15-Window bus won top marks.

View from the Afternoon

Sure, it’s fun seeing an immaculate Morgan, a pristine Corvette or even a Ford GT in the flesh. But, nothing sparks joy like a well-kept VW bus. Just look how happy all those people seem.

Beige Can Be Cool Too

I’m of the belief that you can paint a VW bus any color and it will still look awesome. Sure, I’d opt for a white over orange combo for my dream Type 2 bus, but this beige example with its polished chrome details is still lovely.

Look into the Tie-Dye and Tell Me What You See

This psychedelic bus dates back to 1959 and is one of VW’s 13-windowed models. With the Type 2, VW offered all manner of layouts for the bus, including a four-door van, five-door minibus, two-door pickup and even a crew cab truck.