The Vanagon Dictionary

Any of the Volkswagen Transporters from 1992 to present. some were sold in Europe in 1991. generally characterized by their engine located in the front of the vehicle, driving the front wheels, and their very rounded shape and huge rear hatch.

One of many camper versions made from a basic VW Transporter usually the only camper version imported into the U.S. by VW and sold at their dealers. Westfalia also converts EuroVans into full camper units for sale in Canada and Europe.

Generally accepted to mean a mid-range trim model of a Volkswagen Transporter . That is, not a utility/commercial truck, and yet not a Deluxe model with all the bells and whistles of luxury and convenience. usually, a Kombi has windows along the side, seats, and some side paneling. Kombis also had fibreboard overhead instead of a headliner.

Adventurewagen was a Fort Bragg, California conversion builder, not a Volkswagen model or Transporter generation. In a December 1998 Gerry thread about camper conversions, a contributor describes its high-roof conversion as common on the U.S. West Coast and distinguishes that fixed high roof from pop-top layouts. A 2001 thread also identifies Adventurewagen as a maker of Vanagon high-top conversions. Roof, interior, and equipment vary by build and vehicle year.

• camper
• conversion

In Gerry’s preserved terminology FAQ, “generation” groups Transporters by body series: T1 (1949–1967), T2 (1968–1979), T3 (1980–1991; called Vanagon in North America), and T4 (1992 onward in that FAQ). In Gerry’s September 2008 “lowered and chopped Vanagon” exchange, contributors identify the same T3 generation as Vanagon in North America and T25 in the UK; replies disagree over whether “T25” is proper usage. The name therefore depends on regional convention and is not a precise model-year identifier. These are historical ranges and naming conventions; verify market and model year.

• generation
• model