In Brazil, the history of a global automotive legend comes to an end. After 63 years, production of the VW Bulli is discontinued. The “Last Edition” rolled off the production line as a limited edition. The Bulli has dressed up for its last appearance. With whitewall tires, elegant window curtains and in light blue and white paint – this is how the world’s last models of the Transporter myth roll off the production line at VW’s Anchieta plant in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil – 63 years after the first “T1” Transporter was built in Wolfsburg and after 56 years of non-stop production in Brazil.
In Brazil, the history of a global automotive legend comes to an end. After 63 years, production of the VW Bulli is discontinued. The “Last Edition” rolled off the production line as a limited edition. The Bulli has dressed up for its last appearance. With whitewall tires, elegant window curtains and in light blue and white paint – this is how the world’s last models of the Transporter myth roll off the production line at VW’s Anchieta plant in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil – 63 years after the first “T1” Transporter was built in Wolfsburg and after 56 years of non-stop production in Brazil.
The rustic quality inspection is carried out at VW’s Anchieta plant near São Paulo – all by hand, just as in 1968 at the factory in Hanover, when the first of a total of more than two million examples of the T2 were delivered. The car, whose basic design is still based on the VW Beetle, no longer meets safety requirements. ABS and airbags will also be mandatory for new cars in Brazil starting in 2014, and VW has “tried everything, but because of the front structure, it’s not possible to install an airbag,” says Jochen Funk, VW’s head of marketing and sales in Brazil. Actually, a run of 600 units was planned for the “Last Edition,” but due to high demand, VW doubled the quota to 1200 vehicles.
Even the last Bulli does not deny its forebears: the design is as round as ever, the headlights too, and in addition to the tailgate, driver’s door and passenger door, there is the familiar sliding door on the right. Inside: The familiar commitment to minimalism. The dashboard is dominated by a large round speedometer, with the fuel gauge to the right. The “last Bulli” can also be modern: It has a radio with MP3 option and USB port.
A handful of the Last Edition Bullis have made it to Europe and Germany. The Last Edition Bullis cannot be registered for German or European road traffic in their original configuration. Therefore a use of the vehicle in the public road traffic is not intended. However, it is possible to carry out appropriate modifications to the vehicle in order to register the Bulli.