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The final identified Volkswagen Kind 2 Schulwagen, a model used to coach dealership workers, has resurfaced after 43 years.
Owned by collector Lind Bjornsen, the restored Schulwagen made its public debut final month in Huntington Seashore, California, on Worldwide VW Bus Day. The occasion celebrated the Kind 2, also called the Microbus, and marked the U.S. debut of the enduring van’s religious (and electrical) successor—the Volkswagen ID.Buzz.
The Schulwagen, German for “faculty automobile,” happened after VW terminated its contract with U.S. importer Max Hoffman and arrange its personal U.S. division, Volkswagen of America (now a part of Volkswagen Group of America).
Taking up U.S. gross sales operations meant establishing a vendor community, which VW representatives Will Van De Camp and Geoffrey Lange began doing in 1954. The next yr that they had VW ship over three service tech trainers and a pair of Kind 2 vans to journey to dealerships and prepare workers to work on Beetles and Microbuses. Primarily based on the Kind 2 Kombi mannequin, the Schulwagen fleet ultimately totaled 14 automobiles costing greater than $5,000 every—making them the most costly VW fashions on the time.
Volkswagen Kind 2 Schulwagen
This Schulwagen sat in an Ohio barn for 43 years, based on VW. It was bought by Bjornsen, who eliminated 10 layers of paint to seek out the unique Volkswagen of America lettering which, together with some distinctive gear like a rear workbench, proved the van’s provenance. The manufacturing unit subsequently confirmed that the barn discover was delivered to VW of America in January 1955. The van was then restored to unique situation over the course of 5 months.
People must wait a bit longer for a brand new VW Bus. The ID.Buzz is scheduled to reach right here subsequent yr as a 2025 mannequin. It can carry with it three rows of seats, a bigger battery pack, and a extra highly effective electrical motor than the variations already on sale in different markets. This high-end model of the electrical VW Bus in all probability will not be used for vendor coaching, however it is going to have one thing in frequent with the Schulwagen. With an anticipated worth of about $65,000, it is going to even be among the many most costly Volkswagens presently on sale.
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