I Is For Industrial
VW CAMPER & BUS|Spring 2018

While the best place for an air-cooled VW engine will always be in the back of a VW, the industrial variants have ended up in many unexpected places as well. Including a very big gun…

Richard Gunn/ Hans Klapp
I Is For Industrial

The Volkswagen air-cooled engine is a masterclass in reliable, uncomplicated and compact engineering. Its diminutive size, ability to work under hostile conditions with no need for separate water cooling, and ability to be fixed with little more than some spanners, screwdrivers, duct tape and a liberal dose of WD40, has meant it’s done so much more than just push VWs around. Critics may sneer at its lack of refinement and power, and tendency to sound like a bag of nails. But few other engines of its era had such inherent robustness and constant high speed running ability. It just did its job superbly. Which is just one of the reasons why, soon after post-war Volkswagen became an independent, commercial company in its own right, it made its flat-four available in industrial form, to be shoehorned into all manner of weird and wonderful locations. Some of which may well surprise you…

It was in 1950 that Volkswagen officially launched its industrial engine variant, later offshoots of which would be dubbed the Type 127. Starting out in 1.2-litre form with 24bhp, they eventually progressed through to 1.7- and 1.8-litre units, of the same capacity as in 412s, VW/Porsche 914s and, of course, Type 2s. Which is why Type 127s often find themselves ending up in the back of Buses and Campers requiring a little mechanical refreshment.

This story is from the Spring 2018 edition of VW CAMPER & BUS.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Spring 2018 edition of VW CAMPER & BUS.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM VW CAMPER & BUSView All
T5 Buyers Guide
VW CAMPER & BUS

T5 Buyers Guide

If you want a large, practical VW you can stamp your mark on and drive daily, perhaps it’s time you look at buying a T5? Here’s what you need to check

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2019
Germany Calling
VW CAMPER & BUS

Germany Calling

Cycling and sight-seeing whilst taking in plenty of history along the way.

time-read
9 mins  |
December 2019
Village Bus
VW CAMPER & BUS

Village Bus

A RHD Barndoor Deluxe Bus is an incredibly rare and very desirable vehicle and Carl Elliott’s superb ’54 is perhaps the best example anywhere in the world!

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2019
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
VW CAMPER & BUS

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit

As the saying goes, it’s only original once. Fortunately, this retired fruit pickers Bus had been left to ripen in a farmer’s barn

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2019
Family 'Wagen
VW CAMPER & BUS

Family 'Wagen

What do you do when you have a kick-ass Ghia but a large family? Simple. You build a kick-ass Bay Window Microbus as well

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2019
Status Cymbal
VW CAMPER & BUS

Status Cymbal

When drummer Nick Robin’s AA card was taking too much of a beating it was time to visit VW Downunder

time-read
6 mins  |
Spring 2018
I Is For Industrial
VW CAMPER & BUS

I Is For Industrial

While the best place for an air-cooled VW engine will always be in the back of a VW, the industrial variants have ended up in many unexpected places as well. Including a very big gun…

time-read
7 mins  |
Spring 2018
Still Doin' It
VW CAMPER & BUS

Still Doin' It

After a hard working life, three engines and two restorations, you’d think this Pick-up had earned its retirement. Not quite

time-read
4 mins  |
Spring 2018
The Freddy Files
VW CAMPER & BUS

The Freddy Files

Paul Knight whisks us along a fun-filled, 36-hour road trip to the Freddy Files show in Ninove, Belgium

time-read
5 mins  |
Spring 2018
Readers' Rides
VW CAMPER & BUS

Readers' Rides

Your pride and joy is our delight to share, so here they are

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2018