VW T3 Joker

The VW T3 was first presented in May 1979. At this time, almost 4.5 million first and second generation Bullis had already left the VW factories. Despite the economic and oil crisis at the time, around 1.3 million third-generation Bullis were produced and sold between 1979 and 1992.

The T3 was not just a facelift but actually a completely new model. The all-round angular shape of the bus is particularly striking. The round shapes of the vehicles were now a thing of the past and the more angular shape also created a little more space in the vehicle. As the shape alone was not enough, the wheelbase was stretched by 60 mm to 2460 mm and the width of the new T-Bus also increased. The new vans were initially powered by air-cooled 4-cylinder boxer engines, similar to those of the two predecessors. From 1982, the engines were cooled with water.

The T3 made a considerable leap forward thanks to the reliable and maintenance-free rack-and-pinion steering, which made the car much easier to drive and noticeably more maneuverable. Anyone who has ever driven the first three generations of Bulli knows exactly what we are talking about. The wheels were individually suspended and kept in check with progressive springs and telescopic shock absorbers. The entire chassis was therefore revised and contributed significantly to the success of the T3.

In addition to front-wheel drive, the Syncro all-wheel drive, which is very popular today, was available in the model range for the first time. The T3 was available as a panel van, platform van, Multivan, Caravelle, emergency vehicle, camper van, sales van and estate. Production was discontinued in Europe in 1992.

The Joker had a fold-out sleeping area, a kitchenette with sink and stove and plenty of storage space. Another highlight was the pop-top roof, which offered additional space and headroom in the interior. These features made it the perfect companion for travel and adventure.