Volkswagen T3

It has taken some time for Volkswagen's third-generation Transporter to gain the iconic status freely awarded to the first-generation 'Splittie' and its successor, the 'Bay'. Now, however, the T3, also variously called the T25, 'Wedge' or [less flatteringly] the 'Brick', is well and truly established as part of the classic VW scene. In part, this has been down to the soaring prices and limited availability of the earlier models, but perhaps too the T3 has finally been recognized as a worthy successor to those venerable classics, and maybe even cherished as the last of the air-cooled Volkswagens. Topics covered: Background story, 1949-1979.Design concept to production, 1973-1979.Full analysis of the T3's specifications. Air-cooled, diesel and water-cooled engines. Four-wheel-drive and luxury passenger-carrying models. Camping conversions.

Richard Copping has had a passion for Volkswagens for many years, and is an acknowledged expert on the marque. A regular on the show scene for more than three decades, over the last fifteen years or so he has devoted more time to writing about the vehicles, with several books to his name and regular magazine columns. Richard is a collector of all manner of VW material, including an enviable hoard of brochures and literature relating to all Volkswagen models.