In issue number 11/1978 of auto+/engine/sport magazine they announced for the first time the successor of the most popular Transporter of all times with the following words: (beware, dodgey translation coming up!) The Volkswagen bus, for over 25 years built and affectionately called" Bulli", is to receive still in this year a more modern successor.
That again and again stylistic and also technically modified small Transporters receives again arranged body with tauter lines, which offers in relation to the old version above all the preference/advantage of a larger cab area. Which the technique concerns remains the Volkswagenwerk the proven concept faithfully. Again it has its engine in the rear, but is beside an air-cooled engine a water-cooled engine is to be offered. As so far also different superstructures are to belong to the program (Pick up, crewcab, kombi and panel van).

	Original VW design study drawings.

May 1979: The Volkswagenwerk Hanover present the first models of the third Volkswagen Transporter generation (development designation EA 162).
A total redesign from the old bay window, now a lot wider, bigger tailgate, bigger windows, a new front end which sort of matched the rest of the VW models of the era.
Totally new suspension moving away from the tried and tested torsion beams, the front is now a double wishbone type setup with the rear moving on to semi-trailing arms. Available engines were a 1,6l with 37 kW (50 HP) and a 2,0l with 51 kW (70 HP), both air-cooled. The model family consisted of the Bus, for the transportation of passengers, the Transporter, for the load transport, as well as the pickup bed and the double cab (crew cab), likewise for the load transport.

Wind Tunnel testing the new VW Transporter.

February 1981: An additional engine became available, the 1,6l diesel engine with 37 kW (50PS). this engine originally came from the VW Golf Diesel.

September 1981: To the IAA in Frankfurt VW presented the model Caravelle, which could offer a luxurious configuration (seats, cowls and floor mats) .

October 1981: The water-cooled boxer engine in 2 versions (44kW/60PS and 57kW/78PS) were then offered. Rear air intakes no longer pressed steel, plastic inserts are now screwed in affairs.

1982: End of production of air-cooled engines.

	Testing the fuel tank design for leaks.

August 1983: VW modifies the type designations of the vehicles. All car models are called something similar - Bus's are called now " Caravelle " with the identification letters for the level of trim C, CL or GL. The rest of the commercial versions are to receive the designation " Transporter " and the camper from Westfalia to be called " Joker " (instead of camping)

1985: VW introduces some more engines. The 51kW (70PS) turbo-Diesel and a 2,1l fuel injection engine with catalyst (70kW / 95PS). The old fuel injection engine from the "Caravelle" is replaced by a 2,1l with 82kW (112PS).
Some modifications were made to the side loading door, its now a lot easier to close with no "double slam" movements required.
In this year the Syncro comes on the market, a four wheel drive van, which was built with Steyr/Daimler/Puch in Austria, capable of climbing a 54% gradient and utilises a centre viscous coupling. Herein the 78-PS-Motor is used.
In line with the increasingly international character of the company its name was changed from Volkswagenwerk AG to Volkswagen AG in June. The development of the Multivan filled the gap between a vehicle for everyday purposes and weekend purposes the versatile people carrier was born.

I'll have the 16" syncro Westfalia in the background thanks!

September 1985: The luxury bus comes on the market, the "Caravelle Carat ". Equipped also with a 66kW (90PS) fuel injection engine e.g. rectangle headlights, plastic bumpers, spoilers . Inside you would find a turning armchair, cold box and folding table in the side panel. Injection engines with and without catalytic converter and power assisted steering were available. (option number 521)

1986: The 6 millionth Transporter left the production line. This made the Transporter the most successful vehicle in its class. In Hanover alone 4.6 million Transporters had been built; 1.6 million in Wolfsburg, Brazil, Africa, Mexico and Australia. The Transporter was sold on 180 foreign markets and had an export ratio of 56.8 % in 1985. The Transporter was available with electric windows and central locking.

1988: Presentation of the Volkswagen camping vehicle "California". 1988 was the 50th anniversary of the Braunschweig factory. The original factory for training apprentices, skilled technicians and engineers is older than the main factory in Wolfsburg.

1989/90: 1,227,669 models of the third generation of Transporters had been produced.

September 1990: the last T3 left the Hanover factory . It was replaced by the T4 (with front engine and - drive). " The Syncro " was built still until 1992 in Graz, Austria, the sales figures held themselves however within limits. The really last T3 came off the line in 1992 at the Steyr Puch factory in Graz . There, except the model " syncro " still some thousand 2WD T3 for authorities were built, while in Hanover the T4 was already installed.

Source of images - VW press office, various brochures.

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Talent borrows, Genius steals, shit copies. MitDR