At present all I have to hand is a list of German specifications, hence some of the dates are wrong for the UK, we didn't get some of the levels of trim till a year or so later than advertised. This page will get updated once I get some more information. If you have any information from a reliable source then please get in touch.

VW Special editions.

BUS " Caravelle " ('82on)

• 2 tone paint scheme.
• Chrome bumpers with rubbing strips.
• Chrome window trim(locking strips).
• Rear window load protection bars (jail bars).
• Rear windshield wiper.
• Pad seats in the driver and passenger compartment.
• Seat arm rests.
• Carpets.

BUS " Caravelle Carat " ('83on)

• Power steering.
• Central locking.
• Metallic paint.
• Aluminum rims 6Jx14 with 205/70R14 tyres.
• GRP bumpers.
• Front spoiler.
• Rear light screen.
• Chrome window trim(locking strips).
• Rear window load protection bars (jail bars).
• Rectangle double headlight.
• Lower suspension (30mm).
• 6 single seats with arm rests.
• Air conditioning system (optional)
• Pilot chairs and folding table.
• Cassette radio.
• Tachometer.
• Digital clock.
• Carpets.

BUS " Mulitvan " ('85on)
Based on Kombi body 253 ...

• Single seats in front.
• 3. Seat behind driver's seat with reservoir.
• Cool box behind passenger seat.
• Folding seat bank with stowage box (rock and roll bed).
• Engine compartment cushion (to form bed).
• Folding table and fluro light.
• Cup holders and ashtrays.
• Carpets with plastic mats.
• Digital clock.
• Tachometer.

DOUBLE CAB " Magma " ('86 on)

• Aluminum rims with broad tires.
• GRP bumpers.
• Cool box.
• Winch.
• Bull bars.
• Roll over bar.

Mulitvan Magnum
Based on Multivan model 253 S..
Chassis range - 25ZHH093001 - 25J175000
Mid feb '87 - 31st July '88
All Left Hand Drive.
Special order code S741

• GRP skirts and - bumpers.
• Single seats in front.
• Light grey interior.
• 3 Seat behind driver's seat with reservoir.
• Folding seat bank with stowage box. (Rock and roll bed).
• Engine compartment cushion (To form bed).
• Folding table and fluro light.
• Cup holder and ash tray.
• Carpets with plastic mats.

  As extras:

• Centre sliding windows.
• Tachometer.
• Cool box behind passenger seat.
• Power steering.

Double Cab " Tri star "
Based on crew cab models 247 & 248.
Available from chassis number WV2ZZZ24ZJH081001 - Late february 1988.
Option number M314.

• Power steering.
• 4 doors.
• GRP wheel arch trims and bumpers.
• Twin rectangle headlamps (square headlights)
• Aluminum rims and wider tyres.
• 5 single seats with arm rests.
• Grey carpet instead of rubber matting.
• Light grey cloth interior.
• Interior "grab" handles with integral map reading lights (X3)
• Illuminated vanity mirror on passenger side.
• Bull bars.
• Protection Trim for Door.
• Rear Cab doors with Sliding Window.
• Rear Heater.
• Door pockets.
• Padded Strip for Dashboard.
• Map Pockets in rear of front seats.
• Cup holders.

Double Cab " Tristar syncro"
Based on crew cab syncro models 247A& 248A.
Available from chassis number WV2ZZZ24ZJH000001 - 1st August '87.
Option number M314.

• Power steering.
• 4 doors.
• GRP wheel arch trims and bumpers.
• Twin rectangle headlamps (square headlights)
• Aluminum rims and wider tyres.
• 5 single seats with arm rests.
• Grey carpet instead of rubber matting.
• Light grey cloth interior.
• Interior "grab" handles with integral map reading lights (X3)
• Illuminated vanity mirror on passenger side.
• Bull bars.
• Protection Trim for Door.
• Rear Cab doors with Sliding Window.
• Rear Heater.
• Door pockets.
• Padded Strip for Dashboard.
• Map Pockets in rear of front seats.
• Cup holders.
• Spare wheel bracket.

Blue Star, White Star (1990)
Base model - Multivan (Kombi)
Chassis range - 25K090001 onwards - mid Feb'89
Option number S735.

• Lower suspension (30mm)
• Sliding centre windows with black frames.
• Power steering.
• Tachometer.
• GRP skirts and bumpers.
• Single seats in front.
• Seats behind driver and passenger seat.
• Twin rectangular headlamps.
• Folding seat bank with stowage box. (Rock and roll bed)
• Engine compartment cushion. (To form bed)
• Folding table and fluro light.
• Blackout curtains.
• Cup holders and ashtrays.
• Velour carpet.
• Central locking.
• Cassette radio.
• Electrically heated and adjustable outside mirrors in car colour.
• Platinum interior trim
• Lacquer finish, Metallic blue for Bluestar, White for Whitestar.

BUS "Multivan " (LLE - Limited Last Edition).(1992)

• Lowered suspension (30mm)
• Sliding window center.
• Power steering.
• Tachometer.
• GRP skirts and bumpers.
• Single seats in front.
• Seats behind driver and passenger seat.
• Twin rectangular headlamps.
• Folding seat bank with stowage box.(Rock and roll bed).
• Engine compartment cushion (to form bed.)
• Folding table and fluro light
• Blackout curtains.
• Cup holders and ashtrays.
• Velour carpets.
• Central locking.
• Cassette radio.
• Electrically heated and adjustable outside mirrors in car colour
• Lacquer finish only blue or red.
• Limited on 2500 pieces.
  

Syncro 16" (all body types)

• 16" steel rims.
• 2.5cm longer rear swinging arms.
• Bigger CV joints.
• Stiffer Boge 'N' shocks.
• Taller springs.
• VW LT28 front and rear brakes.
• Urethane flares similar but larger than Tristar flares.
• Locking differential to rear axle (front optional!)
• Welded sheet metal reinforcment panels

Other manufacturers

WBX 6.

The Caravelle based WBX 6 was built by German tuning firm "Oettinger" under special contract with VW and was basically a 2.1 wasserboxer with 2 more barrels and pistons added to make a Porsche like flat 6 and upping the capacity to 3.2l (3164cc), the barrels and pistons stayed the same but the crank, crankcase, cam and cylinder heads all had to be made specially. Fuelling was by Bosch with the tried and tested Digijet. VW decided not to take on the project which left owner Gerhard Oettinger with a design for the engine which they didn't want so he decided to buy the rights to the engine and offer it as a aftermarket conversion.
Other changes for the WBX 6 are.

• V rated tyres.
• Uprated brakes, Ventilated fronts and discs at the rear.
• Uprated springs and shock absorbers.
• Oettinger and WBX decals.
• Leather bound steering wheel.
• Extra dash gauges
• 85 litre fuel tank (as opposed to standard 65 ltr)

Alpine/superwagen Turbo-bus.

The European Transporters only came with relatively small engines and in South Africa you can be at shore line one day and up in the mountains the next, with power draining altitude and a full load your in the sh*t! VW in Germany didn't want to install a bigger engine due to taxation expense for the owners which would put them of buying a new Transporter . The South African firm Alpine saw a gap in the market for a more powerful Transporter and developed the alpine/superwagen Turbobus to meet customer need for a more powerful van.
The conversion was carried out at one of the 104 superwagen engine building dealers through out the country. When the 1.9l water-cooled engine came along John Conchie took it upon himself to start work!!
the conversion involved a 8 hour transformation in one of the Superwagen workshops and each engine was tested on a dyno test bed to make sure it performed!
the spec of the engine is as follows.

• Low compression Cosworth pistons (7.2:1)
• Garret PB-03 turbo
• Hand made exhaust manifold.
• Inlet manifold modified to suit a twin choke Dellorto blow through 32mm carb.
• Modified Oil pump.
• High pressure roller cell fuel pump to cope with extra load.
• Oil cooler..

Max speed - 96 mph
peak power - 105 kW (your guess is as good as mine.)

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Talent borrows, Genius steals, shit copies. MitDR