It was the engine in the back of this T2 pickup that caught my eye: looks to be a Subaru boxer, undoubtedly intended for a T3 Vanagon, to replace the somewhat wimpy “Wasserboxer”. This is a pretty common conversion, for T3s, but not likely for this air cooled T2.
I would sure hope not. A beautiful logo’d T2 pickup is a rare thing, for sure in the US, probably scarce in Canada, too. It should be appreciated as is and it hacked up with that tomfoolery.
The Karmann-Ghia looks like it has been patiently waiting for an engine as well…
I collected a tonne of die casts and plastic model kits, as a kid in the 1970s. The VW pickup, was sadly, not well represented. Only VW pickup I owned at the time, was a unique rubber/vinyl version made by a Norwegian company, I believe. They were sold at mainstream department stores in Ontario, Canada. Saw them in New York State, as well. A large compartmentalized cardboard box would contain various coloured classic cars, in rubber/vinyl. Okay, for enjoying on road trips. But somewhat sterile, otherwise. As the material was soft and pliable, they could not be painted. Their Achilles heel, which should have been obvious to their manufacturer, was they made fantastic play toys for dogs. My VW pickup had bite marks in it, within weeks/months. A toy, first developed in the 1950s, I’m sure.
Example:
Corgi did one
https://www.vintagebritishdiecasts.co.uk/corgi/c431x.htm
and a smaller (Matchbox size) version in the related Husky series
https://www.toymart.com/Husky-15-VW-Pick-Up/11100
My Corgi splitty pickup was in a ‘gift set’ with Lotus racing cars and a trailer.
I also had a ‘Budgie’ VW pickup which was similar in scale to Dinky or Corgi which I repainted.
My favourite, marked as ‘Made in Western Germany’ was a 1950s Marklin panel van. Separated from it’s chassis years ago for repainting and with a broken windscreen divider now. The Marklin (I also had a Beetle and a Borgward) were my favourites because the castings were really detailed and well made.
Before my time! I started collecting die casts around 1972-1973, and both of those products were offered before then. I guess the relative rarity of T2 pickups in North America, factored into their limited availability as die casts and plastic model kits, in the 1970s.
Hasegawa does the pickup in 1/24.
You might not like how mine turned out!
Wow!! Beautifully done Peter. You must have quite enjoyed preparing this pickup, and your final results. Bravo! Love the way you posed it, with the front wheels turned. Excellent, colour selection again. You had a vision, and you achieved it. 🙂
(Really appreciate, you regularly sharing your work here.)
Thanks Daniel. I’m always mindful this isn’t a model site, so I don’t post pictures every day. Here’s a frontal shot. This is how I remember these as a kid, always rusty, dirty and worked to death.
BTW, what font would be close to the signwriter’s style on that pickup?
Great work Peter! I think your posts on your hobby, compliment Paul’s site well. Always, an interesting contrast with author-generated photos, supplied with articles. Seeing a different take, on a given car. Love, how you weathered it so accurately, for increased authenticity.
I was pondering the same question this afternoon. What’s the typeface used on the VW pickup, that captures a casual 1960s marketing look and feel, so well? Reminds me some of a light, funkier, more modern, version of ‘PL Benguiat Frisky’.
Thanks Daniel. I remember seeing that style of lettering used back in the day, and didn’t think I had anything in my computer to match. While you can get clear printable decal film for models I’ve never bothered.
Most small companies (builders and the like) didn’t bother lettering their vehicles back in the day; the local exception was Hinton’s the grocer, who ran a VW van with the name attached like a handwritten signature across the side panels and doors as 3D chrome pieces – that must’ve been a pricey job!
Very nice work, Peter. I like the leaching rust and rubbed back to bare metal effects.
Peter, would love to see your work compliment the work of fellow Australian modellers Luke Towan and Kathy MIllat. Two of my favourite model scene creators. https://www.youtube.com/@KathyMillatt
Your work would look fantastic, in their almost real creations. Would be wonderful as well, to see you consider a YouTube channel some day.
So, enjoyable to appreciate the work of other artists, when I break from my own work.
Love that this typeface recreates to look of 1960s era hand-lettering so well. Very convincing. As hand-lettering was such a valued skill for marketing, to some companies like Hinton’s.
I like the idea that one should never trust a VW Transporters handbrake.
I can second that. We had a T2 Kastenwagen.
I don’t keep up with Hot Rodding old VW’s but for some time stuffing a Subaru engine in a Super Beetle was a thing, they were scary fast .
I’ve been riding in / driving and working on Air Cooled VW’s a log, long time and I’ve never found one yet that couldn’t easily hold the vehicle even when loaded on any slope .
I drive raggedy beaters but would be embarrassed to need a block of wood on my 1968 Typ II or anything else .
-Nate
Any Vanagon with a wasserboxer is easier to re-engine with a Subaru than an air-cooled, but any Vanagon is a likely suspect for a Subaru. The only thing preventing a re-engineing of a Type II is the value of the original. As a vehicle, not an investment, it would benefit greatly from a more modern, fuel efficient and more powerful engine. Also, with crown gear flipping being an available service, the transmission also can come along. Alas, the new engine and transmission does not improve the cars crash safety!
If you’re worried about crash safety any old VW Beetle or Van is definitely _not_ for you nor is any vintage vehicle nor Motocycle new or old .
-Nate