EXACTLY 70 YEARS AGO A FIRST generation dove blue panel van with chassis number 20-1880 rolled off the production line in the Wolfsburg plant. It was delivered to Hildesheim to start a life of service, transporting goods from A to B. At the end of its working life, the VW Transporter vanished from sight for nearly 20 years in private collections and it was not until the early 1990s that an ardent fan brought it back into circulation. Following complete restoration the vehicle is now in VWCV’s Classic Vehicles collection, where it has been since 2014. On her 70th birthday, this is the story of Sofie, as she became known.
Slaving away for the Economic Miracle
On 8 March 1950 the Volkswagen plant began full production of the Type 2, the ‘VW Transporter’ (Type 1 was the VW Beetle). This Type 2 (also known as the Bulli) was the universal genius of the Economic Miracle period and quickly became the darling of the commercial trades, as did the dove blue panel van with chassis number 20-1880, which rolled off the production line on 5 August 1950. For Hildesheim and its new owner it was without doubt something very significant, as it was the first Bulli in Lower Saxony. For 23 years it dashed around the roads and narrow lanes of Hildesheim before going into (early) retirement when the company sold the vehicle to a collector.
The quiet times
From 1973 to 1992 the Bulli spent its time in the collections of various VW enthusiasts. The last owner tried to the sell the vehicle via a magazine run by the ‘Brezelfenstervereinigung e.V.’ fan club. The first attempt, however, was not successful, from today’s perspective almost unimaginable, but demand back then for a used ‘commercial vehicle’ of this sort was not great. Only after multiple ads were placed (as was still usual at that time without photo and with just three lines of text) does Dane Tonny L. become aware of it later in the year. He called up the seller and, after learning on the phone that the vehicle had the lowest chassis number known at that time, bought it there and then.
The Bulli becomes Sofie – Rejuvenation marks the start of a second adolescence
In 1992, at the proud old age of 42 and with less than 100,000 kilometres on the clock, she was taken on the back of a breakdown truck to Denmark. Being off the road for 19 years does no vehicle any good, so the essential parts were replaced to make the Bulli driveable again. Tonny is immediately sure that he’ll be keeping the vehicle for a long time and gives the van a name: with a nod to the first T1 ever delivered to Denmark, he christens his prize possession ‘Sofie’, which was the name of that first vehicle too.
In early 2000, he began a costly and time-consuming program of full restoration, which ended in spring 2003 with a test drive to the VW meet in Bad Camberg. It was not to be the Dane’s last journey with Sofie. Together they covered over 20,000 kilometres driving around Europe, often to Bulli meets where Sofie was always the highlight and generally won the ‘Most Beautiful Bulli’ prize. She was always the oldest in any case.
But it was not only Sofie who was getting ‘more mature’. The day came when Tonny too felt he was getting too old to be on the road. He wanted to stay at home more and place Sofie in good hands. But it was not his intention for her to vanish again for years in dark, private collections. Sofie is to be seen, to travel, to experience wonderful things with her new owner and to bring a smile to the faces of as many people as possible.
Back home enjoying non-retirement
While Tonny is getting swamped by offers from collectors, a chance encounter occurs on the periphery of a visit in spring 2014 by the Crown Prince of Denmark to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in Hannover. The accompanying importer mentions in passing that there is a 1950 Bulli in Denmark looking for a new home. Tonny is soon contacted by the VWCV Oldtimer department. He is thrilled by the idea of Sofie potentially becoming an important part of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles collection. Discussions continue for several weeks, culminating in his memorable line: “I’d therefore prefer to sell Sofie to you, where she’ll still be able to make people smile …”. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles was delighted and in late 2014 Sofie came to Hannover, the city of the Bulli. With tears in his eyes, Tonny said on parting: “I know that she’ll fare best at home.” He was to be proved right. Since then Sofie has already experienced a lot, made countless people happy and brought back many memories. As she did on her latest tour of several milestones in her life. Whether it’s at the Wolfsburg plant, in Hildesheim or in Hannover, as soon as Sofie drives up there is a clamour for selfies. She is an undisputed star of the Bulli cult. Sofie celebrated with a small group of her Bulli friends from the VWCV Oldtimer collection. Rumour has it that they had fresh engine oil and a delicious cake. So bottoms up and “Cheers, Miss Sofie!” Here’s to the next 70 years!
Technical data
Year of manufacture: 1950 Colour: Dove Blue L 31 Chassis number: 20-1880
Engine: Rear air-cooled 4-cylinder 4-stroke boxer engine Top speed: 80 km/h at 3,300 rpm
Engine capacity: 1,131 cc Unladen weight: 990 kg Payload: 760 kg
Power: 18 kW / 25 PS at 3,300 rpm
Dimensions: Length 4,100 mm x width 1,700 mm x height 1,900 mm