South America.

Larger and heavier than their predecessor, the T2, – along with a more squared much less curved styling – the T3 was manufactured in Germany from 1979 until 1990. Creation of the 2WD continuing until 1992 at Puch in Graz/Austria, where all 4WDs was indeed built. South African production of the T3 carried on, for that marketplace just, until 2002. The T3 is the final generation of rear-engined Volkswagens.

Following the T2, the kind 2, T3 - Transporter 2 Generation 3 - in the beginning showcased air-cooled and afterwards water-cooled engines. Variations stated in Southern Africa from 1990 until 2002 showcased an Audi five-cylinder engine.

Volkswagen sold the Westfalia camper variant through the entire T3 manufacturing, with services like an appear roof, refrigerator, sink, and stove.
1991 Volkswagen Transporter 2-door utility

Examples built between 1980 and 1985 showcased circular headlights and chrome-plated metallic bumpers with plastic end-caps. Air-cooled versions are lacking the lower grill above the radiator of this water-cooled systems, except on brands with factory air-con. 1986 model season vehicles received revisions like a tachometer, additional material selection, redesigned air conditioning unit, larger water-cooled engine with a more advanced motor control program, and redesigned transmissions like an optional Syncro four-wheel drive. Exterior changes include rectangular headlights and differing paint options. Alloy rims, larger and squarer plastic bumpers with trim along the rocker panels were recommended, and standard equipment on Wolfsburg Edition vans. For 1990 and 1991 model many years, a "Carat" trim level ended up being available which included all available alternatives.

All 1980 many 1981 versions have eight welded-in material slats covering the engine ventilation passages behind a corner windows. Later on systems had black vinyl 16-slat protects that slotted in at the top and screwed straight down at the bottom.

Through the 1980s, the U.S. Army and environment Force in Germany made use of T3's as administrative vehicles. In army utilize the vehicle's nomenclature ended up being "lighter Truck, Commercial".

Porsche has generated a version known as B32 in a restricted edition. The van, on the basis of the luxurious Carat model, ended up being loaded with the 231 PS 3.2 liter Carrera system and ended up being originally created to guide Porsche's screening activities in Algeria. Ten among these are built, with some sold by Porsche to unique consumers. Porsche by themselves additionally utilized the Porsche-engined bus to move team rapidly. Top rate was around 135 mph, although Porsche only claimed 116 miles per hour to ensure the figures might be replicated with nine folk in the vehicles and with the ac on complete blast.

Oettinger is rolling out a six-cylinder variation called WBX6. The engine hails from the "Wasserboxer" motor and has now numerous common components along with it. The development of the system was originally developed to Oettinger by VW. Oettinger purchased the legal rights when VW didn't make use of it.

Because of the internal combustion system and transaxle installed really low inside back, the T3 had much larger disc brakes in the front, and drums when you look at the backside. Axle body weight is very almost equal upon the front side and straight back finishes regarding the car. Unlike the T2 before they, the T3 had been readily available with facilities particularly power steering, ac, power door hair, electrically monitored and heated mirrors, lighted vanity mirrors, and a light above the glove container.

The automatic ended up being a regular hydraulic three-speed unit, the exact same 090/010 device as found in Audis of this period. These featured a cast aluminum alloy situation the transmission area, and a cast iron situation for best drive section.

The 091 handbook transmission is a four-speed device, featuring a lightweight aluminum alloy circumstances; from 1983 a 5-speed transmission had been readily available as an alternative on specific systems; a 5-speed is fitted as traditional on diesels and Syncro four-wheel drive versions.

The automatic qualities a 1.0 ratio top equipment, whilst guide features a 0.85 top gear.

The oils filler tube for the engine is located behind the flip-down license plate home, as is the oils dipstick while the energy steering substance reservoir. More vans have a twist-on/off gas cap right on the exterior slightly below and behind the passenger side-door. A locking cap ended up being recommended. The extra tyre lies in a tray under the really front side of van, just below the radiator.
Engines

Due to the motor positioning, a T3 features almost equal 50/50 body weight circulation fore-and-aft. The early air-cooled machines were notably pricey to produce along with some dependability troubles. Volkswagen initially supposed to change these with the tennis's inline-four system nevertheless the price of re engineering both vehicle and system made them opt for upgrading the flat-four instead. An overhead-cam design had been mooted but denied as willingness to rev is regarded as being of less relevance than low-end freedom and low-cost. The brand new 1.9 "Wasserboxer" was also originally considered to be used in some various other Volkswagens including the Gol, which nonetheless relied from the old air-cooled flat-four at that moment.

The U.S variation 1.9 liter 1984 plus the later 1985 or over water-cooled gas engines skilled considerable and repeated difficulties with cylinder head surface erosion and coolant leaks. 2.1lr machines suffered the same, mostly as a result of without having the antifreeze altered often enough.
Petrol/gasoline

There have been four basic petrol system alternatives between 1979 and 1991, with several sub-models. All are overhead-valve push-rod horizontally compared four-cylinder machines. Available system options differed between areas. Aftermarket VW professional Oettinger in addition provided the WBX6, a six-cylinder variation.

Air-cooled
1.6 L air-cooled, single Solex 34 PICT-4 carburettor
2.0 L air-cooled, twin Solex 34 PDSIT-2/3 carburettor or gasoline injected flat-four within the 1980 to 1983½ versions
Water-cooled
1.9 litre engines:
1.9 L water-cooled system utilized for the 1983½ to 1985 models, that used a gasoline shot system generally "Digijet"
1.9 L 8.6:1 compression proportion, 34-PICT carburetor
1.9 L 8.6:1 compression ratio, 2E3 or 2E4 carburetor
1.9 L 7.5:1 compression proportion, 34-PICT carburetor
1.9 L 8.6:1 compression proportion, Bosch Digijet digital gas injections
2.1 Litre machines:
2.1 L Wasserboxer, put before end of Vanagon importation to the United States in 1991. This motor put a more advanced level motor management program referred to as Bosch "Digifant I" which today digitally handled ignition time including gasoline distribution.
2.1 L 9:1 compression ratio Wasserboxer
2.1 L 10:1 compression proportion, Digijet shot, only offered in europe perhaps not requiring catalytic converter.

The Wasserboxer showcased an aluminum circumstances, cylinder minds, and pistons, and a forged metal crankshaft. The Wasserboxer, as with every VW boxer machines have a gear-driven camshaft. In addition showcased Heron, or "bowl-in-piston" kind burning chambers where in fact the combustion happens in the piston bowl region, and not only in cylinder mind since will be the circumstances with flat-top pistons..

The change to water-cooled boxer engines is made mid-year in 1983. T2 transporters or 'bay window' vans, manufactured in Brazil until 2013, had been switched to in-line 4 cylinder water-cooled machines and a front mounted radiator in 2005.

Oettinger WBX6
3.2 L VW-Oettinger Wasserboxer, gasoline injected.
3.7 L VW-Oettinger Wasserboxer, gasoline inserted.

The six-cylinder system as found in the VW Oettinger WBX6 was created by VW together with Oettinger for use into the T3. When VW abandoned the venture, Oettinger took the style, refined it and put it available on the market. Therefore the six-cylinder shares most section with the four-cylinder Wasserboxer.
Diesel engines

In comparison to the conventional flat-four fuel engines, all diesel engine choices were of an L4 inline setup.

1.6 L Naturally aspirated Diesel I4, for sale in the united states on 1982/3 brands best.
1.6 L Turbocharged I4.
1.7 L Organic aspirated I4.


United States Vanagon model modifications included the Vanagon, featuring plastic seating and a spartan interior; the Vanagon L with optional fabric chairs, most upscale indoor panels, and a recommended dashboard blower; the Vanagon GL with additional products, as well as the Westfalia pop-top camper Vanagons, which arrived in two variations. A Camper version with incorporated home, that includes ice box, a-two burner kitchen stove, and stainless-steel sink with onboard water-supply. A fold down back workbench seat changed into a bed as well as the pop-top included a fold out bed; these models could sleep four grownups. A 'Weekender ' version which lacked the ice box, propane kitchen stove, and sink regarding the complete 'camper' models offered an optional removable pantry with a 12 volt cooler and self-contained sink. In 1984, the Wolfsburg edition ended up being configured with a rear bench seat as well as 2 forward-facing middle seats. In bench seat, which collapsed down seriously to make full size bed, is a storage compartment and a rear heater.

Wolfsburg version "Weekender" brands showcased two rear-facing chairs behind the front seating in the place of a center workbench seat and a dining table that may fold up through the sidewall – or fold straight down if not being used. "Multivan" designs showcased Wolfsburg Edition trim and an interior with rear-facing seating. Wolfsburg version and camper van vehicles are outfitted for Volkswagen because of the Westfalia factory.

Syncro brands were stated in limited data from 1985 through 1992, using the four-wheel drive program included by Steyr-Daimler-Puch Functions in Graz, Austria, with a short wheelbase and 48/52 front/rear body weight distribution.

Model many years 1980 to 1985 have circular sealed beam headlights. Subsequent designs for North American and European areas had circular sealed beam headlights or small square headlights, using the main lights outboard and high beams inboard. Later designs from South Africa returned to round headlight housings for the biggest headlights and high-beams.

The T3 is replaced by the T4 in america market in 1993. Top-of-the-line Wolfsburg Edition Westfalia Campers, which had all alternatives, had been near the top of the price range. As well as the camper versions, a Carat trim amount is available for 1990 and 1991 design ages. This model included all possibilities for Transporter setup. Some systems had optional aluminum alloy tires.
South African products

Creation of the T3 proceeded in Southern Africa until June 2002, whenever, as a result of economies of scale, Volkswagen SA had been obliged to cease production after areas provide started initially to be a problem. The South African T3s article 1991 have a face-lift which included changed entry way piece steel, larger side windows behind the B pillars and various back grilles inside D pillars. The bodyshell is a true RHD design lacking the unused door track address regarding offside and LHD wiper supply mount points as available on earlier in the day systems. On systems with 5-cylinder machines the boot floors grew up to allow for the taller engine and has now little space places either side of the motor hatch. Interior changes integrate a totally padded dashboard featuring an inferior glove package and up-to-date vacuum-powered air flow controls managed by round knobs without slip levers, the fuse field was also relocated to the right hand side of the steering line. In front associated with the vehicle twin-headlamps both in circular and rectangular designs were fitted alongside a full width lower grille integrating the signal contacts, which were altered from emerald to smoked contacts from 1999 onwards, this grille and headlight combination was not found anywhere else in the world. These later on South African T3s became called gigantic screen T3s because of the larger part windows.

The 2.1 Wasserboxer motors had been changed with five-cylinder Audi engines inside "Microbus" and "Caravelle", while a VW 1.8 inline-four cylinder engine is utilized in the "Kombi" and "Van" brands. The 5-cylinder T3's arrived on the scene at first with a 2.5 litre fuel injected system in 1991, but this was replaced in 1995 with a 2.6 litre with a greater gas injection system, 5-speed transmission as well as 2 styles of 15" alloy wheels as standard and larger ventilated front disc brakes. A slightly reduced spec 2.3 five cylinder fuel-injected design ended up being launched along with the 2.6 but was equipped with a 4-speed transmission and customized wrap-around steel bumpers. Nearby the end of manufacturing, a high regarding the range Caravelle 2.6i referred to as "Exclusiv" included two rear-facing seating in the place of the center bench seat, a fridge and a folding table in the back of the vehicle and Carat 2 alloy rims. A Microbus 2.6i with similar qualities, but with Rhein alloy tires ended up being referred to as "Activ". The last T3 from the manufacturing range in Uitenhage on Friday June 16, 2002 is a gold-coloured Microbus 2.6i which Volkswagen SA retained with regards to their AutoPavilion, host to vehicles and Legends, which very first unsealed its doorways in 2004. The automobile is later on written off in a transporter roll-over accident in November 2006, after coming back from a display in Cape city.

Five-cylinder Audi Motors made use of

2.3i 90 kW
2.5i 100 kW
2.6i 100 kW

About 45 WBX6 engines had been brought in to South Africa.

Eighty-nine gigantic Window T3's arrived on the scene when you look at the Syncro Edition from 1991 to 1992.