RIP VW Bus/Kombi

The VW Bus / Kombi is no more ... well not new off the production line at least. Aljazeera reports from Brazil, where the last factory in the world to produce the VW Bus is stopping production. Why? - because a new Brazilian law will require all new vehicles to have side airbags installed. Volkswagen can't see how the airbags can be incorporated in the VW Bus design so they calling it a day on production.

Remember well an old Kombi I owned in younger days. It had a 6 volt battery! An iconic design, like no other. Looked something like this (although no where near in the same condition). I think it was a 1963 model.

If the heating worked & the wipers managed to provide some sort of forward view you were happy. Luxury was a radio! No power steering, coffee cup holders, ipod connections, dehumidifiers etc. And a mechanic was all you needed if it broke down (if you couldn't repair yourself) - no computer technician necessary.

Of course there are still many second hand VW Buses out there for the adventurous among you or you can hire for a summer long wkd. Lots of choices out there.

In the meantime, its goodbye to an icon that has been around for over 7 decades!