The Volkswagen Kombi , Camper , 1950 Editorial Photo

The Volkswagen Type 2, known officially depending on body type as the Transporter, Kombi or Microbus, or, informally, as the Bus US or Camper UK, is a forward control panel van introduced in 1950 by the German automaker Volkswagen as its second car model. Following – and initially deriving from Volkswagen`s first model, the Type 1 Beetle – it was given the factory designation Type 2.[2] As one of the forerunners of the modern cargo and passenger vans, the Type 2 gave rise to forward control competitors in the United States in the 1960s, including the Ford Econoline, the Dodge A100, and the Chevrolet Corvair 95 Corvan, the latter adapting the rear-engine configuration of the Corvair car in the same manner in which the VW Type 2 adapted the Type 1 layout. European competition included the 1947–1981 Citroën H Van, the 1959–1980 Renault Estafette both FF layout, and the 1953–1965 FR layout Ford Transit. Japanese manufacturers also introduced similar vehicles, such as the Nissan Caravan, Toyota LiteAce and Subaru Sambar.