We had been looking forward to this event for a long time (probably like many others): last June weekend we were allowed to be part of the VW Bus Festival in Hanover. During these three days we were able to dive into the world of classic VW Buses with our team and welcome the international VW bus community at our booth. The positive feedback from guests made us very happy and apparently every VW Bus fan felt comfortable with us – with fun and games involving classic buses, promotions for young and old and, of course, a small cross-section through our product range for T1, T2, T3 and T4.
Anyone who would like to think back to this fantastic event (or who may have missed it) will find a virtual tour of the Volkswagen Classic Parts stand here.
visitors made the festival a special experience for young and old.
vehicles were part of the festival at the weekend.
campers have pitched their quarters at the campsites over the weekend.
the last meeting of this kind took place at the same location and is still fondly remembered by many.
The booth.
Our shop counter was the central point of contact for guests of the festival who wanted to find out more about Volkswagen Classic Parts. In many discussions about buses, we were able to answer questions in exchanges with the community, research suitable spare parts and clarify a lot of, sometimes tricky, questions in our spare parts consultation with experts from the team. Full of enthusiasm, we were able to discuss VW Bus restorations and support current and future projects. Last but not least, visitors were also able to buy a small selection of spare parts and fan items from our bus range directly on site and take them home with them.
The vehicles.
Presenting special buses at such a meeting is a real challenge. But we seem to have succeeded in selecting two spectacular vehicle exhibits for our stand: the historical cutaway models from the collection of Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge Oldtimer and the Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen also amazed experts. When have you ever had the opportunity to take an unhindered look under the sheet metal or into the interior of a Kombi and discover all the spare parts in detail? In addition, both buses are probably among the oldest of their kind: the T3 cutaway model, produced in April 1979, originally ran off the assembly line as an air-cooled boxer and was later converted to diesel technology and updated in many more details. After numerous trade fair appearances, it became part of the AutoMuseum's collection in the mid-1980s. The T4 “Cabrio” from 1990 should also be familiar to many VW Bus fans – at least from the brochures of the time. Without a roof, the new spatial design of the T4 Caravelle was able to be photographed perfectly and this vehicle was also preserved for posterity. It is fascinating that many first owners of a T3 or T4 perhaps had these two cutaway models in mind decades ago! Incidentally, we did not show a T3 and a T4 by chance, because spare parts for these two models have been among our best sellers for years. Appropriately, the cutaway models were mobbed throughout the weekend.
#bullilove: Passion connects.
Our popular sun loungers and beanbags also invite you to stay. This is simply part of a festival like this: to enjoy the moment and exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere through adventure and travel stories involving beloved VW classics. Whether visiting from Australia, on the summer trip to Norway or the brand-new experiences at the festival in Hanover – the passion and fascination for VW buses of all generations was palpable and ensured one or two goosebumps moments. By the way, we experienced this as well, as even we don't hear stories like this every day!
We deal with transporter spare parts on a daily basis – but our parts quiz was anything but everyday: using only your hands to feel which three bus parts were hidden in the box was a tough nut to crack, even for real pros! But with more or less "help" from our team, all of our guests finally made it and were allowed to choose one of our coveted accessories as a reward. The queue was worth it!
Even more valuable prizes were up for grabs in our Bulli Quiz, which encouraged people to take part under the motto "How much Bulli is there in you?". As a thank-you for playing, a pair of Volkswagen Classic Parts sunglasses was given away on the spot, which became a real hit thanks to the summer weather. Like a scavenger hunt, you could find the answers on our stand, if you looked closely. Since the winners have been drawn in the meantime, we can announce the correct solutions here:
1950
1979
146
What would it be like to participate in an event like the VW Bus Festival without a personal memory? With our photo box, we had the perfect solution: in just three days, it took almost 2,000 pictures that our guests could print and take home. By the way, the whole thing only cost a smile at the moment the picture was taken. The joy in the faces of guests from all over the world: priceless!
What was left at the end of the VW Bus Festival 2023? Above all a big THANK YOU for a great weekend. THANK YOU to the unique community, the global VW Bus family. THANK YOU for the great organisation of the event by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. THANK YOU to all of the guests and the entire team for many unforgettable moments. THANK YOU for allowing us to be part of the whole thing – it was a pleasure!
© Volkswagen Classic Parts 2024
