TheSamba.com :: View topic - South African T3 "Vanagon" 1992-2002

Sat Jan 15, 2022 3:03 pm

This may have been posted previously, but I didn't find it....... but honestly I didn't look all that hard either........

EDIT: And no surprise! It was .....
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=293035

Anyway .......

Using the term "South African" is fairly common on here when referring to fron headlamp grills.

But what is the history of the South African T3?
People rarely wonder about that...... or I never did.

Apparently after German production ceased they moved manufacturing to South Africa where "Vanagons" T3's were produced until 2002!

They made changes to it, the grill of course, they changed the front door sheet metal and most obvious...... they put in larger side windows.
These units are now called "Big Window" Vanagons, and they aren't referring to the slight increase in size during the mid 80's.

These side windows increased in size so much they had to change the body stamp!

They also changed the dash with full padding and a smaller glovebox but I failed to find any photos of that.

The rear air scoop design was changed as well.

I wonder how many of these have made it into the States?
There are some in Europe I know of.

Dave

Sat Jan 15, 2022 3:44 pm

These were only made in RHD, so a bit of a problem here in North America but there were some imported to England and featured on the 80-90 forum.
Although here's at least one that made it to America.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-cohort/coh...-89-built/

And here's a utub video of an old commercial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27QHa5LFUjs

The rear air change setup is much smarter than the older design, the stale interior air exit does not interfere with air entering the rear scoop. I looked into trying to get the sheet metal and parts from a SA wrecking yard but could not find anyone willing to do the cutting/shipping.
(the stale interior air exits behind the intake scoop)

I'd love to have one of the last Syncro versions and convert to LHD (the slider would be on the wrong side though) :wink:
However they only made those in the early 90's and only with the WBX not the inline 4's or Audi 5's so other than the cool rear air scoop setup it wouldn't be much younger or better.
Too bad, a 2002 Syncro with a 5 cylinder Audi, anti-lock brakes etc, would have been nice. 8)

Sat Jan 15, 2022 4:19 pm

What a great collection of commercials!

Thanks!

Dave

BTW title fixed....... we will write that off as a "Senior Moment".

Dave

Sat Jan 15, 2022 4:32 pm

I don't know how many made it to the US, but yeah, there's a huge VW plant in Uitenhage which is ~20 miles North of Port Elizabeth. Spent some time there on business a few years ago. Never made to see the plant, but there were 5 cylinder T3's running around everywhere.

They are used extensively for public transit, and they have special name for them that I can't recall right now. Kind of like the HOHO busses in Germany (hop on, hop off).

We got the short end of the Vanagon production stick here in the US. :cry:

Sat Jan 15, 2022 7:11 pm

What year is the one in the photos?

Sat Jan 15, 2022 9:04 pm

Durban, South Africa taken in 2018. I don't know production numbers but I saw only Syncro Passenger Vans. Note Rhein rims, round headlight/hi-beam grille and right-hand drive.

Sat Jan 15, 2022 9:27 pm

Damn, djkeev, you're a wealth of information. I love it. 8)

Of course, now, I want to import a RHD big window T3 from SA. #-o :wink:

Sat Jan 15, 2022 9:31 pm

slo356 wrote: Durban, South Africa taken in 2018. I don't know production numbers but I saw only Syncro Passenger Vans. Note Rhein rims, larger side windows as noted above, round headlight/hi-beam grille and right-hand drive.

No, actually that is one of the older types, regular windows, same rear scoop as here.

According to Wiki there were a few 5 cylinder Syncro's built. Along with 16" trailing arms. I wonder what else they may have been equipped with. It's really a shame more weren't made. (and that VW stopped the T3 here in North America)
It seems strange that more Syncros weren't built for the rough outback roads of Africa.

Sat Jan 15, 2022 9:34 pm

djkeev wrote: This may have been posted previously, but I didn't find it....... but honestly I didn't look all that hard either........Dave
We talked about these in some of the rear scoop threads. There's even a parts diagram in one of them.

Sat Jan 15, 2022 10:09 pm

Whoops, the Durban Syncro does in fact have the European and U.S. spec side glass and engine vents.

Below is an example of the Syncro's with the larger side windows and vents.

This South African built Namibian Syncro passenger Vanagon I spotted at the Germany bakery in Sossusvlei and again it is a world's more common righthand drive. Note larger side glass and engine vents. I only saw Syncro versions in traveling through the southwestern region of Continental Africa.

Sun Jan 16, 2022 4:23 am

Interesting info!

So.... if South Africa is "crawling with" T3 Syncros........ why hasn't the wealthy American gone over there and harvested them to return to the States which will pay top dollar for one?

Or even just the drive trains?

I am admittedly ignorant about the realities of traveling to, purchasing in and shipping from South Africa.

Seems like it may be a ripe market for someone like that guy in Europe finding, buying and shipping DOKAs to the States.

Dave

Sun Jan 16, 2022 6:17 am

A quick look a Facebook Marketplace for Cape Town seems to show that they are plentiful and relatively inexpensive.

Sun Jan 16, 2022 6:27 am

Can't see any Dokas or other trucks - but unless I'm converting wrong this is $6800:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/37893892...1138126776

but then I guess it has to get here....

Sun Jan 16, 2022 7:02 am

With you, Dave, want one. RHD wouldn't be a problem for me.

Back in the Jurassic, my parents went to Spain on a jaunt and picked up a Hillman Minx convertible as a rental and drove all over the place. It had inside landau bars and a feature that allowed the front half of the top to be folded back while keeping the back half up. Like an early sunroof. Great, it kept the sun off your neck and the ladies hair under control. They loved it so much they brought it back to the US. RHD. A gas to drive. A bit awkward if you wanted to pass someone, but it didn't have enough power to pass anyone anyway. And at night your eyes were farther from the other lane so it was fine. And of course, was a girl grabber as no one had ever seen one. Tan top and red leather upholstery. Very jaunty. Not the best made car, British engineering and Lucas instruments. Had it for years and years. The only problem was the front bearing of the starter motor was exposed and right where the front tire would toss road crud on it. After about 20k miles, it wouldn't start. No problem. We took a 2 x 4 and shaped it with a narrow shaft so it would fit among hoses, etc. A nicely shaped handle. Open the hood and whack the starter motor a few times and off you would go for another week or so, then whack again.
Just remembered it had a 4 speed tranny while US cars only had three. Easy, 4 speed pattern for your left hand and 3 for your right. NP

Exposed motor bearings? T3 front heater motor? Guess protecting bearings on the other side of the pond isn't something they are good at. Wonder if the SA T3 fixed that? I know they added relays and fixed some wiring issues. Definitely want one and love the huge back side window opening. Can't wait to get my hands on one and whack the roof out and do other stupid stuff.

AND NO SALT DOWN THERE!!!!

Duncan

Sun Jan 16, 2022 7:07 am

Hey, 4WD Waves in Maine. For those of us who don't do FB, can you do a screen shot of the offering? Plz. As soon as this pesky C 19/20/21/22 stuff is over, I want to fly down and drive it back. Is the Siberian/AK bridge up yet?

Duncan

Sun Jan 16, 2022 7:17 am

Duncan, Here you go:

Sun Jan 16, 2022 7:24 am

This red one is the facebook offering asking R105,000 whatever that may be?
No real details offered and this is an 89 with the standard German design.

syncro surf wrote: Duncan, Here you go:

Sun Jan 16, 2022 7:24 am

Just to clarify, it's the big window 2wd T3's that seem plentiful, not so much syncros.

Sun Jan 16, 2022 7:31 am

R105000 (SA rands) =$6800 US dollars

Looks like you can get a big window 2wd for about $4000.

Sun Jan 16, 2022 7:33 am

syncro surf wrote: Just to clarify, it's the big window 2wd T3's that seem plentiful, not so much syncros.

Still...... to have a 2002 model with a factory installed Audi engine?
11 years newer than anything available here, not even an antique yet!

Dave