1951. We get a back window!

In January, 1951, the Type 2 assembly line started up for the second year. The number of Volkswagen Commercials (as they were referred to by the factory) produced that year was 12,003. This was a 25% increase over the previous year. Both Type 1s and Type 2s were being built at Wolfsburg at this time, and the total vehicle production was 105,712 units.

On October 5th, 1951, the 250,000th Volkswagen rolled off the assembly line. Volkswagenwerk was now selling VWs in 29 countries and the dealer network had grown to 729, with 11,000 employees. All this happened despite a postwar shortage of materials causing a slowdown of the assembly line. They were literally making them as fast as they could find the materials to put them together with. These facts help explain the reason for small differences between vehicles made during a single model year. Sometimes several suppliers were used for the same part.

There were several modifications or improvements made on the 1951 model transporters. Probably the most noticeable was the addition of a rear window. Somebody must have noticed the lack of visibility! This made the large cast VW logo, as seen mounted on the rear panel of the '50 buses, a one-year-option. Also, sometime in 1951 the vents in the upper rear corners of the panel vans were extended in lenght to match the engine compartment vents. Other changes included extension of the rain gutters and an inside door handle for the cargo door on passenger models. Prior to this, the passengers had to wait for someone to let them out. Another change to the '51 bus was the front kick panel, previously all one-piece, it was now made in two sections.

Speaking of passenger models, in June 1951, the Deluxe Microbus or "Samba Bus" was introduce, with its "fishbowl" look. Windows wrapped the vehicle, including curved rear corners of plexiglass, four skylight windows just above the rain gutters and a large canvas sliding sunroof. Twenty-three windows in all! The sunroof was also an option on the Kombi station wagon.

The Samba Bus was truly deluxe. On the outside there was a two tone paint job, with polished aluminum strips around the belt-line, on the front bumper and wrapping around the lower rear corners behind the rear wheels. There still wasn't any rear bumper.

Inside, there was full upholstery including headliner and carpet over the engine compartment. Polished rails ran around the rear storage area to protect windows from loose luggage. Rails also ran along the top of the rear seat backrests. The dash on the Samba was made larger and now crossed the entire cab, making room for radio and clock options. This model would go on to be the most sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.

Another official introduction in 1951 was the model 271, the ambulance. There have been some '50 model ambulances rumored, but it is believed they were build from existing panel vans by the aftermarket industry. The factory ambulance production began in December 1951, nearly the end of the model year. These Type 2s were the first with a rear cargo door. It folded down to facilitate sliding a stretcher in and out.

The modifications for the ambulance are quite noteworthy because in designing the larger rear ambulance door, the entire engine compartment had to be reorganized. The fuel tank was relocated over the transaxle and the spare tire was moved to behind the front seat. These modifications were later passed on to all the 1956 (post barn door) and later models.

The non-Samba models still didn't have a dashboard, only the "dash pod," with a black steering wheel, knobs and speedo plate.
The "fishbowl."	The no-nonsense "non-fishbowl."
New in 1951, was this oustide cargo door handle.	Now people in the back could get out without having to be let out.