1969 Volkswagen Transporter: Functional pickup truck was built on that same platform as the Beetle

Volkswagen’s early version of a pickup truck, the lesser-known Transporter, was built on that same platform as the Beetle. The three-passenger Transporter essentially was a Microbus with the top half cut off behind the front seat. Besides the hinged tailgate at the rear, which could be lowered, the innovative folks at Volkswagen designed the drop-gate sides of the bed to perform in the same way as the tailgate.

The 1969 Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter was a single-cab model with left-hand drive, a 40-horsepower engine, manual four-speed transmission, and U.S. exhaust control pickup. All Transporters were painted a solid color. This is a story of a Lotus White one.

The wheels were painted Cloud White before the 7.00-by-14-inch tires were mounted. The upholstery was dark beige while the tool compartment beneath the bed, accessible from either side, was painted light beige. The Transporter, built to U.S. specifications — including sealed-beam headlights, a speedometer in miles per hour, backup lights, rear-window defroster, and vent windows — left the Hanover, Germany, factory December 13, 1968, on its way to the United States.

It sat on a lot for about six months until it was sold to another Volkswagen dealer, who used it as a parts delivery truck. The dealer decided to enhance the appearance of the bare-bones Transporter.

The top of the cab, wheels, and bumpers were left white, while the remainder of the 14.5-foot-long vehicle was painted a Microbus color — Elm Green. The Spartan monochrome basket-weave vinyl interior was replaced with a two-tone interior also from a Microbus — Light Sand and Khaki Brown. A full-gauge instrument panel from a deluxe Microbus was installed, as well as all the chrome trim found inside and outside on the...