Freeway Flyer: 1965 Volkswagen Type 2 Single Cab – Sold?

December 20, 2022, Update – We confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found, we’re assuming this ride is “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

November 17, 2022 Update – Three days after posting their initial listing, the seller elected to lower their asking price from $22,000 to $19,700.

As vintage air-cooled Volkswagen (“VW”) fans, we get how cool the company’s iconic Type 2 truck and van line looks.  However, with only forty horsepower on tap when new, VW engineers designed the transmission gearing for around-town short hauls, not cruising on modern highways.  The continued popularity of the original Type 2 formed a cottage industry of suppliers whose goal is to improve the capability of these slow boats in modern traffic.  One such company is Engle Cams, which among other products, provides a reimagined manual transmission known as the Freeway Flyer.

In addition to a Freeway Flyer transmission, this 1965 Volkswagen Type 2 single cab pickup, originally listed in November 2022 on Craigslist in Columbus, Ohio, features what the seller describes as “a new motor” without providing details. Another nod to modern safety is a front disc brake conversion.  Finally, it’s amazing how a fresh set of polished Porsche Fuchs wheels can improve the look of a Patina’d Type 2.

Last offered for $19,700 (the original ask was $22,000), Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is well below the one-year rolling average of this guide’s summary for all Volkswagen Type 2 body styles produced between 1954 and 1975.  By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you evaluate the price of the truck featured here:

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls between this guide’s #3 “Good” estimate of $19,800 and its #2 “Very Good” appraisal of $28,000.

The Volkswagen Type 2, known officially (depending on body type) as either the Transporter, Kombi, or Microbus, is a forward control light commercial vehicle 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.

As one of the forerunners of the modern cargo and passenger vans, 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 adopting the rear-engine configuration of the Corvair car in the same manner in which the VW Type 2 adapted the Type 1 layout.

Volkswagen produced its iconic split window Type 2 in various van and truck configurations from 1950 through 1967.  The example presented here is known as the flatbed pickup truck, which features hinged side panels on three sides of the bed to make loading and unloading product easier.  The air-cooled powertrain also provided room for a small storage area located at the bottom of the pickup bed behind the cab doors.  This example also features the unique bed canvas designed to keep cargo dry during transport. The growing popularity of these unique trucks in the U.S. ended up being derailed in 1964 by the implementation of the 25% tariff, otherwise known as the “Chicken Tax,” that is still in place today.

The Inform Yourself USA YouTube Channel features this funny video with the announcer doing a very bad Borat impression giving a modern perspective of the downsides of owning a vintage air-cooled Type 2 Volkswagen:

With a fresh motor, an updated transmission capable of modern highway speeds, and a fresh set of tires on polished Porsche Fuchs rims, this driver-quality 1965 Volkswagen Type 2 single-cab pickup for sale has the look to get you plenty of thumbs up everywhere you drive it.

If you are serious about buying this Volkswagen pickup, you’ll have to wait for the seller to update their listing as they indicate they will not respond to emails, but as of this writing, they have not provided a phone number.  When you connect, please remember to mention you saw their Type 2 featured here on GuysWithRides.com. Good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description:

Restore or Drive As-Is: What would you do with this 1965 Volkswagen Type 2 Single Cab pickup for sale?  Please comment below and let us know!