Tariff Target: 1969 Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter – SOLD!

July 3, 2023, Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we can now call this one “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.

May 30, 2023 Update – The seller replaced their one-week-old Craigslist ad with a fresh listing.  Everything, including the $25,000 asking price, carries over from the last ad.

May 21, 2023 Update – The seller replaced their latest expiring Craigslist ad with a fresh listing.  The pictures, description, and already-lowered $25,000 asking price remain the same.

May 8, 2023 Update – With their current listing set to expire, the seller of this 1969 Volkswagen Transporter posted a fresh listing. While the pictures and description remain the same, the seller lowered their asking price once again from $27,000 to $25,000.

April 24, 2023 Update – The seller posted a fresh Craigslist ad to replace the expiring previous listing.  This time around, the seller opted to post a completely new set of pictures to complement their lowered $27,000 asking price.

March 26, 2023 Update – The seller replaced their expired original listing with a fresh Craigslist ad.  The pictures, description, and $28,500 asking price remain the same.

In response to France and Germany’s tariffs on US-imported chickens in the early 1960s, the Johnson administration implemented a twenty-five percent tariff effective January 1964 on pickup trucks imported to the U.S. The fallout from that tariff meant that sales of the commercial versions of Volkswagen Type 2 virtually dried up overnight for all but the brand’s most ardent fans. While many such pickups seen on U.S. roads today are Brazilian imports following the U.S. 25-year exemption import rule, some actual original U.S. imports remain and are highly sought after.

The seller of what appears to be a restored blue 1969 Volkswagen Type 2 Single Cab Transporter, last seen for sale on Craigslist in May 2023 in North Scottsdale, AZ, does not elaborate on their truck’s origin.  If the seller confirms this was, in fact, a German import when new, we’d love to learn the story of the original buyer who was willing to pay the 25% premium needed to buy this truck when new.

Last offered for $25,000 (the original ask was $28,500), Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask aligns with the six-month rolling average of this guide’s summary for Volkswagen Type 2 T2s of all body styles produced between 1967 and 1979.  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 Single Cab Transporter featured here:

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls above this guide’s #1 “Excellent” estimate of $26,900.

In late 1967, the second generation of the Volkswagen Type 2 (T2) was introduced. It was built in West Germany through 1979. In Mexico, the Volkswagen Kombi and Panel were produced from 1970 to 1994. Models before 1971 are often called the T2a (or “Early Bay”), while models after 1972 are called the T2b (or “Late Bay”).

This second-generation Type 2 lost its distinctive split front windshield and was slightly larger and considerably heavier than its predecessor. Its common nicknames are Breadloaf and Bay-window, or Loaf and Bay for short. The featured a new 1600 CC flat-four producing 46 horsepower, the engine was also slightly larger. The battery and electrical system were upgraded to 12 volts, making it incompatible with electric accessories from the previous generation. The new model also did away with the swing axle rear suspension and transfer boxes previously used to raise ride height. Instead, half-shaft axles fitted with constant velocity joints raised ride height without the wild changes in camber of the Beetle-based swing axle suspension. The updated Bus transaxle is usually sought after by off-road racers using air-cooled Volkswagen components.

The Inform Yourself USA YouTube Channel features this funny video providing a modern-day review of Volkswagen’s Single Cab Transporter:

The seller does not provide many details about their 1969 Volkswagen Type 2 Single Cab Transporter for sale.  Consequently, you’ll need to interview them to understand their rare pickup’s history and country of origin.  That said, the pictures provided confirm this Type 2 is a solid driver-quality example you don’t see on U.S. roads often.

If you are serious about buying this Transporter Single Cab, you can start the conversation by calling the seller using the contact information provided in their Craigslist ad. When you connect, please mention that you saw their restored Volkswagen featured here on GuysWithRides.com. Good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description:

Show or go: What would you do with this restored 1969 Volkswagen Typ2 Single Cab Transporter?  Please comment below and let us know!