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    adventure

    Kombi - traveling through terrains

    By Manni Goldbeck
    March 25, 2025
    Everyone loves Kombis. Who couldn’t love this Volkswagen bus that was based on the design of our beloved Beetle, ‘the people’s car’. I have fond memories of my parents’ Kombi from childhood days. And later on in life, my family owned one and we enjoyed many family holidays when the children happily snuggled in the back after a long day on the road.
     
    Kombi driving through veld
     
    Initially called the Volkswagon Transporter or VW Type2, the concept was inspired by Dutch VW importer, Ben Pon, in the 1950s. But how did it get the name ‘Kombi’?
     
    Kombi driving through rocky terrain
     
    Built to carry either passengers or goods, the versatile ‘combination motor vehicle’ or ‘Kombinationskraftwagen’ (in German) was soon given the shortened nickname ‘Kombi’, a friendly name that easily entered our vocabulary and lives.
     
    Camping with Kombis
     
    (If you have any photos or memories of Kombi days, please share them with us. We’d love to hear from you.)
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    Manni Goldbeck

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