Volkswagen debuted three-row ID. Buzz alongside vintage Microbus models, an accessories concept, and a special art car on International Volkswagen Bus Day

• Inaugural International Volkswagen Bus Day celebration included Microbus models from Volkswagen of America’s historic collection and VIP guests
• More than 200 enthusiasts brought vintage models
• Surf and camp-themed accessories concept vehicle gave an early look at the ID. Buzz EV’s customization capabilities; combination of VW brand and third-party accessories bring classic Type 2 charm to the e-mobility age
• Art car collaboration with Dr. Bob Hieronimus, creator of the iconic ‘Light’ Bus

Volkswagen of America hosted media and brand fans for the first International Volkswagen Bus Day, in Huntington Beach, California. Created with The National Day Calendar, the inaugural celebration set the stage for the world premiere of the all-electric, three-row ID.Buzz. In addition to new and current EV offerings, plus historic vehicles from Volkswagen, more than 200 privately-owned VW buses of all ages and genres showed up to be part of the event. Live broadcast content and entertainment was provided by Radio Woodstock with a special musical performance by Jeremy & The Harlequins. International Volkswagen Bus Day will continue to be celebrated each June 2nd by VW bus and ID. Buzz fans worldwide.

Building off the debut of the newest addition to its EV lineup, Volkswagen also unveiled its latest accessories concept vehicle, giving an early look at the customization potential of the ID. Buzz EV. On display alongside this unique concept was a unique art car, and a handful of vintage Microbus models from Volkswagen of America’s historic collection and VIP guests—read more about each below.

ID. Buzz Accessories Concept
Built for your surfing or camping adventure, this VW ID. Buzz concept has everything you need for the beach or backwoods. Hauling surfboards and other cargo is made easy with the use of a Thule® Caprock platform system plus Thule Board Shuttle attachment. Anchored to the Caprock is Thule’s OutLand Side Awning, helping provide protection from sun or rain as you enjoy the sights and sounds from the coast to the forest. Overnight adventures are made comfortably complete with the concept’s kitchen/bed combo from EU-based Ququq®. The modular unit converts into a bed for two and features a fully-functional kitchen and food prep area.

In addition to the sport and camp-themed features, the ID. Buzz Accessories concept features a number of familiar Volkswagen accessories that deliver extra comfort and protection, including door sills with the ID. Buzz logo, a rear bumper protection plate, all-weather floormats and a universal tablet holder. The head-turning exterior of the ID. Buzz styling is further complimented by VW logo valve stem caps and a branded Volkswagen license plate frame.

The ready-for-anything ID. Buzz vibe is rounded out by a number of style and lifestyle-oriented accessories including VW surfboards, folding chairs and tables, beach towels, a Bluetooth loudspeaker and more—all currently available at drivergear.vw.com.

ID. Buzz “Love the Earth” Art Car
While working with Volkswagen to recreate the iconic ‘Light’ Bus (see below), Dr. Bob Hieronimus learned of the brand’s shift toward electromobility and commitment to a more sustainable future. These values closely align with messages Hieronimus has been communicating through his many decades as an accomplished muralist and art car painter. In the ID. Buzz concept, he saw a new canvas to promote the importance of global unity as a pathway to a more loving relationship with our Earth.

In the Spring of 2023, Dr. Bob provided Volkswagen with a sketch of an ID. Buzz covered in the words “Love the Earth” written in languages from all around the globe. The design is inspired by a poster Hieronimus created in 1972 for Earth Day, as commissioned by the holiday’s originator. The 25 languages represent many of the most widely spoken languages on each continent as well as two indigenous languages, Māori and Navajo. In updating the design for the ID. Buzz, Dr. Bob worked with graphic design specialist Tim Wygal out of Lexington, KY. With this European-spec ID. Buzz, Volkswagen is proud to help him bring Dr. Bob’s latest artwork to life.

1954 Bus – Volkswagen of America Heritage Collection
Painted in the logo German radio company Telefunken, the early Panel Delivery version of the Bus demonstrated its versatility for hauling cargo as well as people. It used a modified version of the Beetle’s floorpan and the same 30-hp flat-four engine.

1958 23-Window Bus – Private Owner
A 1958 Double Door converted from a panel van to a 23-window with custom paint in Urban BMW Green and a custom double-stitch diamond pattern interior with a custom double flipper seat. Chrome accents appear throughout the exterior and interior of the vehicle. The Bus also features custom ball joint front suspension with Wilwood disc brakes and a Freeway Flyer Pro Street transmission for highway cruising at low revs. The vehicle is powered by a 2.4-liter engine with dual 48 Webers, a 10:5:1 compression ratio and an A-1 performance exhaust.

1963 23-Window Rotisserie – Private Owner
An original German-built bus in 23-window option with full customization. Paint is the original color scheme of Mouse Grey/Pearl White with a full custom interior in Mesh Grey/Burgundy Red leatherette with Ivory piping. Chrome plating has been added to all exterior trim and interior accents. The drivetrain consists of chrome Fuchs wheels, custom ball joint front suspension with Wilwood disc brakes and a Freeway Flyer Pro Street transmission. This Bus is powered by a 2.3-liter engine with dual 44 Webers, a 9:1 compression ratio and an A-1 performance exhaust.

1963 Standard Microbus, aka the ‘Light’ Bus – Private Owner
A recreation of the iconic ‘Light’ bus—a Volkswagen Type 2 van made world famous after its appearance at the legendary 1969 Woodstock Art and Music Fair. Dr. Bob Hieronimus painted the original 1963 Standard Microbus in 1968, after an invitation from the van’s owner, who was using it to haul his band to the festival and wanted a ‘magic bus.’ It became a symbol of the Woodstock Art and Music Fair and the greater generational call for peace, love and unity after a snapshot of the van by the Associated Press was widely circulated in newspapers and magazines across the country. The van even appeared in the liner of the official Woodstock album.

In 2016, Hieronimus and Canadian documentarian John Wesley Chisholm set out to recover and recreate the van ahead of Woodstock’s 50th anniversary. Originally, the pair hoped to locate and restore the original ‘Light’ bus, but after a six-month search came up empty, they decided to build a replica. Thanks to a successful crowdfunding effort, the pair was able to acquire an exact model of the original ‘Light’ bus and begin a painstaking restoration process, including a six-week effort by Hieronimus and a team of five artists to recreate the original paintings from the bus.

After learning about the project, Volkswagen of America supported the search and restoration process. A team of Volkswagen fans have also helped bring the project to fruition, offering their services and jumping in to assist the duo.

1966 21-Window Bus – Private Owner
A 1966 21-window German-built VW bus, customized with Root Beer/Tangerine Metallic two-tone paint and tan tweed interior with brown piping. Drivetrain consists of chrome Fuchs wheels, custom ball joint front suspension with Wilwood disc brakes and a Freeway Flyer Pro Street transmission. The Bus is powered by a 2.3-liter Porsche 911-style engine with dual 44 Webers, a 9:1 compression ratio and an A-1 performance exhaust.

1967 21-Window Bus – Volkswagen of America Heritage Collection
The rarest and most expensive variant of the classic Bus was the 21-Window “Samba” version, which has now become a sought-after collector’s item. The Volkswagen-owned copy in two-tone white-on-orange paint makes all of 53 hp.

1967 Standard Microbus – Private Owner
The original bus from the iconic 80’s movie, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, which was driven by the stoner/surfer character Jeff Spicoli in the film.  The vehicle was tracked down after it had been lost for decades and the owners paid homage to the film by recreating the vehicle’s exterior and interior details as closely as possible.  The painstaking restoration debuted in 2016 and the owners have enjoyed displaying the bus at various VW and Fast Times at Ridgemont High enthusiast events.

1971 Westfalia Camper – Private Owner
An all-original 1971 VW Westfalia Camper with approximately 52,000 miles. It features its original Sierra Yellow paintwork and is powered by a 1.6-liter engine. Considered a Weekender or Tin-top (without pop-up top), this bus was first owned by a family in Bologna, Italy, from 1971 through 2019, then sold to a dealer in Germany, where it was purchased by its current owner in 2019. Includes Italian plates, Italian market side light turn signals (semaphores), Westfalia interior, and rear mudflaps.

1979 Elektrotransporter – Volkswagen of America Heritage Collection
During the global oil crisis of the early 1970s, Volkswagen produced a number of Type 2 buses converted to electric power to explore the feasibility of electric propulsion and charging. In 1978, the Electric Power Research Institute and the Tennessee Valley Authority bought 10 of these electric Type 2s to test how EVs performed under daily use in work fleet conditions.

The electric bus held 72 lead-acid battery cells in a 1,874-lb. pack under a raised floor with 25.9 kWh of energy. The electric motor was bolted directly to the existing bus’s transmission, which remained locked in second gear, driving the vehicle’s rear wheels. The Transporter produced only 23 hp, and claimed a top speed of 48 mph, though testing by NASA was only able to produce a top speed of 44 mph. While some pieces of the technology were rudimentary by modern standards, the Elektrotransporter did offer an early version of regenerative braking. Based in Chattanooga, the EPRI-TVA fleet clocked a total of about 54,000 electric miles over an 18-month test period.

About Volkswagen
Volkswagen of America, Inc. is an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, which is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, Volkswagen Group of America’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices. Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of VWGoA, operates a state-of-the-art assembly facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, while VW Credit, Inc., another wholly owned subsidiary of VWGoA, provides financial services. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Arteon, Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Golf GTI, Golf R, ID.4, Jetta, Jetta GLI, Taos, and Tiguan vehicles through more than 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.

Source – Volkswagen