Public transport bubble

The story goes as far back as 1931. In that year, Ferdinand Porsche started his own design office, which took on assignments from a number of car factories. It was the start of the development of the "bubble"

People's wagons on the move

Posted 07/06/2021 by Terje Bjørnstad

veteran VW club — Lined up before departure

It was the Veteran VW club in Røyken, Asker and Bærum that organized a drive for pre-registered members. The trip started at Sætre and went around Hurum.

Still used cars

Veteran VW club is for people's cars that are 30 years or older, i.e. proper vintage cars according to the old system. But when you see a people's car, you don't always think of a vintage car - at least not if you're a bit older yourself. In my neighborhood there are a couple of Volkswagen 1300s in daily use. They are used cars, not for decoration. When several people's cars are gathered, as at Sætre before departure, one can hardly avoid thinking that many of these cars could have functioned perfectly in daily use. If you place a beige Volkswagen 1300 in an ordinary car park, it will not attract attention. It should. After all, it is over 50 years old.

Is it really a veteran?

It is special for Volkswagen that many models are actually older than one would think. If we draw the line for veteran at 30 years, cars such as the T3 (Caravelle and Transporter) fall under the term, although they actually look newer, especially in Caravelle design. Until next year, early editions of the T4 Caravelle and Transporter will be able to join the procession as "veteran cars". Likewise the Golf III.

Type-3 endangered?

There is no danger of the public transport bubble disappearing. Not only was it very widespread, but it gained cult status early on. As you know, Volkswagen's Type-3 was supposed to replace the bubble. It came as fastback, notchback and variant. Today it undoubtedly has cult status, but it may seem that it took longer than the bubble. Considering how many Volkswagen 1500 Variants were sold in Norway in the 1960s and 70s, it is strange that so few are left - compared to the folkcar bobla. The explanation may be that the Volkswagen (Type-3) 1500 was used to a greater extent as a family car - and was driven in tatters, while many of the contemporary bubbles were bought by grandparents and old aunts. Maybe they are still simmering around?

The pictures are from the attendance area at Sætre. Further in the post is a YouTube clip from the start of the excursion.

Rainy weather nostalgia

Posted 08/07/2019 by Terje Bjørnstad

Many say that it hardly ever rained when you were a child. The truth is that it rained just as much, but it is the sunny days that stuck in the memory.

Public carriages in rainy weather bring back many memories. In the "old days" people didn't have big SUVs. They went on a road trip in public transport. Exotic trips to Valdres and Telemark. The largest luggage was safely placed on the roof rack. It rained almost every day, so the tent and bags on the roof were wrapped in plastic. Everything was held tightly in place by a so-called "octopus", - an eight-armed rubber band with metal hooks at the ends. After a few miles on the road, the plastic always started to flutter - Short, frequent "flap-flap-flap". The triangular windows were in the ventilation position. Mother had just left the window open because she had lit her third cigarette. In the back seat, all the children sat unsecured, shrouded in cigarette smoke and the smell of petrol, together with a wet dog. The entertainment was making lines with your finger in the fog on the side windows.

Because it always rained

I took the liberty of taking some photos of nostalgic folk wagons last Saturday. The small car encounter was announced on social media in Veteran VW Club for people who were on their way home after the car crash at Espa earlier in the day. The place was Nebbenes kro in the northbound run of the E6. As I approached Nebbenes, the gates of heaven opened. It was not possible to stay outdoors. Everyone had probably sought shelter indoors at the inn, or left.

Public carriages in rainy weather bring back good memories

As I moved on, I hoped that all the old folk wagons would stay dry in the rain. Maybe everyone got a hangover on the way south? Because the terrible rainy weather followed me all the way home. When I came in the door, my wife said, “How strange! It started raining just a few minutes before you got home…”

It is often said that you bring the weather with you.

Good summer!

Pictures

aircooled — Beautiful summer view even in drizzling rain.

Nostalgic details. Roof rack, blinds in the rear window, reversing lights, mud flaps, N-mark and red reflective tape on the bumper.

See

People's wagon at the People's Museum

Posted 16/05/2016 by Terje Bjørnstad

The VW club and the Porsche 356 club had a gathering at the Folkemuseet.

All people over a certain age have a relationship with Folkevogn-bobla. An exhibition of folk wagons therefore hits most people, not just us who are car enthusiasts.

The square full of Bubbles!

When I stood by a Bubble with a split rear window, I dreamed back to 1964 when we went on summer vacation with the neighbors in their 1953 model. I studied the thin bakelite funnel and the tight interior space. My father who was 1,92 tall was sitting in the passenger seat with my little sister on his lap. Behind sat two ladies and me. The neighbour's 12-year-old sat huddled in the small room above the engine. There was a huge load of luggage on the roof rack that we couldn't fit in the front. The trip was more than 30 miles one way, and I don't remember how long it took, but Bobla walked fine the whole way. The only problem was that all the adults smoked - all the time.

Join me around the city area at the Norwegian Folk Museum this fine May Sunday to see these fine air-cooled cars. At the Folkemuseet, Folkevognene formed some fantastic timepieces.

The square and the city streets in the museum area were full of folkcarts. — Like being in a small Norwegian town in the 60s.

A Kurierwagen (181) with effects system that stirs up the dust. — A Kurierwagen (181) with effects system that stirs up dust.

Unbelievable that this is 43 years old.

The 1303 interior was more modern than before. Notice how the pedals are attached to the door. — The 1303 interior was more modern. Here, I think it looked more stylish than I remember. Notice how the pedals are attached to the door.

Traditional interior with obligatory flower tassel and the beautiful bast basket under the dash. Snaddeholder was probably more rare to see. — Traditional interior with obligatory flower tassel and the beautiful bast basket under the dash. Snatch holders were probably more rare to see.

One of the oldest at the meeting. A 1950 model in perfect condition. — One of the oldest at the meeting. A 1950 model - completely polished.

The split window rear window was retained until 1953.

Says something about the fantastic condition this car is in.

The interior is taken from another split window bubble at the meeting.

Interior image taken from another bubble at the meeting. The room behind the back seat was a popular hangout for us children - also at speed.

The direction indicator is a luminous rocker arm that pops out on the B-pillar. Note that early models did not have the triangular air vent. It first came in 1953.

Here is the nice interior of a bubble with an oval rear window (1953-1956).

A lavish 11-window T1 bus. The more windows, the more valuable. Samba had the most routes, with a total of 23!

The spartan driver's seat that characterizes the T1.

Westfalia created the special roof solutions that provided extra sleeping space under the roof.

A Westfalia Camper flanked by two other camper solutions.

Today, these cars are among the very few that actually cost more on the continent than here at home.

Also includes this nice Westfalia camper completed in 70s style.

I thought this was really stylish. Good ceiling height with pitched roof.

One of the few Porsche 356s. This is a 1959 model with 75 horses.

59 model at the front with a 63 model at the rear. At the very back is a T2 service car.

Is there any better vehicle to transport Porsche parts in?

I fell for this '73 911 S in trendy '70s green.

Correct rims and rear side window in air position.

At the gas station in Wesselsgate, a gentleman stopped by to fill up his bubble.

I wonder if it was the dentist's bubble that stood outside the dentist's office.

This split-window bubble passed the pharmacy on the way home.

This beautiful 1302 S was parked along the wall.

Correct and up-to-date decoration with Sanity's May flower (you remember it, right?) and Wunderbaum.

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