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53-529: The Volkswagen LT is the largest light commercial panel van produced by Volkswagen (and subsequently Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as of 1996) from 1975 to 2006, before being replaced by the Crafter . Two generations were produced. Volkswagen introduced the Volkswagen Type 2 in 1950 and developed light commercial vehicle versions for German and European markets. The name "Kombi" (the name under which

106-475: A German automobile manufacturer and contract manufacturer based in Osnabrück , Germany. Founded by Wilhelm Karmann in 1901, the company specialised in various automotive roles, including design, production and assembly of components for a wide variety of automobile manufacturers , including Chrysler , Porsche , Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Group . The company was broken up in 2010, after filing for bankruptcy

159-510: A Volkswagen convertible. The chaos of the war prevented the idea from being pushed forward, as well as the cooperation with Volkswagen from starting 15 years earlier. On 1 August 1949, Wilhelm Karmann signed an order from Volkswagen for 1,000 "four-seater, four-wing convertible Type 15" - the Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet . Over the next 50 years, a total of 2,548,765 Beetle Cabriolets would be produced for Volkswagen. In addition to

212-452: A carburetor and a vastly uprated Porsche designed cylinder head. It was rated at 55 kilowatts (75 PS; 74 bhp) and achieved higher torque at lower engine RPMs. An inline four-cylinder diesel engine by Perkins was available. The 48 kilowatts (65 PS; 64 bhp) 2.7 L diesel was included in the LT range from 1976 onwards. The Perkins engine was replaced in 1978 with a six-cylinder variant of

265-424: A high ratio of utility space to footprint due to its forward control design and overall width of 2.085 metres (6 ft 10.1 in). The compact LT panel van (with a little over four and a half metres in length) offered an interior load length of over three metres and a load area of around 5.5 square metres. The LT was equipped with a front axle with independent front wheel suspension . Later options, such as

318-449: A larger transporter as an additional series ranged from 2.8  tons gross vehicle weight to 3.5 tons. The layout was a conventional rear drive with the engine located above the front axle , in a forward control or ' cab over ' design. The new Volkswagen van was launched in 1975 in Berlin . The name given to Volkswagen's large transporter was as functional as the entire vehicle: it

371-509: A total 891 Volkswagen T3 Karmann Coachbuilt Motorhomes - all produced in Karmann Rheine factory and not at Osnabruck as commonly believed. From 1978 to 1996, a total of 3,103 Volkswagen LT -based models were produced. These included the LT "M", LT "L 1", LT "L 2", LT "L Distance Wide", LT "L Distance-Wide Gold", LT "H Distance-Wide", LT "H Distance-Wide Gold", LT "S Distance-Wide" and the top-of-the-line LT "Distance-Wide Autovilla". In 1991,

424-420: Is also up to 3.5 tonnes. Usually light haulage excludes a distribution center as the majority of deliveries are direct. A delivery may consist of a single, multiple or priority urgent load and can be either same day or next day delivery. The vehicle (as long as it doesn't exceed the 3.5 T gross vehicle weight) does not require a tachograph and can also be driven by people with a regular car license without

477-742: The BMW 1 Series , and the Volkswagen New Beetle Cabriolet. The VW Karmann Ghia Type 14 is Karmann's best-known vehicle. Wilhelm Karmann Jr. conceived the idea in 1953, one year after taking over his father's car body company in Osnabrück. Karmann wanted to produce a sporty and open two-seater on the technical basis of the VW Beetle. Volkswagen was also interested in a sporty roadster that would be loved by American soldiers stationed in Europe and taken to

530-740: The Chrysler Crossfire (2003) and Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet (A209, 2003) were produced as complete vehicles. Production of VW's Vento/Jetta (1992/93) and the Golf Variant A3 (1997/99) also shifted from Volkswagen in Wolfsburg to Karmann in Osnabrück. From 1985 to 1989, Karmann produced the Merkur XR4Ti (an American-market version of the Ford Sierra for the Merkur brand); and from 2003 to 2007,

583-587: The Noriker using VW LT underpinnings in competition with the Sülzer and VW LT 4x4s, but they only were produced in limited numbers. De Vries also built three VW LT 4x4s on the same principle as Sülzer/VW, one of which was used in the Dakar Rally in 1983. Out of 5 million Mk1 VW LTs built, only 1,250 featured four-wheel drive. The Volkswagen " Typ codes" for the first generation LT were: The last first-generation LT

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636-642: The Volkswagen Golf diesel. The original 1.6 L four-cylinder engine became the D24 2.4 L six-cylinder , delivering 55 kW (75 PS; 74 bhp). This engine was also used in a number of Volvo passenger cars. In December 1982, an upgrade to the LT was introduced. The six-cylinder diesel was available as a turbodiesel , the Volkswagen D24T engine , producing 75 kW (102 PS; 101 bhp) and 195 N⋅m (144 lbf⋅ft) of torque. In addition,

689-758: The Beetle Cabriolet and Karmann Ghia, all cabriolet variants of the VW Golf as well as the Scirocco , and Corrado were built by Karmann. The 1960s saw the expansion of the company and further vehicle plants were set up in São Bernardo do Campo (Brazil) and Rheine . In the years after 1965, complete vehicles and bodies of the BMW New Class Coupé , and its successor, the larger E9 , were produced in Rheine. Installation of

742-524: The Chrysler Crossfire coupe and convertible for Chrysler, at the time DaimlerChrysler. Many Karmann-built vehicles feature a small wagon wheel emblem, the coat of arms of Osnabrück , where the company was founded. A large part of the development of the Crossfire was done independently by Karmann, and the vehicle was produced at their Osnabrück facility. Karmann U.S. also supplied the top sub-assemblies for

795-628: The Karmann Ghia Cabriolet and 1961 the bigger Type 34, the Karmann Ghia 1550, the design of which also came from Carrozzeria Ghia. In the quantities produced by Karmann, the Karmann Ghia coupés and convertibles were later slightly surpassed by both the Golf Cabriolet and the Scirocco; only when the first Karmann Ghia types were added together via the coupé and convertible was the Karmann Ghia

848-638: The Karmann motorhome design was updated and based on the Volkswagen T4 . The Gipsy and Cheetah models names were retained in the form of the Gipsy I (SWB) and Cheetah (LWB). In 1996 two new models were introduced namely the Colorado and Missouri. The Volkswagen Transporter (T5) -based versions were introduced in 2003. On 8 April 2009, Karmann filed for insolvency proceedings due to the sharp decline in demand for cars, and

901-528: The LT initially went from 61 to 96 kW (83 to 131 PS; 82 to 129 bhp). In January 2002, an inline-four-cylinder 2.8 L engine made by MWM International Motores increased power output to 116 kilowatts (158 PS; 156 bhp), and the maximum torque to 331 N⋅m (244 lbf⋅ft). The 2.8 L engine specifications: The 2.5 L: Production ended in September 2006, with about 350,000 LT models produced over nine years. Plans for

954-552: The Type 2 was sold in Brazil) established itself as a concept term to describe an entire light commercial vehicle segment. The automaker introduced the revised Volkswagen Type 2 (T2) in 1967. Commercial customers were shipping heavier and larger-volume freight . The Volkswagen Type 2 platform was also limited by its rear-mounted engine design. A total of 471,221 series 1 LTs were produced between 1975 and 1996. The new design specifications for

1007-740: The USA. Luigi Segre , the boss of Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin, was included in the plan on the occasion of the Geneva Automobile Salon. A chassis of the beetle was shipped from Osnabrück to Italy and Segre put a self-designed body on the chassis. To Karmann's amazement, Segre presented him in Paris not a roadster, but a coupé. Shortly afterwards, the automobile artwork was presented to the VW General Director back in Osnabrück. VW boss Heinrich Nordhoff liked

1060-666: The above light commercial vehicles are sold through dealer networks. Usually, a car dealer will have a franchise for the sale of a manufacturer's cars and the LCVs will be sold as an addition. The exceptions to these are Mercedes-Benz, which has a dedicated commercial vehicle network for heavy and light commercial vehicles, Volkswagen, whose franchised dealers usually have standalone van centres, Iveco, and Isuzu Truck. Isuzu Truck market commercial vehicles up to 18 tonnes GVW and Iveco market their heavy truck range with their Daily van to complement this. Many franchised dealers also retail used LCVs, with

1113-458: The cars in Rheine with 280 horsepower (209 kW) 343 cu in (5.6 L) V8 engines. About 90% of the necessary components were shipped by boat from the U.S. All were SST trim versions and their name, Javelin 79-K stood for AMC's "79" model number and the "K" for Karmann. A small number of vehicles were also produced in Brazil (São Bernardo do Campo). The Osnabrück facility also produced

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1166-584: The change of axles, the 4x4 LTs came with different wheels to the standard LTs. All 4x4 LTs have 6 stud tube type split-rims in 6.5J width. The standard tyre fitment on these wheels is 7.00x16 or 7.50x16. In 1985 VW took over the production of the 4x4 LT and introduced the DW (2.4 inline-6 N/A diesel) and DV (2.4 inline-6 turbo-diesel) engines to the portfolio. They made another 1250 or so 4x4 LTs. The model portfolio covered only long-wheelbase vehicles. Tintop and hightop as LT40, pickup and double-cab as LT40 or LT45. In 1991

1219-872: The chassis and body panels of the Spyker C8 Spyder . The production facilities in Osnabrück, Chorzów , Poland, Yokohama , Japan, Sunderland , UK, Puebla , Mexico, and Plymouth Township , U.S. manufactured roof systems for convertibles including the Mercedes-Benz CLK, the Renault Mégane CC, the Nissan Micra C+C , the Pontiac G6 , the Chrysler Sebring, the Ford Mustang, the Bentley Continental ,

1272-451: The company's financial obligations. The employment protection contracts of the large OEMs with the unions and the technological progress in vehicle construction led to the fact that the production of niche vehicles was no longer outsourced, but rather carried out within the OEM production network. Volkswagen, Karmann's longtime partner, revealed on 24 October that it had made an offer to acquire

1325-643: The company. On 20 November, Volkswagen took over the factory buildings, machinery, plant and land from the Karmann insolvent estate. With the exception of roof systems, Volkswagen Osnabrück encompasses former Karmann divisions: production systems (metal group), press shop, body shop, paint shop, assembly and technical development. On 4 November 2010, Finland's Valmet Automotive signed an agreement to buy Karmann's roof-component sections in Osnabrück and Żary , Poland. Karmann's North American operations were sold in August 2010 to Webasto Group . Effective 25 February 2010,

1378-544: The convertible variants of both the third-generation Chrysler Sebring and Ford Mustang . Karmann assembled complete knock down (CKD) kits in an agreement with American Motors (AMC). In 1968, AMC introduced the Javelin , a new competitor in the U.S. " pony car " segment. AMC did not have a manufacturing subsidiary in Europe, therefore, Karmann assembled the American-designed car for distribution in Europe. Karmann built

1431-416: The coupé with its flowing lines and rounded shapes, so he agreed to build the car on the same day. In the first year of production, a total of 10,000 coupés were delivered instead of the planned 3,000 units. The VW Karmann Ghia became a sales success with over 360,000 units, even if the performance of the car with only 30 HP and 115 km/h top speed did not correspond to the sporty appearance. 1957 followed

1484-516: The design as the rest of the range was switching to front-wheel drive i.e. Golf/Polo/Jetta so VW came up with another design (the Scirocco). Porsche then decided to build it anyway in a collaboration with VW culminating in the Porsche 924 running with an VW EA831 Audi 2 L engine with Bosch K- Jetronic injection which is the same basic engine that was in the 2 L petrol LT at the time albeit with

1537-704: The engine and final assembly were handled by BMW at the Munich plant. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Karmann produced the body shell of the BMW 6 Series Coupé and the convertible models of the Ford Escort as complete vehicles. From the beginning of the 1990s, the Ford Escort RS Cosworth , European-market Kia Sportages and from 1997 the Audi Cabriolet (type 89) and the Audi A4 Cabriolet (from 2002), as well as

1590-410: The expanding automobile industry. Karmann became known for its work on convertibles , coupés , and other niche models. After World War II and the reconstruction of the plant destroyed in the war, Karmann turned its focus on contract manufacturing and development for Volkswagen . As early as 1935/36, Ferdinand Porsche had asked Karmann to investigate the possibilities of developing a prototype for

1643-563: The first generation of the LT, such as the Worker and Delivery trucks. In the late eighties, German-built Volkswagen LT and MAN-VW G were sold in Spain as Pegaso Ekus , while Brazilian-built units were marketed in the US as Peterbilt Midranger s. A 4X4 version of the LT was also produced. Volkswagen had already prepared for this in 1983 with the cab facelift, which incorporated instrumentation lights for

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1696-572: The front allowing to check the coolant without having to open the entire engine cover. A touring camper in its various bodywork and fitting options was also produced. The vehicle's width allowed the possibility of beds arranged crosswise. Various Volkswagen -endorsed Westfalia campervan models were available for the LT, including the Sven Hedin , and a later model, Florida . The LT was also used by Karmann who produced over 3,000 Karmann LT Distance Wide coachbuilt motorhomes. The "G Series" light truck

1749-474: The front, centre, and rear differential locks. Sülzer developed a 6-cylinder, primarily diesel-powered, 4x4 version of the long-wheelbase VW LT, of which 156 were built. These were either LT40 or LT45 (rated 4 or 4.5 tonne). Opposed to the normal LT40 & LT45, the 4x4s only had single wheels on the rear axle. The chassis is lifted, 26mm anti-roll bars are added to cope with body-roll and the axles are replaced. A propshaft driven, rod/shaft controlled transfer box

1802-423: The gross vehicle weight, with the 5.6 ton LT 55 . It was available with a single-tyre rear axle, allowing for more space between rear wheel wells inside the cargo floor. An LT with four-wheel drive that could be enabled from within the cab was also available. The next facelift in 1986 changed the round headlights to rectangular units, as well as other minor cosmetic retouches. In Spring 1993, there

1855-569: The heavy LT 40 to LT 55 , had a solid front axle to achieve increased load-carrying capacity as is common for light trucks. The first facelift in 1983 changed mostly the interior, at the same time as the engine cover was changed and the turbo-diesel and inline-6 petrol engines were introduced. A redesigned dashboard was added and various other small things were changed. The undercarriage had an additional third wheelbase as an option for platform-type vehicles, at up to 4.6 metres in length. Two years later, Volkswagen again increased

1908-606: The luggage rack over the driver's cab. Approximately 1,000 units were produced through 1979. With the introduction of the Volkswagen T2/3 - also known as the (T3/Vanagon/Transporter/T25) in 1979, the motorhomes received a permanent overhead area with a bed for two people. Called Karmann Gipsy, 741 were made between 1980 and 1992. This number excludes 30 or more Type 3 Syncro models made between 1986 and 1989, and 7 Syncro 16" models made between 1991 and 1992. In addition 113 Cheetah T2/3's were manufactured between 1986 and 1990 to make

1961-485: The most successful Karmann vehicle. Since its beginning in 1901, Karmann built more than three million complete vehicles of the models as follows, exceptions as indicated: The first Karmann motorhomes were launched in 1974 based on the Volkswagen Type 2 'Bay Window' chassis. The bodies were of a sandwich structure. These motorhomes had two beds, kitchen, shower, waste water tank, rear body supports, leisure battery, toilet, water heater and gas heating. Options included

2014-556: The naturally aspirated diesel engine was dropped from the 4x4 program as it did not have enough power for the 4x4 drivetrain, with most 4x4 LTs being either the 90 bhp 6-cyl petrol or the 102 bhp 6-cyl D24T. From 1993 on, VW introduced the D24TIC with 95 bhp, but more torque, for the LT (and LT 4x4). At the same time the transfer box was upgraded to the New Process 241. Steyr-Puch in Austria built

2067-532: The need for an Operator's License . The speed restriction is higher than heavy goods vehicles: 60 MPH on dual carriageways and up to 70 MPH on motorways. Qualifying light commercial vehicles include pickup trucks , vans and three-wheelers – all commercially based goods or passenger carrier vehicles. The LCV concept was created as a compact truck and is usually optimised to be tough-built, have low operating costs and powerful yet fuel efficient engines, and to be used in intra-city operations. All of

2120-452: The poorer quality examples sent to specialist auctions for sale. There is a large network of independent used commercial vehicle retailers who retail thousands of used commercial vehicles every month. LCV dealers are increasingly using the Internet to help sell their vehicles in addition to the traditional print media. Karmann Wilhelm Karmann GmbH , commonly known as Karmann , was

2173-405: The previous year. Its convertible roof components were purchased by Webasto , Magna Steyr and Valmet Automotive , while the Osnabrück assembly plant, vehicle development, tools and assembly systems were transferred to Volkswagen. Karmann was established in 1901 when Wilhelm Karmann purchased Klages, a coachbuilder founded in 1874, and renamed the business. The company then grew together with

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2226-522: The range. A special articulated version of the second generation LT, the XLT was available through special order. The Volkswagen " Typ codes" for the second generation LT are: Engines included a naturally aspirated engine, as well as three Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engines. These were the inline-five-cylinder TDI used in the Volkswagen Eurovan (Type 2 T4). The performance range for

2279-462: The second generation LT. The Volkswagen version shared the body shell with the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter . However, the engine and transmission were Volkswagen Group sourced. This deal would continue in the Volkswagen Crafter , a successor to the LT. The new design incorporated an engine mounted longitudinally beneath a short hood and with rear-wheel drive . The LT adopted what had become

2332-404: The six-cylinder engine was now also available as a 66 kW (90 PS; 89 bhp) petrol engine. All engines were now mounted with a clear offset alignment that allowed for a flatter engine compartment, which was shifted further to the rear for more space for a third seat in the cab . In 1992, an overhauled turbo-diesel engine with charge air cooler and 70 kW (95 PS; 94 bhp)

2385-484: The standard style of construction for bigger transporters. It also included economical direct-injection diesel engines , easy access to the driver cab behind the front axle , and a wide space between the driver and passenger seat. The range now went from 2.6 to 4.6  tons gross vehicle weight , and the enclosed options of the panel van and compact were available in three wheelbase options. Platform vehicles, crew cabs, and numerous undercarriage options completed

2438-455: The third generation of the 'large transporter' from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles were canceled and later that year, the Volkswagen Crafter was launched. Concepts and future models: Microbus Concept Light commercial vehicle In the UK, light haulage is a restricted-weight delivery service where the maximum permitted gross vehicle weight rating without the need of an operator's license

2491-473: The transition to the cardan shaft further ahead, or a shorter shaft. Axles for single tires cannot be installed in vehicles with twin tires and vice versa. LT 1 4x4 axles are completely different and cannot be replaced by other LT axles. A full list of code letter explanations is available on the German VW LT wiki. In 1996, the joint venture of Volkswagen and Daimler 's Mercedes-Benz Commercial introduced

2544-430: Was a joint venture between Volkswagen and MAN AG , with gross vehicle weights of between six and ten tons. It was built from 1979 until 1993. Volkswagen's Brazilian plant at Resende has been constructing trucks with weights of between 7 and 35 tons. Even after the launch of the new Volkswagen Constellation in 2006, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has continued to manufacture vehicles incorporating cabs based on

2597-526: Was again a modest change in the look, with new grey-plastic elements introduced to the radiator grille and in the rear lighting section. The diesel engines were replaced with a more modern version of the same block. The DW (N/A diesel) was replaced by the ACT engine and the DV (turbo-diesel) engines were replaced by the intercooled ACL engine. Additionally, the engine cover was replaced with a new version, that had an opening in

2650-684: Was installed under the vehicle. The transfer box was a New Process 208, which is propshaft-driven and cable-operated. The same transfer box can also be found in Chevrolet Blazers and Jeep Cherokees of around the same time. The first six of the Sülzer vehicles are supposed to have had Dana 70 axles. After that production was changed to use the Italian-built Clark-Hurth axles. All 4x4 LTs came as standard with rear and centre locking differentials, with optional front diff-lock also available (until it became standard fitment in 1991). Due to

2703-507: Was introduced – the Volkswagen D24TIC engine . Early DV/ACL engine valves are mechanically shimmed; later versions were hydraulically auto-adjusted. The ACL had bigger injectors and the addition of the intercooler. The main block and bottom end remained identical. The head/valve adjusters/injectors/intake manifold and the turbo had variants plus a different sump for the oil to be pumped to the turbo. Turbodiesel axles are reinforced, have

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2756-439: Was just called LT , which is simply the abbreviation of Lasten-Transporter (that basically means heavy load transporter or cargo transporter ). The LT came in three gross vehicle weights, from 2.8 to 3.5  tons ( LT 28 , LT 31 , LT 35 ), with two wheelbases , two roof options, and with bodywork options as a panel van , a compact, a platform vehicle, and a chassis cab combination. The design featured

2809-457: Was produced in 1996, which corresponds to a British 'P' registration plate. In 21 years, just under 500,000 vehicles were assembled. The petrol engine was a modified Audi 100 VW EA831 2.0 L inline four-cylinder. In 1976 Volkswagen wanted to make a sports coupe and had Porsche design one for them using parts from the VW/Audi group bin with front engine and rear-wheel drive. They did not go with

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