Volkswagen BESTEL V.D.

The register lists 22 versions from four- to five-cylinders of 1,715 to 2,461 cm³, unladen weights from 1,447 to 2,220 kg, gross weights from 2,195 to 2,800 kg and widths from 1,780 to 1,850 mm.

The Transporter of these generations was the backbone of tradespeople, parcel services and camper conversions in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe; the Syncro version also spread into mountain rescue, forestry and expedition use.

On used examples, rust on wheel arches, sliding-door tracks and the floor pan, the condition of the cylinder-head gasket and turbocharger on the TD and TDI engines, and on the Syncro additionally the viscous coupling and transfer gearbox count; parts are well available through the VW Commercial Vehicles network and the independent trade.

Between the T3 and T4 lies one of the range's biggest engineering breaks: the T3 still carries its engine at the rear and drives the rear axle as standard, as did the Beetle and earlier Transporter generations, while the T4 switched to a front engine and front-wheel drive. That switch increased load volume for the same overall length, because a front engine bay takes up less space between the front axle and the cabin than a rear-mounted engine does.