Volkswagen T3 SYNCRO
Built: 1988 · Series: T3
More machines from model year 1988
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
VW T3 – the air- and water-cooled Bulli from 1979 to 1992: Kombi, Camping, Doka, flatbed and Syncro four-wheel drive, four-cylinder boxer and in-line engines of 1.6 to 2.5 litres
Volkswagen built the T3 from 1979 to 1992 at the Hanover plant as the successor to the T2; production continued in South Africa until 2002. Internationally the T3 was also sold as the Vanagon (North America) and the Microbus, while in Germany the name Transporter, colloquially Bulli, remained in use. Initially an air-cooled boxer engine drove the rear wheels; from 1982 it was replaced by the water-cooled boxer, known internally as the "Wasserboxer"; from 1985 Volkswagen built the Syncro version with permanent four-wheel drive together with Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Graz. Doka stands for double cab, Pritschenwagen for the open flatbed, Camping for the versions converted by Westfalia.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 8 versions in this range with displacements of 1,957 to 2,460 cm³ from four-cylinders, unladen weights of 1,330 to 1,860 kg, gross weights of 2,310 to 2,600 kg and widths of 1,820 to 1,970 mm; recorded lengths run from 4,520 to 4,637 mm, height from 1,735 to 2,085 mm.
The T3 is regarded as the last classic Transporter generation before the switch to the front-engine layout in the T4, and is today, especially as the Syncro and the Westfalia camper, a sought-after collector's vehicle; as a working vehicle it shaped the picture of trades and emergency services in Europe for decades.
When buying a used T3, checks include rust in the wheel arches, sills, battery box and front panel, on the Wasserboxer the condition of the cylinder-head gasket and cooling system, on the Syncro the viscous coupling and low-range gearbox, and on the Camping versions damp in the pop-top roof; parts are widely available through workshops specialising in air-cooled Volkswagens.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Volkswagen T3, Volkswagen (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 4correct |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 2,109 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Width | 1,820 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 2,460 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,860 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 2,510 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Volkswagen T3 SYNCRO weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,860 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Volkswagen T3 SYNCRO?
2,510 kg.
What engine does the Volkswagen T3 SYNCRO have?
4 cylinders, 2,109 cm³ displacement.
When was the Volkswagen T3 SYNCRO built?
Production years: 1988.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 9 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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