Volkswagen 78PS
Built: 1986-1986 · Series: Transporter
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 Transporter — T4, T5, T6: the generation decides
On a VW Transporter the most important information is not in the engine figure but in the generation code. T4, T5, T6 and T6.1 are not trim lines but fundamentally different vehicles. The T4 of 1990 brought the switch to a front engine with front-wheel drive; everything before it, back to the T3, had the engine at the rear. Anyone sourcing parts must know that boundary — almost nothing crosses it.
Read on 4 more paragraphs
The second confusion concerns the body. Panel van, kombi, dropside, double cab, Caravelle, Multivan and California share a floorpan and a name but are built for quite different purposes. The panel van is a pure load carrier, the Caravelle a passenger car, the California a camper. Listings run them all under the same umbrella term Transporter.
The industry length system applies at VW too: short and long wheelbase, standard and high roof. Anyone carrying loads should check this before engine output. A short wheelbase with a standard roof takes markedly less than a long one with a high roof, with otherwise identical designations.
On drive, all-wheel drive is the feature with the largest price difference. It was called syncro on older ranges, later 4MOTION. Anyone working winter service, forestry or unmade roads should search for those terms specifically — they often do not appear in the type designation.
For used purchases the history is especially telling here. A Transporter from a trade business has taken different punishment from a hotel's people carrier, though both carry the same designation. The number of previous owners and the body type say more than the odometer alone.
Sources: Van Guide (L/H-Systematik), Van Shelves: L/H codes decoded
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 4correct |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 1,915 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Width | 1,800 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 2,460 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,470 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 2,400 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Volkswagen 78PS weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,470 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Volkswagen 78PS?
2,400 kg.
What engine does the Volkswagen 78PS have?
4 cylinders, 1,915 cm³ displacement.
When was the Volkswagen 78PS built?
Production years: 1986.
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.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
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We ask the suppliers and come back with price and lead time.
Request spare parts →
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.
Missing a figure you were looking for? Report it →
Know this machine better? Have a photo, a manual, or know that a figure is wrong? Add it to the register →
Other models in this series
, 2.0 TDI BMT 150HK KASSEVOGN
, 2.0 TDI BMT 150K
, 2.0 TDI BMT 20HK
, 2.0 TDI BMT 84 KASSEVOGN
,2.0TDI
0,8 50KW KAT.D
1,9 TDI - 7HK - KASTEN/340
1,9D
1,9TD
1,9TDI
1.6D
1.6TD
Sources: [1]
Van in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.