It is 60 years since Volkswagen produced the first design for a van and it is celebrating the prolific history of its Transporter by hosting an international event at the Hanover exhibition centre in Germany from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 October 2007.

In 1947, a vehicle that staff had built to transport heavy panels around Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg factory provided the inspiration for the concept sketch for the first Volkswagen T1 van, famous for its split-windscreen.

Since then, Volkswagen vans, from the original T1 to today’s T5, have become legendary and put to a wide spectrum of uses – by commercial customers, as a holiday campervan, people carrier, and most famously as the cool transport of choice for the flower-power generation and the surfing community.

‘Scarcely any other vehicle invokes as many emotions as the Volkswagen van, or “Bulli” as it is known by many of its fans.  It is a real cult vehicle and has stood for fun, independence and travel as well as business success.  We want this event to celebrate the unrivalled legacy of Volkswagen vans and the future,’ explains Stephan Schaller from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in Germany.

This is the first time Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will have hosted such an event and hundreds of unusual and historic Volkswagen vans are expected to make the journey to the three-day event to enjoy a full entertainment programme.

The weekend starts with a convoy of historic Volkswagen vans.  There will also be a display of Volkswagen vans from every decade, a showcase of owners’ own models, dedicated camping areas, club stands, an autojumble and an open air cinema with films featuring Volkswagen campers, such as ‘Little Miss Sunshine’.  Also, to celebrate Volkswagen vans’ strong links with the music industry over the years, a band with its roots in the ’60s will perform a concert for a musical trip back to the days of flower power, love and peace, and rock’n’roll.

On Sunday 6 October prizes will be awarded for categories, including: the ‘Oldest T1, T2, T3’;  ‘Most attractive T1 to T5’; ‘Most original T1, T2, T3’; ‘Furthest journey’; and ‘Pimp my Bulli’.  Winners are promised prizes money can’t buy, including tours of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles factory and ‘Bulli’-themed trips.

There are over 3,000 parking spaces available and a weekend ticket costs €25 per vehicle.  For more information, or for anyone with a Volkswagen van or camper wanting to attend, there is a link to a website for the event at www.vwn.de.