A 30-year-old Volkswagen T3 Doka Transporter Syncro was sold for $51,500 in the United States this weekend. Unlike most Transporters, it began its life not as a minibus, but as a five-seat pickup truck. Produced in small quantities in 1984–1992, these models are very rare nowadays.
Powering the retro vehicle is a 2.1-liter flat-four engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission with a reduction gear. The listing states the drivetrain had seen only 39,000 kilometers (a touch over 24,000 miles) of use throughout its lifetime. The truck is in drivable condition with bottom guards, Pioneer audio, 16-inch wheels, a bull bar with a winch, a full-size spare wheel in the bed and a folding table in the cabin.
Volkswagen began populating its AWD lineup in the 1970s with five prototypes utilizing an adapted Steyr-Daimler-Puch drive system. All that latest technology was originally distilled into the Volkswagen Type 2 Syncro, the company’s first four-wheel-drive car, when it debuted 38 years ago. Later on, AWD Transporter models gained popularity among motorhome enthusiasts who wanted more freedom moving around the country.
A total of 43,468 AWD units was made in total, including single-cab pickups, double-cab pickups, buses and OEM motorhomes. On the outside, they all wore rugged body protection and had additional ground clearance compared to the standard 2WD models.
