Travel à la Tendelle

The Last of the Volkswagen Microbuses (Kombis)

For those of you who are old enough and/or LOST fans, seeing a Volkswagen microbus may remind you of the TV show LOST – the van Hurley found in the jungle that belonged to the Dharma Initiative

Source: LOST

So you can imagine my excitement when I spotted one on my first trip to Brazil.. then I saw another! And another one!

Although the Volkswagen Microbuses (Kombis as they are called in Brazil) are few and far between in the United States as it was only in production until 1979, its production has continued in Brazil up until the end of last year. The Brazilian factory in São Bernardo do Campo was the last one in the world to produce Kombis, and Volkswagen announced their retirement late last year, since Kombis can no longer keep up with modern safety standards.

However, for the next couple years we will still be able to see these Kombis running around the streets of South America! Here are some of the best ones I came across:

Jamaican Kombi, Florianopolis
Pacha Kombi, Floripa. Source: Foursquare

Surfer Kombi, Balneario Camboriu/ Itajai
Hippie Kombi, Buenos Aires
Lapa Kombi, Rio de Janeiro
Police kombi, Curitiba

Farewell video of the Volkswagen Kombi: