Beginning in 1950, it rolled from the assembly line in Wolfsburg, Germany and populated the roads, beaches and camping grounds of the world. The VW bus, which was really a variation of the camper, conquered the family vehicle niche and led the way for dozens of imitations. It became part of popular culture ranging from flower power hippie hangouts to family picnics. The bus resides everywhere today, including the South Leaside driveway that is home to the bat-crested Halloween model above. Actually, the bats come off after the trick or treat festival. But now the WV bus, in all its various forms, will cease production. The last model will roll off the assembly line in Brazil December 31. The company says it cannot meet new safety standards in Brazil that mandate all vehicles have air bags and antilock brakes beginning in 2014. Volkswagen Brazil says the final blue and white editions will include special additions such as vinyl upholstery. Because the VW is so durable and a large quantity have been produced over the decades, there should be plenty of the vans on the road for years to come. According to the Associated Press, VW has assembled over 10 million Volkswagen Transporter vans worldwide since first introducing the vehicle 63 years ago in Germany. Brazil alone has assembled more than 1.5 million of them. The van, a symbol of Sixties counter culture, was famously linked to everyone from Bob Dylan to the Grateful Dead, whose many fans toured with the band in their own buses.Bat-crested VW bus lives on in South Leaside
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Beginning in 1950, it rolled from the assembly line in Wolfsburg, Germany and populated the roads, beaches and camping grounds of the world. The VW bus, which was really a variation of the camper, conquered the family vehicle niche and led the way for dozens of imitations. It became part of popular culture ranging from flower power hippie hangouts to family picnics. The bus resides everywhere today, including the South Leaside driveway that is home to the bat-crested Halloween model above. Actually, the bats come off after the trick or treat festival. But now the WV bus, in all its various forms, will cease production. The last model will roll off the assembly line in Brazil December 31. The company says it cannot meet new safety standards in Brazil that mandate all vehicles have air bags and antilock brakes beginning in 2014. Volkswagen Brazil says the final blue and white editions will include special additions such as vinyl upholstery. Because the VW is so durable and a large quantity have been produced over the decades, there should be plenty of the vans on the road for years to come. According to the Associated Press, VW has assembled over 10 million Volkswagen Transporter vans worldwide since first introducing the vehicle 63 years ago in Germany. Brazil alone has assembled more than 1.5 million of them. The van, a symbol of Sixties counter culture, was famously linked to everyone from Bob Dylan to the Grateful Dead, whose many fans toured with the band in their own buses.