Have you ever misjudged someone or something based solely on appearance? They say you can never judge a book by its cover, and that's quite true, especially in the case of this Volkswagen Kombi built by RS Autosport in South Africa. Although there are a few hints on the outside as to what's really going on with this bus, the main clue comes when you get to hear the engine noise.
The Volkswagen Type 2, which is better known by its official name - Transporter, Kombi or Bus, depending on its body type - was first launched back in 1949. The first generation had a life span of over 17 years, making its away across the world as a popular choice for transporting people and cargo from point A to point B.
The car we're looking at today is a 1965 Split Window Kombi version, which has been transformed into something few people would ever suspect. The team at RS Autosport mostly deals with Porsches, as it brings them back to life, and restores their original shine. When Anton Roux, co-owner of RS Autosport, first bought this VW Kombi, the plan was simple: restore it to its original condition, just as he would have done to any Porsche.
But the bus did have some issues, which further complicated things, leaving the owner unable to pursue his original plan. While looking at 964s on the Internet from the comfort of his home, he quickly realised that the two vehicles, as shockingly as it may sound, are quite similar, at least in terms of width and wheelbase, which are exactly the same. Go figure.
So that's how the idea of building a Carrera 4 Bus occurred. Although it may sound easy on paper, it took the team over 4,000 hours of work to finish the project, with multiple challenges, especially when it came to the steering column, the fuel tank, and the gear linkages. But the end result is nothing short of spectacular. The bus is now running a 964 Carrera 4S chassis, including the suspension!
But the engine ultimately came from a newer generation 993, which means there's a 3.6-liter boxer hidden somewhere in the back of the bus, which is capable of 281 horsepower and 252 lb-ft (341 Nm) of torque. Although the Kombi is nowhere near as aerodynamic as a 964, it sure has gotten a lot faster, and it seems like people often have difficulties with keeping up with it on the street.
After we get a detailed tour of the bus inside the garage at RS Autosport, where there are several very interesting Porsches as well, we get to see this machine driving down public roads. The sound of the air-cooled engine is unmistakeably amazing, and it should allow you to understand what has really happened here, even if you don't have a look at the Porsche branded wheels.
The things Dragos enjoys the most in life are, in no particular order: cars, motorcycles, diecast cars, and drifting. He's seen (and driven) many vehicles since he started his writing career back in 2009, but his garage currently houses a 1991 Mazda RX-7 FC3S Turbo II and a 1999 Suzuki SV650-S. Full profile
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