The VW Bus - A Symbol of Counterculture

          As consumerism became more prevalent in the 70s, so did the counterculture movement, a movement known for its iconic peace signs, psychedelic music, and “hippie buses.” The “hippie bus,” or Volkswagen Microbus, in particular, was what members of the counterculture movement turned to while the automobile industry was becoming more and more “overpowered.” It became a symbol of protest towards reckless automobile consumption.

         Yet the history of the car is rather different. The Microbus was an offshoot of the Volkswagen Beetle created in 1933 after Adolf Hitler proposed a “people’s car” for Germans. The Microbus was the first van for people; vans and trucks were originally only used to haul cargo. It was beginning to be mass-produced in 1950 and was instantly a hit. Americans loved how the car could transport both people and cargo and how it was cheaper than the typical family station wagon. Some people were hesitant towards the vehicle, as it seemed to have ties to the Nazis and Hitler, yet the majority of American’s responses were overwhelmingly positive.

          As time progressed, no other cars were made similar to the VW Microbus. It remained a very different kind of car that slowly became associated with very different kinds of people, especially the counterculture movement. As “hippies” began painting peace signs on their Microbuses in the 70s, the car solidified its reputation as the “hippie bus.”

Microbus used by Esau and Janie Jenkins

          Besides hippies, the versatile cars were often used to transport groups of marginalized Americans, such as African Americans who were bused to rallies and polling stations in them in the 1960s. In particular, the car in the image on the right was used by Esau and Janie Jenkins, two civil rights activists from South Carolina who advocated for the increased education of African Americans. Commercial and military variations of the car were even introduced, though not very popular.

2022 VW Microbus 

          Typically cars depreciate over time, but the Microbus is an exception. Originally sold at $20,000, they are now often sold for over $100,000. Due to their continued popularity, Volkswagen has announced that they will be releasing an electric version of the Microbus in 2022.




Sources:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-volkswagen-bus-became-symbol-counterculture-180974354/
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/vw-bus-icon-of-counterculture-movement-goes-into-production
https://www.hallvw.com/blog/history-of-the-vw-microbus/
https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/trucks/a26207/volkswagen-microbus-vw-bus/