VW Baywindow Pickups

by Richard Atwell
(c) Copyright 2007-2020

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What's here? Eventually, everything you will need to know to restore your VW Type 2 Baywindow Pickup 1968-79. If you have a 52-67 Splitwindow pickup, head over Wade Lloyd's excellent dropgates.com which is dedicated to the restoration of that vintage of VW pickup.

The baywindow Type 2 pickup was the workhorse of Europe for many years. VW produced 155,764 vehicles in singlecab or doublecab configuration but fewer and fewer examples seem to exist these days which has driven them up in collector value. I've put together a simple website to help restore these classic VWs.

One thing I love about the Transporter is that VW designed it as a commercial vehicle but gave it enough comfort to be enjoyed for pleasure use. Have you ever noticed how a fully loaded Transporter doesn't seem to drive any differently that an empty one? That's just how well VW succeeded with the design of this vehicle. If you can find a pickup, I guarantee you'll really enjoy owning it.


History:

Where did all the pickups all go? You can thank the Johnson administration for this one. Back in the 60's, the German government slapped a tarif on frozen chickens imported from USA. In retaliation, the U.S. govt. slapped a 25% import duty on all foreign made trucks specifically to harm Volkswagen and the German economy. By 1971 VW had decided to stop importing commercial vehicles into USA. Canada continued to import them but with the US dealerships unable to sell them and rising inflation in the 70's, Canadian dealers soon gave up as well.

The 25% import duty exists to this day and is commonly referred to as the "chicken tax". Some manufacturers skirted the tariff by shipping trucks in parts and performing the final assembly in USA. Unable to repeal this tax because of the powerful lobby of the Big-3, most manufacturers have built truck plants in USA to ensure they can remain price competitive with US manufacturers who would otherwise have a 25% profit margin but VW never did.


Naming Conventions:

Pickups are known by many names:


Visual Body Changes:

Many similarities with the other body styles:


M-codes:


Slats:

VW used 15 slats in the plank bed (5 short, 10 long) but switched to 11 (3 short, 8 long) around 1976. Baywindow slats are longer than the Splitwindow versions.

plank bed two kinds of slats

Model Count Length Design
DC Short 172cm beveled both ends
DC Long 184cm square cut on cab end, beveled at gate
SC Short ? beveled both ends
SC Long ? square cut on cab end, beveled at rear

Chris Murray sells authentic reproductions of the slats for $200:

so does Rick Wilson:

and ISP West:

Wolfsburg West no longer sells slats after UPS damaged one too many sets.

I have provided Chris and Rich with specifics of the baywindow slats so I would try them first if you want authenticity.


Tilt & Bows:

tilt fiche

Tilt is the European name for the optional frame and canopy that covers the plank bed. The frame consists of two hoops each with a cap that sandwiches 6 wooden "rods"

Several part numbers exists for the various version of the canopy (or tarpaulin): SC, DC versions; in sail-cloth and PVC. They have been NLA for a long time along with all the numbers listed above.

Tom Buese sells authentic reproductions of the sail-cloth canopies:

Although the length of the plank bed differs from Split to Baywindow, the mounting holes are in the same location so the bows are the same for both generations. If you can find a set of bows, they will mount to your baywindow pickup.

Derek Gregg sells authentic reproductions of the bows:

The bows are too large to ship so they are normally shipped as 3 pieces and welded later. Even VW shipped them this way to the dealers who welded them.

Once problem with the rods is that because they were made from wood and had a habit of sagging over time. Around 1980 VW replaced these rods with galvanized poles so if you have a tilt with them and someone is telling you otherwise they are wrong and thinking about the earlier generation.

Rick Wilson sells authentic reproductions of the wooden rods:


Plank Bed Dimensions:

If you are thinking about buying slats or a tilt for your pickup you may unknowingly be buying ones for a different generation pickup. Keep these measurements in mind when shopping.

Generation Singlecab Doublecab Widebed
T1 - Splitwindow 2600mm x 1570mm 1755mm x 1570mm 2600mm x 1570mm
T2 - Baywindow 2700mm x 1570mm 1855mm x 1570mm 2820mm x 1850mm
T3 - Vanagon 2730mm x 1735mm 1880mm x 1735mm 2820mm x 1895mm

Note: the Splitwindow singlecab in metal wide-bed is 2600mm x 1850mm.


Horse Hair Seatpads:

I'm a proponent of the coconut fiber "horse hair" seat pads sold by Wolfsburg West. They offer the best comfort and durability compared to foam inserts that VW never used and are the best replacement for the original material. Here are the part numbers you'll need:

Location Part Number and Link
Driver's seat (back) 211 881 775G
Driver's seat (bottom) 211 881 375H
Front 2/3 bench seat (back) 211 881 776A
Front 2/3 bench seat (bottom) 211 881 370A
Crewcab bench seat (2x) 211 881 375

Seals:

You may wonder why there are 68-74 and 75-79 seals used on the pickups? The glass was made thicker to comply with safety regulations.

Part Number Years Description
265 841 818A (68-79) door seal - double cab door
265 841 819A (68-79) lower door to body seal - double cab door
265 845 317 (68-74) large fixed window seal - double cab door
265 845 317A (75-79) large fixed window seal - double cab door
265 845 321 (68-74) small fixed window seal - double cab door
265 845 321A (75-79) small fixed window seal - double cab door
265 847 674A (68-79) vent window seal - double cab door (LHD)
265 847 673A (68-79) vent window seal - double cab door (RHD)
261 845 521A (68-74) rear window seal
261 845 521B (75-79) rear window seal
211 837 625A (68-79) Fixed quarterlight seal

Note: while the fixed quarterlight seal not strictly a DC part it is common on pickups. Buses in UK and Aus were often fitted with the fixed window unlike their "continental" counterparts.


Passenger Seatbelts:

Wondering where the seatbelts are mounted in the crewcab? They are under behind the seat back under the metal frame. You'll find 6 captive nuts for the worldwide standard 7/16-20 seatbelt bolts (111-857-799) and two captive nuts covered by plastic plugs near the headliner to attach the 3-way belts.

rear seat mount upper mount

Fuel filler neck:

Because of the location of the fuel filler opening and the position of the tank, the fuel filler neck and pipe are different from the bus version.

In 1974, the fuel door was eliminated just like the bus and VW made a pickup specific fuel filler neck:

filler necks

Curiosities:

What is this space for? The interior light on a singlecab. Because this panel was shared between DC and SC it was left without a light on the DC because one was mounted in the headliner above the front seat.

space for lamp

What is this pastic tube for? It connects the cabin mounted air intake vents on the 73-79 pickup to the frame to provide a separate path for intake air. Earlier models took air for the intake through the vents on the side of the engine compartment:

air intake

air cleaners

References:

History:

10/24/07 - Created
09/08/11 - Fixed broken photos, added translate button, updated footer
07/15/19 - Google update: new adsense code, removed defunt translate button
11/10/20 - Updated old links