Classic Kombi on diplomatic mission

27/07/2016. German Ambassador Walter Lindner splashes champagne on the revamped 1971 VW Kombi that the embassy will be using to showcase German culture, lifestyle and language in the country. Picture: Masi Losi

27/07/2016. German Ambassador Walter Lindner splashes champagne on the revamped 1971 VW Kombi that the embassy will be using to showcase German culture, lifestyle and language in the country. Picture: Masi Losi

Published Jul 28, 2016

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Pretoria - The German embassy in South Africa has brought back to life, with a bang, its signature golden oldie 1971 VW Kombi to celebrate and reinvigorate German culture in South Africa.

The unveiling of the memorable grandfather of the Das Auto family in Onderstepoort on Wednesday kicked off the embassy’s bid to bring German culture, language and lifestyle to South African communities who have long since been used to the car as a form of public transport. 

The Kombi, adorned in German flag colours of black, red and yellow along with the country’s coat of arms - the Federal Eagle - was rebuilt from scratch with original parts and enhanced with a few modern technologies.

German ambassador Walter Lindner said the Kombi gained popularity in Germany during the hippie era and was often marked with the peace sign.

Lindner said the car would become a representative of the embassy in the country and represented a historic moment by being able to return something old and dilapidated to its former glory.

“We don’t want to just sit in our offices but instead we will be bringing the embassy out to the communities here,” he said.

“It’s about promoting a discussion and we saw a lot of the old Kombis driving around the country and it always sparks a conversation about the memorable times people have had in the car.”

“What better way to start meaningful interaction than with something that many communities around South Africa can identify with,” said Lindner?

Open day

The Kombi’s first trip will be along a taxi route in Mamelodi on 6 August and it will be on display at the embassy’s open day on 5 August

The first South African assembled Volkswagen Type 1 was produced at the South African Motor Assemblers and Distributors plant in Uitenhage on 31 August 1951.

The VW’s second stalwart is celebrating its 64th anniversary in the country as the first Kombi arrived in Cape Town in December 1952.

Many communities around the country used the Kombi for public transport and it was popularly nicknamed the minibus or the ice-cream van.

Pretoria News

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