As Amazonray and I were crossing this grassy parking lot at the Powerland Museum a few weeks back, I peeled off a few quick shots of this double-cabin (“DoKa”) VW T3 Transporter, given that it’s pretty unusual in the US. As best as I can tell, VW did not import these officially to the US, due to the infamous 25% chicken tax. But it turns out to be even rarer than I thought.
At the time, I didn’t even notice the “Tristar”emblem stuck to its front end below the windshield. But a bit of Googling tell me that according to “legend”, only some 1500 Tristars were ever built, as a luxury version of the DoKa T3; some 500 were AWD Syncros; the rest 2WD. Given the lack of Syncro badges, I’m assuming its the latter.
So what makes this so special? For the typical sparse German standards of the time, this was a luxurious version of the T3, with nicer upholstery, and other touches.. But the most unusual is the second rear door in back, o the driver’s side. The standard T3 Doka had only a curbside rear door. I’m guessing the tooling for the other side already existed, for RHD countries, but in the Tristar, both were included.
The cabin in these T3s is very practical, in that classic old-school German way. The upholstery and other materials wear like iron, even if the wasserboxer 2.1 liter four doesn’t.
The sideboards on these beds fold down flat, for loading or hauling oversize objects.
Of course, the bed is a bit high, since it sits over the engine. There is a storage compartment under the front of the bed, but on the double cab, it’s none too big. Well, everything is a trade off.
Compared to an big American double cab pickup, the DoKa T3 is a paragon of space efficiency. Of course, it won’t tow 10,000 lbs.
Let see, I want a modern 4dr pickup but done efficient German style. They must have done one once. Actually 500 times. Paul only you could have stumblied across this in USA. Good job. You should keep it in mind if you ever want to replace your pickup.
It’s very appealing, but I need a big low bed, as I haul a lot of stuff in my truck.
Although this would come in handy:
“a big low bed”
Coachbuilder Kemperink built extra-long T2 and T3 pickups.
Source, and more: http://www.vwbusclub.nl/bolletje-bussen-2/
That one looks kind of heavy. There must be some occupations however where the truck never has to get above 30.
The sideboards are folded down, that’s all. Here’s the extra long double cab edition.
…”I want a modern 4dr pickup but done efficient German style”…
That would be this one.
VW Amaroks are selling pretty good around here, for a non-japanese pickup. Quite efficient, well finished and good looking. We just have to wait some years to find out more about their longevity.
Excellent !
There was another special edition of the T3, the Syncro Jagdwagen. (Jagd as in hunting)
Careful the army color, the brush gaurds, and the blitzkrieg ready name will scare off the VW bus clientele
This is a real Bundeswehr T3 Doka. Quite innocent.
The real German army one is cool. The sergeants drive, officers in back seat, and draftees pile in under the canvas top. Gotta love that they retained early style Bug/Bus hubcaps.
And now there’s the Amarok Edition Grube Forst, which is basically also a “Syncro Jagdwagen”.
These seem a little like Honda Ridgelines. Are the non Syncro FWD?
The base-model is RWD.
The Volkswagen name for AWD is “4MOTION” now. Written in capitals, according to VW’s own website. Either selectable, or permanent.
Great find. Towing 10k lbs is overrated anyway.
I see a few of these Transporter pickups around Portland that have been imported after they enter their 25th model year. They are cool to look at and someone is bound to find them useful. So, I take it everything on the gauge cluster is written in German or whatever the language was where this Transporter was sold. Is it wrong to call these Vanagons?
I see a few of these too, even in Beaver-Tron. One is a garish kelley green. Im thinking these came down from Canada.
Either way, i love all snub nosed pickups and geek out whenever I see these.
I also geek out when I see vehicles like this or even more clapped out or older parked next to pretentious vehicles in the ‘burbs. Also nice to know there is another PC nickname for Beaverton.
What a nice T3, especially in the double-cabin format. And I’ve never heard of the Tristar before now, but with those numbers it’s bound to be one of the only ones in this country. If not *the* only one.
What a great find, even if it wasn’t a special edition. I had a lot of rides in a T2 double cab and later in a T3 single cab. Like the one below, plain white.
This must be a very special find in the US; quote from the German Wikipedia VW T3 page:
Syncro und Doppelkabinenmodelle:
„TriStar“ als Viertürer mit Caratscheinwerfern, Caratstoßstange vorne, heizbare Heckscheibe, Plastikradläufen, Teppich, textilbezogene Sitze mit Armlehnen, ebenso wie die Rücksitzbank, komplette Innenraumdämmung, schwarz eloxierte Schiebefenster hinten. Einige wenige Modelle wurden als „normale” Dokas (ohne Allradantrieb) nach Schweden ausgeliefert.
It’s all about the last sentence. It says that just a few non-Syncro TriStars were exported to Sweden. The rest of them were all Syncros (AWD). Below a TriStar Syncro in the same color.
What exactly are you saying? That only a few non-Syncros were exported, or that only a few non-Syncros were ever built?
There seems to be a decided lack of consistent info on the Tristar. The one I found is obviously not a Syncro, from the lack of badges as well as the ride height. The info I found says that one third of them were Syncro; the other two thirds regular 2WD. I’m inclined to believe that.
Built and exported to Sweden, that would be a better translation of “ausgeliefert nach Schweden”.
Looks like Doka’s like to hang out next to blue GM trucks I shot this in Tahoe a few years ago.
Great find. Bring on the oddball VeeDubs.
Watching an old ep of Magnum PI last night, there was a first generation version of one of these.
Then this showed up at the “all German” show at the Gilmore a few weeks ago. Maybe common in Europe, but I never saw one before.
Depends on what your definition of rare is. I can find 34 for sale in Germany right now between 2000€ and 12000€. There are better offroaders for money, but the kind of enthusiast that buys these military runabout tubs has different interests anyway.
Here’s the East German socialist adaption of the idea on the Trabant platform, much rarer I think.
All those VW pickups were dropsiders the only proper way to build a flat deck, large and or heavy freight can be forklifted on and off wellsides limit the utility.
Great find! I also have seen a few in the PDX area, even back around 1990 or so as well as more recently. I believe most of these came from Canada in this area. A Crew Cab Syncro Tristar is the ultimate cool Vanagon for sure.
Very, Very Cool. I doubt I could ever get registered in California. Did VW make a diesel version? Bet those are even more difficult to find here in the States.
The T3 was actually the first gen that got diesel engines. All water cooled.
From 1981 onwards a 1.6 liter (naturally aspirated) diesel, 1.7 liter in the late eighties. In 1984 the 1.6 liter turbo diesel was introduced.
Below a 1988 Syncro 1.6 TD.
Loads of those (the three door variety) in Israel in the 80s. Now rare, having mostly been bought or stolen by the Palestinians. Survivors are fast becoming a cult object. Similar thing is starting to happen here in Austria given what happened to T2 prices…
I’d drive that!
How about this nice long body…
KJ in oz
Beautiful !
Nice find!
OOI, what is/was the chicken tax?