Volkswagen famous for producing the Beetle and Transporter was created before the 2nd World War. When the war was over, there was not a lot left of the factory until the British Army started production again. In 1947 an idea was created by a Dutchman and from a pencil sketch, the Type 2 Transporter was created. The Type 1 is the well known and loved Beetle. The first Transporters lovingly became known as "Split Screen Vans" or "Splities". These ran from 1950 to 1967 when the "Bay" window version went into production. "Bays" where made in Germany from 1967 to 1979, they are still being made in Brazil today. This is when the more modern looking "Wedge" style van took over. Up to 1982 I believe, the Transporter was powered by the Porsche designed, air cooled engine. This means no water to freeze in winter, as there is no radiator which is found in water cooled vehicles.

Katy is a late "Bay" window Kombi Transporter converted to a camper van by an outside company. This is because VW did not produce a "camper van". Instead this was left to other companies like Westfalia, Devon, Dormobile etc. Katy's particular converter was the well known company, Devon Converstions Ltd. of Sidmouth, Devon, England.

According to Katy's "M" plate (a metal plate found behind the glove box), she was born sometime on or around Wednesday 25th January 1978. She is a Kombi, which is basically a Van with windows that are factory fitted. There are a few other details that make her a Kombi, but I will not go into these here.

She probably left the factory as a basic shell with no interior or seats in the back. Although, Kombi's where used in all sorts of ways, people carriers to police vans to name just two uses.

She first appeared in England on the 24th April 1978, when she was registered as a new vehicle by Devon Converstions Ltd. of Sidmouth. Her first engine number was AS568312 a petol 1584cc version. And 12 months road tax cost just £50.00, those where the days.