Highroof Registry

The Volkswagen Highroof Transporter (Hochdach) was produced for model years 1962 to 1967. It is considered one of the rarest and most distinctive commercial varients of the first generation of the Transporter. They were primarily used as utility vehicles, mobile shops, ambulances, and delivery vehicles. The Highroof Registry aims to track and document these special buses and their history.

Maintained by Sverre A. Blindheim

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What a highroof is

The split-window Type 2 highroof (Hochdach) is Volkswagen's factory high-roof panel van, built 1961–1967: a raised steel roof and taller side doors giving standing height inside. It was an option on the panel van, not a separate model, so no production figures exist. Most went to post offices, dealers and tradespeople and were worked hard – few survive.

Factory or conversion?

A factory highroof has the roof pressed in steel and tall doors to match. Fibreglass and camper high-tops are conversions and are not listed. Bay-window (1968 onwards) highroofs are outside this registry.

Chassis number

Until July 1964 a plain sequential Type 2 number; from August 1964 nine digits: 21 = panel van, third digit = model year (215 = 1965 … 217 = 1967). Numbers are stored without the 21 prefix, so 217 002 897 appears as 7002897. Date a chassis to the month with the free decoder at vw.moterno.com.