VW T25/T3 Buyers Guide
In production from 1980 – 1991, what follows is a brief VW T25 buyers guide to the VW T25 Transporter
VW T25 Transporter 1980 - 1991
The T25 (or T3) is the 3rd generation VW Transporter by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Launched in 1980, it was the replacement for the bay window or T2 VW Transporter.
This T3 Transporter is more widely known as T25 we believe due to the section of its chassis number which denotes what model Transporter it was. Much squarer in design than earlier versions, it was to be the last of the rear engine VW Transporters.
Specification
Design wise it remained largely unchanged throughout its production run aside from a mild facelift in 1989 in the form of the shift from single round headlights to twin rectangle units, along with new deeper fibreglass bumpers.
The slab sided design and slightly larger dimensions of the T25 lent themselves well to camper conversions with professional converters such as; Autohomes, Autosleeper, Danbury, Holdsworth, Leisuredrive, Reimo and Westfalia all offering T25 VW camper conversions. Available globally in a various specification, most UK based camper companies used basic panel vans as a basis for conversion, whereas Westfalia in particular started with the Caravelle which resulted in a higher specification camper.
Engine / Gearbox
Originally launched with air-cooled 1.6 or 2.0 petrol engines these soon made way for the more powerful water-cooled units available in petrol form as 1.9 or 2.1 injection flat fours or diesel form as a 1.6D, 1.7D or 1.6TD straight fours.
You do see some T25s with 1.9 D or TD engines in them although it is more than likely that these would have been transplanted later on in life.
Gearboxes come in the form of 4 or 5-speed manuals or a 3-speed automatic.
It’s worth noting that the 5-speed unit features a ‘dog-leg’ first gear which can off putting at first but soon becomes more natural.
VW T25 Transporter Engine Options (most common UK versions)
Swipe to view full table →
| Engine Type | Engine Code | Size (Ltrs/Cylinders) | Power (bhp) | Euro | Cambelt Intervals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | DG | 1.9/4 | 78 | n/a | n/a |
| Petrol (Injection) | DJ | 2.1/4 | 112 | n/a | n/a |
| Diesel | CS | 1.6/4 | 52 | n/a | 4 years |
| Diesel (Turbo) | JX | 1.6/4 | 70 | n/a | 4 years |
| Diesel | KY | 1.6/4 | 54 | n/a | 4 years |