Since its introduction in 1950, the Volkswagen Transporter has become legendary for its versatility and adaptability to many commercial uses. Known originally as Sonderausfuhrungen, abbreviated to SO, these Special Models were usually converted by specialists, companies and coachbuilders approved by VW.

An English teacher for thirty-four years, David Eccles has been passionate about the VW Bus since taking one to India and back in 1976. Since 2000 he has been the Editor of VW Camper and Commercial magazine and he has also authored four previous VW Bus specification and lifestyle books. Michael Steinke has owned twenty-eight different VW Buses of all generations and types of conversions, and driven more than 1.2 million kilometres in them. Interested in the history of the VW Transporter, he began to build up the archives of Classic Volkswagen Transporters in his home town Frankfurt, Germany.