Classic 1968 VW Kombi Auction Ends Soon

If you’ve ever dreamed of swapping the daily grind for surf-sprayed hair and lazy road-trip sunsets, there’s a very good chance that dream featured a Volkswagen Kombi somewhere in the frame. And lucky you—one such nostalgia machine is up for grabs right now in Hexham, NSW, at Slattery Auctions.

This particular 1968 Kombi Transporter Type 2—the Bay Window generation that defined a thousand backpacker tales—has popped up as Lot 1, and it’s already attracting a solid crowd of voyeurs: over 300 views and more than 60 watchers, even before a single bid has landed. Starting price? $25,000. Tempting? Absolutely.

Let’s unpack what’s on offer, why this model matters, and what potential buyers need to know before hitting “Bid”.

Why the Kombi Still Owns Our Hearts

Few vehicles nail the “carefree life” aesthetic quite like the Volkswagen Kombi. Born in post-war Germany but adopted wholeheartedly by Australia’s beach culture, the Kombi became the unofficial mascot of freedom. The early Type 2 models—like this 1968 example—were celebrated for their plywood-simple engineering, air-cooled reliability, and ability to haul half a band and a week’s worth of camping gear without complaint.

By the late ’60s, the Kombi wasn’t just transport—it was a lifestyle. Surfers embraced it because you could snooze inside while sand fell off your board, and musicians loved that you could pack both the amps and the arguments. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around 1 in 6 passenger vehicles registered in Australia during the 1970s were vans or wagons, a segment the Kombi helped popularise. That’s not just influence—that’s cultural takeover.

The 1968 model marked the transition to the Bay Window body shape: bigger glass area, more stable handling, and slightly more power (emphasis on “slightly”—nobody buys a Kombi for speed). If Beetles were the cheeky little cousins, the Kombis were your laid-back uncle who’d disappear for months chasing perfect breaks.

Takeaway: this model is peak nostalgia and always in demand with collectors.

A Closer Look at the Slattery Auctions Kombi

Slattery’s listing describes the van as a 1968 VW Kombi Transporter Type 2, finished in a charming pastel-green-and-white two-tone—exactly the colour combo that triggers strangers to pull out their phones and say, “Wait, don’t move, I just want a photo.”

The odometer shows 45,398 km, though with a 56-year-old bus you always treat that figure as a polite suggestion rather than gospel. Still, the overall condition reads as “good driver”—the kind of Kombi that has lived, laughed, and discovered maybe too many coastal carparks.

The good news

• Drivable, with a running AD-coded air-cooled flat four—the dependable dual-port engine beloved by VW tinkerers.
• Interior and trim condition rated “Good”, with that simple VW charm still intact.
• Spring suspension, rear-wheel drive, 4-speed manual—authentic Kombi experience guaranteed.
• Tyres across all four corners in “Good” condition, plus a spare.
• Master key and spare key included (a rarity in classic-car land).

The not-so-good (but very normal for a Kombi)

Expect the usual cameo appearance by surface rust—around headlights, mirrors, roof edges, the rear panel bolts, and the A-pillars. Nothing shocking, but nothing you can ignore if you plan to restore it.

• Stone chips, paint bubbling, and minor scratches tell the story of a van that’s been used rather than embalmed.
• The only functional quirk of note: the driver’s door won’t open from the outside. (A charming security feature? A negotiation point? Your call.)

Takeaway: This Kombi is not a museum piece—it’s a character-rich survivor. You buy it because you want to drive it, not because you’re afraid to.

Auction Details: When and Where to Pounce

Auction Name: Born to Roam – 1968 Volkswagen Kombi

Location: 230 Old Maitland Road, Hexham NSW

Opening: 14 Nov 2025 at 1:00 PM

Closing: 19 Nov 2025 at 3:15 PM

Auction Lot: AN-1-1-1-05570 (Lot 1)

Starting Bid: $25,000

Watchers: 62 and climbing

Bids: Zero so far—meaning early buyers may get lucky

Sale Format: Online

Registration: Unregistered, plates removed unless you’re an NSW motor dealer

Sold As Is, Untested (the Kombi way, really)

Our Take

It’s shaping up as a competitively priced entry into the Kombi world, especially given the rising Australian demand for 1960s-70s vans—recent auction data shows prices often creeping past in $30000 for those drivable or in restorable condition and $45,000–$70,000 for restored examples.

If you’re hunting for a classic that makes people smile—sometimes literally waving at you at traffic lights—this Kombi is hard to pass up. It’s presentable, drivable, and wearing its age proudly. Yes, you’ll need to likely accept a little rust therapy and maybe a door-handle intervention, but that’s the rite of passage with any vintage VW.

Think of it this way: you’re not buying a car, you’re buying a lifestyle. One that smells faintly of petrol, sunscreen, and adventure.

And with summer around the corner, the timing couldn’t be better.