It’s been a while since I wrote about a Schuco Volkswagen T3. Infact it was in October when I covered the brilliant Audi Sport liveried Tarmac collaboration car. And today I’ll be looking at a T3 in work clothes: the Feuerwehr version.
The Volkswagen Type 2 (T3) went on sale in May 1979. An easily maintained and reliable vehicle, the T3 found use in a wide range of commercial and even military tasks; from delivery vans to airport shuttle buses all the way to the 4WD Synchro variants being used by the German Bundeswehr. The T3 could do it all. Another job on the resume was firefighting with the German Feuerwehr.
(Photo: Preuschoff via feuerwehrmagazin.de)
Feuerwehr T3s were a fixture in many German town sand cities in the 1980s and 1990s and it’s no surprise that Schuco have chose to replicate one in their 1/64 range. And what a job they’ve done of it.
First of all, that Schuco weight. Yeah I harp on about it a lot, but it’s so reassuring when you pick up a diecast that it feels like a quality item. Schuco manage to nail this repeatedly. From the tiniest BMW Isetta to the Mercedes Unimog in their range, every diecast feels solidly put together. This one is no exception.
And that quality extends to the brilliantly replicated livery, with the “FEUERWEHR” script and the emergency 112 number being printed sharply. Volkswagen Bus badging can be clearly seen on the rear and touches of black paint give the door handles and filler cap a realistic finish. The use of clear plastic for the head and tail lights extends to the blue emergency beacons on the roof, and the detailed wheels roll beautifully on rubber tyres. And there’s a great looking interior tucked in there too. Working vehicles always look good in diecast, and this is up there with the best.
I’m excited to see what other liveries and guises the T3 casting will appear in next, I’m always hoping for a Syncro version in Bundeswehr colours or “Doka” (double cab pickup) configuration. Whatever it is, Schuco will nail it.
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(Find Schuco T3s on Ebay and have a browse at the brand store)