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Yes, Dave, I believe there were two side panel styles, the more common being where a panel is spot-welded along the window rubber seal flange in each window space where the glass would have been. This is the type that I once owned in Zambia. I knocked out these four panels with a cold chisel at the spot welds - any easy job to do. Then I fitted non-opening rear side windows using the rubber seals from an "A" model Variant. Fitting an opening middle rear window would have been more complicated as holes would have had to be cut into the B-pillars fore the hinges. Similarly, I then knocked out the low bulkhead behind the front seats and fitted a rear seat from a wrecked Variant station wagon as well as the rear side arm rests and lining. Some European market Type 3 panel vans had the welded in side window panels but also had the rear bench seat and arm rests and lining. Australian manufactured Type 3 panel vans also had no seats in the rear. I do not believe any Type 3 panel vans were ever marketed in Britain with or without rear seat. I understand that the Type 3 panel van with the full length flush side panel was only marketed in Denmark but I am not sure of this and have never actually seen one in the flesh. Do you know where else they might have been sold? Of course, all Type 3 panel vans right up until production ceased in July 1973 were fitted with VW Option M-263 which consists of heavy duty rear torsion bars, shock absorbers and swing axles with camber limiting 'Z' bar instead of the normal CV-joint rear suspension found on ordinary "A" and "L" Variants from 1969 models. And, Type 3 panel vans could even be ordered with M-560 whixch is a steel sunroof ! I know that many Type 3 panel vans aged prematurely because of the hard commercial life they lived, especially in developing countries like Zambia. I am also sure many Type 3 panel vans ended up like my 1968 model, being converted to a full windowed and seated Variant station wagon. I now wish I hadn't and I wish I had kept mine in its original state as they are so rare now. If you or anyone else out there knows more about Type 3 Variant panel vans, please contact me. Regards, Simon Glen Toowoomba, Australia. Dave Campen wrote: > Am I right in thinking that there were two different body styles of the t3 > van? I seem to remember seeing that they came with either welded-in window > panels or with a flush side, i.e no window indentations. The welded window > blanks may have been for countries like the UK where you could buy a van > with seats and not pay VAT (sales tax), and then after a certain time you > could fit the windows without being taxed for it. Sounds bizarre, I know, > but people used to do it. I think in France they still do, as there are a > lot of vans with windows sold as "voiture de societŽ". > > The rear seat was an option as well, wasn't it? > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > Pitch in! Send your pledge of support! mailto:support@vwtype3.org