Vanagons USA
  • Home
  • 1980
    • 80 Vanagon
    • 80 Vanagon L
    • 80 Camper P22
    • 80 Camper P27
    • 80 Publications
  • 1981
    • 81 Vanagon
    • 81 Vanagon L
    • 81 Camper P22
    • 81 Camper P27
    • 81 Publications
  • 1982
    • 82 Vanagon L - Gas
    • 82 Vanagon L - Diesel
    • 82 Vanagon GL - Gas
    • 82 Vanagon GL - Diesel
    • 82 Camper - Gas
    • 82 Camper - Diesel
    • 82 Publications
  • 1983
    • 83 Vanagon L - Gas
    • 83 Vanagon L - Diesel
    • 83 Vanagon GL - Gas
    • 83 Vanagon GL - Diesel
    • 83 Camper - Gas
    • 83 Camper - Diesel
    • 83.5 Vanagon L - Water Boxer
    • 83.5 Vanagon GL - Water Boxer
    • 83.5 Camper - Water Boxer
    • 83 Publications
  • 1984
    • 84 Vanagon
    • 84 Vanagon GL
    • 84 Camper
    • 84 Wolfsburg Vanagon
    • 84 Wolfsburg Camper
    • 84 Publications
  • 1985
    • 85 Vanagon
    • 85 Vanagon GL
    • 85 Camper GL
    • 85 Wolfsburg Camper
    • 85 Publications
  • 1986
    • 86 Vanagon L
    • 86 Vanagon GL
    • 86 Vanagon GL Syncro
    • 86 Wolfsburg Camper
    • 86 Wolfsburg Camper Syncro
    • 86 Camper GL
    • 86 Camper GL Syncro
    • 86 Publications
  • 1987
    • 87 Vanagon GL
    • 87 Vanagon GL Syncro
    • 87 Wolfsburg Camper
    • 87 Wolfsburg Camper Syncro
    • 87 Camper GL
    • 87 Camper GL Syncro
    • 87 Vanagon GL WLE
    • 87 Publications
  • 1988
    • 88 Vanagon GL
    • 88 Camper GL
    • 88 Vanagon GL WLE
    • 88 Publications
  • 1989
    • 89 Vanagon GL
    • 89 Vanagon GL Syncro
    • 89 Camper GL
    • 89 Camper GL Syncro
    • 89 Vanagon Carat
    • 89 Vanagon GL WLE
    • 89 Publications
  • 1990
    • 90 Vanagon
    • 90 Vanagon Syncro
    • 90 Vanagon GL
    • 90 Camper GL
    • 90 Camper GL Syncro
    • 90 Vanagon Carat
    • 90 Vanagon Multivan
    • 90 Vanagon Carat WLE
    • 90 Publications
  • 1991
    • 91 Vanagon
    • 91 Vanagon Syncro
    • 91 Vanagon GL
    • 91 Camper GL
    • 91 Camper GL Syncro
    • 91 Vanagon Carat
    • 91 Vanagon Multivan
    • 91 Publications
  • VW Birth Certificates
  • Future Website Plans
  • Custom Vanagon Fun
  • Home
  • 1980
    • 80 Vanagon
    • 80 Vanagon L
    • 80 Camper P22
    • 80 Camper P27
    • 80 Publications
  • 1981
    • 81 Vanagon
    • 81 Vanagon L
    • 81 Camper P22
    • 81 Camper P27
    • 81 Publications
  • 1982
    • 82 Vanagon L - Gas
    • 82 Vanagon L - Diesel
    • 82 Vanagon GL - Gas
    • 82 Vanagon GL - Diesel
    • 82 Camper - Gas
    • 82 Camper - Diesel
    • 82 Publications
  • 1983
    • 83 Vanagon L - Gas
    • 83 Vanagon L - Diesel
    • 83 Vanagon GL - Gas
    • 83 Vanagon GL - Diesel
    • 83 Camper - Gas
    • 83 Camper - Diesel
    • 83.5 Vanagon L - Water Boxer
    • 83.5 Vanagon GL - Water Boxer
    • 83.5 Camper - Water Boxer
    • 83 Publications
  • 1984
    • 84 Vanagon
    • 84 Vanagon GL
    • 84 Camper
    • 84 Wolfsburg Vanagon
    • 84 Wolfsburg Camper
    • 84 Publications
  • 1985
    • 85 Vanagon
    • 85 Vanagon GL
    • 85 Camper GL
    • 85 Wolfsburg Camper
    • 85 Publications
  • 1986
    • 86 Vanagon L
    • 86 Vanagon GL
    • 86 Vanagon GL Syncro
    • 86 Wolfsburg Camper
    • 86 Wolfsburg Camper Syncro
    • 86 Camper GL
    • 86 Camper GL Syncro
    • 86 Publications
  • 1987
    • 87 Vanagon GL
    • 87 Vanagon GL Syncro
    • 87 Wolfsburg Camper
    • 87 Wolfsburg Camper Syncro
    • 87 Camper GL
    • 87 Camper GL Syncro
    • 87 Vanagon GL WLE
    • 87 Publications
  • 1988
    • 88 Vanagon GL
    • 88 Camper GL
    • 88 Vanagon GL WLE
    • 88 Publications
  • 1989
    • 89 Vanagon GL
    • 89 Vanagon GL Syncro
    • 89 Camper GL
    • 89 Camper GL Syncro
    • 89 Vanagon Carat
    • 89 Vanagon GL WLE
    • 89 Publications
  • 1990
    • 90 Vanagon
    • 90 Vanagon Syncro
    • 90 Vanagon GL
    • 90 Camper GL
    • 90 Camper GL Syncro
    • 90 Vanagon Carat
    • 90 Vanagon Multivan
    • 90 Vanagon Carat WLE
    • 90 Publications
  • 1991
    • 91 Vanagon
    • 91 Vanagon Syncro
    • 91 Vanagon GL
    • 91 Camper GL
    • 91 Camper GL Syncro
    • 91 Vanagon Carat
    • 91 Vanagon Multivan
    • 91 Publications
  • VW Birth Certificates
  • Future Website Plans
  • Custom Vanagon Fun
Picture
1981   MODEL YEAR OVERVIEW
1981 was the second year for the Vanagon model in the USA. In 1980 the Vanagon replaced the venerable "Bus", known by nicknames such as "Breadloaf" and "Bay Window" that was produced during the 1970s.  
As in 1980, the same four models of the Vanagon were built for model year 1981.   
​These were: 
 - Vanagon  (7 and 9 seat variations)
 - Vanagon L  (7 and 9 seat variations)
 - Vanagon Camper P22
 - Vanagon Camper P27
Eight paint schemes were available: 
Passenger vans:
​ - Ivory over Bright Orange
 - Guinea Blue over Cornat Blue
 - Samos Beige over Assuan Brown
​ - Ivory over Bamboo Yellow
 - Ivory over Ivory  NEW for 1981
 - Ivory over Agate Brown  NEW for 1981
 
​Campers
- Medium Blue
- Assuan Brown
- Ivory
Volkswagen sold 11,479 Vanagons in the USA in model year 1981.
(According to 
CarSalesBase.com)
Picture

Notable 1981 Features:
There were no significant changes to distinguish the 1981 models from their 1980 predecessors.  Small changes were the availability of two new paint schemes on the passenger vans, Ivory and Ivory over Agate Brown.
1981 Visual Cues:
As in 1980, all 1981 Vanagons came with one grille at the front of the van, not for cooling air intake, but for interior ventilation.  A pair of single round headlights are mounted in the grille.  This one-grille look distinguishes all of the air cooled Vanagons from 1980 until 1982, when the air cooled Vanagons were joined by a water cooled diesel option.  The single grille of the air cooled vans was discontinued, mid-year 1983 with the introduction of the "waterboxer" engine which replaced the air-cooled option.

On the rear of the van was a "Volkswagen" emblem on left side and a "Vanagon" or "Vanagon L" emblem ​on the right side.  The rear hatch does not have a "VW" logo. 

Early 1981 models had cooling air intake grilles with steel louvers that were an integral part of the body on each side of the van, behind the rear-most windows.  Mid-year 1981 this louver design changed to use the removable black plastic grilles like all Vanagons after that point.
1981 Brochure Gallery     (Click any page to open)

Clips from Volkswagen's 1981 Brochure
Features & Options
Specifications
Picture
Picture

Next and previous years                      
Picture
1980 Overview
 
1981​ Overview
Picture
Picture
1982​ Overview

​Home

Contact / Report Errors

Images, Brand Names, and Trademarks are the property of their owners.                     Original site content Copyright © 2018-2021
  • Home
  • 1980
    • 80 Vanagon
    • 80 Vanagon L
    • 80 Camper P22
    • 80 Camper P27
    • 80 Publications
  • 1981
    • 81 Vanagon
    • 81 Vanagon L
    • 81 Camper P22
    • 81 Camper P27
    • 81 Publications
  • 1982
    • 82 Vanagon L - Gas
    • 82 Vanagon L - Diesel
    • 82 Vanagon GL - Gas
    • 82 Vanagon GL - Diesel
    • 82 Camper - Gas
    • 82 Camper - Diesel
    • 82 Publications
  • 1983
    • 83 Vanagon L - Gas
    • 83 Vanagon L - Diesel
    • 83 Vanagon GL - Gas
    • 83 Vanagon GL - Diesel
    • 83 Camper - Gas
    • 83 Camper - Diesel
    • 83.5 Vanagon L - Water Boxer
    • 83.5 Vanagon GL - Water Boxer
    • 83.5 Camper - Water Boxer
    • 83 Publications
  • 1984
    • 84 Vanagon
    • 84 Vanagon GL
    • 84 Camper
    • 84 Wolfsburg Vanagon
    • 84 Wolfsburg Camper
    • 84 Publications
  • 1985
    • 85 Vanagon
    • 85 Vanagon GL
    • 85 Camper GL
    • 85 Wolfsburg Camper
    • 85 Publications
  • 1986
    • 86 Vanagon L
    • 86 Vanagon GL
    • 86 Vanagon GL Syncro
    • 86 Wolfsburg Camper
    • 86 Wolfsburg Camper Syncro
    • 86 Camper GL
    • 86 Camper GL Syncro
    • 86 Publications
  • 1987
    • 87 Vanagon GL
    • 87 Vanagon GL Syncro
    • 87 Wolfsburg Camper
    • 87 Wolfsburg Camper Syncro
    • 87 Camper GL
    • 87 Camper GL Syncro
    • 87 Vanagon GL WLE
    • 87 Publications
  • 1988
    • 88 Vanagon GL
    • 88 Camper GL
    • 88 Vanagon GL WLE
    • 88 Publications
  • 1989
    • 89 Vanagon GL
    • 89 Vanagon GL Syncro
    • 89 Camper GL
    • 89 Camper GL Syncro
    • 89 Vanagon Carat
    • 89 Vanagon GL WLE
    • 89 Publications
  • 1990
    • 90 Vanagon
    • 90 Vanagon Syncro
    • 90 Vanagon GL
    • 90 Camper GL
    • 90 Camper GL Syncro
    • 90 Vanagon Carat
    • 90 Vanagon Multivan
    • 90 Vanagon Carat WLE
    • 90 Publications
  • 1991
    • 91 Vanagon
    • 91 Vanagon Syncro
    • 91 Vanagon GL
    • 91 Camper GL
    • 91 Camper GL Syncro
    • 91 Vanagon Carat
    • 91 Vanagon Multivan
    • 91 Publications
  • VW Birth Certificates
  • Future Website Plans
  • Custom Vanagon Fun