Pete Townshend, mastermind of The Who, has swapped his classic camper van for a stylish, new Volkswagen Transporter Sportline. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles now owns his old camper van and will be displaying it at a variety of shows and events.
‘I was really sad to say goodbye to our camper van as my partner Rachel and I had good times in it, but the Volkswagen Transporter I’m driving now is much better to drive, modern and much faster’, Pete Townshend confessed.
‘I am using it to transport guitars and keyboards to and from my new creative studio, an hour’s drive from home. Sometimes I take my entire pack of six dogs too. The journey is always pleasant. This is a superb sports van with excellent economy. But, watch out, if you put your foot down this thing flies!’ he added.
The distinctive styling of the Volkswagen Transporter Sportline includes 18 inch alloy wheels, lowered suspension, chrome side rails, rear roof spoiler, body-coloured bumpers, chrome upper and lower grilles above a lower front spoiler, and leather upholstery. It also has a 2.5-litre TDI engine producing 174 PS which can sprint to 62 mph in 12.2 seconds.
The Who and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles have been project partners since the band performed at a special weekend event, hosted by Volkswagen in Hanover last year to celebrate 60 years of the iconic Transporter van.
For example, as a result of Roger Daltrey MBE being patron of British charity Teenage Cancer Trust, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles donated a 1965 ‘split-screen’ Transporter van with a unique The Who ‘Magic Bus’ livery designed by The Who’s art director, Richard Evans, for a worldwide raffle which raised over £32,000.
‘We really like working with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, as we all grew up with their vans – that’s what gives authenticity to the cooperation. And we all still like today’s Volkswagen models as well,” said Pete Townshend, who also drives a Volkswagen Lupo.
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