VW Kombi campervan reaches end of the road in Brazil The exhibition was held in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, where fans honoured the last of the VW Kombi vans Brazil is the last country still producing the vehicle but Volkswagen said production will end there on December 31 More than 10million of them have been made since the model was introduced in Germany 63 years ago New safety rules mandating that every vehicle in Brazil must have air bags and anti-lock braking will stop production It carried hippies through the 1960s, hauled surfers in search of killer waves during endless summers and serves as a workhorse across the developing world, but the Volkswagen campervan's epic journey has reached the end of the road. And yesterday VW lovers in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil held an exhibition to honour their beloved minibuses before the last of their kind come off the assembly line. Brazil is the last place in the world still producing the vehicle known by aficionados as the "bus," but Volkswagen has said production will end there on December 31. Last of its kind: Yesterday VW lovers in Brazil held an exhibition of their beloved campervans to celebrate the last to come off the assembly line Hippie hooray: It carried hippies through the 1960s, hauled surfers in search of killer waves during endless summers and serves as a workhorse across the developing world, but the long, strange trip of the Volkswagen van is ending End of the road: Brazil is the last place in the world still producing the vehicle known by aficionados as the 'bus', but Volkswagen has said production will end there on December 31 Out with a bang: The show was held in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, to celebrate the last of the iconic Volkswagen Kombi minibuses to come off the assembly line More than 10million of them have been made since the model was introduced in Germany 63 years ago. In Brazil, 1.5 million have been produced since 1957. The vans were called the Type 2, because they were the second type to be offered by car maker Volkswagen, the first being the Beetle. In Britain and the US during the 60s and 70s, partly because it was cheap, the Type 2 became linked with youth culture, with its advertising slogan 'not just a vehicle ... more a way of life'. Fans of the machine said its mechanical failures only reinforced its charm and, because its engine was so simple, it was easy to fix, imparting a deeper sense of ownership. Die-hard British enthusiasts still gather every year for the annual VW Festival near Leeds. Remember the good times: More than 10million of them have been made since the model was introduced in Germany 63 years ago. In Brazil, 1.5 million have been produced since 1957 Early model: The vans were called the Type 2, because they were the second type to be offered by car maker Volkswagen, the first being the Beetle Still young: In Britain and the US during the 60s and 70s, partly because it was cheap, the Type 2 became linked with youth culture Charming faults: Fans of the machine said its mechanical failures only reinforced its charm and, because its engine was so simple, it was easy to fix, imparting a deeper sense of ownership Die hards: Die-hard British enthusiasts still gather every year for the annual VW Festival near Leeds Fans include actor Martin Clunes who owns two campers - a rare black one with a bay windscreen, and a navy and white split-screen model dating from 1977. He said: "There's something so self-contained about a camper. Driving one is like putting on a comfortable pair of old slippers. Formula 1 racing driver Jenson Button has owned two - a red and white model from 1956 and a gold-coloured 1970 Volkswagen Kombi. Jamie Oliver was less impressed. In 2005, he drove around Europe in a 1959 Samba version of the machine for the Channel 4 television series Jamie's Great Escape. Beyond useful: In poorer regions like Latin American and Africa, the vehicle has continued to be made long after production ended in the UK in 1967 Multi-purpose: In Brazil its uses are perhaps not as romantic¿ it is used by the postal service to haul mail, by the army to transport soldiers, and by funeral directors to carry corpses Lunch van: Brazilians also convert their vans into rolling food carts, setting up on street corners for working-class lunchtime crowds Unsafe: Production in Germany was halted in 1979 because the van no longer met European safety requirements He said: "To be honest, it was a complete pain. It was towing a heavy trailer, so perhaps it's not surprising that it broke down several times. In poorer regions like Latin American and Africa, the vehicle has continued to be made long after production ended in the UK in 1967. In Brazil its uses are perhaps not as romantic- it is used by the postal service to haul mail, by the army to transport soldiers, and by funeral directors to carry corpses. Law change: Now safety regulations that come in to force from next year mandating that every vehicle in Brazil must have air bags and anti-lock braking systems will stop production there Special series: A commemorative special series with a production run of only 600 units will be the last VW camper vans to be made Sink and mirrors: A man takes a photograph of the inside of a van Volkswagen Kombi minibus fitted with sink and mirror Fans' favourite: Collector Marcos da Silva carries a miniature Volkswagen Kombi Brazilians also convert their vans into rolling food carts, setting up on street corners for working-class lunchtime crowds. Production in Germany was halted in 1979 because the van no longer met European safety requirements. Now safety regulations that come in to force from next year mandating that every vehicle in Brazil must have air bags and anti-lock braking systems will stop production there. Lap of luxury: A boy plays with a tablet inside a Kombi which has been fitted with leather seats and a widescreen television Taking a break: Visitors rest at the exhibition which showcased hundreds of the iconic minibuses Long heritage: The first ever VW campervans were made in 1950 A commemorative special series with a production run of only 600 units will be the last VW camper vans to be made. VW unveiled a new version of the camper van at the 2011 Geneva Motor show, but it never went into production. Damon Ristau, director of the documentary film "The Bus" about van fanatics, said: "The van represents freedom. It has a magic and charm lacking in other vehicles. It's about the open road, about bringing smiles to peoples" faces when they see an old VW van rolling along.'