Volkswagen sent the vans to Austria to be made four-wheel drive, which is why the Syncro is as much a Steyr product as a Volkswagen one. The first cars used the 78 PS 1.9-litre Wasserboxer and a ‘4+G’ gearbox whose G was a crawler first gear.
From 1987 the 16-inch version reworked the chassis and body, fitted larger brakes and made the rear differential lock standard, raising off-road payload to a tonne. It is the version expedition builders look for. The T4 Syncro followed to 2003; later Transporters use a Haldex 4Motion system with no low range and are outside the registry.
T3 Syncro (1984–1992)
2 VEHICLES IN THIS CHAPTER45,478 built at Graz, van, bus and double-cab bodies.
Registry records · chapter 1
16-inch heavy duty (1987–1992)
1 VEHICLE IN THIS CHAPTER2,138 built: bigger brakes, rear diff lock, 246 mm clearance, a tonne off-road.
Registry records · chapter 2
T4 Syncro (1992–2003)
1 VEHICLE IN THIS CHAPTERThe front-engined Transporter, again converted at Graz.
Registry records · chapter 3