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Top Tempo
Bob van Heyst's 1951 Tempo Matador

By James Hale
Photography: Danny Kerremans

The Matador was the only commercially-built, VW aircooled powered vehicle in Europe that was officially sanctioned by Wolfsburg, but not distributed through the VW network. Built at the Tempo Werke in Hamburg, Germany, by the firm of Vidal und Sohn KG, the Tempo Matador hit the market before VW's own Type II Transporter, and was a success in a market that was desperately short of utility vehicles after the war, especially in the one-ton class. Popular and reliable, the design was also adapted to station wagon and Microbus versions. It was even exported to Australia in RHD form between 1950-'52, before VW Kombis arrived. Previously, the company had been the number one player in the German commercial van market, specialising in three wheelers. This explains why the company was able to produce the majority of parts itself, using few parts from the VW factory except the Type I powerplant.

This particular Matador was imported into Austria from Germany in 1964, where it had served for many years as a light delivery vehicle. Still relatively unscathed, the vehicle was bought in 1990 by a Steyr/Puch collector in Graz, Austria, who sprayed it blue (as it still is today), but parted company with it in 1999. Friends of Bob's in Germany tipped him off that the Matador was for sale and so, in Autumn 1999, it duly arrived at the BBT workshops in Belgium.

The construction of the Tempo Matador is so oddball, we'll just take you through it. The basis is a separate chassis, constructed around a central section made out of two round steel tubes, joined together at each end. The front suspension consists of an upper transverse-mounted leaf-spring connected to wishbones, which in turn attach to forged spindles running stock VW drum brakes. At the rear, suspension is provided by two large coil springs each side, which damp the two centrally-mounted trailing arms. Powered by a 25bhp VW engine mounted towards the front of the chassis, this is hidden behind the drivers bench seat, which folds forward to allow access. It is attached to a ZF gearbox, providing drive to the front wheels only. The differential ratio is 5.4:1--very different from the 4.37:1 used on early 1200cc Beetles. Whether this gearbox was used for any other vehicles seems to be a mystery, but it seems to work well enough. Bob's Tempo still runs the original 1131cc engine without any modifications, and it's never missed a beat.

The cab interior is incredibly spartan, as you might imagine for a commercial vehicle of this age. The doors are interesting--and very driver-friendly--suicide front-opening types. Inside, the driver and passenger sit directly above the front axle line, and the seating position is not unlike an early Type II Panel. Neither the steering column or wheel, or emergency brake, are VW parts--they just look remarkably similar. Bob wasn't sure whether the steering box was the same as those fitted to the early Barndoor Buses, but it works on the same principle.

Ahead of the driver sits a small instrument binnacle, featuring an optimistically marked speedometer, reading up to 120kh/hr. Who were they kidding? The ignition switch, starter button, direction indicator lever and some idiot lights for oil pressure, generator, high beam and indicators are all that's provided. As Bob says 'no turbo pressure, sorry!

The exterior of the Matador is equally unusual and interesting. The somewhat bulbous front has chrome-ringed headlights set into the front panel--again reminiscent of the Type II Panel. A central "Tempo" badge is mounted beneath a vertical trim moulding, and above the laterally mounted lower trims. The front licence plate is currently missing, but you can see the mounts provided to locate it at the lower edge of the cab front. Just beneath the front windscreens, in the middle of the hood, is an opening metal flap. Lift it up, and you will see the gas tank filler.

The wheels now fitted to the Matador are an original set of 4.5 x 16inch pressed steel wheels found by Bob, and are fitted with Firestone tires. Original chromed and VW-logo-embossed hub-caps are fitted to each blue-painted wheel. Out back, the wooden pick-up bed is all-original, even down to the drop tail-gate. The Matador may have a few minor flaws (like the flaking paint on the cab roof next to one of the wiper arms), but this is a minor thing on a vehicle that is 50 years old and still going strong. Bob's not looking to re-paint it yet, so that's the way it is going to stay. In fact, the only paint it has seen recently is the beautiful sign-writing on the doors, which was applied by one of his staff.

The vehicle still proudly wears its regristration plate from the Austrian veteran club--number 50093--and will be well looked after by Bob and the mechanics at BBT. As if owning the vehicle isn't enough, Bob also has a book that gives a complete history of the Tempo company, as well as sales literature, a parts book and instruction manual.

The Tempo Matador may have quickly been overtaken by the worldwide success of VW's own range of vans and commercial vehicles, but this quirky low-bed pickup is an awesome hauler that deserves its rightful place in Volkslore history. What a great combination for any VW enthusiast!