Adventuremobile VW T4

We ran into this 1991 Volkswagen T4 Traveller 570 Knaus with great retro graphics and dubbed “Blackfish”.

This couple has been traveling from coast to coast in the US. They started in New York and we found them in Santa Cruz, California. This is a Volkswagen 2.4L Diesel, FWD van. The plates indicated they’re from the Netherlands (NL). Though there are hints of it having lived in Stuttgart in Germany.

Not sure what Blackfish referred.

Introduced in 1990, the T4 was the first Volkswagen van to have a front-mounted, water-cooled engine. Prompted by the success of similar moves with their passenger cars, Volkswagen had toyed with the idea of replacing their air-cooled, rear-engined T2 vans with a front-engined, water-cooled engine in the late 1970s. The reasons for deciding in 1980 to instead introduce a new rear-engined T3 are unclear. Thus, the introduction of a front-engined layout was delayed until the arrival of the T4. After a run of nearly 14 years, T4 production ceased in 2003, making it second only to the T1 for length of production in its home market.

The T4 was also available with a permanent 4WD system that would have been amazing with this one. They work with a viscous coupling unit as a centre differential to regulate the distribution of torque to the rear axle. These models are called "syncro" and were available with the 2.4D, 2.5Tdi and 2.5 gas (petrol) engines on all body types and both wheelbases. Some syncro models also have a mechanically locking rear differential. Since the rear differential precludes the placement of the spare wheel in the usual place under the body, syncro vans either store it inside the body or on an external, hinged bracket.

(wikipedia)