In the early 1990s, Anton Mertens (seen on the right during morning exercises) took the initiative and first brought together the owners of syncro 16" vehicles in the north and northwest of Germany. Over the years, the community has grown to around 240 members from all over Germany and neighboring countries. Among the members, a network has developed in which people help each other with expertise and experience.
What is the IG16"?
The “Interessengemeinschaft syncro 16"” (Interest Group syncro 16") is a loose association (not a club or a registered organization!) of enthusiasts who drive, have driven, or may want to drive a VW Type 2 T3 syncro 14" or 16". It does not matter—what counts is an interest in the vehicle and/or the activities associated with it.
Although the IG syncro 16" was originally founded in 1992 for vehicles equipped with factory 16" wheels, many 14" drivers joined this small community shortly afterward. The 2-inch difference has been irrelevant ever since—only the name remains, reminding us of the early days.
Interest Group?
As the name suggests, the IG syncro 16" is not a registered association with a board of directors and an annual general meeting; legally speaking, it does not truly exist as an organization and therefore cannot be governed by club laws or regulations. It exists solely through its “members” and whatever they contribute.
A “contribution” does not only refer to the current annual cost-sharing fee of €30.00, which is charged solely to cover expenses and does not entitle anyone to specific services. Much more important are contributions in the form of travel reports, experiences with the vehicle or its technology, tips and tricks, or the organization of meetings—all of which help ensure that the IG, and thus the T3 syncro 16" and 14", continue to thrive.
Update 2025: Times change, and this also affects the IG. It became increasingly difficult to maintain the IG in its previous structure in a legally secure way. Issues such as managing the funds, running the website, and operating the forum became more and more challenging. Therefore, during the 2025 annual meeting at Lake Constance, an alternative structure was developed by the Stammtisch representatives and presented for a vote. A support association (“Förderverein”) for the IG16 will be founded. It will consist only of the necessary organizational bodies and the Stammtisch representatives. The association is intentionally kept small and will only handle administrative matters for the IG. The previous IG members will become supporting members of the new association. Rights and responsibilities remain unchanged, and the opinions of the IG members will continue to be heard.
Goals
- Preservation of the VW T3 syncro
- Exchange of experience
- Mutual assistance
- Technical knowledge and improvement
- Collection of all vehicle-specific information
- Contact point for interested people
Activities
- Two nationwide meetings per year
- Regional meetings across Germany
- Regular regional Stammtische
- (Long-distance) travel with the syncro
- Internet forum specifically for the T3 syncro
- syncro “gimmicks” such as stickers, mugs, etc.
Historie
As the history of the IG syncro 16" continues to grow over time, we have moved its documentation into a separate PDF, which is updated from time to time.