This Friday, a long chapter in the history of Volkswagen AG ends when the last air-cooled motor will be hoisted into a vehicle seen as a museum piece almost everywhere else across the planet.

VW is being forced to change the minivan's historic rear-mounted engine because of a new Brazilian emissions law to reduce pollution that goes into effect in 2006. Production {of the van] will continue next year, but the van known here as the "Kombi" will get a new water-cooled motor and a radiator for the first time.

The switch marks the last hurrah for the simple engine developed in the 1930s by famed German engineer Ferdinand Porsche, his key element of a "Volkswagen," or "People's Car" that anyone could afford.

The Detroit News article

I actually didnt know that engine was still in production. There was/is? a portable lumber saw manufacturer on the West Coast US that made a 3 blade mill which removed boards in single pass. They used the air cooled VW engine for its simplicity and light weight. I was under the impression they used reman units found throughout the country.