Newest project----Da Bus

[JWC]

1978 VW Westfalia---purchase price:  $500.00     Registration and taxes: $100.00          Parts to get it running: $60.00    Parts to make it pass state inspection:  148.00, plus it is going to need tires.  Obviously, I haven't taken it in to get it inspected yet.

So far, I've replaced the tail lamps, cleaned up some ground connections, and replaced a side marker light.   Currently it is sitting at a friend's farm house while I try to get rid of the 1979 convertible.  Piece-by-piece if I have to.   

The front clip on the convertible will be saved...as a love seat for my daughter's room.

The camper needs to have  a lot of rust damage to take care of and all the weatherstrips need to be replaced.   Right now, it runs, but has an exhaust leak I need to take care of also.

Pics...because everyone knows, pictures are mandatory.







Because I have to work out of it, the interior is my "storage shed" for now.  Hopefully, I can bring it home by next weekend, if I can get the dry-rotted tires to hold air long enough to travel the four miles to my house.  We are holding up on the yellow Beetle's build-up until this is on the road. 



Of course, no VW "Bus" is complete without stickers and decals and this one came with the usual.  All are very old and will be left on the glass, since they tell the camper's history.

[JWC]

More decals

[TBR]

You have 3 VWs not counting the 'vert, right? (Two bugs and a bus)

[JWC]

You have 3 VWs not counting the 'vert, right? (Two bugs and a bus)

Correct.  A yellow 1971, a red 1974, and now the camper.

[TBR]

It's a little hard to keep track.

[Secret Chimp]

So how much DOESN'T the interior smell like weed? :P

[Soup DeVille]

It's a little hard to keep track.

They're small. Everybody needs three or four.

[JWC]

The roof was black and mildewed when we first got it...about a month ago.  The rear section cleaned up well with some Tilex, the front luggage area will have to be removed and refinished. 

The veneer on the cabinet doors is chipped and peeling, but I was looking at it today and contrary to what I thought, they are not particle board based.  I'm wondering if I can strip the old veneer off, sand it and "stain" it to "match" the rest of the cabinets as close as I can.

The right rear corner, below the tail light is almost solid bondo.  I'm going to have to cut that out and weld in a repair section.

[JWC]

So how much DOESN'T the interior smell like weed? :P

LOL...I did kind of look around to see if there was any left over baggies full of weed, sort of a bonus gift.  Alas, none to be found.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

LOL...I did kind of look around to see if there was any left over baggies full of weed, sort of a bonus gift.  Alas, none to be found.

Yes because a pothead is always forgetting to grab his bag of weed...

[Pommes-T]

 

[Rupert]

Hippie!

[280Z Turbo]

Everyone aboard the short bus!

[Rupert]

This is the short bus:

[Secret Chimp]

This is the short bus:

Dude, sitting in the back is like going back in time, I love those things.

[Eye of the Tiger]

This is the short bus:

GTFO

[Cookie Monster]

This is the short bus:

Fuck I'd love one of those.

[the Teuton]

So what's the VW count up to now?

[Danish]

So what's the VW count up to now?

Correct.  A yellow 1971, a red 1974, and now the camper.

[Rupert]

Dude, sitting in the back is like going back in time, I love those things.

Hell yes. We had a Taurus with those seats, and they were the greatest.

I have a friend who's had an '86 since, well, '86 (I think he was two then). We used to take it out and do J-turns in high school. It rocked.

[TBR]

When I was 4ish I rode in one of those seats while we were visiting one of my mom's friends lake house. I want to say it was an E-class, but I don't remember for sure.

[Cookie Monster]

When I was 4ish I rode in one of those seats while we were visiting one of my mom's friends lake house. I want to say it was an E-class, but I don't remember for sure.

I remember in elementary school seeing all those Volvo and MB wagons pull up, and the parent would open the tailgate and the kids would be sitting back there. I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

[Secret Chimp]

I never got to ride in a GM wagon from the 80s or early 90s. Those things had fuckin' sideways seats in addition to the backwards bench sometimes, I think.

[Madman]

             


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Madman]

That really takes me back.  I once had a 1975 model.  Passenger version, not a Westy.  I'd love to have another one!


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Byteme]

1978 VW Westfalia---purchase price:  $500.00     Registration and taxes: $100.00          Parts to get it running: $60.00    Parts to make it pass state inspection:  148.00, plus it is going to need tires.  Obviously, I haven't taken it in to get it inspected yet.

The camper needs to have  a lot of rust damage to take care of and all the weatherstrips need to be replaced.   Right now, it runs, but has an exhaust leak I need to take care of also.

Pics...because everyone knows, pictures are mandatory.

I've always liked those, but, the only thing that would bother me is the fact that you would only be slightly less safe if you were to cut out the front sheetmetal and just leave your legs exposed to a head on.  In short there isn't much protecting your legs in the event of a front end collision.

[Rupert]

So don't crash! Duh.

[JWC]

I've always liked those, but, the only thing that would bother me is the fact that you would only be slightly less safe if you were to cut out the front sheetmetal and just leave your legs exposed to a head on.  In short there isn't much protecting your legs in the event of a front end collision.

There is a photo on one of the VW forums of a guy who just crashed his 1964 split.  The front end is almost completely gone.  Fortunately, he was hit hard on the passenger side. Despite all the front end damage, he walked away from it...literally.  The frame on the buses is quite heavy duty and can accept a lot of damage while protecting front seat passengers.   

Of course, when I had my 1964 VW camper, my uncle thought it was funny to say, "well, if you ever wreck it, you'll be the first one to the accident".

[the Teuton]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjadCOciuWI

It's a T3, but you get the point.

[Morris Minor]

It's an old saw that your knees form the crumple zone in these.