Author Topic: VW microbus owners! (Read 1992 times)

bucky katt · « **on:** March 02, 2010, 03:05:25 PM »

does anyone here drive a vw bus? 72 or earlier is of particular interest to me, i'm wondering IF anyone here drives one if they can roll their bike into the back? i have a k4 750 with superbike bars, stock ride height

Rocking-M · « **Reply #1 on:** March 02, 2010, 04:09:14 PM »

There was one for sale here not to long ago Jeff. But, if it's like I'm remembering,
didn't rear engine mean you'd have to use the side door to load your bike.
Even then it shouldn't be much of a problem.

If no one else has the right info. I should see that one around and I'll stop and look.

I thought it would be a cool van myself. I read a book when I was in my teens.
Micro Bus in blue or something or other, a Hippies adventures.

bucky katt · « **Reply #2 on:** March 02, 2010, 04:54:21 PM »

theres one just around the corner from me. it's pretty ragged with rust in the usual spots, i first tried to buy it in april of 1999, tried again during the summer of 2002 and one more time february 2004. it hasnt moved in 6 years. i think that this time will be the charm. it's a 66 21 window with the safari windshield (theyre hinged at the top and can be tilted outwards around 15 degrees or so, the windshield on 67 and earlier buses were split) it's all there but it looks like most of the body panels will have to be repaired/replaced. this one would get a restoration, no mods and i figure maybe that will convince the guy it's going to a good home. he's a guitarist so maybe i can entice him with one of the electric guitars i have (i love all my guitars but a 66 21 window microbus? come onnn)

verboten1 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 02, 2010, 05:18:49 PM »

with the engine hump in back, would have to go in the side, and it would either be VERY tight, or not fit at all

Gordon · « **Reply #4 on:** March 02, 2010, 05:21:31 PM »

I don't have one anymore, but I had a '74 for a long time, and I seriously doubt you'll be fitting a 750 into one. With the middle bench removed you basically have a 4'x4' square.

bucky katt · « **Reply #5 on:** March 02, 2010, 05:48:43 PM »

about what i figured. i'd LOVE to find me a Kombi, 2 door with the pickup bed but the chances of that are about as good as finding an honest politician. this is the ideal second vehicle for me. brother in law said he'll loan me the money till i get money coming in again. i'm not going to jump on the very first thing i find, im in no rush at all.

Rocking-M · « **Reply #6 on:** March 02, 2010, 06:17:35 PM »

Quote from: bucky katt on March 02, 2010, 04:54:21 PM

theres one just around the corner from me. it's pretty ragged with rust in the usual spots, i first tried to buy it in april of 1999, tried again during the summer of 2002 and one more time february 2004. it hasnt moved in 6 years. i think that this time will be the charm. it's a 66 21 window with the safari windshield (theyre hinged at the top and can be tilted outwards around 15 degrees or so, the windshield on 67 and earlier buses were split) it's all there but it looks like most of the body panels will have to be repaired/replaced. this one would get a restoration, no mods and i figure maybe that will convince the guy it's going to a good home. he's a guitarist so maybe i can entice him with one of the electric guitars i have (i love all my guitars but a 66 21 window microbus? come onnn)

man, that sounds cool! Post some pictures if you get a few.

bender01 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 02, 2010, 07:04:10 PM »

GDTRF..... Good! thats what that van needs! Ive always wanted one but not the High profile they tended to draw. Times have changed and id be glad to drive the bait!

verboten1 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 02, 2010, 07:36:12 PM »

I wish I had a single cab, not the best for anything, but awesome anyway!

bucky katt · « **Reply #9 on:** March 02, 2010, 10:10:10 PM »

i still have a bunch of air cooled vw parts for the type 1/type 2 motors including a set of dual solex carbs from a 68 microbus, really old but unused 041 big valve heads (who remembers those from the 1980's?) and a bugpack merged small flange header. i am really itching for an air cooled vw these days, i'll eventually find the right machine for the right price. i may even be willing to sell/trade fuzzycycle to get one of it's nice enough

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #10 on:** March 02, 2010, 10:20:14 PM »

Those things are worth a small fortune here in Oz and a lot have been bought up and taken to Japan where the sky's the limit for prices on them.

Mick

bucky katt · « **Reply #11 on:** March 02, 2010, 10:27:29 PM »

even rusted, clapped out beetles with half the parts missing are bringing pretty big dollars here these days. when i think about my first bug, a 1974 super beetle that i got in 1986, it had 17,000 original miles from the original owner, i paid 800 dollars. it even had the original spare never been driven on, i just want to #$%* looking at todays prices.

JBMorse · « **Reply #12 on:** March 03, 2010, 06:12:22 AM »

Hey Bucky, how much of a VW purist are you? If you weren't too adverse to a Vanagon, I'd bet you could stuff a 750 in one of those! They're pretty cavernous with no passenger seats.
My dad's got an '83 Westy and he's in the process of tearing that boat anchor of an engine out (the wasserboxer that is) and installing a proper 2.2l subaru engine in it. It's gonna be awesome! He's got a bay window westy project too, and I don't think you could get a 750 in one of those, even the passenger version.

Don R · « **Reply #13 on:** March 03, 2010, 07:33:22 AM »

Did you see the one Foose did on overhaulin? they even added two more windows to the top for 23. If you watch pickers on the history channel and they show the shop there is a pickup in the driveway.

bucky katt · « **Reply #14 on:** March 03, 2010, 08:10:52 AM »

i'd actually love to have a westphalia vanagon. a friend back in vermont has one with an older 1.8 subaru engine in it. only problem is in the 11 years i've lived here in south carolina, i've never seen one i dont think. if i do get a bus, i dont want the type4 bus, just the earlier upright type2, i think those are 72 or 71 and earlier

CBGhia · « **Reply #15 on:** March 03, 2010, 08:20:32 AM »

Quote from: Don R on March 03, 2010, 07:33:22 AM

Did you see the one Foose did on overhaulin? they even added two more windows to the top for 23. If you watch pickers on the history channel and they show the shop there is a pickup in the driveway.

The guy that built the pickers Single cab is in my car club (aircoolers.org). I remember him building it and we all had a fit when he sold it. Damn nice SC.

You would be hard pressed to fit a bike in a bus. I used to have a 67 and they don't have much floor space. Fun cars though

bucky katt · « **Reply #16 on:** March 03, 2010, 08:25:51 AM »

yeah, i'm back to looking for an earlier chevy/gmc astro/safari van with the rear barn doors, that i KNOW the 750 will fit in.

Don R · « **Reply #17 on:** March 03, 2010, 09:12:50 AM »

I remember 13 kids in one on a hot summer night with the top open.

domer · « **Reply #18 on:** March 03, 2010, 09:25:40 AM »

dude a 21 window is a find... a friend of a friends father sold one a few years back in pristine condition for $22k, not original, but a damn good restore. jump on it while you can! ive seen rust bucket 21's go for $5k here in sf, and not advertised at 5k, sold at 5k... most purists would shoot you if they saw a cb in the back of a safari though...
not to hijack, but i was looking at bus' yesterday and found this sucker... i will build one before i die!

bucky katt · « **Reply #19 on:** March 03, 2010, 09:30:16 AM »

i went to the guys house this morning but he wasnt home. i took a good thorough look at it though. even with the fact that almost all of the sheet metal will need to be replaced if i can talk this guy into a trade (he's been after me to sell my Danelectro Hodad guitar since i got it) i'll drag it home with me. it has factory dual solex's it appears, along with holes in the floor pans you could lose a basketball through. the front beam looks solid as does the trans mounts and axle tubes. all the glass is there and crack free as well.

JBMorse · « **Reply #20 on:** March 03, 2010, 09:38:34 AM »

The good news is you can still buy most of those panels. My dad discovered this when he started fixing up his 73 westy, but he opted to go the less money/more time route and make his own panels out of free scrap metal from appliances! There are some tricky angles on those things, though.
We're finding that parts for the 71 and under buses are a whole lot cheaper too, as they use the Type 1 engine. So if you can trade for that guitar, go for it! Sounds like a great project.

domer · « **Reply #21 on:** March 03, 2010, 09:40:14 AM »

glass is crucial, sheet metal can still be found. im jealous just thinking you might get it. hmmm danelectro or safari... id have to say i love you Hodad but...
got any pics of it? the safari i mean...

bucky katt · « **Reply #22 on:** March 03, 2010, 09:50:21 AM »

no pics yet. it has the original 2 tone robins egg blue and white paint. ALL the original metal trim is all there still, non dented too. in fact no dents at all on the original sheet metal. yeah, the Hodad is my absolute favorite of any guitar i've ever owned since 1977. but yeah, i can always buy another Dano, these busses arent exactly common anymore. OH! the bus while the original paint is blue and white, it's actually a mossy green color right now, a rolling stone gathers no moss but a non rolling microbus apparently does

domer · « **Reply #23 on:** March 03, 2010, 10:19:48 AM »

mmm, one of the better vw color schemes...

markac · « **Reply #24 on:** March 03, 2010, 08:42:32 PM »

I bought a 93 eurovan for that purpose.
Its a far removed relative of the microbus, but the engine got moved to the front and I can roll my cb750 right in the back with room enough for another. Great van, I wish I had bought the standard diesel version as the mpg is awesome and 1 ton carrying capacity rocks.

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Author Topic: VW microbus owners! (Read 1992 times)