TheSamba.com :: View topic - Just bought a 1969 VW Westfalia Weekender

Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:27 pm

:D Her name is Freckles, and she's white.

I have no idea where to go for fun accessories, replacement parts, VW emblems, etc.

I'm going to repaint her so she's two-tone and put slip covers over her seats. She has new pergo flooring so that's fine.

But she has tears in the camper tent (no bed in the camper deal).

Does anyone have recommendations, ideas, support, suggestions? Did I pay a reasonable price?

Here's a link to see what her specs are: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...AMEWA%3AIT

Please share your opinion! I HAVE NO VW BUS EXPERIENCE AT ALL!

Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:59 pm

I say she looks SWEET!

I'd call it a good deal...

Thu Sep 15, 2005 11:16 pm

She appears to have a little surface rust on the front area floorboards. The owner is a young guy who says the metal isn't thinning and he'll sand it down a bit for me.

Also, he's replacing the klutch cable, which just popped up as an issue.

He says it's otherwise in great shape and drives wonderfully.

Where can I go to find supplemental parts and price them?

Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:03 am

nymbiss wrote: Where can I go to find supplemental parts and price them?

Right here!!, This has to be the most complete vw classifieds anywhere.

Just click the little button at the top.....

Mac

Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:15 am

Go to this thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=133859
They have a very large stock of used and new parts. I think the new owner will answer any questions you have. I have bought quite a few parts from these people and have found them most usefull and fair.
www.bustedbus.com parts@bustedbus.com
I live about 10min from there and would go to bat for you if you have any dificulties. The person, Chris, who now owns/runs the business seems like a good guy and would be eager to please any new customer to build on the business. Call or e-mail and ask any question. I feel a good place to start.
Cree 79Bays

Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:09 am

Also check out ratwells site for a great list of vendors and a wealth of information: http://ratwell.com/

Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:19 am

He calls that bus a "weekender" I personally have never seen a "weekender" with a poptop. :?

He also says that bus never came stock with the sink/icebox cabinet, which is also false. The flooring and upholstery on the rear seats is also not original, and the closet beside the Zbed has been cut down, as you probably know. But from what I see in the photos, you paid a very fair price for it, and since its nearly identical to mine, naturally Im partial to it. :) Congratulations and welcome to the community.

One word of advice Im going to throw out there, dont hang ten pounds of keys from the ignition as the PO has, it wears out the keyswitch faster. I keep my car keys separate from all others, on their own keychain.

Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:27 am

steponmebbbboom wrote:
One word of advice Im going to throw out there, dont hang ten pounds of keys from the ignition as the PO has, it wears out the keyswitch faster. I keep my car keys separate from all others, on their own keychain.

Had to replace one in my 96 golf a few months ago - I just love having a seperate key to open the doors :(

Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:43 am

www.rustbullet.com

Get that rust on the floor before the bus becomes a Flintstones vehicle!

Otherwise, it really looks good. Congrats and welcome!

If it was mentioned above and I missed it, my apologies. But...

Idiot's guide
Bentley manual

Get your hands on those before anything else.

Some favorite vendors are Busdepot.com, aircooled.net, bus-boys.com, and bustedbus.com. Those will keep you going. Between them I doubt there's much you can't get.

Fri Sep 16, 2005 5:05 am

Look at the third post on this thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=117448

Fri Sep 16, 2005 5:12 am

MrBreeze wrote: Look at the third post on this thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=117448

Gonna have to change that Mitchell Motorworks entry. ;)

Fri Sep 16, 2005 5:15 am

DurocShark wrote: MrBreeze wrote: Look at the third post on this thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=117448

Gonna have to change that Mitchell Motorworks entry. ;)

Done. Thanks for the tip.

Fri Sep 16, 2005 10:14 am

Congratulations on the bus! I bought my first bus this summer and found that the forums have answers to almost every question you could have. Prior to making any updates you should search the forums for ideas and suggestions. I know I wasted some time and money prior to knowing about the forums. Don't do the same as me.

Fri Sep 16, 2005 12:45 pm

Very nice, and I like the hardwood flooring. I am seriously thinking of putting some in my Bus. BTW - did you get the fridge? The sink and fridge are definitely needed.

Fri Sep 16, 2005 1:27 pm

Great looking bus and WELCOME! I bought my 1st bus in April, now I have 3 :? . Get ready for the addiction :shock:

Fri Sep 16, 2005 1:47 pm

nybiss: CONGRATULATIONS! a fine choice in vehicle! i wish you the VERY BEST in luck, and fun with freckles! she appaers to be in good condition, and should prove to be TONS of fun on the road! i too am kinda new to the bay window, and the guys here in the forums have been my MOST valuable resource, and we're all happy to help out another "fatchick" owner! so post updates on what happens with freckles, post pics, post questions, & once again: welcome to the world of the "fatchick"!! :vw: :bus_red:

Fri Sep 16, 2005 2:03 pm

I finally registered myself here, and wanted to say howdy and glad you found the place sis. Freckles is a great step forward for ya!

Happy driving!

jblairsbride (zblair)

Fri Sep 16, 2005 7:48 pm

I'm overwhelmed, but at the same time excited to go browse the links and see what's out there.

I'm a little intimidated by the comment, look around before wasting a ton of money, but thank you for the advice.

I'm not sure what I need yet, but I'll do a starting inventory tomorrow and see what my neighbor guy has to say. He's a bit of a purist so I'm not sure how practical his advice will be.

Regarding paint jobs, I want to paint but I understand it can be quite costly. For a single mom on a budget, is Maaco a tawdry and undesirable option?

Fri Sep 16, 2005 8:01 pm

:shock: For a single mom on a budget, this bus is anything but practical so Im not sure why youre asking that question... you really need to know what youre doing if you expect to keep this thing running safely and cheaply. I sure hope you have a reliable vehicle to get you around while you get to know this bus.

As for your purist neighbor, unless youre interested in hotrodding it or hacking the shit out of it, keep it stock, VW knew what they were doing and in the long run, the most sound repair is always the cheapest, and to take that further, your bus is 36 years old :!: It has been to the dark side of the moon and back, it is an old soul and needs to be respected. To think that a bus has walked the earth for that long only to have that journey brought to an end in less than a year by one irresponsible owner, sounds dramatic but it happens all the time. These cars are a big responsibility, there are some who will downplay that fact but as far as Im concerned thats the way it is. My bus brings joy to whomever it touches, and I feel a duty to keep spreading that joy as long as I can, Take care of your bus :!:

Fri Sep 16, 2005 11:40 pm

:( I don't pretend to know the answers here. I may be a flaming fool and I will likely make some lame mistakes. I know this restoration project may not be a cheap venture so maybe you raise a good point, in that you don't know why I'm "asking that point" in reference to my recent single momhood. Maybe it's just a general concern and something I've already addressed.

Yes, I have a VERY reliable Subaru Forester for daily transport and for my 16 yr old boy's newly acquired driving needs.

I CAN afford to make minor changes to my new '69 bus as needed, and like you, I believe it is important to maintain the integrity of the original design. My neighbor's son is the same way. He's not into "tricking out" VW's but returning them to their original simple state.

I must have been pretty vague. Sorry, this is new to me.