TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Jan 27, 2008 10:56 am

Really I just need some help with a new flip seat that's just been pulled out of North Dakota, but an official Flipseat or even an early Westy thread seems like it would be a cool idea. So here's the bus, it is a '61 original safari havin', eba spaka carryin', seat flippin' Westy. I couldn't help but notice it's a pretty unique color as well. But alas, the VIN has been cut out within the last year. We are puttin this bus back on the road and we would really like to include those original pieces of steel. We have replacement VIN's from a '61 that we will provide. Help us Samba one kenobi, you're our only hope.

As you can see no M code plate or holes where it would be...

This is our biggest problem area with this rust free bus 8)

Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:41 am

Post a picture of the M-code plate. Curious to see if it has the safari m-code on it. Was talking with a buddy the other day about original safari westys and not having the safari m-code.

Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:09 pm

abuspilot wrote: Post a picture of the M-code plate. Curious to see if it has the safari m-code on it. Was talking with a buddy the other day about original safari westys and not having the safari m-code.

The M-code plate is gone too, too bad.....Im sure it would have had an interesting Sk #.

Are you and Paul putting this back together or did Paul sell it to you?

Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:28 pm

Paul does the mechanicals, the body is my cross to bear 8)

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Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:31 pm

Oh yeah the bus is still Pauls, look for these busses Shasta trip 2009?

Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:38 pm

KrisBalfe wrote:

I don't see any holes there for the tag screws?

The hand signals rock, I am going to copy that at some point.

Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:48 pm

you understand the pickle we're in then without a m-code plate or any signs of an m-code plate and the vin being cut out...

Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:58 pm

Looks like whoever skanked the flipseat hardware, VIN stamping, ID plate, and M code plate transferred it to another bus, or at least planned to. Unless you have documentation of the VIN for that chassis, you're gonna have to come up with one to register and insure that bus.
Too bad. In New Jersey, you'd be SOL, as there is no way to assisgn a new VIN that's legal. That bus would be scrap.
Some states will generate a new VIN for old cars without ID, you should see where your state is in this regard.

Sun Jan 27, 2008 2:32 pm

That could possibly be the earliest flipseat around.
Low hinge, but pointy pod and pointy dash tray '61.
The earliest other I know of is an April 4 '61 flipseat, with fat lip tray:

Yours has the cut out on the pointy pod for the fat lipped tray, but has an early tray in it... interesting. So probably not that much earlier.

Interesting colours, serious bummer some idiot hacked the info off and took the tag. I wonder about that color.
I'm wondering if the m-code tag was in a differnt location, as the regular location doesn't have the screw holes.

Quote: But alas, the VIN has been cut out within the last year.
How do you know it was in the last year?
Does that mean you know who did it, and could possibly get the numbers back?

Sun Jan 27, 2008 3:19 pm

EverettB wrote: KrisBalfe wrote:

I don't see any holes there for the tag screws?

The hand signals rock, I am going to copy that at some point.

You'll need two people, unless you work the camera with your teeth.

I don't see any screw holes either.

Sun Jan 27, 2008 3:21 pm

j.pickens wrote: Looks like whoever skanked the flipseat hardware, VIN stamping, ID plate, and M code plate transferred it to another bus, or at least planned to. Unless you have documentation of the VIN for that chassis, you're gonna have to come up with one to register and insure that bus.
Too bad. In New Jersey, you'd be SOL, as there is no way to assisgn a new VIN that's legal. That bus would be scrap.
Some states will generate a new VIN for old cars without ID, you should see where your state is in this regard.

Paul grabbed the seat from the bus a few years back. I assue if he had taken the M-code plate he wouldn't be looking for it.

Bummer about the VIN hacks. That combined with the rust and missing parts.....I probably would have left the bus out to rot. Cool color though, but hard to veriy as original withou the m-code plate.

Sun Jan 27, 2008 5:31 pm

Yeah he took the seat from it last trip, went back for the bus and BAM numbers gone... It is very difficult to prove the colors were OG but hey who cares I can't see anywhere on this bus that shows otherwise, and thats good enough for me. It is strange the M code plate is missing since there are no holes where it should be, rust nah this bus isn't rusty :wink:
So... if you are reading this and accidently cut the #'s out DO the right thing it's never to late, Thanks SLC

Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:03 pm

KrisBalfe wrote: Yeah he took the seat from it last trip, went back for the bus and BAM numbers gone... It is very difficult to prove the colors were OG but hey who cares I can't see anywhere on this bus that shows otherwise, and thats good enough for me. It is strange the M code plate is missing since there are no holes where it should be, rust nah this bus isn't rusty :wink:
So... if you are reading this and accidently cut the #'s out DO the right thing it's never to late, Thanks SLC

I'm not doubting the color, but it's always nice to have the M-code plate to back it up.
I'd look around for some other holes with the proper spacing.
It's possible that real early flipseats had them mounted elsewhere.
I have pictures of a mango/grey flipseat, but that was years ago and I have no idea where the bus is now.

Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:12 pm

abuspilot wrote: Post a picture of the M-code plate. Curious to see if it has the safari m-code on it. Was talking with a buddy the other day about original safari westys and not having the safari m-code.
the safari window code is usually part of the USA specs package. however, M-codes are different in some ways on westies than other buses for some reason.

Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:40 pm

Some of the very early flip-seats just do not have any trace of an Mcode plate. Might be time to contact VW for a birth certificate.

Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:59 pm

j.pickens wrote: Looks like whoever skanked the flipseat hardware, VIN stamping, ID plate, and M code plate transferred it to another bus, or at least planned to. Unless you have documentation of the VIN for that chassis, you're gonna have to come up with one to register and insure that bus.
Too bad. In New Jersey, you'd be SOL, as there is no way to assisgn a new VIN that's legal. That bus would be scrap.
Some states will generate a new VIN for old cars without ID, you should see where your state is in this regard. i would slap another vin plate on there somewhere and drive that bitch.

Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:59 pm

Eric&Barb wrote: Might be time to contact VW for a birth certificate.

Tough to do with the VIN hacked out.

Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:04 pm

StockNazi wrote: j.pickens wrote: Looks like whoever skanked the flipseat hardware, VIN stamping, ID plate, and M code plate transferred it to another bus, or at least planned to. Unless you have documentation of the VIN for that chassis, you're gonna have to come up with one to register and insure that bus.
Too bad. In New Jersey, you'd be SOL, as there is no way to assisgn a new VIN that's legal. That bus would be scrap.
Some states will generate a new VIN for old cars without ID, you should see where your state is in this regard. i would slap another vin plate on there somewhere and drive that bitch.
That's the last resort( that bitch is gonna be drivin though)

Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:31 pm

Id say, just get started on it. give it some love. get it on 4 correct wheels, clean it all up, start cutting out sheetmetal, and keep this thread updated. that energy being sent out, the VIN will pop up for sure. so many people on here, someone will see it and know where it went. you need to put up pics oh the field it was in also. where it sat etc etc.
later sick bus btw. dave

Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:05 pm

I think Paul said this bus was in North Dakota, so maybe between the 10 VW people in that entire state one of them will fess up? Someone probably grabbed it for their sand rail or something....