TheSamba.com :: View topic - Wild westerners unite! AKA-is this rare or just ugly?

Sat Feb 14, 2009 10:15 am

CatfishCalhoun wrote: norcalvw wrote:
i actually just bought one of those this weekend.

No colour code sticker on this one either?

i havenet picked it up yet. when i get it home, i will do all i can to help.

but i understand that its ravena green and the special apple green. i dont have a code on that

Sat Feb 14, 2009 10:57 am

chazz79 wrote: The blue stripe is painted on for sure. I'm still looking for goo paint codes because I'll be buying supplies next month.

I still say the stripe is a sticker look at the photos and see what you think this Bus has orginal paint on it

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Sat Feb 14, 2009 2:28 pm

^^^ that is obviously a decal.

I will be (hopefully) traveling to where that bus is that I posted earlier in the thread very soon. I will get some better pics and check the M-code plate etc.

Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:24 pm

Buscuss wrote: The Rossvw.com URL in ZakkFlash's post mentions that the PO spoke of a sticker listing for a "Wild Westerner appearance group" and that this was the name of the color combo. I don't think one can make that assumption* when VW has no history of naming color combos. Rather, I think this is something a sales mgr. conjured to sell buses. Probably a coyote tail for the antenna.

As I noted in my prior post here, many have tried to source the color code for this bus. No joy, anywhere. I think a query must be made to VW in Germany for a definitive answer, maybe.

* Psychology/social science factoid: Most of the assumptions people make are wrong.

I'm glad to see some discussion on this one year only paint scheme. The colors are definitely Ravenna Green & Apple Green, I ordered touch up paint with the L64M and L65K codes from the paint chip scan earlier in this post, and they are spot on. Also, the original owner made a note in the owners manual on the date of delivery of the two paint codes for Ravenna & Apple Green. I think he noted it in the manual because this bus did not have a sticker with the paint codes "LXXX" in the door area, and appears to never have had such a sticker. Incidentally, the original owner wrote the codes on masking tape and stuck it where the factory normally places the decal. When I first found the bus in the classifieds, I researched the heck out of it to try and find out more info on these colors.

I do posses the original official VWOA window sticker from this bus listing it as having the "Wild Westerner" appearance group, it definitely wasn't a salesman's creation or something like that. I will try and get a scan of the window sticker to my website, and to this post, for all to see. It does seem like every one I've seen originated on the west coast. Mine came from Oregon.

In response to Karl's post about the paint M code "9643" being skipped in the specification guide, I noticed the same thing during my research, and noted that the colors sequentially before and after it were all in the green family, so I feel it definitely belongs there.

These same kind of discussions are what let me to most of the information about the Golf Harlequin, which I started the registry for, back in 2002. I'll post again when I have a scan of the window sticker. :)

-Ross
www.rossvw.com

Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:47 am

Thanks! I'd love to see the sticker. My bus has been repainted and they did paint over the blue stripe (be it decal, paint or whatever). I'd like to find info about the stripe as well because I cant get a spot clean enough for the paint shop to do a color scan on. The bus started out as kinda hideous, but it's grown on me. I plan on leaving the outside 100% stock besides the addition of a riviera top. But the color combo is unique enough to leave alone.

On a side note-thanks for letting me swipe the pic. That's the cleanest example I've found on the web. Most were left derelict (like mine) and I feel these were generally unappreciated.

Sun Mar 01, 2009 3:23 pm

chazz79 wrote: Thanks! I'd love to see the sticker. My bus has been repainted and they did paint over the blue stripe (be it decal, paint or whatever). I'd like to find info about the stripe as well because I cant get a spot clean enough for the paint shop to do a color scan on. The bus started out as kinda hideous, but it's grown on me. I plan on leaving the outside 100% stock besides the addition of a riviera top. But the color combo is unique enough to leave alone.

On a side note-thanks for letting me swipe the pic. That's the cleanest example I've found on the web. Most were left derelict (like mine) and I feel these were generally unappreciated.

No problem on the picture, I'm glad it might have helped you keep the bus in its original colors. I've finally scanned the window sticker, and here it is:

I've also posted some cool pictures of the bus from the original owners in the 70's, here's one of them:

There's a few more on my page for the bus:
http://www.rossvw.com/vw/73bus.htm

It's definitely a unique factory color combo. As an interesting side note, you'll see that Ravenna and Apple green were used on some other special editions from 1973 and 1974 namely the Love Bug, in Ravenna Green:

and the 1973 GT Beetle:

Best of luck with your bus, and maybe owner's of these "Wild Westerner" busses can email me their VIN's and we can see how close together they were produced, and perhaps even try and figure out how many were made. All the best,

-Ross
www.rossvw.com

Sun Mar 01, 2009 3:35 pm

rossvw wrote:

I would say that answers the question of whether the color combo had anything to do with the Expo '74 in Spokane. Must have just been a coincidence that the color combo matched between the bus and the advertising literature for the expo. Thanks for posting the window sticker.

Wed Mar 18, 2009 12:45 pm

I just returned from MT to pick up a bus and I got some more pics of the tri-color 73 that was at the same place. Here you go.

Not sure if these will reveal any new info, but they are worth a look. I have not decoded the plate yet.

Wed Mar 18, 2009 6:16 pm

About the M-Plate:

chazz79: 32 197 719
3-Year 73.
2 197 719-#chassis.

Buscus: 32 211 427
3-Year 73.
2 211 427-#chassis.

cdennisg: 32 196 809
3-Year 73.
2 196 809-#chassis.

736-Alternative loading arrangement (not with S751) Type 27.

9643 50-Paint and Interior codes:
9643-???
50-Interior code Black (leatherette).

D32-Group M-Codes:
020-Speedometer and odometer in miles.
085-Filled in factory with double amount of petrol (used for driving on and off the train, for example).
089-Laminated windscreen glass.
102-Rear window heating.
141-With heater outlet under middle bench seat.
161-Seats in cabin with mountings for headrests.
185-Seatbelts for all factory-mounted seats in cabin and in passenger compartment.
206-Inner rear-view mirror, anti-dazzle.
235-Mountings for headrests for all seats in passenger compartment.
253-Vehicle for North American market with tyres from specific companies.
506-Brake servo and duall-circuit brake control lamp.
511-Padded dashboard and dashboard lid (not for RHD).
524-USA and Canada specifications.

027-Plate with emissions value engine. That complies to the California exhaust emission standards.

162-Rubber strips for bumpers.

508-Ventilation window in rear passenger door and in the window opposite this door (two windows in total).

cdennisg: 19 2 - week 19 day 2 (08.05.1973).
7206-Number for production planning (temporary #number).

chazz79: 19 3 - week 19 day 3 (09.05.1973).
7324-Number for production planning (temporary #number).

Buscus: 21 5 - week 21 day 5 (25.05.1973).
7411-Number for production planning (temporary #number).

UA-Destination code - USA, Los Angeles.

2211-LHD, with sliding door right, seven seater, seat arrangement 2-2-3 (M-Code M147).
M147-Seven seater model, instead of eight-seater model.

41-Type 4 engine-exhaust emission control (M157-251).
M157-Exhaust emission control system and activated carbon container for absorbing fuel vapor.
M251-1700cc (66bhp) engine, instead of 1600cc (50bhp).

Accordling the VW Transporter and Microbus Specification Guide 1967-1979 by Vincent Molenaar and Alexander Prinz.

Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:16 pm

Thanks, save me a bunch of time. :)

Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:29 am

cdennisg: you welcome :D

Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:49 am

Just spotted this -

Here -

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2...p;start=20

Sun Mar 29, 2009 5:35 pm

Hello, my dad and I have the exact same bus. I've been looking into it for him...we've owned it for about 6 years now...someone told us it was a "california edition" that vw did in 73 with a limited number of vans. I can email you a picture it you want...I created this account specifically so i could write you this..haha. here's the link to my myspace where i have a pic of it...it may or may not work. http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...D=14823904

Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:49 pm

:evil: heres one more. just picked this up in wichita fallas tx. im in dallas. rescued from a VW junkyard, i only knew what it was from a good friends info and this thread. one more bay saved, ill add it to my fleet-o-bays.

note its an automatic, dont know how many of these were?? also its rumered that these were for the '74 worlds fair in washington, right??
well mine came into port in portland oregon......close to washington.

Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:59 pm

chazz79 wrote: here's my m-code tag

32 197 719

736

964350 D32 027 162 508

19 3 7324 UA 2211 41

It's a 1973 bus apple green top blue stripe at the mid line and lime green at the bottom. It's a little loud for my tastes but my kids love it as is. I'm going to be welding in some dog legs and rockers and if it's rare or a special edition I'd hate to destroy history (OE color codes wanted). Someone has already done a poor reshoot so I can only improve it from here. I've searched and not found any info on this so any help would be appreciated.

Always thought that color scheme was ugly and loud. I would go with another VW bus color scheme if I was you. Green is my favorite color but that bright lime green hurts my eyes. Some geeks will like it just because it was original and if it was not original they would hate it.

Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:58 pm

I'll agree it's hideous. It's the only one that's been driven here for years so I figure if people are going to be staring at a unique vehicle, I'll give them more reason to stare.

I just got done putting a riviera top on it, believe me that didn't make it any prettier.

Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:47 pm

:twisted: i think its a pretty nice look. at least the colors compliment each other. does anyone know about how many of this paint were done??

Thu May 28, 2009 9:29 am

My first car was a '73 beetle in apple green. Would love to get my hands on one of those bays.

Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:34 pm

My wife and I have one also. Found it in Missoula, MT. We are 2nd owners. everyone loves it. will post pics when I figure out how.

Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:24 am

I just found out about this special model through a bus for sale at the classifieds section and Busdaddy who directed me here via the M-code plate help thread. I'm amazed to find out there are more special edition baywindows beside the Champagne Edition I (1977) and Champagne Edition II (1978) and the Silberfisch (1978) from Germany. This must actually be the very first "sales campaign" bus!

What a daring colour combination...I had have never guessed VW has seriously produced this. :shock:

It is true this 'sonderlackierung' colour code is not listed in our book (VW bus specification guide 67-79). We came accross the code once but had no idea what the meaning was. We only knew it had to be a green since all the codes between 9600 en 9699 are variations to green.

A lot of information has been posted in this thread. There is still no written proof about the colour code. But thanks to the note in the owners manual by the first owner of Ross his bus we can almost certainly conclude that code 9643 on 1973 models stands for:

apfelgrün L 64 M, roof and bumpers: ravennagrün L65 K (Apple Green and Ravenna Green).