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Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:00 pm

thats a scary piece of rust because the backside looks like "tater chips" of rust,and the question becomes how far do the "tater chips" go,could be a mouses camp or a whole village

awesome bus,my favorite model of all time,congrats

Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:16 pm

I'm embarrassed about the rust in the rear frame. I guess Kelly and I both missed it. The rear frame area and tranny hanger appeared to be original to the bus as far as i could tell. The chassis number Stephen referenced appears on the bulkhead.

Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:35 pm

Here's the link to the photos of the open heart surgery it underwent a few years back. It's a miracle the thing rolls.

http://www.metwiz.com/56kombi/index.htm

Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:50 pm

I think I had seen those pictures before.
That bus had a LOT of work done, and done well. What was its story before you got it? It looks like it went through hell in a prior life. Love to see something so desirable get resurrected.

Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:56 pm

Major Woody wrote: I think I had seen those pictures before.
That bus had a LOT of work done, and done well. What was its story before you got it? It looks like it went through hell in a prior life. Love to see something so desirable get resurrected.

Kent had it before me and had the work done. I think it sat in Michigan for a cuppla decades?????

Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:14 pm

I bought it from a guy in rural Michigan about an hour north of Detroit ten years ago. He had owned it since the late 70s. Apparently it was purchased new in Arizona and made it's way to Michigan, where it rusted to pieces. It had no motor, bumpers, or lights, or rear seats when I bought it. I collected the brake light, bubble taillights, reflectors, seats, front bumper (and maybe rear bumper, I can't remember), center and rear seats in mint condition. I then sent it to Kelly and blew approximately $13K on metal work. After it got it back, I ran out of money and sold it to Stephen, which is good for him but sucky for me.

Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:47 pm

Front and rear bumper. The rear is toast, and will probably end up for sale here at some point. Or maybe I'll just use it as wall art. The front is in pretty good shape.

Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:23 pm

KWZ wrote: I bought it from a guy in rural Michigan about an hour north of Detroit ten years ago. He had owned it since the late 70s. Apparently it was purchased new in Arizona and made it's way to Michigan, where it rusted to pieces. It had no motor, bumpers, or lights, or rear seats when I bought it. I collected the brake light, bubble taillights, reflectors, seats, front bumper (and maybe rear bumper, I can't remember), center and rear seats in mint condition. I then sent it to Kelly and blew approximately $13K on metal work. After it got it back, I ran out of money and sold it to Stephen, which is good for him but sucky for me.

When I saw the original condition and surfed through the "in process" photos, I remember thinking, "damn, that's like 10k in metal work"...and I was low...well, evidently it is worth it to the right people. Love seeing that NOS rear corner, and all the use of OEM panels where possible. Good for you Kent for stepping up to save it, even though you couldn't keep it. Even though I'm up on my tetanus shots, I would have walked. Glad you didn't.

Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:40 pm

great to see it come back,gotta save the rare ones,is the vin your going off of to date it on the seat bulkhead by chance?

Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:26 pm

hugheseum wrote: great to see it come back,gotta save the rare ones,is the vin your going off of to date it on the seat bulkhead by chance?

Yes.

Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:34 pm

Isn't that the body number?

Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:42 pm

spookymulder wrote: Isn't that the body number?

It's the only number to be found anywhere on the bus.

Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:45 pm

I thought all the Wolfsburg buses were stamped on the body below the ID tag on the crossmember below the fuel tank

Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:48 pm

Negative on this one. And the ID tag is long gone, before I got it. :-k Maybe I should change the title of this thread to "195? Potential Wolfsburg Sunroof Kombi Restoration"?

Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:33 pm

Mine is stamped in the engine compartment. My tag is missing too.

Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:38 pm

BDWannaB wrote: Negative on this one. And the ID tag is long gone, before I got it. :-k Maybe I should change the title of this thread to "195? Potential Wolfsburg Sunroof Kombi Restoration"?

and before I got it... I too was not the douchebag....

Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:41 pm

Damn i'm glad to see this bus come back up. I wanted to rub one off to it every time I saw it at Kelly's. Definitely looking forward to the progress

Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:11 pm

spookymulder wrote: I thought all the Wolfsburg buses were stamped on the body below the ID tag on the crossmember below the fuel tank

My January '56 is stamped just below the tag, and my April '58 bus is stamped there too so it's not just a Wolfsburg thing.

Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:14 pm

obus wrote: UZI, should i recognize that middle seat?

i don't think so. i got them from curt strausser about 5-6-7 years ago. those seats were among the nicest i've owned. the middle seat had a cigarette burn that was patched. otherwise perfect. the rear was totally perfect.

Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:16 pm

sounds like your chassies # is lost the number on the bulkhead is a difrent # then the chassies # it is what I have been told is the body # which I have seen very few refrences to in old litrature.