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Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:19 pm

This bus has me stumped. I don't know all that much about Champagne buses but I found this one which looks like a Champagne I at first glance.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=901131

Quote:

75 transporter Price: 1600
I have a 75 transporter model that runs and drives great. Has newer 2.0 engine with new heads and 40webers on it at this time. Interior is clean and all their. I have the title in hand and to many projects to keep this one also. Just lowered the price to quick sale for other projects.

Here is a thread for reference on what they look like stock.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=300885&highlight=champagne+edition

One thing that isn't right is that he says it is a '75 but they didn't start making Champagne I buses until '77 so I am curious if he just made a typo on the year. What do you all think. Champagne or not?

Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:22 pm

It has a black dash, so I say not a Champagne.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:32 pm

White over brown - Champagne
Chrome bumpers - Champagne
Black dash - Not Champagne
1975 - Not Champagne

I believe Champagne was a 1978 old year only special.

Looks really convincing though.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:34 pm

A '75 with a VIN that start 232?? I don't think so. If it's truly a '75, it can't be a Champagne Edition. I believe only the later CEII had the brown dash and components. The '77 CEI still had black.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:37 pm

VDubTech wrote: A '75 with a VIN that start 232?? I don't think so. If it's truly a '75, it can't be a Champagne Edition. I believe only the later CEII had the brown dash and components. The '77 CEI still had black.

I didn't even notice the VIN. What year should 232 fall under? I also don't know about the brown dash for the CEI. I know that CEII's had all the brown stuff but I am having a really hard time finding info on the CEI.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:46 pm

The 77 Champagnes were brown and white. If this van is a 77 it could be a champagne but more likely it's just had chrome bumpers put on it. I don't know if the 77 Champagnes had all the brown interior parts and special seat covers. I've never actually seen one, just the 78s. If they did then every single panel and interior vinyl piece I can see in the pictures on this van is wrong for a Champagne.

Andre

Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:49 pm

maximan1 wrote: I believe Champagne was a 1978 old year only special.

Not true. The CEI was available in 1977 and the CEII in 1978.

calebmelvin wrote: I didn't even notice the VIN. What year should 232 fall under?

"232" would be a 1972 Kombi.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:53 pm

VDubTech wrote: maximan1 wrote: I believe Champagne was a 1978 old year only special.

Not true. The CEI was available in 1977 and the CEII in 1978 and 1979.

Thanks. I was just going off what I've gathered from here and Ratwell's site.
Thanks for clearing that up.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:15 pm

More info:

Quote: VW Transporter & Microbus: Specification Guide 1967-1979
Alexander Prinz, Vincent Molenaar

Page 114

"Champagne Edition I (S723)

The first special sales campaign was begun in 1977 in the USA to commemorate the production of the one-millionth VW Rabbit (American VW Golf). A range of specially equipped Volkswagens appeared on the market, including a Microbus. The range was marketed under the name of Champagne Edition'. The special models were produced only in 1977 and sold exclusively in the USA. The champagne Edition I package comprised the following features:
-a paint job in Agate Brown L86Z with Atlas White L91Z roof, Atlas White wheels, Parchment coloured interior;
-a padded steering wheel (this became standard equipment in the 1978);
-chrome bumpers and rubber bumper strips (M162);
-chrome trim around windows and chrome VW logo;
-ventilation windows in passenger compartment (M508); and
-a small round sticker below the windscreen with the VW logo surrounded by leaves, plus the words Champagne Edition'."

Then it goes into talking about CE options and then the interior. Now it mentions that same sticker that mine has, but is the windscreen the windshield? Mine doesn't have one there. And yes I'm going to buy that book.

Does anyone have this book around? I would be curious to see what else they said about the CEI interior.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:44 pm

Andre4 wrote: The 77 Champagnes were brown and white. If this van is a 77 it could be a champagne but more likely it's just had chrome bumpers put on it. I don't know if the 77 Champagnes had all the brown interior parts and special seat covers. I've never actually seen one, just the 78s. If they did then every single panel and interior vinyl piece I can see in the pictures on this van is wrong for a Champagne.
Andre
My 77 CEI (soon to go on the market :)) has a black dash, parchment seat covers and parchment panels with silver trim. They interior is in sad shape unfortunately but very distinct from other interiors I have seen. I like the CEs just because they are a little different but its hard to believe someone would pick out that body paint color scheme if they were painting a 75 :shock: :lol:.. Just sayin.. So its a 75 with chrome bumpers, a 77 CE paint scheme and a 2L motor? What are the odds that just the bumpers and that paint would end up on the same 75 bus? I bet its a 77.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:25 pm

Not sure if it's a CE or not, but it does seem like a good deal.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:34 pm

My Champagne westy has a brown dash, brown carpet, but the only reason I call it a Champagne is I bought it as a Champagne (thats what the ad said). Now I guess I gotta dump another 53 euros and get the birth certificate.. I wonder if they say Champagne on the birth certificate... But I thought they had brown dashes, although I guess not..

Still - I agree it looks like a good replacement...

Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:02 am

Again, only CEII's had the brown dash and components thereof. The CEI had a black dash just like any other Bus.

Hey Caleb--I've got the Specification Guide--defintely a must have book....put it on your Christmas list.

Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:40 am

Karl would know.

Search "Champagne" and Author: Karl

I recall him posting lots of stuff on CEI's and II's.

Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:54 am

VDubTech is right. CEI is a '77 only. It had a black dash. I have pictures of the interior and it had special panels and seats. I believe they also had the headrests. When I removed the interior in mine I found some of the original interior underneath. Also I found a guy that had one in PA, and his interior was still intact. I have the pictures at home. The interior in this one is wrong if it's original. I will admit that everything else looks right. Thinking off the top of my head you have chrome window trim, different color interior except for the dash, chrome bumpers with impact strip, agate brown/atlas white paint scheme, and champaigne edition stickers. Talking with Vincent there may be an error in the VW records as to the VIN range for this option. Mine and another he found fell slightly outside of the published range. But as with mine the m-codes and everything match. If the VIN on this one is legit there is no way it's a CEI (what year is it?). I have a couple different pieces of CEI literature at the house and when I get home I'll review it again. Haven't messed with the bus for a bit.

Thu Feb 04, 2010 1:20 pm

VDubTech wrote: Again, only CEII's had the brown dash and components thereof. The CEI had a black dash just like any other Bus.

Hey Caleb--I've got the Specification Guide--defintely a must have book....put it on your Christmas list.

I actually had this book but the dog thought it looked tasty so I need a new copy.

I might go check it out just to get the m-code plate ha ha

Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:50 am

Hi all

I've just been reading everyone's comments and there all very interesting.
I have what i thought was a Champagne Edition, Agate Brown with Atlas White up top, chrome bumpers and interior trim but it has a black dash and an added high top conversion (not to everyone's taste but i like it).

She's a left hander and was imported from Texas many years ago.

Check out my pics to see the van in question.

All the best

Steviet73

Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:02 am

Stevie, I would say not a champagne. Nothing about it says champagne except the brown paint outside. The dash and all interior bits are black. Also, looks like a riviera interior. Champagne was a westfalia.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 12:36 pm

Seems like we are going around in circles a little. Busmania, did you read the posts above?? CEs from 77 had a black dash. 78s had a brown dash. They both also came stock with a clock in the speedo cluster which has not been mentioned yet. Not many 77s came with a clock (unless it was special ordered) but since clocks are easily swapped from bus to bus then that is not definative but neither is a black dash. Yet many posting here just keep saying, no black dash, no CE.. Simply not the case..
Steve's camper is a Spirit camper conversion. Likely a spin off company that came out of Riviera, hence the similarities. Many companies splintered from Riviera over the years and many look very similar. A CE1 was just as likely as any other bus to to be converted a non westy camper conversion and maybe even more so. CE's did not sell well so its not surprising that some of them were converted to a non Westy camper conversion at the dealer or by an owner.
I guess my point is just because a 1977 brown and agate camper (with chrome bumpers and a clock in the dash) is not a Westy does not mean its not a CE..

So back to the original post.. Any updates on the VIN# or the Mcode plate on the bus in question?? Is there a clock in the dash?? :) I still bet that baby is a 77 that had the interior redone..

Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:37 pm

Good post Kevin, and I agree with you 100%. I've definitely seen Riviera converted CE campers.