TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Nov 11, 2011 10:27 am

I've turned a corner. I've wanted a Westy for a long time but couldn't find that "Good Deal" on a pre-67. So instead, now I'm a proud Bay Window owner.

This is a 1971, my buddy Todd tells me all the time that a 71 is the BEST year of the VW Bus. I purchased it from the original owner who bought it on the Tourist Program. An interesting twist is they picked it up in England instead of Germany.

They have all the paperwork from day one. 8)

Original Owners - kept the bus Amazingly unmolested. They just did routine maintenance and replaced the engine twice!

Fri Nov 11, 2011 10:33 am

That's awesome!, nice score!, what are your plans for it?

Fri Nov 11, 2011 10:43 am

It looks a little better than it really is. It's been "cooking" in the heat of Bakersfield Ca for a long time. Anything rubber is decomposing and needs to be replaced. Hasn't really been driven much since 1993 but for some reason he installed a Brand New motor in 1997.

I'm going to sort it out and get everything working and give it a good cleaning. I ordered some 8 ply small truck tires for it. I'm just going to go through it and see what's all there and have some fun with it doing a lot of little things. The body has a couple of spots that need attention. I'll post photos as I move along slowly with it.

I have quite a few projects right now and they are all on the stove!

Fri Nov 11, 2011 10:53 am

I'm bias but I like it!! Love to see more pics when you have time. :D

Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:24 am

Nice score Brian. I like the 68-71 poptops myself.

Time for a electric buffer and some 3M "Finesse it"!

Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:48 am

Nice! here's another tourist receipt for comparison.

You got a good year and a Bakersfield body - you can't get much better than that. Keep us updated.

-p

Fri Nov 11, 2011 1:05 pm

Nice score. That is so neat that you got it from the PO and have been able to talk to them and get a history on it.

Your friend is wrong though. 70 is the best year. LOL Ok, I'm just joking I don't know what is the best year, but I own a 70 bus the same color as yours. LOL I too wasn't into bay windows till my bus came along. I now love them. Still love my spitty too though. They are 2 different beasts for sure.

I'm in the same boat as you when it comes to rubber. All mine need to be replaced. I am slowly getting it done. Still have one more back window, windshield and the louvre windows to do. The louvres will be the last. I'm not looking forward to those!

I would love to see interior shots of yours!! I love pics of buses!! :D

Fri Nov 11, 2011 1:25 pm

What a nice score!!!! My 71 came with it purchase order its not a tourist paper work but heres some price comparison notice what thay gave him for the 62 vw camper he traded in.

Fri Nov 11, 2011 2:43 pm

Quote: Original Owners - Amazingly unmolested. They just did routine maintenance and replaced the engine twice!

haha, yes they look in good shape don't they...

check out this 'got it from the original owner' history:

http://www.bigbluevw.com/2007/11/big-blue-first-forty-years.html

Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:14 pm

Nice find, I wonder why it has white license plates?

Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:20 pm

It's raining here so I'm stuck inside and can't work on the bus :evil:
The tires I ordered arrived so they will be installed on Monday or Tuesday.

I'm going through all the paperwork and will post a few (of the many) items that I think are interesting.

Here is the insurance paperwork from VVD. I believe that is VW issued insurance for the tourist program.

Insurance Claim Form

Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:30 pm

Radio Warranty Voucher

Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:41 pm

Definition of PROVENANCE
1 : origin, source
2 : the history of ownership of a valued object or work of art or literature

All the paperwork. The binder gets all the manuals, official VW maintenance records, and the tourist program paperwork. It's full :D The routine stuff is in the manila envelopes.

Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:53 pm

Opossum wrote: Nice find, I wonder why it has white license plates?

When the owners moved back to the US they lived in Central Oregon for a while. When they move to CA they were issued these plates.

Fri Nov 11, 2011 10:11 pm

That is a bitchen Bus. You are proof that there are still deals out there. Your friend Todd is a smart guy. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :P :P :P :P

Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:33 pm

ned wrote: That is a bitchen Bus. You are proof that there are still deals out there. Your friend Todd is a smart guy. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :P :P :P :P

He sure is, he also told me to get new tires ASAP.

I'm doing all the usual stuff that you need to do to a bus that's been mostly sitting in the sun for a long time.

For tires I went with the Nexen 185R14 D/8 SV820. They have a load rating of 1874 lbs.

Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:40 am

man a couple of the rims were that clean on my 71 also.

Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:48 am

Looks good man. I love 71s. Full resto planned, or?

Sun Nov 13, 2011 6:39 pm

Kirk wrote: Looks good man. I love 71s. Full resto planned, or?

Thanks, I'm liking this car A LOT. I had fun today, spent all day cleaning the inside. It is coming back remarkably well. There is a lot of gluing of laminates that needs to be done.

Tent poles, childs cot, and tool kit.

Tent (like new), original stakes, front curtain.

Electrical cord, mosquito netting, also like new.

All the interior labels are in place.

Tilley Two Burner Stove Made in England
Bought in England at the start of their trip.

Sun Nov 13, 2011 6:40 pm

I think he should love it up and drive it. BBB is just around the corner. They are not all show cars. I covet that stove.