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Thu Jan 09, 2003 7:44 pm

has anyone ever tried installing a headliner in a Kombi? I am currently restoring a 65 Kombi. I wanted to put in a headliner but the bus originally only had the two little cardboard inserts over thedriver and passenger. Has anyone everdone this? I recently dismantled a 67 deluxe and noticed a series of metal clips above the doors and along the vent housing. So I need to install these on my Kombi? If I have to go to all that trouble, does anyone have any alternative ideas to the vinyl headliner that would look good. I had a 63 many years ago and someone glued cork to the roof, problem was the bus rotted out from all the moisture the cork absorbed.

Fri Jan 10, 2003 8:22 am

i say don't attempt the headliner. leave it the way it's supposed to be. european buses often had roof cards for the headliners in the rear. it keeps the interion temperature a little more manageable. if you're thinking of doing this for "looks", it will look wrong. stuff like gluing cork to the roof it dumb and amature

Fri Jan 10, 2003 8:25 am

My opinion:
If you want a full headliner, buy something other than a Commercial Bus.

But yes, you would have to weld in all the little headliner clips.

Fri Jan 10, 2003 6:20 pm

This bus never had any interior in it. I wanted to add seats in the back and thought the bus would look better with a headliner. Now I am wondering if I shouldn't switch over to a camper type interior with the fold down rear seat. Thsi way I could add the birch plywood to the roof. I have never seen these "roof cards" before. Any ideas on where to find one? Is anyone manufacturing repros?
I have seen in a couple of early brochures the Kombis could be ordered with rear seats. Did these Kombis not have headliners? What about panels on the interior walls?
Thanks for the help.

Fri Jan 10, 2003 7:06 pm

Typically a Kombi (type 23)came with both rear seats but no rearward interior beyond that. No headliner and no side panels. They could be ordered with or without a cargo area floor mat as well. Basically they were a panel van with windows and rear seats. You very seldom see an original Kombi that still looks this way. nearly everyone has preferred a few more creature comforts. I am currently restoring a 57 Kombi to as original as possible.

Fri Jan 10, 2003 7:27 pm

That's just it. I wanted a more comfortable interior than just raw sheet metal. I have already added a heater tube which goes under the rear seat. So original is already out of the picture.
what steps are you taking to make your 57 more comfortable? Headliner?
I am not looking forward to drilling out all of the spotwlds in the delux clips.

Sat Jan 11, 2003 12:10 am

Sorry I cannot help you much db. Since I am going for originality I do not plan on a headliner or door panels. I was answering your second set of questions on what was original to a Kombi. I've seen a lot of Kombi's with botched up home brew interiors. My wife is not too happy about the sparse interior but then she has yet to ride in it for the last four years, so what the heck!