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Fri May 25, 2012 1:04 pm

Howdy...

My bus has a Dakota Beige top but the bumpers are white. I'm pretty sure that's how the factory did it. Right? Seems odd to me... since beige and white are similar. I think it would look better all one or the other.

Anyway, I just wanted to verify that it is stock that way, since the M-code doesn't seem to address the issue of bumper color.

Also, I'd welcome any opinions about color matching them... has anybody done beige bumpers?

Thanks.

Fri May 25, 2012 1:42 pm

From the factory, the bumpers were always white or chrome.

Fri May 25, 2012 2:21 pm

Cool chart!

*SAVED*

Thanks.

Fri May 25, 2012 2:29 pm

In case anyone else finds this interesting.... I just found this blog with some pictures of a bus with color-matched beige bumpers. I'm not sure how I feel about it.

http://myvwbuses.blogspot.com/2009/05/test.html

Edit - I just stole the pic in case that link goes bad one day. It can live forever on the Samba. Dig:

Fri May 25, 2012 2:59 pm

My '75 has a salvage OE replacement front bumper and it's beige. I cannot argue in any way that it's original color but it's the only color on it, no white shows anywhere in the rock chips.

Fri May 25, 2012 3:18 pm

All the bumpers were white originally (except Champagne), makes it easy on the production line as the same bumper works on all models. But after almost 40 years a repaint is plausible, especially since bumpers often see alot of action.

Fri May 25, 2012 4:02 pm

I like a matching top and bumper. I think the white bumpers VW put on them look blah… making them match makes it look classier in my opinion

Fri May 25, 2012 4:21 pm

thewalrus: So on your blue/white bus what color are your bumpers.LOL
Blah..

Another Oxymoron > "accurate Estimate" :lol:

Fri May 25, 2012 4:30 pm

Same color as my top and Roobar. Rustoleum "Canvas White"

Sat May 26, 2012 4:40 am

I'm not so sure they ALL had white bumpers. I was the 2nd owner of my '79 auto. It was two tone brown/beige w/beige bumpers. I personally new the original owners. The only mods to the bus were a dual progressive carb and a bullet hole in the back door and bullet in the spare tire. :shock: Everything else was cherry perfect. There was no indication that the bumpers were ever painted. Maybe it was a '79 thing?

Sat May 26, 2012 6:26 am

babysnakes wrote: Maybe it was a '79 thing?
Now that you mention it I recall a 79 that had beige bumpers, it was a field find with mostly OG paint and thinking back the bumpers did look to be OG paint too, forgot all about that one.

Sat May 26, 2012 6:30 am

busdaddy wrote: babysnakes wrote: Maybe it was a '79 thing?
Now that you mention it I recall a 79 that had beige bumpers, it was a field find with mostly OG paint and thinking back the bumpers did look to be OG paint too, forgot all about that one.

Years ago I had a '79 Transporter that was original Beige above the beltline and green below it. It had beige bumpers.

Sat May 26, 2012 4:03 pm

Well there you go. The bus in the pic that I posted (from the blog) is also a 79. I guess they FINALLY got tired of white bumpers just in time to try making some beige ones.

Thanks for all the input/info.

Sat May 26, 2012 4:39 pm

I had my top, wheels, and bumpers painted Pastel White.

Sun May 27, 2012 3:48 am

Daverham wrote: Well there you go. The bus in the pic that I posted (from the blog) is also a 79. I guess they FINALLY got tired of white bumpers just in time to try making some beige ones.

Thanks for all the input/info.

So the beige bumper was the demise of the Baywindow bus. :(

Sun May 27, 2012 2:33 pm

My original paint '79 has beige bumpers

-jeffrey

Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:33 am

I test drove a Dakota Brown/Panama Beige model in 78 with a sunroof at Lamar VW in Austin. I thought the color combo was striking. Still do. Wish I had bought it instead of the 78 olds p.o.s. I can't remember the bumper color, I was too stoked with the Gestalt of the bus! My dog liked the sunroof.

uote="Randy in Maine"]From the factory, the bumpers were always white or chrome.

[/quote]

Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:36 am

I am guessing my 78 Neptune blue was either a ASI color or a VW service bus color headed to ASI for conversion.

Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:43 am

So our '78 Riviera has an Mcode that dictates original colour was pastel white, but I don't see that as a listed option in the above colour schemes. We have the Canyon Brown Leatherette front seats. Thoughts?

Mon Jul 23, 2012 12:49 pm

squamdawgs wrote: So our '78 Riviera has an Mcode that dictates original colour was pastel white, but I don't see that as a listed option in the above colour schemes. We have the Canyon Brown Leatherette front seats. Thoughts?
From the 1978 commercial vehicle brochure: (look just below the drawings in the small print)