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Tue Apr 08, 2014 4:30 am

I recently sold my 1969 Deluxe Microbus in favour of a 1971 Westfalia due to a desire for more camping and the practicality of doing so in a Westy (also being able to stand up is very novel).
Anyway, I shall let my blog post do the talking:

The Viewing
Having spent months searching for a Westfalia to replace my deluxe yielding no results I finally stumbled across a California import which had found its way to Holland. The bus is very solid, original (bar the odd panel) and reasonably priced. Yes, I could perhaps save a little money importing directly from the US, however most either required too much work, or were newly painted and had a price to match - I had a budget. I also liked the idea that I could view the bus rather than trust a seller in the US.
I emailed the seller, Barry, and after getting an excellent response, hundreds of pictures and videos, as well as around 20 positive responses from his previous customers I planned a date to go over and view the bus.

5am. Bleary eyed and groggy, I boarded the easy jet flight to Amsterdam.

10am. I was greeted at the airport by Barry who had come to pick me up.

We arrived at his house around 30 minutes later where he has a large barn type extension.

Inside was his workshop, with a latebay on the ramp and his splitty behind. If you walk around the split screen there is another large room that I forgot to take a picture of and has his fleet of latebays he rents out to his fellow countrymen. It was an amazing collection.

We then went to another storage area where I was greeted by 7 buses, including mine, hiding in the corner.

I spent a good while looking around, though ultimately there was little need as thanks to Barry's honest description and countless photos, nothing was unexpected about the bus. I took it for a test drive.
I sat on the rock and roll bed, took everything in and realised this was actually the first time I had sat inside a Westfalia. I loved it.

We agreed the sale and discussed the work that would be required to get the bus up to MOT or APK (Dutch MOT) standard. The remit is the bus has to be able to get me home. We've estimated that completion should be by the end of this month (April) and then I've just got to fit in collecting it. Stanford Hall VW Show is on the 5th May so that is our target.

There is a bit of damage on the passenger side of the bus, but nothing particularly bad and for reasons we can't quite work out, three lower half panels had a poor, rushed respray probably 20 years ago. There is little sign of damage so it's something I will explore further in the future - a midland paintwerks job methinks??

Anyway, that's caught us up to the present day, I'm now just counting down the time until I can collect, planning the ferry and flight over.

Thanks for reading :D
Paddy

Tue Apr 08, 2014 5:32 am

Nice Paddy! You must be totally stoked! Love my Westy, I spent 4 months traveling and living in mine back in '12. Great choice! ENJOY!

Tue Apr 08, 2014 9:50 am

Nice bus! Brings back memories of my '70 Westy. :)

Tue Apr 08, 2014 6:05 pm

Thank you both for the comments. Yes I cannot wait to get it home. I'll be driving it from the port to my house which will be a few hundred miles so should give me a good idea of how she's running and what needs to be done.
Early upgrades will be a gene berg shifter and possibly Koni shocks.

Other than that it's just a matter of lots of use and camping this summer.

Tue Apr 29, 2014 12:57 am

Thought I'd update. We had originally planned for the bus to be back by now, in time for a show this weekend, however delays on other buses has pushed the work on my bus back a little bit. I also go on holiday next Friday so the new pickup date is the 27th May. Plane and ferry tickets are booked.
So the planned journey:

7:30am - Fly to Holland
9:30am - Arrive in Amsterdam
10:00am - Get picked up by the seller, trailering my bus to the ferry port
11:30am - Arrive at ferry port, wave goodbye to the seller
12:01pm - Eat Lunch
2:30pm - Depart Holland on a ferry to Harwich (6:30hr crossing)
8:00pm (UK time) - Arrive in Harwich, England
10:00pm - Find campsite/stopover and sleep!
5:00am - Set off for Manchester.

Proposed route:

Though I think I'll most likely go this way:

Drive up through Cambridge (maybe stop here for the night) then over the Peak District and into Manchester. Not quite as epic as some of the US road trips but exciting nonetheless.

Tue Apr 29, 2014 7:34 am

looks like a beautiful Westy. My '69 has given me tons of pleasure. and by that I mean the pleasur eof not having to wonder where my next aycheck is going. :) Have fun with it.

Tue Apr 29, 2014 5:25 pm

I say "COOL"!
have fun, take your time if you can, getting back and getting used to the ride and sounds and feel.

Wed May 28, 2014 12:14 am

Few updates:

Left rear inner and outer wheel bearing replaced.
Gear box oil change.
4 CV boots replaced and new grease/bolts.
Front brake callipers rebuilt.
Upper left ball joint replaced.
Shift rod cleaned and greased.
Vacuum hose on the brakes replaced.
Rear breaks with new wheel cylinders and break shoes. Cleaned break drums.
Replaced steering drag link, tie rod assembly right side, right brake hose, balljoint dustcaps.

Engine service/tune up and other bits and bobs still to come. I've included pictures:

Wed May 28, 2014 12:44 am

Just saw this,damn dude,looking good! That is a really solid example. Are you going to cruise it as is or go for a restoration? Have fun! :D

Wed May 28, 2014 1:12 am

808OvalGreasemonkey wrote: Just saw this,damn dude,looking good! That is a really solid example. Are you going to cruise it as is or go for a restoration? Have fun! :D

Thank you :D
No restoration. Plan is just to get out and enjoy it. I'll be adding things like Propex, a fridge and whatever other work needs doing on it, but don't want it to be off the road.
Can't wait.

Wed May 28, 2014 2:58 pm

Wow. :shock: That rear bearing grease looked like dogshit. What's the other side look like?

And what brand are those nice, thick rear brake shoes? Must be nice to have a lift! 8)

Nice splitty teaser porn, by the way!

Sat Jun 07, 2014 7:40 am

Wasted youth/adulthood wrote: Wow. :shock: That rear bearing grease looked like dogshit. What's the other side look like?

And what brand are those nice, thick rear brake shoes? Must be nice to have a lift! 8)

Nice splitty teaser porn, by the way!

Other side was the same. I think the brake shoes are ATÉ but I will double check.

Sat Jun 07, 2014 7:41 am

Well in preparation for collection in two and a bit weeks, work on my bus has been progressing quickly. Engine has had a full service, oil change, points sorting etc.
Electrics have been fixed. Indicators, wipers and lights all work. Horn is a work in progress.

But most importantly, poptop canvas has been installed and new roof seals all round. Canvas was ordered from FBI volkswagen and is a Wolfsburg west one. Apparently it fits really well and looks excellent in the pictures.

Looking much better now.

Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:34 pm

Im on my way!

About to board the flight to Amsterdam. Driving back tonight.

Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:54 pm

Good luck! Keep us posted. How's that VW guide by the way? I just
Did a similar trip but not quite as far to grab my bus.

Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:54 pm

Great bus and what a epic way to start off with him/her! Post many pics of your adventure!

Wed Jun 25, 2014 7:58 am

Drive safe and good luck!

Mon Jul 07, 2014 1:33 pm

Bit delayed but thought I'd update this.

Barry picked me up at the airport and took me to the bus. I had a quick test drive to check the work that Barry had done and all seemed well, so onto the trailer heading towards the Hook of Holland.

Leaving it's recent home

Arriving at the ferry port. No other cars in sight.

Quick Sandwich

I duly drove through check in and got my ticket and then onto customs where I was greeted by a Dutch customs official complete with aviator sunglasses. He was not impressed about the state of my bus, lacking 'export plates', only having a US plate on the front and so proceeded to give me a dressing down. After a few minutes he then turned to his colleague and I can only assume they thought it wasn't worth the hassle as he said be on your way and I boarded the ferry.

Safely on the ferry

Goodbye Holland, sunbathing on the deck

Hello England, cloud :(

Got through customs without even a how-do-you-do. The official asked where I was headed and that was it, much to the displeasure of a lady in a motorhome who got out of her vehicle, tapped on my window and explained (with a big smirk on her face) that I wouldn't get into England as 'In England we have licence plates and you don't have one therefore you're not getting in). Her face was a picture when I put on my very best Manchester accent and politely asked her to mind her own. Was then hilarious watching customs search her motorhome.
Also in the queue a German in a Type 25 pulled up, flashed me the peace sign then said 'Yeah it looks like crap but it's old so it's ok' :shock: :? Thank you I guess...

Drove towards Colchester when loss of power and slowed to a stop, fortunately pulling off the main road.

Now this bit is embarrassing. I was under the impression that I had half a tank, not so...The fuel gauge is clearly broken and therefore the cause of my rather dramatic break down, not me :msn4: .

Driven to the petrol station, how embarrassing.

Time is now 01:05am and I still have over 200 miles to get home. My plan was to camp in Colchester but the campsite was now closed. So I drove until 3, slept in the bus at the Cambridge service station which was very novel. I was sure that the black widows remaining in my bus would eat me, so tucked myself into my bed for the night.

Sleeping quarters with temporary curtains

Waking up

Determined not to run out of fuel again I filled up. Whilst doing so two traffic police pulled in and started walking towards me. Obviously I was cool as a cucumber :msn4: The first approaches me 'What year is it??' '71' 'Awesome car' and off they went...
So drove the rest of the way cruising at 55mph without a hiccup. Gear changes are smooth, engine sounds good and not too loud, disc brakes make a massive difference!

And finally, home

So, not quite a European adventure, but I did get to drive home from Harwich to Manchester, few laughs, one or two tears and a couple of spiders later and I have my 1971 Westfalia. Thanks for all the support!

Mon Jul 07, 2014 1:36 pm

Well now that my European adventure to get the bus home is over I thought I would start this thread to document my future with the bus. She's a white 1971 Westy, imported from San Francisco to Holland and then to me in the UK. Three previous owners and has been stood in a barn for 16 years. I wanted something original and this pretty much fit the bill. Original paint (mostly) and interior. With that in mind it isn't pristine, but the plan is to go on as many trips as possible in it.

For some reason the rear two panels and corner of this side have been repainted in this horrible scratchy, chalky stuff. Can't find any accident damage though and the magnet says no filler? Rest is original.

Some damage to deal with in the future (ahem, Midland Paintwerks)

Weird tyres have to go

First job after driving 300 miles overnight was to clean it. Years and years of dust and dirt and one or two mice droppings needed to be thoroughly dealt with.

Much better

Comes up good with Cif

Then put my feet up in my new home

Dog (reluctantly) joined me

Certain little addition I've waited ages for ;)

And that's all I've got to so far. NOVA declaration has been done and came back immediately as requiring no VAT. Just got to get it registered and we're good to go!

Mon Jul 07, 2014 1:46 pm

thanks for documenting it all so well. great pics and even better storytelling!

btw, those Wildcat tires aren't bad - if they aren't showing signs of needing to be replaced. if you don't like the white outlined letters, just take them in and have them flip them around to the other side. It's a Les Shwab brand tire that actually does pretty nicely on a baywindow bus. it's likely a touch oversized at 27x8.rR14, but they have nice treads.