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My old bus referenced in a book
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Sidbus
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 6:15 pm    Post subject: My old bus referenced in a book Reply with quote

In 1993 after 7 years of ownership I sold my Westfalia to a guy in my neighborhood. We met several years earlier at the bank...you actually had to wait in line in a physical building to do your banking back then, ha. He was in line behind me and asked if I was the guy that owned the yellow bus. I said yes and he told me he once owned a 60-something back in the day.

He owned a party supply store and I'd see him driving his brightly decorated delivery truck all over the place. Every now and then we'd bump into each other and talk VWs.

In 1993 I graduated college and landed a job in Philadelphia with a large corporation. Decided it was time to get a regular car, or at least one with a heater, so I put my bus up for sale. This guy I met at the bank saw the for sale sign and stopped by to inquire...no ebay/craigs list/samba back then either.

I was so happy to see that he wanted to buy the bus...his name is Kevin by the way. It meant a lot to me that the bus went to a good home so I pretty much gave it to him for 200 bucks! Over the years I had people pull me over or knock on my door and make offers as high as $4,000 but for some reason I wanted this guy Kevin to get the bus.

I moved away and started my career...no time for hobbies. A few years later my mom bumped into Kevin who still owned the bus. He took her through all the family trips and adventures he had. He told her to pass on his thanks to me.

In 1997 I got married and took my new wife to my hometown. We passed by his house and the bus was out front, he was on the porch. We had a chat and he let me take the bus for a spin! He again thanked me and told me how much he loved the bus.

Over the years I get occasional emails/phone calls from old friends telling me they saw "my" bus driving down the street. They're always impressed that it still has the same stickers. Kevin has kept it in amazing shape.

Today I received a book in the mail. Turns out Kevin published a book and references the bus I sold him 18 years ago. This is what the hobby is all about! This bus has given me so much to enjoy for 25 years!

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And here is how nice he's kept it. Took this pic when I went back home for high school reunion in 2009:
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High School Yearbook:
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1987:
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After a blizzard:
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EverettB Premium Member
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very cool.
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Sidbus
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 12:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, it is cool. He also wrote me a nice letter in the inside cover of the book.

Just found another chapter with the bus in it:
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wbrown45
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 3:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That is a great way to "pay it forward." Our ACVW hobby has a lot of great people in it, and you are one of them.
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Sidbus
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 6:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdgOJFq8q4I&feature=player_embedded#!
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