54 BD Barnfind..

[MDKG]

Very cool find! Very cool story! Hope to see this bus on the road some day here in Holland. With the signwriting!

Did you check with the store which used this bus if they can give you any more info (or is this where you got it from)? If you check the Dutch Yellow Pages it appears the store is still there:

http://www.detelefoongids.nl/bg-l/14068375-Archipel/vermelding/

They even have the same phone number!

Good luck restoring it!

[LJay]

[Bendango]

How did this one end?
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I want a real garage.

WANTED - [WTB] 55-62 Bus Thin Lip Package Tray SWR

Getting Used - SWR 60 westy copy built by vw ( apparently )
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=320866

[Area51]

it's been a while, but all the welding has been done, bus is now at the body shop preparing for a fresh coat of paint!

10 months and counting; http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=544933&highlight=

[frikendelicious]

looking good!

[BulletBus]

Very cool. I gotta build one of those adjustable stands.
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53 Hatch Barndoor
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If it's not a bus, it's bus money waiting to happen.

[djfordmanjack]

great to see the progress on this bus. i just recently watched the build videos on youtube and wondered waht became of the project. Would be great to see it in person at the BD gathering '14 !
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Hotrods, Fords, Veedubs and Triumph Twins !

52 Barndoor DLX Coachbuild project
55 Wolfsburg panel project, og paint Taubenblau L31
62 Dickholmer, custom color Seeblau L360
63 1500 Notch, og paint Rubin Rot L456
67 1500 Käfer, og paint Lotus weiß L282 w/red interior

[thenastyfasty]

A fantastic part of history lost forever. My pickup was much worse than this in places as it spent 47 year in the woods with no glass or trans. Still wearing og paint n writing with pride and will for as long as possible.

A message for anyone restoring an og paint bus, IT WILL ONLY BE ORIGINAL ONCE. NEW PANELS AND SHINY PAINT CAN COME LATER.
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67 fastback rhd
54 barndoor singlecab M88 lhd lh locker
92 polo coupe
89 polo fox
77 polo ls
90 honda 125 caferacer

[the boss]

x 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

[djfordmanjack]

judging by the work that has been done to this bus, the owner VERY WELL knows what he's doing, I think. I'd have loved to see this bus in it's original paint too, but while everybody seems to be going the patina road today, he chose the other way, probably for good reason, since you can only perfectly build such a worn BD with removing the paint, to get rid of the surface rust in all the inner body structure and to get the panels 99 % straight. Just talking resto business here. enough logoed vans left. Let's see how she looks in fresh paint this time.
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Hotrods, Fords, Veedubs and Triumph Twins !

52 Barndoor DLX Coachbuild project
55 Wolfsburg panel project, og paint Taubenblau L31
62 Dickholmer, custom color Seeblau L360
63 1500 Notch, og paint Rubin Rot L456
67 1500 Käfer, og paint Lotus weiß L282 w/red interior

[Jacks]

[thenastyfasty]

When the world has seen how awesome your og paint is and people have been able to appreciate your bus in the flesh. Only a handful of people got the pleasure to see this 54 wearing the paint that it had when these old dinosaurs were still a common sight and now that originality is lost forever. How can people say that there are enough og paint busses out there when this one is a one of a kind.

Yes tatty may not be to your taste but then maybe this isn't the bus for you, there are plenty of dove blue busses out there that are nowhere near as special as this bus was.
I understand that things cant last forever but in this case just get it solid, blend the paint, rock it to a few shows and then if you have to do the rest of the metal work and paint it in a few years.
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67 fastback rhd
54 barndoor singlecab M88 lhd lh locker
92 polo coupe
89 polo fox
77 polo ls
90 honda 125 caferacer

[Jacks]

[thenastyfasty]

I will not get into the many threads on this forum debating what classes as proper restoration when trying to be sympathetic to a nice og vehicle

I, like many people have only voiced my opinions and will not hijack the thread anymore, even if everyone agreed with my views what's done is done and gone forever. I just wish to make people think before they shot blast n paint in future, the worst statement made in this thread said that we have enough logo busses, this really grinds my gears because every hand painted sign written bus is a one off piece of automotive art that should be given a right to life.

I will now leave you enjoy the rest of this build as I don't wish to cause a bloodbath in someone else's thread.
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67 fastback rhd
54 barndoor singlecab M88 lhd lh locker
92 polo coupe
89 polo fox
77 polo ls
90 honda 125 caferacer

[djfordmanjack]

[thenastyfasty]

I understand both point of views and can agree with your side as well, my comments were more aimed at others reading this thread to discourage this happening to other undeserving vans, I didn't want to upset the owner but I do have strong feelings about this.
In fact the main reason I'm not selling my 54 truck anymore is it would kill me to see a new owner painting it
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67 fastback rhd
54 barndoor singlecab M88 lhd lh locker
92 polo coupe
89 polo fox
77 polo ls
90 honda 125 caferacer

[harryv]

Let the bloke do what he wants, its his bus. if you wanted to keep it OG then you should have bought it.

Not trying to be rude but everyone has an opinion on other peoples choices. he wants a restored van.......let him have one.
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59 Deluxe

WHUFC.

[Stetoppingphoto]

Lovely job, well done on this so far
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stetoppingphoto

[gary_n]

Leave the poor guy alone, its a BD saved as per the original owners wishes, OG paint is fine for some people and is a current trend popular in the states. It might be fine in California where the climate is dry but the damp and salted roads in Europe could eat that bus in its entirety in a couple of years if all the rust is not cut out and replaced then under sealed and a decent coat of paint to protect it.

I challenge anyone to bring your OG patina bus to Europe for one winter and then tell me it was a good idea.

I remember years ago when I had my beatle I remember the "cal look" and thinking how many OG beatles are these guys going to destroy?

Its a BD its saved as per previous owners wishes.

and for what it worth I prefer a restored bus to a tatty looking originals anyway.

Excellent job and a bus that will stand the test of euro winters keep up the good work
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Worked out how to get rid of that annoying noise in the cab while driving around, I just opened the passenger door and told her to get out!

[Area51]

The owner is planning to use the bus on a -more or less- daily basis, og paint for that purpose was never an option.
The bus will be painted it's original color (dove blue) and he found a guy who is specialized is hand painted sign writing, so the bus will have period correct logos with the name of his own company.