Introducing Doodle, the 1977 Westfalia.

Kirk · Last edited by Kirk on Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:48 pm; edited 1 time in total

Well, its me again. Remember how last time I told you a Sage Green Westy was what I always wanted, and how I found one and was so happy? Well happiness comes in twos sometimes. I got wind of a rust free 1977 Westfalia Deluxe (does that mean stove?) that had a rebuilt motor, was still FI, currently in possession by the fourth owner since new, and had service records since 1984.

Was I interested? Why, yes, yes I was. So I went by and took a look with my wife to see what it was all about.

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When we got there, we met a super nice lady, who refused to have her picture taken, who told us about "Doodle" her '77. She bought it in Colorado in late 1999 and drove it around camping in the mountains for a month before driving it back to Texas. Under her care, Doodle traveled to Colorado again, Canada, Mexico and various places in Texas. He had recently been retired to the garage in favor of a two wheeled toy, and she was looking for a good home. Other than a dead battery, and a mostly deteriorated engine seal, he looked complete, and super nice. Inside was just as nice. Still complete with the stool, dash table and childs cot, amazing. She handed me the keys, and I slid them in the ignition. It took me a second to realize the noise I was hearing was the buzzer letting you know you forgot your keys. Wow. Even has bus rated tires already (even though they are dated, and getting replaced with my new Vanco2s.)

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After a little (very little) persuasion and a new battery, he fired right up and idled fine. I didnt want to drive it far w/o the engine seal but the around the block trip was awsome. No shimmies, shakes, odd noises, anything. Stopped and ran great. All lights and blinkers and everything worked. I drove back, and we made the deal on the spot. I was happy.

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Title signed, money changed hands, tearful goodbyes were said, and when she handed me the keys, she also gave me:

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I had never heard of it, but I plan to read it. She said she was given it when she bought the bus, and felt it right to pass on a copy. She also has lots of pics from campsites with the bus, and I really hope she sends me some like she said. Anywhoo, I didn't want to drive the 90 miles back to my house without going over the bus first, so I hooked it up to my Jeremyrockjock towbar, and went to the house. A little manuvering, and I got him into the garage. Been garage kept his whole life, and I plan to continue that. More pictures when the rain stops and I can get him outside. I called up a buddy who was looking for a camper project, and promptly sold my other Sage Green Westy to him, recouping half my costs on this one. I can't stop grinning.

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I'm going to have a ton of questions, because I've never owned a FI bus before, or a bus this nice, and I want to make sure it stays that way, whatever I have to do.

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_________________
Oppenhiem
Bear
Deluxe

jmstu76 · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:13 pm Post subject:

Very nice score. This spring, summer and fall should be eventful for you.

Congrats.
_________________
James

'76 Deluxe Sage Green Westy 2.0L Fuel Injected with '78 ECU and AFM, ACN SVDA Distributor, Hydraulic Lifters (boo hiss), 27in General Grabber AT2 All Terrains, Berg Shifter, stock '76 exhaust HPC Ceramic Coated.

First VW engine I've ever built and it's still running strong. 60,000 plus miles and counting. Built in 2004.

[email protected]

EZ Gruv · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:26 pm Post subject:

Awesome
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Eric
77 Westy / 74 Super Beetle
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flat4freak1978 · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:29 pm Post subject:

That's a really nice bus and that is also a great book. Its about a guys spiritual journey in a vw bus. I've read it a few times. Right in the middle right now actually. Congrats.
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1978 bus. 2.0 f.i. manual trans. "the great gonzo"

BaxterGG · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:38 pm Post subject:

Trade you

Man Kirk, looks great! Keep her forever! Remember, mine is and will always be a year younger!!!
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Greg

'57 Beetle
'75 Westfalia
'77 Beetle Convertible

skid · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:49 pm Post subject:

That's an awesome find! Congrats!
_________________
'71 Westfalia

busdaddy · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:52 pm Post subject:

Sweet!, nothing better than a well kept non project, now change the fuel lines and go camping!
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Wanted, 68-73 westy OG plaid curtains, singles OK.

autobus73 · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:52 pm Post subject:

Very nice ,good score!
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My73 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=377190&highlight=
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patayres · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:34 pm Post subject:

Awesome. Congrats!

Red shocks... Konis perhaps?
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1975 Westfalia Helsinki - 1800 EFI w/ Pertronix
1965 Singlecab - 1600dp

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MattFoley · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:23 pm Post subject:

I assume that it is the same Donald Miller that wrote Through Painted Deserts. It is a book about a road trip from Texas to Oregon in a bus. A little preachy and spiritual for me. But it is a good travel and vw story, including a pick your own junkyard in Vegas. Here is the link for Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Through-Painted-Deserts-Ligh...amp;sr=8-5

Kirk · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:45 pm Post subject:

BusterBrown · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:53 am Post subject:

Congratulations! My wife and I found the sage green westy (1978) we've been waiting for last week, and thanks to the good folks on this forum, safely drove it the 500 miles home from Los Angeles without a hitch Applause

Fuel Injection. Very nice.

Broken engine compartment lid hold-up bracket though. The little wheel which guides the large hairpin shaped rod dealy-bob is broken. Not sure how to fix that, and don't see any replacements on any of the suppliers sites. Any ideas anyone? It looks like it's riveted on it's metal bracket too, so I can't imagine how to get the broken one off.
_________________
1978 Sage Green Westfalia
1969 Delta Green/Cloud White Transporter
1977 Senegal Red/Atlas White Transporter

Life is short. Can I have some of yours?

onion456 · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:39 am Post subject:

awesome score, kirk! it going to make it to the classic? comin up fast... lets make sure we meet up this time!

ps post up some pics of the interior =)
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'76 Sage Green Westy 2.0 FI
'76 Creamsicle 7-passenger 2.0 CS FI
'85 Tan Westy

Jerry Hundley · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:47 pm Post subject:

Awesome find man!!!!!!
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Jerry Hundley (AKA Slammed 66)

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66 vw bug (father/son project)
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Caleb Melvin · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:49 pm Post subject:

You going to keep the " Very Happy

"?
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Kirk · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:00 pm Post subject:

I am. I took some new pictures today, but I still haven't had a chance to clean it up much.

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_________________
Oppenhiem
Bear
Deluxe

Kirk · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:03 pm Post subject:

And then me and the daughter hopped in it, and took it to Sonic for the first time. Hell to the yes.

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_________________
Oppenhiem
Bear
Deluxe

2bayday · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:48 pm Post subject:

Sweet dude! I can tell you really appreciate this bus.

I picked up a 1979 sage/brown Westy last summer with the same AC unit. Is your fusebox in its original location? Mine was lowered about 5 inches when the AC was installed, I assume for easier access to the fusebox. They cut and extended all the wires connected to the fusebox to do this. Can you get at your fusebox easily? I didn't notice if that mod was necessary because I removed the dashboard unit as soon as I got it home, it was loose and the compressor was already removed. After removing it I noticed the fusebox was lowered.
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79 Westfalia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=387402&highlight=

skid · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:50 pm Post subject:

Awesome, you guys look so stoked
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'71 Westfalia

stuco · Samba Member Joined: March 24, 2007 Posts: 914

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Introducing Doodle, the 1977 Westfalia.
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