Peter the Czech travels across Mexico, USA, Central America

[peterxxl]

Hi guys!
I just registered to this website, but I was interested in VW Bus for years, so I peeked here from time to time. I am from Czech republic and T1 buses are really rare there, so the price is always more than $7000 for rusty one. I just couldn't afford one if I count in all the restoration labor and parts.

But things changed, I started traveling across USA and I happen to be in Mexico for my first time right now. I rode small motorcycle here for 6 months but I was always dreaming about Bus! There are plenty of T2s available in Mexico for prices as low as $700. But I wanted T1 and they are rare here as everywhere else. After 6 months I sold my bike and decided to visit Central America and postponed my bus hunt for South America. But just 2 days before crossing the border to Belize, I saw ad on MercadoLibre (Mexican craigslist/eBay). It was in Mexico City, so I jumped on 24-hours bus ride and I bought it 2 days ago for $1600. I think that's good price, no?.

It's a '61 Panel. It's blue and white now, but it was red originally. It lacks many parts including all door handles and locks, mirrors, handbrake, seats, ashtray and many more. But it runs (I drove it to car-wash so far)!!! Engine is 1600ccm (from Bug, not original), but it runs fine. I think it's rusty, but not as much as some that were found in forest or so. Blinkers are not working. Headlights are not original, I guess, but they are working. Steering is kind of loose. Floor has been replaced for most part in cargo area, but the job is very bad. There were to windows holes cut in cargo area, but they are welded now, but again, very poor work.

I received all the paperwork. It has original invoice from '61 and receipts for government taxes almost every year since then until 2002.

I don't have enough money for complete restoration, but my plan is to drive it to South America and restore is step by step along my way.

Maybe you can give me advice what to start with, so it will keep running.

My plan so far is this:
1. get locks and doorhandles, so I can lock it
2. get mirrors (maybe not originals at first), so I can drive it safely
3. fix blinkers, so they work
4. go to service to check the steering
5. go to service to check the engine
6. fix cracked windows
7. get new tires
8. get some seats
9. get rid of the rust in most exposed places, so it doesn't get worse (what first?)
10. fix tachometer, so I can log my travel distances and expenses

Please excuse lack of knowledge about the buses, I am all new to this. I was just looking at pictures so far. I hope it will improve over the time Right now I have no idea how to fix anything on it.

2 pictures now, more later if you are interested

_________________
Hi! I am Peter from Czech Republic...
Bringing VW news en Español to your doorstep since 2009!

* 1961 Panel - my 1st VW - bought near Mexico City - traded for:
* 1959 Kombi - stored in Philly for now

Read my story here:
* Part 1 - Mexico City to Philadelphia
* Part 2 - Philadelphia to Europe - in progress

[space junkie]

very nice! make sure the brakes work o.k. !!! Sounds like a great adventure you are on! What a fun way to find your first bus! Good luck and keep updating status when you can! Brakes will save your bus, and your life!

[zozo]

Congrats! There's nothing like the feeling of having your first bus. Enjoy it!

[peterxxl]

[Emeritusx]

Sweet... I just got a 61 also... Welcome brother... Nothin' like cruisin' in a bus!

[peterxxl]

Thanks for welcome. Emeritusx, where are you from?

Few questions poped in my mind:
- do anyone have experience with finding parts in Mexico?
- there is a sticker on the driver's side window, that says Wolfsburg edition... does that mean that it was made in Wolfsburg or it could have been made somewhere else but it's compatible with the german models?
_________________
Hi! I am Peter from Czech Republic...
Bringing VW news en Español to your doorstep since 2009!

* 1961 Panel - my 1st VW - bought near Mexico City - traded for:
* 1959 Kombi - stored in Philly for now

Read my story here:
* Part 1 - Mexico City to Philadelphia
* Part 2 - Philadelphia to Europe - in progress

[oarse]

Congratulations.

You should replace all of the fuel lines. And then perhaps get some working windshield wipers. Definitely get the brakes checked out like space junkie said too.

Nice bus. It's got good character.

Did you pay 1600 pesos (), or 1600 usd? Either way it sounds like a fair price to me.

[peterxxl]

[peterxxl]

1600USD (20k pesos)
_________________
Hi! I am Peter from Czech Republic...
Bringing VW news en Español to your doorstep since 2009!

* 1961 Panel - my 1st VW - bought near Mexico City - traded for:
* 1959 Kombi - stored in Philly for now

Read my story here:
* Part 1 - Mexico City to Philadelphia
* Part 2 - Philadelphia to Europe - in progress

[peterxxl]

from all the receipts and paper I received with the bus, I compiled little history sheet seems like there were 8 owners before me (not including Seguros Independencia) but there are some years missing, so there were probably more

_________________
Hi! I am Peter from Czech Republic...
Bringing VW news en Español to your doorstep since 2009!

* 1961 Panel - my 1st VW - bought near Mexico City - traded for:
* 1959 Kombi - stored in Philly for now

Read my story here:
* Part 1 - Mexico City to Philadelphia
* Part 2 - Philadelphia to Europe - in progress

[peterxxl]

update:

- today I bought left mirror for the new Water-Cooled buses and mounted it on mine, because some of the previous owners drilled the holes already - but one day I will have originals!!!

- also today: I needed to bribe cops 250 pesos, who pulled me over and find out I have no 2010 sticker on my window, even thou it's paid - the previous owner forgot to stick it on the windshield and I haven't noticed (the cops had no problem with missing taillight, non-working blinkers, broken windows, etc. - viva Mexico)

and in the service I asked about the loose steering and the guy told it's some box, which is gonna cost me 2000 pesos (sorry, I know very little about the technical stuff right now) - I should visit him after Xmas and he will see what he can do

+ more pictures

interior - someone cut out the space for reserve tire and welded in horizontal bars, cargo doors are tied with strings

engine - supposedly 1600 from VW bug - runs good so far, clutch is okay, I guess, changing speeds is okay, except from anything to 1 while the bus is in motion, it makes horrible sound

engine is quite messy from the bottom

bus picture on drivers side window

Wolfsburg Edition sticker

_________________
Hi! I am Peter from Czech Republic...
Bringing VW news en Español to your doorstep since 2009!

* 1961 Panel - my 1st VW - bought near Mexico City - traded for:
* 1959 Kombi - stored in Philly for now

Read my story here:
* Part 1 - Mexico City to Philadelphia
* Part 2 - Philadelphia to Europe - in progress

[space junkie]

See if you can get any kind of air filter on that carb so you don't get any junk down there! And, when you can, maybe move the fuel filter so if it leaks it won't burn up your bus! (I need to do this, too...)

[Steve.]

Looks like a french bakery originally owned it, I wonder if there are any logos hiding under there? That would be cool.
_________________
'64 Java
'66 Deluxe
Wanted! East LA Atlantic VW license plate frame!

[gr8ful71]

Nice find!! Welcome to the club.

Jm
_________________
67 double cab
www.auctionitfl.com
www.luftwagens.com

[oldbus57]

I sent you MP but just buy vochomania magazine there is a lot of adds of bussisnes? and like I told you there is a page called www.buscompany.com.mx that they may know where to buy parts for your combi and makes more frieds. Buena Suerte.

Josue
_________________
Josue Old VW Garage oldvwgarage.com

[Slow Steve]

Nice walkthrough! Welcome to the club, please keep us posted on your progress

[ib-bus]

That is one crazy trip , I have heard of many europeans doing south american trips lately , some I got to know very well are heading to Costa Rica on a Vanagon Westfalia as we speak.
Like Josue said above , get a hold of Vochomania magazine there are quite a few vendors mostly in Mexico City for old and new VW parts and they carry or can get a hold of T1 parts , I also recommend posting on buscompany.com.mx , there is a big group of bus owners all along the republic that would be happy to help or recommend good shops or mechanics.
Happy Trails.

[peterxxl]

ib-bus:
I registered at BusCompany, but I am still waiting for administrator to approve my account. It have been a week already.

skiholio:
By walkthrough you mean that you can go from driver's area to cargo area? Because it have only one cargo doors. It's a regular panel. And the metal sheet between driver's are and cargo area is cut by some of the previous owners. There was suppose to be spare tire.

PROGRESS:
So far not much.

Just looking for some spare parts vendors on the internets, but it's hard because I speak barely Spanish.

I have friends who repair trucks in Aquascalientes, which is like 500 km far from here. There might be able to help me with some welding. And they have tools and big property. Right now, I am very limited, since I am at Mexico City. And I am on budget right now, so I am looking for cheap solutions to start with.

But before I will go to Aguascalientes, I need to figure out few things.

First is the paperwork. And here follows the story from today:

When I bought the bus, I received almost all the paperwork. The most important thing is the original invoice from 1961. And then you need to pay taxes for the car every year. I have the invoice and I was told that everything is paid. But I didn't check it (I am stupid and I was really excited about my first bus) and that's why I had to bribe cops couple days ago.

As you know I am not Mexican. And there is a problem with buying vehicles in Mexico if you are a foreigner and don't have visa (I have only tourist permit for 6 months, but not a regular visa). I had motorbike in Mexico, so I knew these things.

But the PO of the bus told me, that he have friend in DMV and for 100 pesos he will do it. So I believed him. But than he was postponing the meeting and he is not picking up my calls.

So I decided to visit DMV by myself today. I just took the papers and went there to ask. Before I even get into the building, guy stopped me. He asked me what I want, so I explained him my situation: I am not mexican, I bought split bus, plates are from other state and I don't have receipt of the taxes for 2010.

He said "no problema" and we start walking somewhere (not into the DMV building). We went to place where they copy papers. There was a woman and he told her to print me all the receipts from internet. I gave her my papers and she printed receipts for past 5 years (which were supposedly needed). Then she also printed out a paper that said the vehicle was not reported stolen. I paid 60 pesos (5 USD) and the guy waved on taxi.

I thought we were going back to DMV where we came from, but we didn't. Instead we went to another DMV, much larger than the previous one. He took my papers, told me to wait outside and went inside. He came back several times to ask me for various papers (driver's license, ID of previous owner, tarjeta de circulation, etc.) just to tell me after 30 minutes that I need visa Fuck!

Then he got bright idea that we should go somewhere else to get me a Mexican ID. I told him we already tried that when I was buying the motorcycle and they didn't want to give me one. So he went inside again to speak with someone and when he came back, he told me that for 2000 pesos ($160) he can get me IMMIGRANT visa (the one that are hard to get, there are also NON-IMMIGRANT which are easier). He said it's gonna be tomorrow and I need to pay now. I didn't believe him of course. But he was like: let's go inside and you can talk to that guy. Because of my limited options, I agreed. So we went inside again and the guy he was talking to was in charge of taking pictures for some ID. So I thought it was real. So I gave him 2k and he rolled them in piece of paper and handed them to the guy. And the guy asked for my passport and address. So I gave him both and he went to his computer while we were standing across the room. After while he called us back and show me some print out.

I noticed two things. First my name was spelled wrong, so he printed a new one. But then I noticed the second thing: it was paper for a driver's license. So I asked what this is suppose to be, I was told I will get visa. And they guy with me told me that I can change the papers of my bus with the license. But I told him I am not gonna give him 2000 for driver's license. So we went out again and he talked to that guy and he told me it's gonna be 1500. I said okay, but then the other guy flipped and didn't want to do anything. I guess he freaked out or something.

So we went home. We took taxi and he get out at his DMV. He told me we can go again tomorrow if I want. Then he asked for money. I told him I am not give him anything until I have papers for my VW. He told me it's my fault because I started making fuss about the license. I told him it's his fault because he promised visas. He gave me his number and I told him I will call him tonight about my decision.

I called him at 9:30 PM and he didn't pick up the phone. But he told me he's gonna be working tomorrow.

So I am back where I was, but I have the taxes receipts and I know it's not gonna be easy.

For tomorrow I have following plan:
1. I will go to immigration to investigate if I can get the non-immigrant visa
2. If not, I will go to see him and I will see if I can that driver's licence
3. If not, I will register the car at my mexican girlfriend... that will be the easiest, but I feel troubles later: crossing borders and changing the ownership later (if want I sell it or if I want to import it back to Europe)

Any ideas? Did you crossed borders with your bus or other car that was not registered to you?
How do you register busses you found in desert or in forest?
_________________
Hi! I am Peter from Czech Republic...
Bringing VW news en Español to your doorstep since 2009!

* 1961 Panel - my 1st VW - bought near Mexico City - traded for:
* 1959 Kombi - stored in Philly for now

Read my story here:
* Part 1 - Mexico City to Philadelphia
* Part 2 - Philadelphia to Europe - in progress

[ib-bus]

[ib-bus]

All I can say about your DMV ordeal is Viva Mexico !
You can bring a car on your name from outside Mexico with a permit but you can only buy one if you have a Visa or if you are going to import it out of the country but you can't drive around on it.
You could have registered the bus with the Mexican driver's license as it is a valid form of ID , had they required a second form of ID your passport would have been enough , they have nothing to do with Immigration so they don't really care , all they care about is a valid Mexican ID with a local address to register the bus to and maybe a small bribe
If you are somehow able to get the proper Visa you are in business , you can also try an agency those are usually close to DMV and are willing to help for a fee and they will be there next day if you need them.
Hope the best for you man.