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Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:28 pm

So here's a topic I've never seen addressed before, but one that I've been curious about for awhile. What's the deal with stripes on the late bay buses? My '78 Westy has some groovy '70s style racing stripes--a handsome multicolor yellow and biege set against the beautiful og sage green. I've noticed other buses with stripes, but to be honest I can't say that I've seen the same stipe pattern on my bus reproduced on another. I know that the '78 (and '79??) brown champagne edition buses were painted brown with the awesome orange stripes along the sides at the bottom.

I wonder, what year saw the beginning of stripes? Was it just a late '70s thing? Has any bay bus nerd (yes I include myself in this category for merely contemplating the question) documented the different stripe patterns? Who painted on the stripes? Was it only common in the U.S.? What gives?
Anyone have any insight?

Stripes Rock!!

Wed Mar 30, 2005 3:21 am

I'm sorry I don't have any info on bay strips but the strip design in your bus looks way cool, do you have more pics? :D

Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:41 am

Looks like champaign edition stripes. My 78 has the same ones, or at least pretty close.

Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:10 am

Yep, the bus in the pic is a champagne edition '78 I owned a coupla years ago. Trust me, it looked much better in that small picture than it did in real life. All the champagne edition buses had those orange stripes I think. The bus I own now is a regular Westy '78 in with the og paint. It's sage green with yellow stripes.

Did all '78 and '79 buses originally come with the stripe detailing? Was it an option?

Example

Stripes:

No Stripes:

Just curious--I know it's a nerdy question!

Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:25 am

Been wondering the same thing. My 76 Westy is yellow with two green 1" racing stripes around the belt, which for me just sets the bus off. It's kinda Sesame Street or something.

I've wondered where they came from. Factory? Dealer? Westfalia?

Wed Mar 30, 2005 10:53 am

I don't know where these busses got their stripes (aside from the Champagne Edition), but you can get 50' or 150' rolls of stripes in various widths and colors. Google: 3m Scotchcal Striping

Wed Mar 30, 2005 11:05 am

The champagne buses were striped at the factory:

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/Microfiche/t210900.jpg

The other ones were stripped by the dealers as VWoA promotions:

http://www.baywindowbus.com/77accessoriespage2.jpg
http://www.baywindowbus.com/77accessoriespage3.jpg

Wed Mar 30, 2005 11:57 am

Thanks Ratwell, that's awesome and exactly what I was wondering! I knew someone had some VW literature kicking around. I wonder what years that striping first became available through VWoA?

That white stripe with the "Type II" logo is so cheesy and yet so sweet! Damn I'd love to have that!

http://www.baywindowbus.com/77accessoriespage2.jpg

The plaid interiors, '70s exterior colors and detailing like the racing stripes are some of the things that make me love the aesthetics of these late Bay buses... can I get a witness?
8)

Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:30 pm

Chris Jones wrote: That white stripe with the "Type II" logo is so cheesy and yet so sweet!
If you like cheesy, check out this site:

http://www.sebeetles.com/contents.htm

Wed Mar 30, 2005 1:50 pm

Stripes are definately cool. There are alot of buses around our neighborhood and a bunch of them have stripes. Im really jealous about the stripes and will have to some day get some of my own.

What do you think about racing stripes down the side of my high top?

Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:04 pm

Surely you mean a fat, verical 3" racing stripe up over the nose, up over the hightop and then down the ass end of the bus?

I vote yes.

Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:25 pm

Good link, thanks Ratwell! Too bad they didn't make the "Jeans" bus....nothing like some 30 year old worn in jeans.....

The '74 Jeans Beetle was a 1200/34hp based model with Tunisian Yellow paintwork, 4.5Jx15 Lemmertz GT sports wheels, side and engine cover stripes, denim seat covers with coloured stitching and pockets in the back rests, heated rear window. The trim mouldings were black. In Europe it was fitted with a 'Ludwigshafen' (MW/VHF) radio .

http://www.sebeetles.com/74jeans.htm

Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:27 pm

velokid1 wrote: Surely you mean a fat, verical 3" racing stripe up over the nose, up over the hightop and then down the ass end of the bus?

I vote yes.

Yes of course, duh! 8) I might have to even put some stripes down the sides of my solar panel to match.

Now for a real question, anybody ever gotten some of these aftermarket sticker stripes and put them on? Is is pretty difficult or just like slapping on a sticker?

Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:01 pm

my bus came with these and I spotted one just like it in the old riviera brochure....SWEET!!! 8)

brochure:
http://members.tripod.com/~wetwesties/riviera/index1.html

:D :D :D :D

Wed Mar 30, 2005 6:03 pm

My former stripes must have been done by Winnebago....

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=78172

Wed Mar 30, 2005 7:09 pm

These stripe were vinyl on my 78'

Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:54 pm

Mike and Glenn, those are great examples and very nice busses!

Adventurewagon, I think a 3'' racing stripe down the middle of a hi-top would be very appropriate!

Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:09 pm

I really think the stripes make the bus.

Mine is a 79 Mexican Beige westy that has a series of thin light and dark brown stripes that that down the side of the bus. Even though the bumpers were repainted badly, I could see that the stripes had also been incorporated in the the recessed section of the bumpers.

When the time comes for paint, I think I'll go all out and have the stripes painted on. Just would not look the same without them.

I'll see if I can link a picture.

I don't see many (if any) splits with stripes.

Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:24 pm

velokid1 wrote: Been wondering the same thing. My 76 Westy is yellow with two green 1" racing stripes around the belt

:D

Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:52 pm

I humbly submit a pic of my striped Bus...

BTW...stripes are pimpin' 8)