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Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:48 am

BUCIOBATISTI wrote: OK, I believe this is the dash shot...

That bus also has an ambulance cab divider and step. I believe the pod on the dash means it was a taxi

Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:05 am

Scotty, spot on. Taxi spec also included the handle under the dash visible in this shot for pulling out the side step by the loading doors. Taxi spec was also glass cab divider similar to ambulance, and apparently Deluxe trim from the nose to the B pillar oddly.

I believe the rest of the deluxe trim was available as options, can anyone confirm this?

Wed Dec 24, 2008 4:15 am

BUCIOBATISTI wrote: OK, I've got one you guys can discuss for hours and I guarantee that nobody will come up with an answer that everyone wholeheartedly agrees on.
Jeff (Anchovy) posted some pics years ago that I'm not able to find now. They are of a Barndoor Ambulance in Thailand. It is one of the single craziest Buses I've ever laid eyes on and I freaked out on it back then and I'll continue to freak out on it every time I see it. It was Right Hand Drive, had a NORMAL Barndoor rear decklid, optional rear hatch! (not a "Oven Door" Ambulance like every other one I've ever seen is), it had safaris, a Deluxe dash with a funky seemed to be spotlight mount, and FULL DELUXE TRIM. I'll keep hunting for the pics, I know they used to be here years ago...
this one?

sled wrote: maybe it was a prototype deluxe 11 window. Youre right they made 23 window deluxes prior, but maybe they thought there would be a market for a 'nicer' 11 window?
yes, that's my take

Wed Dec 24, 2008 4:44 am

RockStock wrote:
this one?

Nope, that's not it. It's grey all over

Wed Dec 24, 2008 4:54 am

Sounds similar to an early Miesen:

Wed Dec 24, 2008 5:45 am

Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:54 am

Last year I found a 53 ambulance with a normal BD engine lid, a rear opening hatch, with a weird ambulance separation panel, and deluxe dash....the deluxe dash could have easily been added later, but the other sheetmetal was factory options....I have pics to prove this....as a matter of fact the dash is identical to the one in Anchovie's pics except LHD..pics of the dash and separation panel...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=508198
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=508200

Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:44 pm

Scotty wrote:

Yep, that's the one. I forgot the Behr scoop, ambulance side step, and the 6 popout option. That thing is super bad ass.

Anyone care to guess as to how an Ambulance got "Deluxicized"?

Possibly it was a dealer option to put a "Deluxe Package" on any model Bus besides a Truck?

Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:22 pm

It was a taxi linda, not an ambulance.

Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:24 pm

damn that bus is incredible. I would LOVE to see that thing restored and perfect again.

imagine the m-code list on that thing. Would be cool to know where and who it was delivered to.

Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:27 pm

Gerson wrote: Last year I found a 53 ambulance with a normal BD engine lid, a rear opening hatch, with a weird ambulance separation panel, and deluxe dash....the deluxe dash could have easily been added later, but the other sheetmetal was factory options....I have pics to prove this....as a matter of fact the dash is identical to the one in Anchovie's pics except LHD..pics of the dash and separation panel...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=508198
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=508200

That mount on the dash surely means that bus was a taxi also. I guess all the taxis had a glass cab divider of some sort too. The rear opening hatch also makes sense for luggage

Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:53 pm

OK so I was kind of wondering how those funky contraptions on the forward cargo floor worked. I was guessing them to be seats.

Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:02 pm

Gerson wrote: Last year I found a 53 ambulance with a normal BD engine lid, a rear opening hatch, with a weird ambulance separation panel, and deluxe dash....the deluxe dash could have easily been added later, but the other sheetmetal was factory options....I have pics to prove this....as a matter of fact the dash is identical to the one in Anchovie's pics except LHD..pics of the dash and separation panel...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=508198
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=508200

just because it has a glass cab divider dose not mean that it is a Ambulance....come on now

Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:09 pm

looks like a taxi with that pod deal on the right hand side of the dash.

edit: scotty already pointed that out.

Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:13 pm

pictures of my 52 ambulance

Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:39 pm

whats up with that bulkhead? or am I missing something?

Ok here are some more taxi shots. The seats in the picture I posted above are similar in function to the ones in the thailand bus, but not the same. Check these out, and the gadget on the bulkhead is the same and the grab handle.

swedish taxi

here is an interesting one showing the deluxe trim to the B pillar as previously mentioned

Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:50 pm

Wow :shock: look at all the extra stuff the grey one it has on it! 8) 8) it deserves a bone stock resto! 8)very nice

i was banging on about this to my bd buddy the other day,i said it was a 23dxe at the time though :roll: as i saw them pics ages ago!,anyone know whats happened to it?-sorry if ive missed a thread on it or that :P

Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:57 pm

I guess it´s a taxi then, I had no idea VW even built a BD taxi, you learn something new everyday.... :oops: :oops: :oops:

Wed Dec 24, 2008 5:04 pm

sled wrote: whats up with that bulkhead? or am I missing something?

I guess as it's an ambulance with a large hatch they had to put the spare somewhere

Wed Dec 24, 2008 6:13 pm

Why wouldn't taxis have had regular middle seats? :?