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Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:39 am

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Code: [url=https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=467858&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=]1972 Bay Window one year only list FAQ[/url]

I've had my 72 bus for some time now and over the years encountered some "one-year" only issues. I know in the UK it is often refered to as the "crossover", because of it's transition from the classic early low light appearance to the later bay look. So I thought I would start a list of one-year only or unique features specific to the 72 bay's:

Rear bumper
Tow Hitch
1.7 Type 4 with manual fuel pump
Fixed rear apron fixed
Low light front (turn signals) later bay rear (larger tailights)

anymore....

Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:59 am

Turn Signal switch. nobody seems to have one for '72. But I finally found one at a swap meet.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 9:48 am

- oil bath air cleaner
- short intakes under carbs
- brake booster tube output to booster on right side
- central idling tube
- distributor
- right brake booster elbow is a 3-way tee - NLA
- original fan housing (fan shroud) had cap above fan for timing
- coil clamp has an "arm" to connect the throttle spring to
- carburetor linkage between carbs is very special
- front tow hook i believe is 1972 only?
- beltline trim ahead of side mirrors has unique tip design
- rear decklid
- fuel tank filler line i think is 1972 only?
- best-looking year
- original muffler had a different design
- rear bumper splash pans one year only
- rear bumper brackets
- rear lower corners had a protrusion to meet this splash pan
- T4 engine but no engine hatch
- special metal plates to hold insulation above engine
- shift rod has differing joints and bushing arrangement than any other year
- signal and side market lights/reflectors switched from a shiny chrome paint to duller gray.
- i think the fuel tank filling vent is a one year only pipe section with rubber elbows and hose at either end.
- last year of normal wiring diagram :lol:
- i believe the sliding door mechanism also has minor differences?
- special one year only clutch cable length (or is it accelerator cable? or both?)
- cooling fan - cone shaped with plastic center cap and torx cap screws
- multiple changes on the carbs - too may to remember

only year with its own photo thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=402436&highlight=photos (thanks Nez)

Last year of chrome trim options (beltline, fresh air intake, large diameter metal emblem)
only year of the combo of round bumpers & T4 engine & larger air scoops and big taillights & low front signals

Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:02 am

One year only rear bumper.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:58 am

Note to self: Never, EVER, buy a 1972 bus.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 11:50 am

rustbus wrote: only year with its own photo thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=402436&highlight=photos (thanks Nez)

Thats cause its the best year!

Quote: EZ Gruv Posted: Today 10:58 am Post subject:

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Note to self: Never, EVER, buy a 1972 bus.

Wrong! I know you love your bus but to me, and many others, 72 is the BEST year of the baywindow. I also know that others may think it is the WORST year. Personally, I love its uniqueness. It is the last year for the good body style and bumpers and first year of the type IV (a positive to me).

Thu Jun 09, 2011 12:24 pm

Quote: Wrong! I know you love your bus but to me, and many others, 72 is the BEST year of the baywindow. I also know that others may think it is the WORST year. Personally, I love its uniqueness. It is the last year for the good body style and bumpers and first year of the type IV (a positive to me).

It was a transisiton year. I had a friend who bought one new. It was in the shop more than he drove it. Do a 1973. You get the safety and the dual carbs plus lower head temps.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 12:49 pm

guys that don't got 1 like to pick on the '72... "too many one year only parts" and that it suffered "growing pains" of transitioning design. I've even heard the pure speculation, "1972 had a bad batch of steel" - how was that determined?

fact is, they produced more 1972 buses than any other year, so yea, you're going to hear more about them, see more rusty ones, and best thing, parts are not too hard to find because there are/was more of them.
if you were planning to restore to full stock, yeah, that might be tough, but most of the one-year-only parts can be replaced with any-year parts, particularly the numerous engine items, and most of the body parts can be sourced off the early buses.

it wins the unique-est baywindow award, and has the best features of the baywindow family.

the ONLY downside in my opinion is the lack of the 73+ collision reinforcement.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 4:27 pm

EZ Gruv wrote: Note to self: Never, EVER, buy a 1972 bus.

Being born in '72 myself I had no choice. Plus it fell in my lap and you know the old saying that a bus finds you, you don't find it. 8)

But... yeah... :lol:

Thu Jun 09, 2011 4:49 pm

Kinda related... are late-model Brazilian bus bumpers available here in U.S.? Seems like they'd clear the extended deformation 'pod' at the lower front cab of the '73-'79 bays, but still carry more of the early bay styling.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 4:58 pm

busmania24 wrote: 71 is the last year for the good body style before vw fucked it all up with a half breed

just my .02 :D

Thu Jun 09, 2011 5:06 pm

A 72 Bus is a rusty Bus.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 5:14 pm

chabanais wrote: A 72 Bus is a rusty Bus.

hummm now that you mention it, the 2 that i have parted had rust in the worse way, but both noses (even the windshield area) were mint.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 5:39 pm

Some say bad batch of steel. I have a 72 nose on my 71.

skills@eurocarsplus wrote: chabanais wrote: A 72 Bus is a rusty Bus.

hummm now that you mention it, the 2 that i have parted had rust in the worse way, but both noses (even the windshield area) were mint.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 6:14 pm

I love my 72, I love all of the one year only parts as well! Makes me and him Very Unique!

Thu Jun 09, 2011 6:46 pm

'72 was when I moved to Miami. '72 was when my youngest brother was born. '72 was the year my 1st car was built(Pinto). '72 was the year my 2nd car was built(Impala 400 small block). '72 was the year my 1st Bay was built (I think I got it in '87). '73 was when my 1st bug was built. ( got it in '79{damn, just screwed this post up :shock: }),driving a '72 daily now :wink: .

Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:23 pm

Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:03 pm

I have 2 daily drivers, both '72s. One is a Campmobile that has been driven almost daily since it was restored 23 years ago by my hubby. The other is a tin top that we converted to a Weekender and restored about 6 years ago. The one year only rear bumpers really suck for our purposes so he put '73 bumbers on both buses. They are a lot more stout than the OG bumbers.
The one year only thing has never been a problem, but being on the Rust coast, it is getting harder to find decent parts.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:04 pm

skills@eurocarsplus wrote: busmania24 wrote: 71 is the last year for the good body style before vw fucked it all up with a half breed

just my .02 :D

If you dislike the WIDE 5 bolt pattern.
Otherwise it's 70 ;)

Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:09 pm

chabanais wrote: A 72 Bus is a rusty Bus.

mine is near mint.the underneath,is mint