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Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:01 am

Another thread got me searching for more info on the Brooks Stevens 1954 Westy. Didn't see a thread started on it so thought we might start one. It is believed that this may have been the first lowered bus an also the same Westy that is on the cover of the Popular Mechanics cover. Although I have no data, or information to back either claim up. Would like to hear more concrete eveidence on this.

I viewed this bus in 1999 at Adams VW in West Palm Beach. It was for sale at the time for 18K? I think. He died in 1995 & his museum closed in 1999.

From Wikepedia:

"Stevens was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 7, 1911. Stricken with polio as a child, Stevens was encouraged by his father to practice drawing while confined to his bed, perhaps motivating his career in design. He studied architecture at Cornell University from 1929 to 1933, and established his own home furnishings design firm in 1934 in Milwaukee.[2] His son, Kipp Stevens, ran the Brooks Stevens Design Associates until late 2008 when he stepped down.

In 1959, Brooks opened a 12,500sf automotive museum in Mequon, Wisconsin, which became a repository for his own designs as well as others—and became a production facility in the late 1980s for the Wienermobile fleet. The museum closed in 1999, four years after his death.[3]

Brooks Stevens died on January 4, 1995, in Milwaukee—survived by his wife Alice, sons Kipp, William and David, a daughter Sandra A. Stevens, and five grandchildren"

some more:"His designs in home and kitchen appliances were popular,[citation needed] and he is recognized[who?] as the originator of the robin's-egg-blue phase of 1950s kitchen appliances.[citation needed] He also practiced architectural design and graphic design. Of note is his design of the Miller Brewing logo and he is also credited with convincing the company to switch from traditional brown bottles to clear bottles.[1]

As an automobile designer, Stevens redesigned the 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk on a minuscule budget.[6]:p257 The fast, elegant GT remained until the end of American production. According to Hendry, Stevens also styled "three innovative products for family car use for the 1964-66 period" (which were never manufactured).[6]:p257 He then designed Harley-Davidson motorcycles. All Harleys since, including models in production now, are based on Stevens's body designs.

Stevens designed the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, an American pop-culture icon. He designed engines for Briggs and Stratton. He also designed the university logo for the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in 1978 as a part of "The Diamond Jubilee" celebration. The logo remains in use today.[7]

Stevens designed the post-war Skytop Lounge observation cars for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad's Hiawatha passenger trains. He also designed a series of "Excalibur" racing sports cars in conjunction with Kaiser Motors.[8] Beginning in the mid-1960s he and his sons began production of the Excalibur, styled after the 1930s-era Mercedes roadsters.

Stevens's design contributions to the recreational boating industry included collaborations with Outboard Marine Corp. to style the Evinrude Lark and Johnson Javelin outboard motor series as well as the Evinrude Lark concept boat, eventually produced as the Cadillac Sea Lark. Together with Bob Hammond's 1956 Lone Star Meteor, these designs may be credited with introducing post-world war automotive styling to leisure craft.[9] Other work in the marine industry include designs for Owens Yacht Company and Cutter Boats as well as a line of stainless steel marine hardware for the The Vollrath Company."

Here's a pic from the old Brooks Stevens Museum.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:22 am

In 1999 I was commuting in my 356, from Neptune Beach to West Palm Beach Florida to finish my Masters degree. I had started my MBA in 1997 while living in Lake Worth and was familiar with the old Adams VW shop for buying my parts for my 1965 bus. So i decided to make a visit to Adams and in the back was the 1954 camper. Here are some of my pics.

Not sure why I look so angry in this pic. I should be happy, at 60lbs lighter than in 2012

The speedo looks like a pre A 356 gauge.

Can anyone add any pics, information from its past or present?

Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:41 am

Anyone have any concrete evidence that this is the Brooks Stevens Westy? I notice it does have chrome bumpers.

Popular Mechanics Cover:

But here, the bumpers are painted:

Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:22 am

mpribanic wrote: Anyone have any concrete evidence that this is the Brooks Stevens Westy? I notice it does have chrome bumpers.
I showed David Stevens the popular mechanics article, and he confirmed that it was his father in the pictures inside.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:44 am

Lind wrote: mpribanic wrote: Anyone have any concrete evidence that this is the Brooks Stevens Westy? I notice it does have chrome bumpers.
I showed David Stevens the popular mechanics article, and he confirmed that it was his father in the pictures inside.

Ahh, i always wondered how this bus was linked to the PM article. Based off the pictures of him off the Internet I would agree. What other info was he able to share? Such as when it was lowered and why, when where the 356 front brakes added and when was the most recent paint added? Anything else interesting?

Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:01 am

mpribanic wrote: Lind wrote: mpribanic wrote: Anyone have any concrete evidence that this is the Brooks Stevens Westy? I notice it does have chrome bumpers.
I showed David Stevens the popular mechanics article, and he confirmed that it was his father in the pictures inside.

Ahh, i always wondered how this bus was linked to the PM article. Based off the pictures of him off the Internet I would agree. What other info was he able to share? Such as when it was lowered and why, when where the 356 front brakes added and when was the most recent paint added? Anything else interesting?

IIRC, David said his Dad gave him the bus in the 70'ies and he did the modifications soon after that. David said he had access to various upholstery, paint, and mechanical shops because of the family business, so it was easy to have the work he wanted done.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:08 am

Pictures from 2004 when it was at the Brook Stevens storage warehouse/museum:

Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:11 am

campingbox wrote: mpribanic wrote: Lind wrote: mpribanic wrote: Anyone have any concrete evidence that this is the Brooks Stevens Westy? I notice it does have chrome bumpers.
I showed David Stevens the popular mechanics article, and he confirmed that it was his father in the pictures inside.

Ahh, i always wondered how this bus was linked to the PM article. Based off the pictures of him off the Internet I would agree. What other info was he able to share? Such as when it was lowered and why, when where the 356 front brakes added and when was the most recent paint added? Anything else interesting?

IIRC, David said his Dad gave him the bus in the 70'ies and he did the modifications soon after that. David said he had access to various upholstery, paint, and mechanical shops because of the family business, so it was easy to have the work he wanted done.
it was 1958 or 1959 that David got the bus and lowered it. he lost interest in the bus when he got a brand new '60 ford.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:12 am

Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:20 am

Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:27 am

Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:28 am

Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:37 am

Awesome photos!! So where is it now? And is it being restored?

Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:44 am

mpribanic wrote: Awesome photos!! So where is it now? And is it being restored?

It's in the U.S.A., and the bus looks the same today as it did then. I do not believe the new owner has any plans to restore it, but he might make it roadworthy as-is.

For the record, I do not recall David confirming that was his father pictured in the Popular Mechanics article. I recall him stating that he wasn't sure and that he'd have to do some research on it to see. I could be mistaken though. I never followed up with him, maybe Lind did.

I also recall David saying the bus was laid up and forgotten about for a while before he resurrected it with the current sytle, I thought this was in the 70'ies. Again, I could be mistaken.

These pictures were taken in the Summer of 2004. Myself, Lind, Brian H., and David Stevens were present. I was very exited to see the bus that day and might not have been totally listening to what David had to say, so this might explain some of the confusion.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:45 am

Thanks Mark, Greg, and Lind for going out and documenting the bus back before very many cared about such things.

Looks like the battery blew up in those pix. Good thing the whole bus didn't burn up!

Is this bus behind the Cheddar Curtain these days?

Mon Jul 02, 2012 11:28 am

Very cool thread. I think the part I liked best was seeing Mark, Lind and Greg in the "thinner" days. Well, Lind looks the same anyway except for the lack of mullet. :lol:

Mon Jul 02, 2012 11:40 am

BulletBus wrote: Very cool thread. I think the part I liked best was seeing Mark, Lind and Greg in the "thinner" days. Well, Lind looks the same anyway except for the lack of mullet. :lol:

You know, as Earl Carter Finn Jr III of Cuñado Wear Inc. says, "be shy, be skinny". I musta been real shy back then.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 11:47 am

You can see it in the background here

http://www.holygrailgarage.com/1967_Westy_Hardtop_.html

Mon Jul 02, 2012 12:07 pm

vw7266 wrote: You can see it in the background here

http://www.holygrailgarage.com/1967_Westy_Hardtop_.html

Good detective work Brad! J Dot too! That must be Mike Wolfs bus collection from American Pickers! Heard he was hoarding some buses there! lol

Mon Jul 02, 2012 2:12 pm

thanks for sharing.. thats some nice history! 8)