TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Dec 03, 2013 10:07 am

Hi there !

So I thought it could be nice to have a Panel van to promote my website on meetings with a cool logo’d bus… so here is what i found !

I knew this bus since 4 years and its now at home… what a satisfaction ! It’s an early-51 panel van without rear window.
It’s have not been used that much as the owner from the 50’s put it on his land to use it as a hunt cabin in 1965. They removed the rear axle and engine and put a big piece of metal under the bus and a hook to tow it to its resting place. I bought the bus from the last owner’s son, who still own the land.

I would need tons of pictures to show you everything, so i edited a small video with a few comments (I am more comfortable when i'am on the other side of the lens... but that was worth if for people who see the video only :? )

Here are some anyway ;)
The bus as we found it, stuck in 30cm of water and 10cm of ice :

Not a nice situation when you plan to leave the site 2 days after :

Especially knowing the bus is in a swamp, and that you have to cross it and a forest to reach the trailer. But still, that's a nice bus !!

So we quickly began to work on the bus to remove it from this swamp ! We began by breaking the ice all around and managed to pull the bus 6 meters back to a much dryer place, so we are sure we won't find it stuck in the ice again the day after.... (Actually it was all melted the next day).

We took the chassis parts separately from the body. It was much easier and safer... :D

Here is what we pulled out of the water.
What a great surprise !!

Once all the parts was removed, we prepared the lifting operation.
And then...

I guess that body shell was not a pain to lift for the helicopter !

It was a nice adventure, done in one week with my brother.
6 countries crossed, almost 6000km done… and the bus is now home. :P

I began to work on it last week end, so I have less than 5 months only to make it ready for the European Barndoor Gathering :roll:

Road ready or not, I will try to bring it there but I can’t imagine putting it on a trailer ! That’s quite a big challenge (I can’t work on it full time of course :roll: …) but I will do my best to make it happen :wink: .

You will be able to follow the progress of the restoration via the AirMapp blog, after registration on www.airmapp.com

See you !
Florian

Tue Dec 03, 2013 10:13 am

Awesome!

Tue Dec 03, 2013 10:27 am

So the story's out there Florian. Good stuff. Good to catch up and see this bus the other day. I think you'll get it done dude. Best of luck with it ;-)

Tue Dec 03, 2013 10:51 am

Tres bon mon ami !!!! :wink:

Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:35 am

Freaking insane!!!

Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:41 am

now i feel stupid! all these years having the helicopter sitting outside, barndoors in the swamp, never occurred to me to put the 2 together :)

Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:49 am

very cool!

Tue Dec 03, 2013 12:40 pm

That is so cool. Congrats!!

Tue Dec 03, 2013 1:13 pm

Really neat story. I would do the same to save a very early model.
Regards from Canada
Paul

Tue Dec 03, 2013 1:56 pm

Crazy ! congrats, welcome to the 'whatever it needs to be done just do it' club ! :D

Tue Dec 03, 2013 4:01 pm

Nice work Florian!
You do like the challenging projects!!

Tue Dec 03, 2013 4:29 pm

t'es vraiment bargeot Florian :lol: :lol: :lol:

remarque, il est presque pas pire que le samba :lol: :lol: :lol:

I will read this topic with interest :wink:
work hard and good luck... :wink:

Tue Dec 03, 2013 5:40 pm

awsome !!! =D> =D> Can't wait to see what you do with it 8)

Tue Dec 03, 2013 9:55 pm

Very cool and thank you for saving it 8)

Tue Dec 03, 2013 10:49 pm

WOW! That was exciting...Congrats on the find and save. That footage from the copter looking down at the bus dangling above the trees was fantastic. Looking forward to the progress on this one.

Wed Dec 04, 2013 2:22 am

Congrats Florian. T'as un (ou deux) bon(s) poste(s) à souder :D ?
T'es un grand malade. Mais tu te soignes, c'est cool !

Wed Dec 04, 2013 2:24 am

Fantastic effort to save this bus, great work.

The patina on the front roof and front clip is just the business, looks so cool.

Look forward to following this resto.

Wed Dec 04, 2013 3:01 am

Thanks for all the nice words guys !
I will do my best to make this bus as nice as it deserves.

About the front panel patina, yes it's very nice !!
Unfortunately that's a later split window panel so it will need replacement...

I will use an original paint one from a 52, so very period correct. ;)
The one i was supposed to use on my samba but... i guess i will be able to find another one ? :?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 6:43 am

Superb work Florian!

Wed Dec 04, 2013 7:07 am

congratulations, great score this one :)

northern forest in europe seem to be very rich on finds like this.

loved the video, what's necessary to be done is to be done :D

another topic to check in the future

Regards from Portugal