TheSamba.com :: View topic - New purchase to me, 1965 21 deluxe, semi-build thread

Thu Apr 16, 2020 6:38 pm

So right before all of this went down, I picked up a new deluxe. Turns out it was heaven sent, since I've had quite a bit of time to work on it...
I got it here on thesamba, and had a little help from Everett to clarify a few m-code options (Thank you again). I really wanted a deluxe walk through, so I bought it at the end of February and took delivery March 6th. Since then I've been doing working on it daily and it's coming along. (I'm documenting it all, and probably already have several hundred pics)
I'm the third owner, the first for 35 years, the second for the last 20, and then me. I plan on keeping it, it's exactly what I've been looking for.
I found it was delivered new in the Bay area to Ely VW and that's where it spent it's whole life prior to me getting it to Colorado.
Options are:

425
North American export package including
Twin reversing lights (may not always be true, depending on year)
MPH Speedometer
Sealed beam headlights
Hazard warning lights
Mountings for safety belts
Laminated windscreen
Ram protection (overrider bumpers)
Dual-circuit brake system

002
USA sealed beam headlights
Pre-heat flap delete
(Both unconfirmed)

081
Split front seats (walk-through)

114
6 popout side windows

UF
San Francisco

2412
241
Cargo doors right, left hand drive, full middle seat
2
Nitro-Lacquer finish

Paint - lower
L 360 (12) sea blue
Paint - upper
L 289 (17) blue white
Upholstery Deluxe
mesh grey (83)
Beading for seats/trim panel
grey K676
Interior panels Deluxe
302 mesh grey/grey

It's very solid overall and very complete-big plus, and mostly why I bought it. Plans are to fix rust areas, blend in, polish and clean everything, new rubber everywhere, mechanically 100%, new interior, new top, then put some miles on it. Next year, who knows.

Thu Apr 16, 2020 8:56 pm

do you still have the '53 23 window?

Thu Apr 16, 2020 9:58 pm

Congratulations ! Looks solid, and oozing with originality. Glad to hear you’re apparently going down the preservation path :)

Thu Apr 16, 2020 10:04 pm

Beautiful.

Thu Apr 16, 2020 10:08 pm

Looks good!

I remember this Bus being for sale.

Fri Apr 17, 2020 6:24 am

Nice. Can’t wait to see it cruising around. I live down the road off of Colorado and Arapahoe. Look for me driving a 71 deluxe (Sierra yellow) or my ruby red 63 single cab.

Fri Apr 17, 2020 7:15 am

NBice looking bus. Love the SOTO sticker. that dates the last owner.

Fri Apr 17, 2020 7:42 am

Wow, she's a beauty for sure. The engine looks very original as well.

I look forward to your updates and progress. :D

Fri Apr 17, 2020 8:52 am

Fine looking bus Jon

Fri Apr 17, 2020 12:43 pm

Thank you, I appreciate it! I'm pretty excited about it. Since I've had it for about a month and a half, I've made some progress and will post some pics.
As for my barndoor, I sold it about 2 weeks before I bought this-someone came in and had to have it more than me. I'll have to update my sig line!

Fri Apr 17, 2020 12:45 pm

Interior was super complete, original headliner although not very flexible..

Fri Apr 17, 2020 1:43 pm

I'm going to jump waayyy ahead in where I'm at to share a paint restoration technique that I've used for years, but I haven't seen talked about here much. By soaking painted or chrome metals in Oxalic acid and water for about 24 hrs, it removes much of the rust.
I did this to the bumpers, the front vw sign, wheels, and pop outs to bring the original paint back.

Examples:

Fri Apr 17, 2020 1:44 pm

I know a lot of you like the original stuff like I do, so hope that helps.

Fri Apr 17, 2020 2:14 pm

Beauty!
What rust is there to fix? :wink:
Looks like a polish/wax detail and some seat covers are the ticket. :D

5th November

Fri Apr 17, 2020 4:41 pm

Wow, those came out great.

What sort of ratio of acid:water do you do?

Fri Apr 17, 2020 4:53 pm

Nice results, thanks for sharing

Fri Apr 17, 2020 4:56 pm

wcfvw69 wrote: Wow, she's a beauty for sure. The engine looks very original as well.

I look forward to your updates and progress. :D

It's a replacement case. The bus reportedly has around 40k miles, and was replaced with this shortly after purchase. That plays with what seems to be mostly original parts attached to a dual relief case. Still a generator, 6V. I took off a very silly remote oil filter and cooler that was mounted behind the shroud.

busmania wrote: Nice. Can’t wait to see it cruising around. I live down the road off of Colorado and Arapahoe. Look for me driving a 71 deluxe (Sierra yellow) or my ruby red 63 single cab.

Absolutely!

jonny1309 wrote: Fine looking bus Jon

Thanks man

EverettB wrote: Looks good! I remember this Bus being for sale.

Thanks again for your help!

Fri Apr 17, 2020 5:02 pm

EverettB wrote: Wow, those came out great.

What sort of ratio of acid:water do you do?

Not much, I used about a cup for the kid pool in the bumper pic. A couple of table spoons in a normal plastic storage sized bin.

Basically I washed all of the parts first with dish soap and water-remove dirt and grease.
Soaked the parts for 24 hrs. 48 for super bad if needed (I didn't go that long)
rinse and wash again.
Wax.

It doesn't hurt stickers, or whatever. Attacks rust pretty much only. I didn't take the deluxe bumper trim off-I left it all together, masked it off, and polished it. That way I didn't have to replace the original rubber within the molding.

look at the top of the water pic, you can see where the rust was removed, this was after maybe 8 hours.

Sat Apr 18, 2020 6:23 am

You sir, have my dream bus! Congrats on the find!

Sat Apr 18, 2020 6:14 pm

Interior torn down, all seats are excellent except the driver front. I was lucky enough to find another locally that was broken too, but had the parts I needed to fix and have one complete. Original seat upholstery was toast.