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Thu Apr 07, 2022 11:50 am

Given that tomorrow will be it's 70th birthday, I thought it appropriate to start a thread on the bus that I recently purchased. I'm a bit of a wordy person and kind of a nerd when it comes to the history of early buses and the stories behind them, so I apologize in advance if I write too much, but it's just me. I will do my best to include as many photos and updates as possible for those, who just prefer pictures. :lol:

I figured to start the thread, even though I am not yet ready to begin progress on the bus in hopes of possibly finding some more information about the bus. (Kind of a long shot). I could also use any advice from the BD experts throughout the process.

This is my 3rd BD, but really the first that I have high hopes of completing. The first 2 were Colombian barndoors, which if you know, you know why I gave up. I have no plans of "restoring" this bus, but rather doing as much as possible to "preserve" it much like the several that been done by the European gents. I have been through all the Awesome Barndoor Resurrection threads for inspiration and there have been so few done here in the US and very few in the past 10 years, so looking to add a recent build to this part of the world.

So on to the bus! It's an April 8, 1952 build with many of the cool early features present and many of the original parts still intact. I purchased the bus from Jakob with the help of his friend Gunther (djfordmanjack) and the two couldn't have been a better bunch of guys. I definitely couldn't have done it without them and have made 2 new friends in Austria. Jakob made it mobile and drove the bus 23 hours to the port for me during the winter, so that it could make it's voyage. Gunther has provided a wealth of info for me and even provided a patina barndoor front bumper for me to roll. 2 months on a ship and it finally arrived in Long Beach! Hope you enjoy the photos and please help me stay motivated to finish the bus. It will require lots of welding, time, money, etc, etc, but I'm ready!!

Thu Apr 07, 2022 5:49 pm

sweet. good luck and have fun!

Fri Apr 08, 2022 7:33 am

Nice! It's a great starter. Have fun with the build and keep us posted. LMK if you need anything. IG @buswerx

Fri Apr 08, 2022 8:54 am

Very cool Bus! An early rear body bumper Standard Micro Bus! Doesn’t get better than this. These rare birds are totally different from later Barndoors, as well the earlier ones.

You have your work cut out. Looking forward to your build and congratulations …………

Fri Apr 08, 2022 7:39 pm

Thank you guys! I'm definitely excited but know it's going to be a big task requiring removal of the body to do all the frame repairs, etc. I don't even think I would attempting it without the wealth of information here and those who have previously done it.

Here are a few more. I'm curious if anyone has information on the headliner color for me? It appears stock but seems to be an unusual color. I dig it though and think I'm going to do it the same.

Sat Apr 09, 2022 7:14 am

Wow myklsmyth, sorry I missed the 70th birthday party for you new German Barndoor. It's always nice to see a new find and to me more important to keep the history and as much original as possible.

I never knew it took 2 months to deliver from Europe as I keep eying the 57 in Italy that might have my birthdate. But I am OK with my bus for a bit longer. However it's good to know my next one may travel across the pond and give me plenty of time to start the nursery.

I'm super excited to see your progress even if slow. It's as though a 70 year old baby bus is born here, congratulations. Please continue to share what you learn, the process and all the efforts are as much fun as the bus itself.

BTW what is the story behind the title "The Preacher's 52"?
Linda

Everett can you please add this Birthday Barndoor "The Preacher's 52" into the "Awesome BD resurrection/build threads"? https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=523630

myklsmyth wrote: Given that tomorrow will be it's 70th birthday, I thought it appropriate to start a thread on the bus that I recently purchased. I'm a bit of a wordy person and kind of a nerd when it comes to the history of early buses and the stories behind them, so I apologize in advance if I write too much, but it's just me. I will do my best to include as many photos and updates as possible for those, who just prefer pictures. :lol:

I figured to start the thread, even though I am not yet ready to begin progress on the bus in hopes of possibly finding some more information about the bus. (Kind of a long shot). I could also use any advice from the BD experts throughout the process.

This is my 3rd BD, but really the first that I have high hopes of completing. The first 2 were Colombian barndoors, which if you know, you know why I gave up. I have no plans of "restoring" this bus, but rather doing as much as possible to "preserve" it much like the several that been done by the European gents. I have been through all the Awesome Barndoor Resurrection threads for inspiration and there have been so few done here in the US and very few in the past 10 years, so looking to add a recent build to this part of the world.

So on to the bus! It's an April 8, 1952 build with many of the cool early features present and many of the original parts still intact. I purchased the bus from Jakob with the help of his friend Gunther (djfordmanjack) and the two couldn't have been a better bunch of guys. I definitely couldn't have done it without them and have made 2 new friends in Austria. Jakob made it mobile and drove the bus 23 hours to the port for me during the winter, so that it could make it's voyage. Gunther has provided a wealth of info for me and even provided a patina barndoor front bumper for me to roll. 2 months on a ship and it finally arrived in Long Beach! Hope you enjoy the photos and please help me stay motivated to finish the bus. It will require lots of welding, time, money, etc, etc, but I'm ready!!

Mon Apr 11, 2022 9:18 am

LAGrunthaner wrote: Wow myklsmyth, sorry I missed the 70th birthday party for you new German Barndoor. It's always nice to see a new find and to me more important to keep the history and as much original as possible.

I never knew it took 2 months to deliver from Europe as I keep eying the 57 in Italy that might have my birthdate. But I am OK with my bus for a bit longer. However it's good to know my next one may travel across the pond and give me plenty of time to start the nursery.

I'm super excited to see your progress even if slow. It's as though a 70 year old baby bus is born here, congratulations. Please continue to share what you learn, the process and all the efforts are as much fun as the bus itself.

BTW what is the story behind the title "The Preacher's 52"?
Linda

Hey Linda! Thank you for the kind words! I'm really looking forward to the process and really hope there is much more out there about the history of the bus. As of what I know now, the documents I have date back to 1962 when it was sold at a car dealer in Macedonia. There are some other documents, but I have not been able to decipher the language origin and text yet. In 2011 it was imported to Austria by Jakob and remained there until I purchased it from him.

As to the story behind "Preacher's 52", there is not much to it, other than that I am an associate pastor of a local church and just thought it was a catchy title. :lol:

Mon Apr 11, 2022 9:29 am

So you are the preacher, very good and in good hands. Post an image of the document here and maybe someone can read it.
Very exciting.

myklsmyth wrote: LAGrunthaner wrote: Wow myklsmyth, sorry I missed the 70th birthday party for you new German Barndoor. It's always nice to see a new find and to me more important to keep the history and as much original as possible.

I never knew it took 2 months to deliver from Europe as I keep eying the 57 in Italy that might have my birthdate. But I am OK with my bus for a bit longer. However it's good to know my next one may travel across the pond and give me plenty of time to start the nursery.

I'm super excited to see your progress even if slow. It's as though a 70 year old baby bus is born here, congratulations. Please continue to share what you learn, the process and all the efforts are as much fun as the bus itself.

BTW what is the story behind the title "The Preacher's 52"?
Linda

Hey Linda! Thank you for the kind words! I'm really looking forward to the process and really hope there is much more out there about the history of the bus. As of what I know now, the documents I have date back to 1962 when it was sold at a car dealer in Macedonia. There are some other documents, but I have not been able to decipher the language origin and text yet. In 2011 it was imported to Austria by Jakob and remained there until I purchased it from him.

As to the story behind "Preacher's 52", there is not much to it, other than that I am an associate pastor of a local church and just thought it was a catchy title. :lol:

Mon Apr 11, 2022 1:46 pm

The first document translates something like this in Croatian/Bosnian?

In addition to this, we submit a deregistered traffic book for purchased cars through this company, Volkswagen Reg No. BG 119-74 under the sales contract number, 152/117-g for your further use. We apologize for not being able to check out earlier, but owner Vukelic was on the road for a few days. We greet you friendly.

The rest are a mystery to me and if anyone could help that would be great! Thanks, Mike

Mon Apr 11, 2022 4:07 pm

Hi Mike
congrats on your new barn door.
can't Waite to see it come along.
also I have some spare Barndoor parts laying around if you need anything let me know
happy you got his early barn door

Mon Apr 11, 2022 8:43 pm

Hey Laszlo! Thanks brother and same to you. I think that you’ll be rolling much sooner than me. :lol: I will message you and see if maybe you have some things that I might need. Mike

Tue Apr 12, 2022 5:30 am

Hi
My friend Filip said it is in Serb language...

Tue Apr 12, 2022 5:34 am

It is official sales bill stamped by the local motor vehicule buro 8)

Tue Apr 12, 2022 9:26 am

el_safari wrote: Hi
My friend Filip said it is in Serb language...

Thank you for the help! Can you tell me if it changed owners on each document and if so, what were the names of the buyers/sellers? Thanks!

Tue Apr 12, 2022 3:07 pm

Sorry I can't be of more help...

Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:54 pm

myklsmyth wrote:
As to the story behind "Preacher's 52", there is not much to it, other than that I am an associate pastor of a local church and just thought it was a catchy title. :lol:

:lol: :lol:

Nice ride.. enjoy the buildup. Looks like a nice project.

Thu Apr 14, 2022 9:38 am

johnny d wrote: myklsmyth wrote:
As to the story behind "Preacher's 52", there is not much to it, other than that I am an associate pastor of a local church and just thought it was a catchy title. :lol:

:lol: :lol:

Nice ride.. enjoy the buildup. Looks like a nice project.

Thank you sir! I enjoyed reading through your build. It was very inspirational. 8)

Thu Apr 14, 2022 12:46 pm

myklsmyth wrote:
Thank you sir! I enjoyed reading through your build. It was very inspirational. 8)

You are welcome. :)

Wed Apr 20, 2022 10:25 am

Just adding a few more pictures of all the original bits that came with the bus. Still trying to decide if I want to search for OG seat covers for the front and search for an OG middle. I think the back will clean up nicely and the front back rest is nice, which is why I'm considering trying to stay OG.

Anyone know what the part in the last picture is?

Mon Aug 22, 2022 8:49 am

Surely a bit premature but the more that I see original photos of stock BD's the more that I contemplate whether or not I should go the stock route. I like both lowered and stock but with the traveling speeds of CA highways and insane drivers I've always leaned more towards performance, but I'm having second thoughts. Just wondering what the opinion is of those who drive stock buses in metropolitan areas? Too dangerous?