New Zealand RHD pre55 found - "farm find"

[SISKOZ]

Thanks Sled and Everett
The vin tag isn't legible

With it potentially being CKD I assume the vin tag was either not stamped or it was done in a way that hasn't lasted, or just due to the heavy surface rust it just isn't legible anymore.

Everett, Great to see the 6's in your old 54 single cab. Thanks for that. That makes me more certain about the number now. Only thing that would be nice to see is if someone has a chassis number with a 5 in it 🤞
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1966 Ambulance Kombi Turned Dormobile Camper
1954 'Farm Find' Barndoor Kombi Project

[sled]

Here is my ‘52, also kinda difficult to read but it says 35748

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drive your split.

[SISKOZ]

Thanks Sled.
Hmm. Now this has thrown me off a bit. You 5 has a smaller lower half than the number of mine I believe to be a 5....maybe what I believe to be a five is actually a 6 as the lower half is almost identical to the 6 I have...and maybe the top is throwing me off and it looks like a top of a 5 but maybe it could be a 6....hmmm....would be interested to see another chassis number 5 to compare....if anyone is kind enough to chime in!!
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1966 Ambulance Kombi Turned Dormobile Camper
1954 'Farm Find' Barndoor Kombi Project

[Blue Baron]

[SISKOZ]

Thanks for your input blue baron. I'm going to be with it today so I'll give that a go! You're right...cleaning it up is something I can do now anyway.

I'm currently awaiting the arrival of the birth certificate.

I'm awaiting the start of a MIG welding course I've signed up for.
With the barndoor serving as an apprentiship of sorts for learning the craft.
Super motivated to make a start disassembling and then reassembling probably a lot like Stan of the nova scotia barndoor build with a body off disassembly and chassis on jig reassembly. Watch this space!
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1966 Ambulance Kombi Turned Dormobile Camper
1954 'Farm Find' Barndoor Kombi Project

[SISKOZ]

Went in today to soak my vin plate in vinegar as suggested by blue baron.
Seems to be working well. I'll leave it for 24 hours..but can already see that it's stamped 54 in the year area. Unsure whether the chassis number is stamped yet.
Had a better go at my chassis number with ospho and a light acid that my panelbeater had...cleaned it up well and I think I can now confidently say that my chassis number is -20-086856- which is what I first thought. Fortunately that is the number I added to my birth certificate application...which I should have soon.

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1966 Ambulance Kombi Turned Dormobile Camper
1954 'Farm Find' Barndoor Kombi Project

[SISKOZ]

Before

After 6 hours of vinegar

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1966 Ambulance Kombi Turned Dormobile Camper
1954 'Farm Find' Barndoor Kombi Project

[SISKOZ]

Is there anything more exciting than receiving a birth certificate for you volkswagen?! Well, I've just received mine.

I thought it was a may 54 but the birth certificate states 15th June manufacturing date and 28th June delivery.

Interesting it was delivered to jowett , landing in Auckland and from what I can understand it may have been part of the first shipment of Built ups to new zealand? Or was it ckd?

Unsure why it says Australia as destination? That's interesting.

Quite a list of M-Codes too!
M007 - without tyres (maybe that would be in line with being ckd as they had to use nz parts where possible?)
M008 - Without battery....same reason as above?
M010 - Dust filters for engine compartment..(I think I've heard of that option for Australian barndoors?)
M018 - large reflector in brake light (I don't know anything about this option I'd love someone to chime in here)
M020 - mph speedo (makes sense as we using mph in those days)
M068 - 2 Towing hooks in front (once again haven't heard of this one)
M069 - With seats in load/passenger compartment (wish I still had them)
M103 - Heavy duty shock absorbers


If there are any experts out there who know about the Nz and Australian first barndoors I'd love to see how you piece this together.
I'll be searching the Samba to learn more.
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1966 Ambulance Kombi Turned Dormobile Camper
1954 'Farm Find' Barndoor Kombi Project

[D-train]

[SISKOZ]

I was fortunate to be given the contact details of the owner previous to the person I bought the bus off. After a bit of back and forward I managed to get a hold of him today, he's a farmer in the lower south island of New Zealand. His father purchased the bus in the 70's as they needed a vehicle to deliver the hay out to the farm animals. The bus was purchased as a complete bus and the father did the engineering to convert to a suitable vehicle for farm use. I've asked the son if any of the parts may still be around and he's going to look over the next few weeks. So hopefully there's still some parts laying around. Fingers crossed.
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1966 Ambulance Kombi Turned Dormobile Camper
1954 'Farm Find' Barndoor Kombi Project

[Blue Baron]

[ddutch]

[SISKOZ]

While I wait to see what parts the 2nd previous owner may have, I managed to find someone who seemed to think they may have some early bus parts and an air cleaner to suit my '66 camper project.

I just got the parts and tried to find info on what I'm looking at. I thought I'd put it out there to the community to help me determine what they're for. Let me know what you think!

I was told this gear lever extension is aftermarket and suitable for a late split. Inside the gear knob it has vw and the numbers 111/113.711.141

I was told this ice pick door handle is from an early bus

I was told this headlight glass and ring was from an early bus...from what i can find online it seems it's from a 356 porsche/ beetle

It has k1031 k11017 13-21334 k11015 A HELLA NL

And finally I was told this air cleaner would suit a late split (for my 66 project)

I didn't pay a lot for these parts so I was willing to take the risk that some or all may actually not be suitable.

If you know what you're looking at - please let me know.
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1966 Ambulance Kombi Turned Dormobile Camper
1954 'Farm Find' Barndoor Kombi Project