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Lind
Samba Member
Joined: November 06, 2000
Posts: 10222
Location: idaho
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 Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2025 8:37 am Post subject: Re: VWoA service Kombis 1956, the Schulwagen |
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| bally wrote: |
I appear to have been living under a rock for the last two years as I only found out about this bus yesterday - and as a bus and tool nerd, it really floats my boat! One day, I'd love to build a tribute to this - it is so very special.
I was interested to see that they did not show UK or Australian versions in the brochure, but certainly appeared to have them in the UK - do you know if they did in Australia too? It would make sense as Australia was also a big market for VW from 54.
There seems to be much misquoting of the number of Schulwagens in the US - the number being quoted is 14, but this is one of two that pred-dates the 14 coming in in 56 - basic maths errors for Journalists irks me.
Could I suggest you link your ad for Matra tools in your signature too Lind - you might get a few more hits.
Awesome bus, awesome story telling - this bus so found the right owner after all these years. Five months for this resto/preservation is insane - testament to how all your contributors viewed this bus. Respect!
Dave |
There was one sent to New Zealand. I can't see how VW would send one there without sending another or the exact same vehicle to Australia. See pics below of the NZ Schulwagen.
The bit on facebook that was recently posted here was largely derived from the VWoA press release, which was derived from some material that I had sent them. Basically every time it gets rewritten, it loses some of the technical correctness because the person rewriting it wasn't the original researcher.
I was super fortunate on so many levels with this bus. Everyone working on it was on the same page, and I could never have come close to completion without their expert hands and dedication. Most of the people on the team have businesses related to their specialties, and are all constantly busy with customer work without having to advertise. They all opened up space in their busy schedules for their parts of this project. I got basically the same response from everyone when I requested their involvement, which was an enthusiastic yes, and they all followed through. If anyone had dropped the ball, we would not have been able to do this in five months. I cannot thank them enough.
| otahuhu wrote: |
Some pics of one sent from Volkswagen Germany to NZ. From memory the pics are from 57. Note; the plate on the bus coming off the ship, its the same bus but with alt logo on the cargo door side. Euro rhd with semaphores, safaris and no light on top but the logo seems to match the one in your first pic...
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Wanted:
Idaho VW license plate frames or other dealership items.
VWoA literature and early dealership or distributor literature/pictures/information
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AlanInMass54
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003
Posts: 1105
Location: Massachusetts
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| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2025 6:37 am Post subject: Re: VWoA service Kombis 1956, the Schulwagen |
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| I received an email from VW today about 'Milestone' dealerships. One was Strong VW in Utah - they've been going for 70 years! In looking them up I found pics on here from back in the day with 3 of these Kombis by their service door. Their original dealership building is still there, but they're in one of the new buildings now. |
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BulliBill
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004
Posts: 4776
Location: St Charles, MO
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| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2025 7:17 am Post subject: Re: VWoA service Kombis 1956, the Schulwagen |
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Sounds like Lind and the training Bus may have to pay a visit to Utah someday to pose the Bus by the old L.H. Strong dealership building for a re-creation/tribute photo...
Damn! Those roof mounted signs are AWESOME! I hope that Lind has one reproduced for the training Bus someday, but that's a pretty tall dream!
Bill
Lind, you going to K.P.?
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton
Thanks for any help! |
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Lind
Samba Member
Joined: November 06, 2000
Posts: 10222
Location: idaho
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| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2025 10:20 am Post subject: Re: VWoA service Kombis 1956, the Schulwagen |
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| AlanInMass54 wrote: |
| I received an email from VW today about 'Milestone' dealerships. One was Strong VW in Utah - they've been going for 70 years! In looking them up I found pics on here from back in the day with 3 of these Kombis by their service door. Their original dealership building is still there, but they're in one of the new buildings now. |
679 S main st, Salt Lake City, Utah. Visible on google streetview.
| BulliBill wrote: |
Sounds like Lind and the training Bus may have to pay a visit to Utah someday to pose the Bus by the old L.H. Strong dealership building for a re-creation/tribute photo...
Damn! Those roof mounted signs are AWESOME! I hope that Lind has one reproduced for the training Bus someday, but that's a pretty tall dream!
Bill
Lind, you going to K.P.? |
The schulwagen had roof logos, as it was made before the ones with the roof signs.
It would be cool to recreate part of that photo. I always hope that some of the 14 post-BD USA schulwagens still exist somewhere. Easy to identify, any pressed bumper kombi with safaris and ambulance divider is highly suspect as a schulwagen.
I will be at K.P., although not with the schulwagen. I will be driving some other bus. The schulwagen took third in it's class at K.P. last year. Kind of amusing, and reminds me why I don't generally enter car shows.
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Wanted:
Idaho VW license plate frames or other dealership items.
VWoA literature and early dealership or distributor literature/pictures/information
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rag63
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2007
Posts: 72
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 12:21 pm Post subject: Re: VWoA service Kombis 1956 |
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| House wrote: |
I am going to drop this photo here, but more importantly maybe we can get some pics from OCTO added in here today… hint hint 
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Recently I’ve been to 2 car shows locally around Portland with my ‘65 Bus and have met 3 people who were knowledgeable about Riviera Motors back in the day.
One woman’s dad was a mechanic in the service department when they started at the Burnside location. He was a career VW dealer mechanic.
Another man worked in the Riviera body shop (that was not located on Burnside). He did collision repairs and also dealer prep when cars and buses arrived. He said the still unloaded them using cranes onto the dock. They get minor dings and scratches that they would then handle.
Riviera imported many other car brands back then too.
A third guy was a career regional VWOA service department rep.. He travelled the western states working on training dealership personnel. He handled Riviera Motors. Even though the Service Kombi program was before his tenure, he was familiar with the Service Kombi program from this period.
Kind of cool to meet folks with that kind of local history/knowledge.
Cheers,
Dave |
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