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akmush Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2012 Posts: 276 Location: Fairbanks, AK
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:27 pm Post subject: 56 Logoed Panel with custom highroof, river rescue in AK |
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Our discovery began as an ordinary summer day in Fairbanks, AK. We were making the annual June pilgrimage to "the sandbar" just down the Tanana River from the boat landing. Lately a section of river was carving a new channel in an area known as Perkins Landing. Just days before our fateful trip, an article published in the local paper carried the title, "Erosion Puts Tanana River Home On The Brink Of Destruction." As we floated by the unlucky house, I noted how the water had taken off the front deck and was undercutting the footings. Then I spotted the distinct shape of a split window VW van next to the doomed house.
The green "splitty" was camouflaged in the spruce trees, but I knew what I was looking at and its outline looked unusually tall. During the return trip I slowed the outboard as we passed the scene again. That’s a hightop! The bus was literally perched on the cut away bank. Pieces of earth splashed into the current as we passed by. It could go in at any moment!
Of course there was a catch. I was due to leave town the next day! A frantic call my best friend and fellow VW fanatic, and the rescue was made.
And here's a bird's eye view of how close she was to a watery grave. That brown soup filled with debris is river filled with glacial silt from the Wrangell St. Elias Mtns.
Later that summer the entire house was lost to the river! |
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OhHerrooo Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2010 Posts: 1291 Location: Costa Mesa, CA
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smoothfinishes Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2008 Posts: 186 Location: Southern Oregon
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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Best rescue story Ive heard in a long time. Awesome!! Congrats. _________________ 4 cylinders of smiles.. |
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BlueJayScout Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2010 Posts: 192 Location: Abilene Texas
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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Wow! Was the house abandoned or did you convince the owner to sell?
Looking forward to your update. _________________ 1959 Panel |
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vdublammy Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2004 Posts: 118
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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wow what a save. please let us know how you got it out? more pics of the logos... |
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akmush Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2012 Posts: 276 Location: Fairbanks, AK
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:56 pm Post subject: 56 Logoed Panel with custom highroof, river rescue in AK |
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So here is what we found:
Now the details-
She is a 56 Panel. According to her birth certificate she was built in Feb of 56 and originally shipped to NY with snow tires from the factory.
Obviously high roofs were not produced by VW for another 5 years. But just maybe, it was mods like this one that pushed them to do so. This is clearly done by pros, for a very specific purpose. Check out the corners!
We haven't had time to track down the ACME Distributing Co. but do know that they are no longer listed in the phone book. Still the signage is in incredible condition.
She survived some major natural disasters in AK, including the Earthquake of 64 that destroyed whole sections of Anchorage and possibly the Flood of 67 in Fairbanks that covered the entire city in 5-6 feet of water. She was last registered in Fairbanks in 1967. Cool license plate-
More to follow... |
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ratherb-buggin Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2005 Posts: 985 Location: Shawnee, KS
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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What a cool bus!! Nice save and a great story! Can't wait to see more pics! |
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joe56vw Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2004 Posts: 3202 Location: Olympia wa
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Mr. OGPaint Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2010 Posts: 821 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:08 am Post subject: |
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Really cool bus, that high roof conversion does look to be pretty professional.
Any body tags or anything along that line to identify a possible coachbuilder of the conversion? |
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LAGrunthaner Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2007 Posts: 5501 Location: 1st Coast
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peecee69 Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 1572 Location: Annapolis, MD/Bloomfield Hills, MI
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:44 am Post subject: |
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Nice find! That makes two great finds in the last couple of days. They're still out there, as long as you keep your eyes peeled! |
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yeahpj Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2008 Posts: 82 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:56 am Post subject: |
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insane so rad! |
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Bendango Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2005 Posts: 593
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:51 am Post subject: |
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WOW - whats inside? _________________ I want a real garage.
WANTED - [WTB] 55-62 Bus Thin Lip Package Tray SWR
Getting Used - SWR 60 westy copy built by vw ( apparently )
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=320866
Braukuche wrote: |
Where did you find the elephant dick? |
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caseydenise Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2004 Posts: 1637 Location: The Great Swamp, NJ
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:23 am Post subject: |
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Really nice bus. I love how these stories are "rescues" more than a find. _________________ Central Jersey Volkswagen Society - President |
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yeahpj Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2008 Posts: 82 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:42 am Post subject: |
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Anyone seen the film 'into the wild'? |
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caseydenise Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2004 Posts: 1637 Location: The Great Swamp, NJ
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:45 am Post subject: |
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yeahpj wrote: |
Anyone seen the film 'into the wild'? |
If you haven't your missing out. "Magic bus" for sure. _________________ Central Jersey Volkswagen Society - President |
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Rich's 50 Samba Member
Joined: February 18, 2004 Posts: 10781 Location: San Diego, CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:01 am Post subject: |
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Very cool |
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Stonefish Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2004 Posts: 734
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:11 am Post subject: |
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Amazing find!! _________________ AC/BC (Air Cooled/Breakfast Club)
Historian and Archivist for the Pennsylvania Hill Climb Association
1965 Notchback SCCA/PHA prepared, 1966 Bus, 1968 Beetle, 1969 Bus, 1970 Squareback, 1971 Fastback, 1973 Thing, 1983 Rabbit LS, 1986 Cabriolet, 1987 Viper VW powered "A" Sports Racer, 1996 Harlequin Golf, 2001 Eurovan Weekender, 2003 Jetta Wagon, 2007 Passat 4Motion wagon. |
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Brian_1952 Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2005 Posts: 700
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:38 am Post subject: |
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I want to go hunting now.... _________________ (20-024785)Ambulance (20-037784)truck (20-035850)panel
(20-035778)kombi
WANTED 52 parts and NOS sheet-metal |
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yeahpj Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2008 Posts: 82 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:57 am Post subject: |
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caseydenise wrote: |
yeahpj wrote: |
Anyone seen the film 'into the wild'? |
If you haven't your missing out. "Magic bus" for sure. |
Alaska, river, wilderness.. bus.. it all adds up |
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