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BulliBill
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004
Posts: 4776
Location: St Charles, MO
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 Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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| StockNazi wrote: |
| BulliBill wrote: |
One of these days, I'll probably have the roof stripped back to bare metal and then have the roof, the already re-painted nose and the rear engine deck lid re-painted in color matched SWR to match the sides. I'm really enjoying the 54 year old faded SWR though!
Bill |
what is wrong with the roof? looks pretty awesome from here |
I probably shouldn't touch it at all. I was very lucky to have a friend in Princeton, Texas (near Dallas) offer this DD panel to me for use hauling all the gear for our BNNTA event. It had been stored without a motor since being parked back in 1964. It is one of the nicest old original paint Buses I ever saw. Apparently back in the mid 1960s this Bus was initially parked in a backyard without it's "Bastard" motor and kinda just cooked in the hot Texas sun for about 6 or 7 years. The original SWR roof paint took it the worst. It oxidized way more than the sides, the paint had areas of minute cracking and mild surface rust under the cracks, luckily no pitting. For some reason the engine deck lid took a baking/beating too. I suspect that while stored outside the deck lid was left open (horizontal). The underside of that decklid is perfect with beautiful original paint, and the areas all around the deck lid are in great condition, weird! Two later enthusiast owners bought and both stored it inside their pole barns in Texas for another 30 years. You should have seen the coat of barn dust I had to brush off that panel just to really see it once we pushed it out of the barn! Wanting to keep it as close to stock as possible, I already had a factory "exchange" rebuilt 1961 motor waiting on the shelf back in St. Louis to install in this DD Panel.
Anyway, shortly after I bought it way back in 2000 to put back on the road as our official BNNTA event vehicle, I installed the 40 hp engine and had the bumper blades, nose logo and five wheels blasted and powder-coated, then mounted up with five new Firestone 6.40 x 15" bias-ply tires. I sanded the roughest areas of the roof down to spot coat them with Eastwood Company's "Rust Encapsulator" (those darker red spots on the roof). We tend to use the Panel a lot, and I didn't want the rain or car washing to get into the cracks in the roof paint and create any more surface rust. I guess I should climb up there sometime and see what buffing could do, but it is so oxidized I doubt it would shine up very much like the sides did. The hand and polisher buffing of the sides turned out great! By the way, this Panel has the very first Matt Miller grey bench seat upholstery kit ever produced, measured, sewn and installed by Matt himself. I have kit #2 and #3 in my '59 Double-Cab too. I've also acquired an early "Bastard" engine for it too, which will sit on a shelf in the garage for now.
I'm thinking that I'll eventually have the painter who did the amazing finish body and Dove Blue paint work on my '59 Double-Cab sand only the roof, the exterior of the deck lid and the repainted nose skin back to bare metal, and color-match them all to the sides! It's been a great Bus, we use the hell out of it, and it is one of my favorite Buses to drive of any that I've had the pleasure to drive.
Bill
_________________
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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kombisutra
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2003
Posts: 4127
Location: San Anselmo, 10 miles North Of San Francisco
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| Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 7:28 am Post subject: |
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Stan, thanks for starting this thread. It's about time someone step up for my favorite model, the un-cut panel. Kind of fun watching the show-down of the Double door walk throughs! Nice harem of Panels too Mr. Conners  I'm a big fan of that green bus from Alaska.
The first Panel I ever saw was in 1996 in an Eastern North Carolina garage. It belonged to a young guy who worked at a hardware store not far from Cherry Point where I was stationed. I had just started gaining an interest in the buses, had just picked up my very first VW magazine, and just happened to meet this guy at this hardware store. He was friendly, very enthusiastic, and asked if my wife and I wanted to come over and see his "other" bus. And so it was. When we arrived, the garage door was open, and inside the clean garage was a completely bare-metal Barn Door Panel. He showed us his 25 horse engine case on the window sill of his room and went on and on about the history and virtues of the early VW bus. I came away from that meeting somewhat overwhelmed and impressed with what he had shared. To this day though, I grimace that I did not keep in touch, nor did I remember his name. When I asked J.Pickens about the guy a couple OCTOs back, he believed it may have been Mark Lapriore. If it was him, and anyone knows how to get in touch with him I would like to thank him for sharing with me as he did; would REALLY love to see that Panel today too. It was straight and ready for paint from what I remember.
I don't have any pictures from that day, but I'll post a few of the Panels I've had over the years since then. Panels ROCK! They're my favorite! Love em!
Last edited by kombisutra on Tue Mar 04, 2014 4:53 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Big Bill
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2005
Posts: 1802
Location: Fortuna Calif.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 7:38 am Post subject: |
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BulliBill as I have told you before your 59 is one of my all time favorties on the Samba. There is also a real nice SWR /DD from the Lodi area that I usually see at BOR that is a close second.  |
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fbarspin
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2013
Posts: 18
Location: United States
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| Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 4:38 pm Post subject: My 63 and 65 panels |
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Here are my two buses. I have a 63 and 65 panel. i own an event marketing firm here in Chicago called Out Cold Marketing and we do events all over the country. I am a huge car guy but new to vw. last year we bought the one and I fell and love and bought another. We now use them all over the country for events. The one with the prom dresses and pink and green is on tour now just left Chicago headed to NJ, Dallas, Denver, So Cal, seattle and back. The other one with the dots on it is getting a full new custom interior and will be in Chicago, Milwaukee, Columbus and NYC starting may 15th. That one also has a custom front end, square back tranny and brand new magnesium block dual port 1600 in it! People love them and cant believe we use them the way we do. Hope you enjoy!
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Shaun Murray
Samba Member
Joined: December 23, 2008
Posts: 587
Location: Far from the city lights
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| Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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I rescued my first panel this past fall, it's a '59. I've always had campers and window buses, but I've always liked the commercial buses. It's rough, but I think I can do something with it.
The logoes indicate it was a "Donut Shop" delivery bus around Philly.
Here's a pic. of it where it had "rested" for 30 years or so.
_________________
"Cross Country Trip" http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...highlight= |
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EverettB 
Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 71555
Location: Phoenix 602
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| Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 5:51 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 and 65 panels |
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| fbarspin wrote: |
Here are my two buses. I have a 63 and 65 panel. i own an event marketing firm here in Chicago called Out Cold Marketing and we do events all over the country. I am a huge car guy but new to vw. last year we bought the one and I fell and love and bought another. We now use them all over the country for events. The one with the prom dresses and pink and green is on tour now just left Chicago headed to NJ, Dallas, Denver, So Cal, seattle and back. The other one with the dots on it is getting a full new custom interior and will be in Chicago, Milwaukee, Columbus and NYC starting may 15th. That one also has a custom front end, square back tranny and brand new magnesium block dual port 1600 in it! People love them and cant believe we use them the way we do. Hope you enjoy!
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Cool, thanks for posting!
The photo above is great. It looks like a vintage photo.
Polaroid version
_________________
How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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Big Bill
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2005
Posts: 1802
Location: Fortuna Calif.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah, very cool to see panel buses used to something they were designed for. Do you do a "wrap" to change the look of the bus to showcase the product you are promoting. |
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fbarspin
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2013
Posts: 18
Location: United States
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| Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 5:18 am Post subject: |
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| Yep they are get vinyl wrapped. The interiors change to. Right now we are using reclaimed wood floors from old factories in them. Glad you all like them! |
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POS
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2004
Posts: 285
Location: In a bus, down by the river in Boonville MO
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| Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:02 am Post subject: panel buses |
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Here is my working panel...
_________________
kombisutra wrote:
"This thead is about badgers, not hyenas.... get back on track ok?" |
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bally
Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006
Posts: 1195
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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| Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:08 am Post subject: Re: panel buses |
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| POS wrote: |
Here is my working panel... |
Love it |
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Hansolo99
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2010
Posts: 524
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:18 am Post subject: Re: My 63 and 65 panels |
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I showed my wife and daughter these pictures and they instantly fell in love with them. They will be on the lookout for these busses. Do you have an ETA and area you will be in SoCal? |
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fbarspin
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2013
Posts: 18
Location: United States
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| Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:25 am Post subject: Re: panel buses |
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| POS wrote: |
Here is my working panel... |
I LOVE THIS BUS!!! If you ever want to sell i am you man! |
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fbarspin
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2013
Posts: 18
Location: United States
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| Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:29 am Post subject: Re: My 63 and 65 panels |
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| Hansolo99 wrote: |
I showed my wife and daughter these pictures and they instantly fell in love with them. They will be on the lookout for these busses. Do you have an ETA and area you will be in SoCal? |
We will be in LA/OrangeCo/Newport March 28-30. We will have the BP Prom bus with us then. Is that by you? |
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Stanagon
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2003
Posts: 4195
Location: Boston, MA
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Stanagon
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2003
Posts: 4195
Location: Boston, MA
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Shaun Murray
Samba Member
Joined: December 23, 2008
Posts: 587
Location: Far from the city lights
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| Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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That Ozzies panel is sweet!
| Stanagon wrote: |
| Shaun Murray, what is the inside of that old 59 like? Any donut racks? |
The donut racks were long gone when I got it, it's just bare bones back there. I did find a brand new set of "Jersey Look" scoops still wrapped in '70's newspaper in the back. The story I got from the property owner was this panel belonged to his buddy who lived in Pennsylvania. The engine blew on his way to visit the property owner, and it never left. I would say if the engine would've lasted a while longer, this one would be another "Disco Bus". Thank goodness the engine died! 
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"Cross Country Trip" http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...highlight= |
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alp
Samba Member
Joined: December 10, 2002
Posts: 172
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| Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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| we have a local guy who has converted his bus (I think it is a panel) to be an event ATM location with the machine in the back. I will see if I can find some pics and post them up. |
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kombisutra
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2003
Posts: 4127
Location: San Anselmo, 10 miles North Of San Francisco
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| Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 3:18 am Post subject: |
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In 2002, my wife at the time told me her co-worker's husband had one of those buggy-van things in the back yard. When I was invited to come see it, I discovered The 1958 Atlas Motors Panel from San Francisco. The bus was owned by this guy's late uncle, who years previous, had used it as a grocery delivery vehicle and garaged it every single night for 50 years. I found zero corrosion, nor any body damage on the entire original paint bus. In the back the original 36 horse was totally complete and functional. I convinced this nephew -a grown adult- NOT to turn the bus into a "roadster" by cutting the entire top of it off... but instead, to sell it to me.
Broke, with no job and seriously in debt, I sold the bus to Drew Colome of Costa Mesa. He then sold it to a very well heeled company, and recently bought the bus back. It's now for sale again (in the classifieds here)... and no, even though I'm doing very well financially, I cannot afford 1/2 the current asking price or I would buy it back. I have other buses I love more, but this was my second Panel. |
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fbarspin
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2013
Posts: 18
Location: United States
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| Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 9:36 am Post subject: |
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| kombisutra wrote: |
In 2002, my wife at the time told me her co-worker's husband had one of those buggy-van things in the back yard. When I was invited to come see it, I discovered The 1958 Atlas Motors Panel from San Francisco. The bus was owned by this guy's late uncle, who years previous, had used it as a grocery delivery vehicle and garaged it every single night for 50 years. I found zero corrosion, nor any body damage on the entire original paint bus. In the back the original 36 horse was totally complete and functional. I convinced this nephew -a grown adult- NOT to turn the bus into a "roadster" by cutting the entire top of it off... but instead, to sell it to me.
Broke, with no job and seriously in debt, I sold the bus to Drew Colome of Costa Mesa. He then sold it to a very well heeled company, and recently bought the bus back. It's now for sale again (in the classifieds here)... and no, even though I'm doing very well financially, I cannot afford 1/2 the current asking price or I would buy it back. I have other buses I love more, but this was my second Panel. |
How much is asking?? |
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fbarspin
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2013
Posts: 18
Location: United States
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| Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 9:38 am Post subject: |
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| Stanagon wrote: |
fbarspin, thank for giving this thread a big boost! Any plans to visit the Boston, Ma area with a panel bus? Awesome to see your buses REALLY getting used. |
Thanks so much! We were in Boston last summer with our 50's airstream bambi but hope to be back this summer/fall with the bus. I will keep you posted! Thanks! |
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