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1965 Westfalia SO 44 – revitalisation
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zehbeh
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 6:06 am    Post subject: 1965 Westfalia SO 44 – revitalisation Reply with quote

I am starting this thread for my neighbor, who’s name is Arvid.
His bus is a So 44, that his dad bought new in 1965. Its got original Safaris from the beginning on. His dad wanted them to be able to go hunting and shooting out of the car.

The bus was hit on the left side, and all the dents where filled with bondo. The left hand rocker was covered with some sheet metal too. Then nearly the complete outside of the bus was brush painted.
His dad passed away years ago, and Arvid already used the Westi in the 80s.
Around 20 years ago, the bus was parked in their garage and forgotten. The car wasn’t used too often, so it now has around 60k km on the counter.
Last year Arvid decided to revitalize this bus and he asked me for help. That’s how I am involved in this project.

Now all the interior, the engine and the Eberspächer heater were removed. The lower side was soda blasted, so all the damage could be seen.
The overall condition is really good. Cabin floor, rockers and doglegs have to be welded, and the rear left corner has to be pulled out. The bus has now gone to a welder, who is working on the damaged areas.
Meanwhile Arvid is cleaning and overhauling the interior.

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zehbeh
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 6:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

First question that is coming up. Are the curtains and the fabric of the seats original in this combination?
Both are original Westfalia fabrics, and as far as Arvid knows, they both weren’t replaced ever.
Were Westfalia Busses delivered with such a combination of fabrics? The combination of these two really different fabrics looks strange to us.

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thezombikiller
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 6:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

kinda looks like you have some flipseat action going on there with the patterns and the tent mounts on the roof Very Happy
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campingbox Premium Member
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 7:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Those curtains are original, and unique to early '65's I believe. They are very rare.

It wouldn't surprise me to see a Euro So44 with that red & orange plaid. Seen it before.

Cool bus.
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velvetgreen
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 8:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

x2 those curtains are original and unique to early 65`westy`s If Arvind gets tired of looking at them I would be happy to take them off his hands as my bus is missing them Smile

Cool bus and a great starting point given so much of the history of the bus is know and it looks complete with all the hard to find parts. Does it come with the original tent?
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Clara Premium Member
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 8:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The curtains were used on early SO-42s. I am not surprised to see them on an early SO-44.

The plaid fabric on the seats was used on some So-42s and So-44s as well as SO-34s and other kits. Mustard vinyl was used on seats of most SO-42s and SO-44s.

Amazing that you still have the curtains and the plaid is intact!

The tent mounts are normal for euro sold no westy code westies.
see this thread for a discussion : http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=220422&highlight=westfalia

Show us the M-code plate. What is your build date? Awesome bus!

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a 66 SO-42 dormobile with original curtains and plaid:
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1950split
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 8:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes !

Cloth is original ! I confirm. My 1965 SO-44 had the same cloth on the bed.

As for the curtains, I know they are original westfalia definitely.

I spoke once with Michael Steinke from Germany, in Hessisch about which curtains came with the euro spec SO-44 with cloth and not vinyl on the bed.

He is a well renowned Westfalia connoisseur from the Bulli Kartei and Westfalia registrar. He said they should have the same curtains as found in the SO-34 or in the pic Clara posted here above but kind of Coral red (and not the yellow one which were reproduced).

If you or Arvid could make a close-up picture of the curtain bungees and their ends I would be most interested as I still haven't really found out how they should look like. Smile

My bus does not have this piece of wood under the bench as in your last pic. Is this original ? It certainly helps to keep the backrest of the bench line up with the rear matress ! Very Happy
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zehbeh
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 8:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

thanks for your replies.
unfortunately, the tent, tent poles, stove and fridge are missing.

At the moment we only have a bad pic of the M-plate. I will take another one, as soon as we get to the bus.
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Clara Premium Member
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 8:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The bed in the last pic is original (and the plaid and the curtains) It is an SO-42, not an SO-44. The SO-44 also had the wood under the bed.

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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...t_dir=DESC

from gallery:
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Clara Premium Member
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 8:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

zehbeh wrote:
thanks for your replies.
unfortunately, the tent, tent poles, stove and fridge are missing.

At the moment we only have a bad pic of the M-plate. I will take another one, as soon as we get to the bus.
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looks like it was converted to Westfalia after it was bought at the dealership. Not sold already outfitted. Any early history from the original owner?

What is the Fabrik Nr?
It is on a tag at the base of the bed, so may be missing?>

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1950split
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 8:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Clara !

I'll have to check my bus for evidences that this piece of wood was also fitted. Probably someone took it out as some point.
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zehbeh
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 9:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Clara wrote:
looks like it was converted to Westfalia after it was bought at the dealership. Not sold already outfitted. Any early history from the original owner?

What is the Fabrik Nr?
It is on a tag at the base of the bed, so may be missing?>

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I think I've seen this tag on the beds base, but I haven't taken a picture of it.
Arvid still has the invoice from Westfalia. So it seems, his dad bought a Kombi and sent it to Westfalia to have it converted. Was that a common procedure?
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srfndoc
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 9:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool documentation. It was fairly common to do that as getting a Westy from a dealer was tough (an SO 44 would be that much tougher since they made fewer of them vs. an SO 42).
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Clara Premium Member
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 11:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It may have been common in Germany, but it was very uncommon in the US. Most of the Westies we see are the regular sold through the dealership ones.
Excellent that the old receipt from Westfalia is still around!
do post up a pic of the Fabrik Nr when you have a chance.

zehbeh wrote:
Clara wrote:
looks like it was converted to Westfalia after it was bought at the dealership. Not sold already outfitted. Any early history from the original owner?

What is the Fabrik Nr?
It is on a tag at the base of the bed,


I think I've seen this tag on the beds base, but I haven't taken a picture of it.
Arvid still has the invoice from Westfalia. So it seems, his dad bought a Kombi and sent it to Westfalia to have it converted. Was that a common procedure?
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srfndoc
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Your right, not common in the US (not exactly convenient to stroll over to Wiedenbruck from the US). Seems a few have popped up lately, this one recently:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1826520
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zehbeh
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 12:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is the Westfalia tag with the Fabrik-Nr.

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zehbeh
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 12:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1950split wrote:

If you or Arvid could make a close-up picture of the curtain bungees and their ends I would be most interested as I still haven't really found out how they should look like. Smile

My bus does not have this piece of wood under the bench as in your last pic. Is this original ? It certainly helps to keep the backrest of the bench line up with the rear matress ! Very Happy

And some pics of the strings, that hold the curtains in place

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jjjjack
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 12:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool bus. Love that Westfalia-Werke logo on the receipt, too.
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1950split
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the picture of the curtain bungees.

Does anyone here knows if the repro curtain bungees produced by a samba member are still available anywhere? The member has cancelled his ad.

Damn.. I seem to have missed them Sad
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bubba
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 7:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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I make those.. Or i can sell just the Cords and you can reuse your clips.[/list]
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