Looking for fiberglass pop up for my 1970 Westfalia

[elgitano]

My uncle meticulously cared for his 1970 Westfalia for 45 years that he bought in California. He was the 2nd owner of this beautiful bus. He decided it was time to let her go and put the money towards building a house to retire in Mexico. I was fortunate enough to take over "The Cumbia". He didn't trust anyone to ship it so at 80 years old drove it 900 miles up through Mexico to deliver it to me in Texas where we arranged to meet. It was a lot of miles but like many times before old faithful made it without any issues. I arrange for a shipping company to ship it back to California for me ( which I grew to regret ). When they picked her up she faced forward on the trailer but at some point along the way they decided to face her backwards to fit another car. At some point heading down the freeway the wind made its way underneath her perfect white fiberglass top and ripped off like a can of tuna being opened. Pieces wet flying through the front windshield and others littered the freeway I suppose. I received the dreaded call that there had been an accident and was sent photos to show the damage. Of course heartbroken and in shock I awaited her delivery. After seeing the damage in person I feel the only option is to replace the top completely. The wood, canvas tent, brackets where all ruined. The back luggage rack was spared without any damage. Some body damage was done above the driver and passenger roof and some damage to areas of the rain gutters. I would appreciate any advice or knowledge of where I might be able to find a replacement pop top.

[viiking]

Oh what a shame. Hope your Uncle didn't find out about it.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[evanfrucht]

Must of been a pretty shitty shipping company... Is it even a legitimate company? That truck looks kind of sketchy...

Old cars like this should be shipped individually on a flat bed. Don't use a company that deals with regular used cars unless maybe it's already a project to begin with... you need a shipper who deals with high end and classic car owners exclusively. Expensive lesson...
_________________
1967 Bug ( the daily rod )
1964 Fury Wagon ( the pavement shredder )

[Mike Fisher]

I've seen tops for sale on Facebook, but I'd buy a ratty Westy, just for the top/bows/parts if you can't find just the top.
_________________
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69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold

Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey

[obieoberstar]

that westy should have been put first on the trailer pointing towards the front.

The other car on the trailer has a lower profile than the bus.

Just looking at the situation. I am not a shipper and have not had anything shipped.

Does that shipper have insurance of some sort?

P.S.

At one time I had install a complete convertible top fabric and headliner on a new 2007 Audi A4 convertible.

The owners won it in a Las Vegas casino promotion or what-not and had it transported back to Tucson. It was placed ass-forward on the leading position, upper deck.

Needless to say, the rear window glass came detached from the fabric top something fierce.

[Mike Fisher]

Post a WTB ad under Bay Window parts for sale here!
_________________
https://imgur.com/user/FisherSquareback/posts
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold

Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey

[alman72]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php...ton=Search

[Starbucket]

Did your uncle have insurance if not the shipper has some even if it's only on his truck and if a trailer is hooked to the truck the insurance covers it. Get an est. from an old VW restoration shop and give it to his insurance.

[metahacker]

First of all,

Epic story. Epic Bus saga. EPIC DAD!!!
YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME

The legend lives on and a NEW adventure begins with a BANG!!!!
Condolences on the old pop top assembly.

Shit happens--
Welcome to BUS OWNERSHIP!

So, some information you may find useful ...

You might want to get in touch with ReproWesty, they have accurate reproduction brand new tops etc.
http://www.reprowesty.com

I believe they have both styles... although I only see the later style (larger opening pop top) on the site.

If "originality" and maximum resale value are your goal, you likely be best served by striving to restore the exact top that was in place before.

Although not original and "correct" - you may also want to consider fitting the Late Bay (74-79) pop-top (or similar like below) with the big bed upstairs instead of the cot. The ReproWesty reproduction of this one looks nice.

There's a Space Roofs "late Westie style" (also looks nice - and has gas struts by default - so will be much easier to open)
https://www.spaceroofs.co.uk/roofs/type-2-baywindow-elevating-roof

There's also a repro Riviera top from ReproWesty (my personal favorite, a C-channel awning can be stowed under this top - few people know this)
https://reprowesty.com/product/vw-t2a-t2b-riviera-...-mogelijk/

Or you could just get a high roof conversion from these guys..and be able to stand up all the time and have more storage http://www.Fiberine.com

They can install same day in California.

If you are serious about doing some camping/"vanlife" this is considered the ultimate by many.


If you want to keep it OG, you may end up needing to hit the Classifieds and refurbish/reinstall a used top.

If you want some recommendations for shops in OC/San Diego to do the work, PM me.

[Angus II]

Hello,
Ouch, I've seen that damage before....
Keep it original, hinges in front. Don't use a later model pop top, that's just more work and it will not be correct....plus, a lot of holes to fill.
Try to find a complete roof clip 68-73(like I did) and you'll have every thing you need to repair it. It should be less expensive than buying all the parts from different sellers...

Check the sales adds here(Samba classifieds) or check local salvage yards. There is a guy Chris Morris here, out of the Bay area SF/Oakland. That parts out VWs check/search the classifieds for his name. He may be able to hook you up with all the parts you need in one place. Believe me, here on the west coast all of the parts will start to add up if, you can't find them all at one place... I was lucky to find a VW salvage yard going out of business in Hesperia Ca. and got a great deal on a complete pop top clip, with all the parts needed. Sure I had left overs and extras. But, it was less expensive in the long run.

Good luck hunting down what you need. Yet, the towing/hauling company should be footing the bill.... It was their screw-up not yours.

Oh, and Why, didn't you just rent a u-haul truck and tow it yourself?. On a trailer or by that bitching tow hitch your uncle had on the front of it. It would have cost much less in the long run... Again, good luck with the bus.

[aeromech]

Everything considered you might get it repaired. Maybe a boat yard kinda place. Even if you could locate one, shipping would be a bear.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Starbucket]

Give Fast Foreign Auto Salvage (largest VW yard in LA) a call, 626-3573361. Most salvage yards are connected and can locate parts

[Hikelite]

My condolences. It's great to hear you're determined to get the bus back on the road.

I can't help with the top, but I wanted to inquire about that rack in the front.
So it stays permanently mounted, but folds up?

That would work great for towing behind an RV. Do you know where it came from?
_________________
~Kevin

My 1968 Campmobile

[dogmeat]

really crappy shipper. make them pay