1957 Dove Blue 11 Window Kombi Preservation

[GERMANAIRE]

Preservation of my 1957 Dove Blue 11 Window Kombi. Found this Bus from a lead on Facebook Market Place, replied to the ad, pictures sent and a day was set for my Wife, Son and I to see it in person. Took a trip into the North Tennessee Mountains and finally arrived to find the Bus sitting behind a metal building. I was excited to finally see it and hoped it was not rotted out, it was a 50/50 chance I would be taking but I was confident I could rebuild it!
A deal was made, friendships created and Bus was loaded to bring back to Georgia and our home where it would be brought back to life!!! Looking forward to enjoying this German Relic with my family and friends!!!
Special Thanks to Mrs. Lori and Aaron for making this possible!!
Another Special Thanks to my Beautiful Wife and Amazing Son for helping me bring back another family project!! Our daughter was not with us in this adventure and recovery but you were there in our hearts!!
Love you Neena!! , Dad

More pics coming soon!

[DanM]

Nice. Big M radio too. White bumpers or is that just the fade?

*edit - maybe bumpers got the same paint as the bulkhead.
_________________
drive it. break it. fix it. repeat.

[velvetgreen]

6 popout nice! I will be following your progress. Based on previous projects you have done i know its in the right hands

[EverettB]

Sweet.

I saw that Big M too - that's cool.

Gas heater too? I see a white pull knob up front
_________________
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!

[LAGrunthaner]

Looks very solid and both pressed bumpers too! Congratulations
What is an M radio? Please school me.
_________________
American Red Cross Safe And Well:
https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/...bsite.html
Maui Roadsters
www.mauiroadsters.com
http://www.oacdp.org

[velvetgreen]

Big M- is embossed Motorola "M" on radio faceplate like this

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2731975

[ryans65]

looks like it was a storage shed for a subaru EJ and a big cap fuel tank? haha nice score

[Stocknazi]

Wow, this is one of the best finds I've seen posted in quite a while; They really are still out there in 2025.

East Coast, mostly solid, six pop-outs, possibly all 4 OG wheels, both bumpers, and they look like they may be white (late 58?) only; very cool!
_________________
WANTED:
58 Westfalia cabinet knobs (3 needed), roof rack, and (7) privy tent poles (silver painted).

"When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty."
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

Thomas Jefferson

[Long-roofs]

[GERMANAIRE]

Thank you Guy’s for the comments!! Yes definitely a pretty sweet Big M Radio, Heater amd does have a white knob up front!! Good eye EverettB!
It does seem like it’s solid and after getting it home and having a chance to go over it I see where the problem areas are. The usual rear corners, both rockers, lower a post, doglegs front floors but mainly under the front bench seat tool box area. We have been cleaning it up pretty good and getting an idea for repairs. So if you know me I am OCD to the 10th Power, so many pics comin up!!

[tasb]

I see some Sigla glass without delamination? How did that happen?
_________________
Roads Scholar
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018

1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc

1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse

Member# 2059

[GERMANAIRE]

Here we go!!! What I hoped being a early March of 57 Bus a Wolfburg it is not! And also Mrs. Lori and her late husband were the second owners and I am the Very Proud 3rd. So you will here me say Wolfburg and Original owner a few times but that was my bad, I should have researched a little better before hand! Got to do some work on this Pressed Bumper and put some pics together!! I am gonna list some parts I am looking for and would love some feedback and input on ideas and things you see I may need or could use.
My plans are OG Stock with OG hitch and trailer or camper. May do wide five disk brakes since I will be towing and rolling with the family! I will box up the og brakes and keep. Roof will need some work so may consider respray with some distressing to match the rest of the bus. Bumpers and wheels may get resprayed and distressed as well. What are you thoughts?


Link

Link

Link


Link

[A Seabee]

That's a thing of beauty, nice score-Congratulations!!!

[Stocknazi]

I like the wheels and roof exactly the way they are. My bus roof looked almost the same and I made the mistake of painting it. Regreted it ever since.

Try some CLR (50/50 water/CLR) on the wheels and roof. I bet you'll like the results. Boiled Linseed Oil will coat the rust and looks nice, but you'll have to reapply it a couple times a year.
_________________
WANTED:
58 Westfalia cabinet knobs (3 needed), roof rack, and (7) privy tent poles (silver painted).

"When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty."
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

Thomas Jefferson

[Lind]

Awesome find.

That nose will pop right out with a football. The bumpers appear to be off of a later bus, but they look great on it.
_________________
.
Wanted:
Idaho VW license plate frames or other dealership items.
VWoA literature and early dealership or distributor literature/pictures/information
.

[mandraks]

congratulations.

that is a cool bus. greetings from Lawrenceville
_________________
regards

Uli

----------------------------------------
'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel

[GERMANAIRE]

Thank you A Seabee, I am Lucky and Happy to have it trust me!

Stocknazi, I have removed the tires and cleaned the rims. They could use another round of evaporust spraying and steel wool to get them a little cleaner but do have a great og look! The roof is a different story but will know more when I actually get to that part, hopefully soon!! Still on the fence though on restoring them in silver-white, light grey caps and og stock looking tires!

Lind, Thank you!! I have used the football before and works wonders!
I took the the front and rear bumpers off and looks like they may have a faint ting of dove blue left on them. I will clean them and see what comes up!

mandraks, Thank you long time no speak! I moved to Winder about 6 years ago!
Finally got the opportunity for a shop!!

I really appreciate the positive comments and suggestions. It does help me get ideas for this Bus.

Some left over pics and videos of the recovery and then on to the daily updates and progress soon!! Documenting is what I like, don’t like to cut corners and pictures prove that!!


Link

Couldn’t resist just trying to clean a small area to see the results!!!


Link


Link


Link


Link

[mtnbus]

great bus !

congrats

[GERMANAIRE]

Blues first night at home and ready to get started with the assessment and figuring out a game plan and point of attack. Continuing with the clean up and parts removal to get it in the shop out of the weather. Trying to get as much possible outside with the rust issues and removal before bringing it inside. Can’t wait to get it out of the weather!!


Link

Link


Link


Link

[GERMANAIRE]

Monday the 10 was a rainy day and really wasn’t able to work on Blue outside, so I took the opportunity and cut the tires off the rims. I also used evaporust and steel wool to cleaned them up a bit. They came out ok and checked the dates for each, not all date matched but rims are in good condition! May need to source out some match dates ones to make it correct! If anyone has any they are willing to sell or trade please let me know, Thanks!