Murphy Ranch Bus

[widehatch]

I was watching the TV show Off Limits on Discovery Channel last night and the show was about L.A. at the end they went to this place north of Santa Monica called Murphy Ranch. its a compound that was build by American Nazis back in the late 1930s and was raided by the FBI in the 1940s. its been abandoned ever since. at the end of that segment they're showing different parts of the property and they show an flipped over bus somewhere on the property.

a basic location of where its at

what it looks like from the outside

the bus on the property

im guessing its a 64-67
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Missouri Micros

[BulliBill]

Billy! Let's get it and make it the BNNTA raffle Bus!

Got spot! Now who will be the first local to visit and take more shots for the thread?

Bill
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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!

[///Mink]

We should just have Brian Piercy go down there and do another drive out.

[comcam]

I haven't been up there yet to take photos. Would be sweet to get some shots of the bus.

[RPGreg2600]

That bus looks fucked!

[KombiMarc]

Here is the address, check out the pics on Google Earth....that gate has aged a bit the last few years hehehe...

Sullivan Fire Road, Los Angeles, California 90272

The canyon shadows in the pics make it impossiblel to locate the resting pile of splitty....

There has to be some usable parts there, I for one could use the over riders.
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Thanks Marc
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'65 Type I
'65 Type II Kombi Rebuild Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=459009

[RPGreg2600]

The front beam is worth saving too and looks like there might be a pedal pan on it? (although very tweaked if it is) Maybe someone could find out who made the documentary and try calling them up?

[RHD Notch]

I think my bro used to party at this place with his buddies back in the 80's. I'll try to make a day trip up there soon...it's about 25 miles from my house. Weather is supposed to be ugly in L.A. by the weekend. The ranch is 55 acres...that's a lot of unforgiving hillsides, but that bus is probably at the bottom of a road. Maybe I can do a day trip for photos and maybe a few things that come loose off of it...Check out the links below...hopefully they can be opened...Thanks for sharing widehatch!

If somebody gets out there real soon please post your findings...

http://wikimapia.org/

3630380/Murphy-Ranch-Nazi-Camp-Hartford-Artists-Colony-Site

http://www.hikespeak.com/trails/rustic-canyon-murphy-ranch-nazi-ruins/
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[jeremyrockjock]

I also looked on google earth. I love that program.
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Why buy what you can build.
Step away from the fiberglass and no one gets hurt!!

[BarryL]

Will it be named the Nazi bus? It looks like it rolled down that hill.

[Riqs57]

Nice day out before all the rains come and I need a break from the drawing board. Heading out there today for a hike so I will see what I find. Will let you all know later.

[Riqs57]

Well, just got back in from visiting the ranch and saw the split. She's rough but there are a few parts there that can be had. It appears that this bus was indeed rolled down the embankment, probably 30 feet or so. There is not much left of the roof or the upper half above the belt line. The beam seems to be in actually very good condition with all steering components in place as well. There is even the passenger side wheel with tire still attached to the beam along with the steering box. The splash pan is waisted but most of the pedal components are still there. The shift rod is mostly there along with the heater tube and silencers. The rear apron has surface rust but is un cut and in rather good condition. I did find the 2/3 seat ( frame and springs) up front buried inside but it is pretty rough, could be used for a rat ride and a few of the springs are broken. The front bumper does look good. Someone removed two of the bumper mount bolts but overall, it looks in decent condition. With that said, since it is laying on the passenger side, I cannot tell the condition of that side of the bumper. The over riders are indeed in fair condition along with the over rider tubes. If you want to put in some time and get the parts, its about a 45 minute to an hour walk down into the canyon where it sits. Its all downhill and would be a chore to get parts back out but to some, well worth it. Take lots of water with you since there is none around. Today it was only 65 in the canyon but I went through 2 bottles of water. Also take a can of PB blaster and a selection of box end wrenches. That's pretty much it. I do have some pictures and will try to get them up soon.

Rick

[Jer*Fab]

Ah sweet, i saw this bus on that show as well and wanted to go check it out..
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[RPGreg2600]

Cool, can't believe it was found so fast! How did you even find it if it was a 45 minute walk down there? Looking forward to seeing your pictures.

[Riqs57]

I researched the address and went there. Followed a few directions as best as I could from the web. There are a few old roads down there and I just went by my hunch and eventually found it. Its down close by the bottom of the canyon. I should say it took me about that time to walk out of the canyon. a little longer to get down there and find it. I could have walked right by it if I haden't looked over my left shoulder and seen it as it is down in the ravine. I am trying to get the pics uploaded tonight some time.

[61TXghia]

How is the steering wheel on it? any window hardware in it?
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62 Standard Type 2 (Nothing Fancy)
my bus: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=464719

[Riqs57]

There is no steering wheel or any window hardware. All the windows are pretty much gone as well.

[Riqs57]

So here are the pictures from my day excursion to Murphy Canyon and the bus within. From the 405, you take Sunset and head west 3 miles to Capri Dr and head north. Follow Capri up through the traffic circle until you get to the top where you make a left. Follow this street until you get to the end where you will see a sign that says Josephina Camp, it's a Boy Scout camp of sorts. You can park somewhere along that small road but I would recommend parking where Capri ends by the big houses. Anyhow, once parked, walk along the road heading towards the Boy Scout camp, you will come to a controlled gate, just walk around it. After about 15 minutes walking, you will come across the main entry gate at the Ranch.

You can go to the left through a big hole in the wall. From this point, follow the main road, which is broken up concrete, until you come to a fork in that road, vier left and continue down the road. Continue down and you will near the bottom of the canyon and come upon another fork, stay left. You will come across many remnants of old houses and water tanks and pretty elaborate concrete curbs along the road.

Soon you will come across what I believe is an old church that is tagged up in a serious way. There were at least a hundred or so empty spray cans below the floors there.

From the church, walk another 5 minutes or so until you see what looks like an old service station that was once framed entirely in steel and has since collapsed. To the left of this structure is a large through way, walk through it and just a few steps past that point look down the embankment and you will see the bus through the trees.

Once at the bus, you will see she is very rough shape but there are a few usable parts there to be had. The roof and sides from the belt line up are toast. The rear apron is in very usable condition, uncut but with some surface rust on it.

The beam is all in tact and there is little to no rust on it. It even has the steering box and all associated steering components on it. The passenger tire and wheel are also there but you would need to get the beam off to get it

Someone mentioned they would mind having the bumper? It is in great condition from what I can see. It has all the components but I cannot see what shape it is in on the passenger side which it is laying on but I would imagine it being in decent shape.

I did find the 2/3 seat but it is crusty but might make for a good hod ride candidate.

With a can of PB blaster and an assortment of tools, I am sure someone could go and get a few parts. Be careful as there is a presence of law enforcement up there. The bus however is down in the ravine so they probably don't get down there to much. I would take water with you. Here are a few more pics for your viewing pleasure.

And last but not least, I did find the drivers side door in another location but it is unusable, rusted away. Locking mechanism still there but rough.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Rick

[widehatch]

cool pics , thanks for going down there. the service station looking building was actually the garage and living quarters while the mansion was to be build. it never got built due to the feds raiding the place. if you can catch the show Off Limits on Travel Channel. watch the episode about LA. they kayak down the LA river, go inside the LA aquaduct and visit the Murphy Ranch.

http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Off_Limits
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[Riqs57]

I was thinking it was something like that as well as there are a lot of remnants of refrigerators, stoves and bathroom facilities. I did find a few other treasures while down there, I am sure there are many more if you have the time to explore. Cool hike never the less.