| Author |
Message |
BeaterBarndoor
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2000
Posts: 824
Location: North Carolina
|
 Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 9:14 am Post subject: South African 54 |
 |
|
I ran across this after doing a search online for something. I dont recall ever seeing it before and found it slightly interesting .
Sunroof, safaris and check out the dusty condition air intake conversion along with smoothed over rear side vents.
click photos for larger versions.
http://wikivillage.co.za/autopavilion/blog/1954-volkswagen-kombi
_________________
www.thebustransfer.com
Whaaaaat? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
gatorwyatt
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2002
Posts: 1867
Location: Clearwater Fl.
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 3:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Interesting bus for sure...
_________________
www.blastserv.com
wanted:
RHD Barndoor floor mat..reproduction is fine |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
UZI
Platinum FUBU
Joined: February 08, 2002
Posts: 13335
Location: phila-DELFT-ia
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 4:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
reminds me of that johnny cash song "one piece at a time"
_________________
Extravagant Lifestyle
| Quote: |
| mannys66: South Philly Van Club, only the most influential and freshest van club in the vw scene |
| Quote: |
| Cuñado: Chrome will get you home!!!!!!!!!! |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
73sports
Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2004
Posts: 2107
Location: Warrington, PA
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2012 3:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Yeah, that front end doesn't look very barndoorish.
_________________
I will never lie, but sometimes the truth changes.
Central Jersey VW Society |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
low54
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2004
Posts: 424
Location: cotswolds-england
|
| Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2012 1:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| 73sports wrote: |
| Yeah, that front end doesn't look very barndoorish. |
Looks like a BarNdoor front panel to me it has just had a bit of roof peak added on at some point by the look of it.
Very interesting pictures
_________________
65 original paint so42 dormobile
52 original paint 52 split beetle |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
IMPI
Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2006
Posts: 35
Location: South Africa
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
I have found that VW South africa hasnt the foggiest Idea of what they try to present at their autopavillion. The cars are badly restored and not in the greatest shape. The closed of vents was definitely not during production as the bus bodies were left stock. some pickups had dust vents which were raised.
Armand |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Skim
Rants Master
Joined: April 15, 2001
Posts: 17082
Location: GFK 31 Year Vet
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:42 am Post subject: Re: South African 54 |
|
|
| BeaterBarndoor wrote: |
I ran across this after doing a search online for something. I dont recall ever seeing it before and found it slightly interesting .
Sunroof, safaris and check out the dusty condition air intake conversion along with smoothed over rear side vents.
click photos for larger versions.
|
Go for it.
Email me when it's updated and I will fix his quoted response too.
Thanks.
_________________
GFK
Samba since before the towers collapsed. Still here.
1953 Kabriolet
1954 Sunroof
1959 Lowlight Ghia vert
1960 Lt Grey Double Cab SMZ LEGIT
1963 Deluxe Turkis Walk Thru 15 Window OG Paint |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RPGreg2600
Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2010
Posts: 1657
Location: Vallejo, CA
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Haha!
Why would someone go to the trouble of adding a late model roof peak? Is it really a barn door? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djfordmanjack
Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2009
Posts: 2170
Location: Graz, Austria, Europe
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BeaterBarndoor
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2000
Posts: 824
Location: North Carolina
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
im pretty confident it is BD. I dont know for sure, only speculating that the front roof peak is likely specific to the dusty conditions mod. it is definitely different than later bus. expand the photo and you will notice the intake screen covers the whole area.
also note in the rear of the roof there appears to be a snorkle or something sticking up. maybe air intake for the engine?
weird beast. be interesting to see more photos of it.
_________________
www.thebustransfer.com
Whaaaaat? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
deluxe hunter
Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2007
Posts: 42
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 8:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Looks like pressed symbol on the front- maybe a Fleetline front panel replacement |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
UZI
Platinum FUBU
Joined: February 08, 2002
Posts: 13335
Location: phila-DELFT-ia
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 9:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
Maybe this bus is the missing link between the barndoor retouched factory literature and the real thing?
_________________
Extravagant Lifestyle
| Quote: |
| mannys66: South Philly Van Club, only the most influential and freshest van club in the vw scene |
| Quote: |
| Cuñado: Chrome will get you home!!!!!!!!!! |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
fig
Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2000
Posts: 1080
Location: 26.15°S, 28.2°E
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
As IMPI notes above, this bus is in the VWSA Auto Pavilion museum.
It's definitely a barndoor, but no one seems to know how the roof peak got there. It has different vents in the peak compared to other post-3/55 buses, and there's no ventilation box in the cab. And yes, that's a Brazilian/Fleetline nose panel.
I agree that it was probably rebuilt from a wreck. It was used as a hunting vehicle by Baron Von Oertzen, who used to head VW in South Africa, which means it probably led quite a rough life.
_________________
fig
Kaapse Kombi Kult
"Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus ..." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djfordmanjack
Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2009
Posts: 2170
Location: Graz, Austria, Europe
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
After re-reading my Transporter specification book, here's my idea: VW of SA obviously started building busses only in 55 and like Brazilian busses used the high hinge and BD style cargo doors until 1977. They also imported Fleetline Transporter kits in the 70s. So this bus might be anything in between.
but then it obviusly has semaphores....so probably a pre 1960 bus that was restored with Brazilian front metal...
_________________
Hotrods, Fords, Veedubs and Triumph Twins !
52 Barndoor DLX Coachbuild project
55 Wolfsburg panel project, og paint Taubenblau L31
62 Dickholmer, custom color Seeblau L360
63 1500 Notch, og paint Rubin Rot L456
67 1500 Käfer, og paint Lotus weiß L282 w/red interior |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BeaterBarndoor
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2000
Posts: 824
Location: North Carolina
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 2:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I feel the base is still barndoor based on the windshield surrounds with barndoor mirror arms and the upper framing being larger than post bd to accommodate the bd safari hinges. It also looks like the engine bay firewall is bd.
_________________
www.thebustransfer.com
Whaaaaat? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cru62
Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2002
Posts: 4117
Location: Margaritaville.....24/7
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 7:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| fig wrote: |
| It was used as a hunting vehicle..... |
Through the sunroof, no doubt!
_________________
"My biggest worry is that when I die, my wife will sell all my parts for what I told her I paid for them"-Jon
Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BeaterBarndoor
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2000
Posts: 824
Location: North Carolina
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 5:58 am Post subject: Re: South African 54 |
|
|
Just ran across these images on my computer and updating them as they were lost on my original post.
_________________
www.thebustransfer.com
Whaaaaat? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
EverettB 
Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 69798
Location: Phoenix Metro
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 12:28 pm Post subject: Re: South African 54 |
|
|
Weird Bus...
I pulled up the page on the wayback machine, here's the text they used:
| Quote: |
1954 Volkswagen Kombi
The kombi is said to have originated from a rough sketch by the Dutch Volkswagen importer, Ben Pon, in 1947, while visiting the VW factory. Some 2 years later Heinz Nordhoff, head of Volkswagenwerk, commissioned a prototype to be built on a modified Beetle chassis.
During tests, it became obvious that the Beetle chassis had shortcomings in this role. A second prototype was built with a box section chassis using the same wheelbase as the Beetle but with the body welded on – the first Volkswagen with unitary construction.
Production went ahead and the transporter was unveiled to the public on 12 November 1949. It became available in South Africa in 1955 and subsequently became a best seller.
This 1954 imported Kombi was fitted out as a hunting vehicle for Baron Klaus Von Oertzen, the father of Volkswagen South Africa.
This vehicle exists to this day and can be seen in the AutoPavilion, next to the VW factory entrance in Uitenhage, South Africa. |
Baron Klaus Von Oertzen Wikipedia page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_von_Oertzen
_________________
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! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
