1957 Dove Blue Kombi Resurrection

[Burlyhammer]

We are going to put this bus back on the road someday. It won't be restored, but hopefully we can give it back some well deserved dignity. I want to start this thread so I don't lose track of the photos we have taken, or the parts we come across. As found:

[ryans65]

you got moxie kid!

[Burlyhammer]

[vwuberalles]

Please document the extraction process too!
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1973 Superbeetle: 1st car, owned since age 12. Update thread --> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9919140#9919140
1967 Kombi: Owned since age 17, Dad's retirement project.
1966 Beetle: My new project. (SOLD) Build thread--> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=678040

[edgood1]

oh man! here we go!

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1987 Syncro Westfalia powered by Subaru
1963 Panel to Deluxe Bus project :::: (photo album)
'65 Westfalia

[Riff Raff]

A noble pursuit.

Hope you find some good surprises when you haul the carcass back to your lair.
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The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge
- Daniel Boorstin

[mandraks]

i like it already
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regards

Uli

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

[Burlyhammer]

We actually picked the bus up two years ago. My son and I pulled it out of the woods the day before school started for him. I will post what I took for pictures as soon as possible.
Thanks everyone!

[Burlyhammer]

We heard about this bus from a fellow bus guy. He called me and said a friend of his saw a bus in the woods on an ATV trail, and gave us an idea of where it was. This was Saturday, August 26 2017 He was at work, and we made a plan to go looking for it when he got out. The trail was through someones yard, so we knocked on the door with no answer. We went down the trail a little way, but turned around. I went back to the house and left a note with my number. I got a call the next day, and my son and I loaded up our bikes into the Westy and headed out. We got to the house and spoke with the home owner who said that there may be some old cars out in the woods, but she had no idea where. The trail was a right of way, and the property on either side had multiple owners. We drove down the trail in the Westy as far as we dared to go, then got out the bikes and continued on. It was a few miles in and we were getting discouraged, until we saw it. This was the view from the trail:

Upon further inspection:

This bus was as rough as I have seen. It looked like it was dragged out into the woods from the front bumper (We found the chain still attached to the front) and made into a hunting camp. There was junk all around the bus on the ground. We found the engine hatch half buried, and what was left of the crank start rear apron. I told my son to look around for the rear bumper:

Found it! What a day!

[Burlyhammer]

These are the rest of the “as found” photos. Lots of bullet holes and rust:

I can see some body work and a re paint. The stripe was put on after the re paint:

[ryans65]

two tone and bullet holes must remain! I'll give you artistic liberty over the rest.

[EverettB]

I'm surprised the rear bumper was there. Score!

I'm glad you said it was a repaint because I was about to say I can't believe how nice the pinstripe is on that Bus, they usually are totally faded away.
It still lasted pretty well as I assume even the repaint was a long time ago.

Ouch, that's nasty

[edgood1]

Look at it like this. there's more solid metal than rusty metal!..... maybe?

That color scheme is pretty close to what I'm going to paint my bus, dove blue and white.
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1987 Syncro Westfalia powered by Subaru
1963 Panel to Deluxe Bus project :::: (photo album)
'65 Westfalia

[tasb]

Check and make sure both of you are up to date on your tetinus shots! Living in SoCal it's been awhile since I've seen that kind of rust. I grew up in northern Michigan.
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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

[BarryL]

[djfordmanjack]

Judging from your 63, this is going to be an AMAZING build !

the 57 (body) looks to be very complete and even if part or all of it isn't og paint
it looks awesome in the pics. it still looks as if only the lower body had a repaint no ?
Reminds me a lot of my woodfound 55 panel. the rear hatch also moved with some penetrating oil.
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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

[Burlyhammer]

[Burlyhammer]

[Burlyhammer]

Here are the recovery photos, and the bring/brought it home photos. The trail to the bus used to be a road called Red School house road.
It was quite an adventure getting the truck and trailer down the road. My son had to spot me most of the way. We had to cut a small parking spot:

We brought straps, cables, a few chain hoists, snatch block, etc.

I removed the remaining few connections with a hack saw. The chassis removed itself:

It was not easy, but we got it on the trailer:

And back home:

We put it on another trailer I had, and it has been sitting on it for 2 years:

I've been watching a guy on Instagram assemble a bus, and we even traded some parts:

This has inspired me to get the bus off the trailer before my wooden frame collapses. I bought a complete chassis earlier this year, and had a complete trans from another bus, so I decided to get the 57 rolling. I am just going to set the body on the chassis for now, while I gather more pieces. I have another project in front of this one that needs attention first.

And back inside:

The replacement frame was hitting what was left of the OG chassis. A little sawzalling later:

The body is just sitting on the chassis. It will be coming back off when I actually start working on it. I felt like this needed to happen so the poor body didn't look like such a heap, and for inspiration. This is how it will sit for the time being until we gather up needed parts. I like it:

[edgood1]

_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia powered by Subaru
1963 Panel to Deluxe Bus project :::: (photo album)
'65 Westfalia