| Author |
Message |
Burlyhammer
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1734
Location: Great north woods Maine
|
 Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 6:52 am Post subject: 1952 Standard coming around |
 |
|
I've been lurking in the Barndoor forums for a long time, and have been amazed with the rescues, rehabs and resurrections that I've read about in the different threads here. I've always loved aircooled VW's. Buses in particular. I have always wanted an early bus, but never imagined being able to actually own one. I have scoured junkyards, back yards, and countrysides without finding one. I've looked in the classified ads on Thesamba and other places, and never found something that we could manage to buy. I actually saw this bus advertised on Thesamba a few years ago when it was listed for sale in Austria. It looked like the perfect candidate, but there was no way I could make it happen, so I continued looking.
Earlier this year I saw this bus listed on Thesamba in California, and didn't realize that it was the same bus that I had seen before. The ad stated that the owner was looking to possibly make a trade for a bus closer to being usable. There is another thread in this forum started for this bus when the owner myklsmyth first got it: "The Preachers 52" so I was able to see a lot of the bus and really what kind of condition it was in. We have been having fun with our 63 15 window for a while, and I never considered parting with it until I saw the ad for the 52. I reached out to Mike and we went back and forth for a while and were finally able to make a deal that worked for both of us. The next issue was how were we going to get the bus home. We live in Maine (the opposite coast) and CA is a long way away. Again we worked with Mike and arranged for my son and I to bring the 63 out to CA and return home with the 52.
We left on Wednesday October 15, 2025 and returned home on Tuesday October 21 2025
6200 total miles (9977.933 km)
7 days of driving
109 hours on the road (averaged 15.6 hours of driving per day)
We went through 19 different states.
It was an amazing trip with a lot of beautiful scenery, and always a bus in the rear view mirror. I am starting this thread to keep track of everything. Our plan is to start gathering parts for the bus while we finish up a few other projects that are currently underway. Luckily the bus is fairly complete. Mostly what it needs is metal.
(Hopefully this will be the nudge I need to get the other projects closer to done)
This is the route we took. We took the lower route there and the upper route back:
First time seeing the bus:
Vegas:
Rocky Mountains:
I took over 200 photos from our trip, and my son took an equal amount.
Thank you Mike for all of your help working with us to make this happen!
What a wild ride so far! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Burlyhammer
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1734
Location: Great north woods Maine
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 7:26 am Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
Once we got home we unloaded the bus to assess. First of all the birth certificate says this is an April 52 bus.
This is what we are working with:
There were some logos on the drivers side door. I cleaned them up a bit:
I looked inside the fuel tank expecting it to be bad. Not only did it look good, I found the fuel level stick inside. It was definitely used to hold the decklid open:
After going through everything aside from the metal it looks like I will need:
Ribbed (or grooved) semaphores. It came with smooth ones.
Cargo door forward latch and rods.
Drivers side fixed cargo window
Passenger door piano hinge window and frame.
Passenger side windshield
Wiper arm
Rear axles, spring plates and covers
Transmission
motor
Brake light lens (Hopefully the housing is savable)
License plate light.
Rear reflector
I'm sure there is a ton of other things but that is what I came up with so far. I was looking at the KF website and one of the things I noticed were the jack points were 52 to 67. I looked for a thread with differences but did not see one. Are the later jack points able to be modified to be correct for the early 52?
I know there are a bunch of early to late 52 differences. I want to do what I can to make this bus as correct as possible. If anyone has any suggestions, don't hold back. I appreciate your help.
Thanks, |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RUNKLE
Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2014
Posts: 6083
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 8:06 am Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
.
Well, it stayed together bouncing around on a trailer plus wind load for hours on end - that's put you ahead of the game.
Lot of metal work there, but I've seen worse come back to life. Is it going to be a crusty-ride like your 15 window, or a little more polished? Either case, looks like a fun project, can't wait to see it back on the road.
.
_________________
Type 1
1950 Standard - 1959 Ragtop - 1961 Ragtop two fold - 1964 Sunroof
Type 3
1968 Squareback |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AlanInMass54
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003
Posts: 1112
Location: Massachusetts
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 11:39 am Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
| Wow, that's going to be a substantial amount of work, but it certainly ended up with the right owner. What's the plan of attack for it? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
finster
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 10426
Location: not far from the madding crowd
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 12:12 pm Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
the text on the door indicates a business based in skopje, the capital of the republic of macedonia. the name atanas atanasovski brings up results for a young actor but there is a butchers in scopje called atanasovski. it would help to know what the word across the middle was - sops...nik?
_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut
nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Huetti_1989
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2011
Posts: 1350
Location: Austria
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sgellis
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2016
Posts: 2217
Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
myklsmyth
Samba Member
Joined: November 22, 2005
Posts: 532
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 7:29 pm Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
Dave, you have already done more than I ever did with the bus. 
I'm so thankful that the bus is home safely. Knowing its condition and the distance you had to cover, I thought about you all the way home. You know because of how many times I messaged you!
Anyway, it's a huge, huge, project but I will follow along diligently knowing that you are capable of bringing it back to life and we will hopefully make a trip to OCTO with both buses one day. Best, Mike |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
LAGrunthaner 
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2007
Posts: 5642
Location: 1st Coast
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2025 6:22 am Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
Looking forward to the progress of your first Barndoor Burlyhammer. This will be an epic build with your amazing skill-set and your son's metalworking education.
_________________
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
| Lind wrote: |
| Have you considered simply starting with a nicer bus? I don't know what your skills are, but the race is easier if you can see the finish line. If you are not a runner, don't start off doing a marathon. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
edgood1
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Plymouth, MA
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ryans65
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2016
Posts: 1363
Location: Yulee FL
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2025 5:33 pm Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
| The barndoor resurrections have always been my favorite threads, glad you have your own now and a pretty early one at that! Can't wait to see some updates!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Burlyhammer
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1734
Location: Great north woods Maine
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 7:57 am Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
| AlanInMass54 wrote: |
| Wow, that's going to be a substantial amount of work, but it certainly ended up with the right owner. What's the plan of attack for it? |
Definitely a lot of metal work. I've already started making a KF list. We are hoping to put it back together and preserve it as it is. I think we will have a better idea once we start digging into it.
Thanks Alan!
| RUNKLE wrote: |
.
Well, it stayed together bouncing around on a trailer plus wind load for hours on end - that's put you ahead of the game.
Lot of metal work there, but I've seen worse come back to life. Is it going to be a crusty-ride like your 15 window, or a little more polished? Either case, looks like a fun project, can't wait to see it back on the road.
. |
I think only a few pieces actually broke loose on the journey once we restabilized it. Two jackpoints fell off, but we picked them up off the trailer.
Thanks RUNKLE
| Huetti_1989 wrote: |
Welcome to the Barndoor forum 
Great to see that this former Austrian Bus is in good Hands again!!
Have fun!!
-Christian |
We have been lurking here for a while reading about some amazing builds. I have been reading all of your updates on your project, and will be trying to use some of your techniques to help get this one back together.
Thanks Christian!
| LAGrunthaner wrote: |
Looking forward to the progress of your first Barndoor Burlyhammer. This will be an epic build with your amazing skill-set and your son's metalworking education.
|
Thank you!
| edgood1 wrote: |
| What an awesome adventure. I'm excited for you guys. This build is going to be be epic. I'll be following closely! |
Thanks Eddie! Can't wait to start. Swing by anytime if you wan to check it out. We now live 2 hours closer to you!
| ryans65 wrote: |
| The barndoor resurrections have always been my favorite threads, glad you have your own now and a pretty early one at that! Can't wait to see some updates!! |
Same here. I love these early buses and can't believe we have one to work on. Hopefully we will get going on it sooner than later.
Thanks Ryan! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Burlyhammer
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1734
Location: Great north woods Maine
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 7:59 am Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
| finster wrote: |
the text on the door indicates a business based in skopje, the capital of the republic of macedonia. the name atanas atanasovski brings up results for a young actor but there is a butchers in scopje called atanasovski. it would help to know what the word across the middle was - sops...nik?
|
I wish there was more to uncover on this door, but there is not. Once we get going on the bus I plan to check the rest of it for these logos. Maybe they're lurking under one of the 6 layers of paint.
Thanks for the investigative work! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Burlyhammer
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1734
Location: Great north woods Maine
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 8:11 am Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
| sgellis wrote: |
That bus is very cool. Congratulations.
I will be looking forward to watching this project. You will probably be on the road before me. Haha. |
I have been following you current build. You will definitely be on the road before me. We need to go on a cruise once they're both on the road. Maybe we could recreate this from last time we hung out:
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Burlyhammer
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1734
Location: Great north woods Maine
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 8:19 am Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
| myklsmyth wrote: |
Dave, you have already done more than I ever did with the bus.
I'm so thankful that the bus is home safely. Knowing its condition and the distance you had to cover, I thought about you all the way home. You know because of how many times I messaged you!
Anyway, it's a huge, huge, project but I will follow along diligently knowing that you are capable of bringing it back to life and we will hopefully make a trip to OCTO with both buses one day. Best, Mike |
Haha, I don't think taking the bus sightseeing counts! I did get her up to 80 a few times though. I wonder if that's the fastest it's ever been. djfordmanjack could probably answer that one!
I was extremely nervous driving out and driving back. Luckily it was smooth sailing. I appreciated all of the messages too!
I am hoping to get on it soon. The dream at this point is to bring it back out there for the next Barndoor gathering. I am not sure that is a reality, but that is what I am hoping for. We shall see.
Thank you Mike!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
felix ehrhardt
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2003
Posts: 106
Location: Germany
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 11:08 am Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
Wow, now that bus saw some scenery already. From austria to USA west to east. Amazing! And yes early 52's are different from the late 52's, already learned that with my Nov 52. Congrats & have fun with the build!
Best Greetings from D, Felix |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
LAGrunthaner
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2007
Posts: 5642
Location: 1st Coast
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 2:51 am Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
Burlyhammer, where is that bridge?
| Burlyhammer wrote: |
| sgellis wrote: |
That bus is very cool. Congratulations.
I will be looking forward to watching this project. You will probably be on the road before me. Haha. |
I have been following you current build. You will definitely be on the road before me. We need to go on a cruise once they're both on the road. Maybe we could recreate this from last time we hung out:
|
_________________
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
| Lind wrote: |
| Have you considered simply starting with a nicer bus? I don't know what your skills are, but the race is easier if you can see the finish line. If you are not a runner, don't start off doing a marathon. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Burlyhammer
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1734
Location: Great north woods Maine
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 2:03 pm Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
| felix ehrhardt wrote: |
Wow, now that bus saw some scenery already. From austria to USA west to east. Amazing! And yes early 52's are different from the late 52's, already learned that with my Nov 52. Congrats & have fun with the build!
Best Greetings from D, Felix |
I don't know if it will end up making a full circle, but it's coming around! Haha
Thanks Felix! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Burlyhammer
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1734
Location: Great north woods Maine
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
[quote="LAGrunthaner"]Burlyhammer, where is that bridge?
| Burlyhammer wrote: |
| sgellis wrote: |
That bus is very cool. Congratulations.
I will be looking forward to watching this project. You will probably be on the road before me. Haha. |
I have been following you current build. You will definitely be on the road before me. We need to go on a cruise once they're both on the road. Maybe we could recreate this from last time we hung out:
|
That bridge crosses the Sheepscot River on Route 1 in Wiscasset. We were on the way to visit my friend Nate after leaving a VW campout in Western Maine that Stan and his wife came down for. My son was driving our 15 window and I was in the 79 Bay we used to have.
2 years later coming back from another campout we were behind this Bay on the bridge when he broke his accelerator cable. We pushed him over the hump and coasted to the other side where we changed it out with a spare I had in my bus. You can see the bridge in the background. I made a new friend that day!
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sgellis
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2016
Posts: 2217
Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 3:53 pm Post subject: Re: 1952 Standard coming around |
|
|
| Burlyhammer wrote: |
| sgellis wrote: |
That bus is very cool. Congratulations.
I will be looking forward to watching this project. You will probably be on the road before me. Haha. |
I have been following you current build. You will definitely be on the road before me. We need to go on a cruise once they're both on the road. Maybe we could recreate this from last time we hung out:
|
That was a fun trip though in the photo we were running without #2 exhaust valve or pushrods. Great adventure.
We should get them together once done. I don't plan to travel much in it as it will be completely stock but will need to make a few road trips.
_________________
My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
