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bitchin
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2025
Posts: 13
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 Posted: Sat May 10, 2025 8:27 pm Post subject: '61 SO23 hiding 50 years in Moscow |
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Hello bus connoisseurs around the globe,
I write to you all today with great joy in my heart...for my split bus dreams have finally come true..!
Sadly, I was not the one to find it hidden away in the misty mountains of Moscow...however, the guy I got the bus from did, and he ended up being a long time VW guy. I divulged what little information I could from him, but there wasn't much and I could tell he was looking to get back on the road.
I ended up doing some more digging, and I got in touch with a guy through an Idaho bus group on fb who replied with the following: "I first saw that bus in around 1999/2000. It was just outside of Moscow, ID. A buddy was biking one day on Moscow Mountain and saw it through some brush next to a shop of some sort. I found out who owned the land, looked up his name in the phone book and started calling. After a few years of never getting ahold of him, I gave up. Damn, I wish I would've kept trying.."
The seller and I chatted a few times on the phone over a period of a couple weeks; I mulled over whether or not to take the plunge, and we finally settled on what I believe to be a steal of a deal- and he even offered to bring the bus to me from Boise! Sweet!
Delivery Day!
Lots to do, more to come! I am absolutely stoked to be a split bus owner and the caretaker of quite a unique survivor! 
Last edited by bitchin on Thu May 15, 2025 5:36 pm; edited 11 times in total |
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bitchin
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2025
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2025 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 sitting in the mountains 50 YEARS - 47k miles! |
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The seller dropped her off at my storage unit, I live in an apartment and am grateful to have some sort of space to work on her.
I get her loaded up (including some spare metal the seller brought me, even a lower clip from a '58 single cab, in postal yellow!)
and take her for for the short drive down the street to the storage facility..
and get a first good look at what the interior looks like...
I'm trying not to pout too much about the absence of the oh so beautiful SO23 interior, and simply take some time to admire the natural state this bus is in.
So many incredibly cool things about this bus. I don't want to leave her...but I tuck her in for the night and smile the whole ride home.
Last edited by bitchin on Sat May 10, 2025 8:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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KrisBalfe
Samba Member
Joined: December 06, 2004
Posts: 843
Location: SLC
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2025 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia survivor sitting in the mountains 50 YEARS! |
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| Nice bus, congratulations. |
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Braukuche
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 11180
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2025 7:16 am Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia survivor sitting in the mountains 50 YEARS! |
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Too bad there’s no interior.
_________________
Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now
1989 Westfalia |
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Clara 
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2003
Posts: 12566
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2025 7:28 am Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia survivor sitting in the mountains 50 YEARS! |
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Nice dash!
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srfndoc
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010
Posts: 3372
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2025 7:42 am Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia survivor sitting in the mountains 50 YEARS! |
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Nice save.
_________________
RPM=(MPH*336* (R&P*4th*1.26))/Tire Diameter in inches |
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Lind
Samba Member
Joined: November 06, 2000
Posts: 10194
Location: idaho
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2025 8:01 am Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia survivor sitting in the mountains 50 YEARS! |
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Congratulations. Glad that it is finally getting some love.
I hunted that bus also when it was on Moscow mountain. The owner was impossible to get ahold of, and his house was behind a gated road.
Post a pic of the M-code plate if you get a chance. I seem to remember that it had a European delivery code.
_________________
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Wanted:
Idaho VW license plate frames or other dealership items.
VWoA literature and early dealership or distributor literature/pictures/information
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Pau
Samba Member
Joined: April 09, 2002
Posts: 370
Location: Euskal Herria
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2025 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 sitting in the mountains 50 YEARS - 47k miles! |
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| bitchin wrote: |
and get a first good look at what the interior looks like...
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Congratulations. Don’t throw that back vinyl away. It looks to be original. Interior is not complete, but you have some bits…
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/849385.jpg
Mine…
_________________
Freedom for the Catalan Countries
Si ens destrossen les contrades alçarem les barricades !!*!! |
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bitchin
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2025
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2025 11:08 pm Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia survivor sitting in the mountains 50 YEARS! |
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| Lind wrote: |
Congratulations. Glad that it is finally getting some love.
I hunted that bus also when it was on Moscow mountain. The owner was impossible to get ahold of, and his house was behind a gated road.
Post a pic of the M-code plate if you get a chance. I seem to remember that it had a European delivery code.
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Kris, Clara and doc- thanks for the kind words!
Lind- thank you so much for the info and photos. I really wish I could have been the one to do the unearthing of her, but it makes more sense as to why it was there so long. Looks like that tarp is all the protection she likely had all this time.
Here is the M-code plate.
It was fully optioned out, with the ice box and toilet....which I've heard is the holy grail around these parts. Also a French delivery code, which I assume is a little unique as well.
Anyways, today was Mother's Day, and I took the bus to go visit my mom at the cemetery today. It was a beautiful day.
Said hello to my friends across the street.
My mom grew up in San Diego in the 80's and was fortunate enough to grow up around VW's. Her sense of adventure, love for the ocean and life is a big reason why these vehicles have a special place in my heart.
Here is a photo I found of her and her best friend, in what appears to be an early bay tintop westy.
I sure miss her. Happy Mothers Day everyone |
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bitchin
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2025
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2025 11:23 pm Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia survivor sitting in the mountains 50 YEARS! |
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And yes....my other pea shooter fell out. Pretty sure I lost a hubcap as well. What a sloppy bus owner I am! 
Honestly, right now, I'm just enjoying driving her. The wrenching and question asking will commence soon...don't worry! I have already sourced the correct rear decklid, and ordered a Bentley manual, for example.
Some photos from last week, including a drive around Utah Lake with a friend
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srfndoc
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010
Posts: 3372
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2025 7:58 am Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia sitting 50 years in...Moscow? |
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Pretty cool you're already driving this thing. I see so many guys that dive into a big project and then get burned out years later and never get to enjoy the ride.
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Long-roofs
Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2002
Posts: 2354
Location: Millwood, Wa
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2025 9:25 am Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia sitting 50 years in...Moscow? |
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Very cool, you got it driving quickly. I live an hour north of Moscow, Idaho, did a lot of VW hunting down there in the 90s, do not recall this Bus. That area was loaded with VW stuff.
Good luck finding an interior.
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People are talking, the greatness is coming, going to be greater than great, so great, greater than anything ever.
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BarryL
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2004
Posts: 15080
Location: Casa de Oro, California
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2025 6:23 pm Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia survivor sitting in the mountains 50 YEARS! |
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| bitchin wrote: |
My mom grew up in San Diego in the 80's and was fortunate enough to grow up around VW's. Her sense of adventure, love for the ocean and life is a big reason why these vehicles have a special place in my heart.
Here is a photo I found of her and her best friend, in what appears to be an early bay tintop westy. |
I anxiously scrolled down hoping I had seen or known of her. Not this go around but we could have easily passed by each other. Good waves and good vibes to your mother. |
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DanM
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2002
Posts: 1370
Location: Falls Church, VA
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2025 7:30 pm Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia survivor sitting in the mountains 50 YEARS! |
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| bitchin wrote: |
Here is the M-code plate.
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Cool bus. I bet these sat next to each other at Westfalia:
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BarryL
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2004
Posts: 15080
Location: Casa de Oro, California
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| Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 6:17 pm Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia sitting 50 years in...Moscow? |
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| Ok that is too weird. What is the backstory? |
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bitchin
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2025
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia sitting 50 years in...Moscow? |
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| srfndoc wrote: |
| Pretty cool you're already driving this thing. I see so many guys that dive into a big project and then get burned out years later and never get to enjoy the ride. |
For sure!! I used to read bus build threads on here when I was younger, always just a lurker. But I noticed time and time again "just fixing this" often turned into a several year long hiatus in getting to enjoy the bus..
I couldn't even really afford this bus, but I decided I'm not getting any younger, I'm going to get a split bus and enjoy it now, enough if and whening, I'll figure it out as I go, even if I have to move into her |
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bitchin
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2025
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 3:13 pm Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia sitting 50 years in...Moscow? |
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| Long-roofs wrote: |
Very cool, you got it driving quickly. I live an hour north of Moscow, Idaho, did a lot of VW hunting down there in the 90s, do not recall this Bus. That area was loaded with VW stuff.
Good luck finding an interior. |
Right on! Sounds like this one was hidden on gated private property for a few decades, suppose that'll do it.
Hope you were able to acquire some cars from the area! |
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bitchin
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2025
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia survivor sitting in the mountains 50 YEARS! |
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| BarryL wrote: |
| bitchin wrote: |
My mom grew up in San Diego in the 80's and was fortunate enough to grow up around VW's. Her sense of adventure, love for the ocean and life is a big reason why these vehicles have a special place in my heart.
Here is a photo I found of her and her best friend, in what appears to be an early bay tintop westy. |
I anxiously scrolled down hoping I had seen or known of her. Not this go around but we could have easily passed by each other. Good waves and good vibes to your mother. |
Good waves and good vibes....I like that very much. Thanks for your kind words brother |
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bitchin
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2025
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia survivor sitting in the mountains 50 YEARS! |
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| DanM wrote: |
| bitchin wrote: |
Here is the M-code plate.
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Cool bus. I bet these sat next to each other at Westfalia:
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Wow!  That's super rad to see!
I too would love more info, thanks for sharing |
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bitchin
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2025
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: '61 SO23 Westfalia sitting 50 years in...Moscow? |
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50 years undisturbed
hmm..are those clamshell remnants I see?
I find the other switch on the parcel tray, sweet.
This is going to come out soon. I'm thinking of leaving it all original for a couple shows this summer, just so everyone else can enjoy the mold too!
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