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69calibug Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2004 Posts: 506 Location: Hamburg, NY
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 2:55 pm Post subject: Non-pop up Campers |
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There is a mid 70's Bus with Florida plates sitting next to a garage in my town, that has been there since at least last winter, probably a little longer. It is a Camper, but with a hard top. The owner, and old guy in his 80s, said it has been everywhere from Mexico to the Yukon. I didn't get to look inside, as the entire thing was covered in ice due to our wonderful weather. He has had around 10 VWs and knows his stuff, and even has a lift installed in his garage. It has a rebuilt engine with about 50-100 miles on it, but he parked it due to a problem with the heads. He explained that he got his moneys worth out of it and the Bus owes him nothing, and that he would only sell to someone who knew how to work on them and wouldn't hate him if something went wrong .
So what company made these hard-top campers? The body was really strait, nose and underside included, and the interior was even nice, although I only saw the front area. It had the accessory side steps, and what appeared to be an aftermarket rack. It's white, and the front uphostery is tan. I'm usually more into Beetles, but this one has me interested, especially since he would probably sell it cheap. Being able to go anywhere and camp is something I would enjoy. _________________ '69 Beetle, '69 Beetle Convertible |
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Randy in Maine Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003 Posts: 34890 Location: The Beach
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds promising. Think you can get it for a good price? Snatch it up. Go through it and take it camping. These thing like to be driven, not sittin. |
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dingo Banned
Joined: July 19, 2004 Posts: 429 Location: eugene, OR
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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I used to have a '77 hard-top with full Westy interior. It was all as is from the factory. Its a great streamlined combo for travelling/camping and easy to pull over anywhere and sleep, if need be. From my point of view, for sleeping one or two, its the preferrable set-up. Pop-top does have its advantages, but the old hard-top was definately unique. |
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Tyler 5447 Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2002 Posts: 416 Location: Burns, WY
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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I have a '71 hardtop westy and love it much more than my previous poptop westies. Less parts to break, leak, or fly off in heavy winds. Plus it stays warmer when winter camping. |
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static Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2002 Posts: 1830 Location: The High Desert
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Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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I was going to say that, but hayduke just said what I wuz gonna say.
I, too, have a '71 hardtop camper and they are the best of the breed. |
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Rocknrod Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004 Posts: 2157 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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I'm guessing no such thing as headroom...
What kind of headroom is there anyway? Distance from floor to underside of roof...
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TeamSpatula Samba In The Rain
Joined: February 03, 2004 Posts: 5211 Location: WNC
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Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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If you're looking for headroom without the poptop, there are a couple different highroof campers...Safare being my personal favorite... _________________ <---Air Cooled Search & Rescue Team - STICKERS & T-shirts for sale!
I NEED A CAMPER!!!! (1971 is ideal but will consider other years)
http://www.TeamSpatula.com |
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69calibug Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2004 Posts: 506 Location: Hamburg, NY
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Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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Even though I have WAY to many cars, I keep thinking about this one. It's cool that it has so much history behind it, I'd love to be the one to keep it going. I've thought about buying it, fixing it and using it for the summer and selling it, but that would never work considering how attached I become to these cars _________________ '69 Beetle, '69 Beetle Convertible |
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Miguel Arroyo Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2004 Posts: 3122 Location: Miami Beach, Florida
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Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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Get it and fix it. Then decide if you should sell it or one of your other cars. |
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hambone Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004 Posts: 1617 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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Those are called Wesfaila Weekenders, I have a 69'. You can't walk around inside, but next to tent camping, it's pure luxury. I like it! No canvas to replace either....it just looks more streamlined to me. |
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69calibug Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2004 Posts: 506 Location: Hamburg, NY
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Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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I was told to come back when it's warmer. The old guy was nice enough to come outside in the 20 degree snowy weather and show it to me, so I didn't want to press my luck If I don't get it, I'll pass it along on here to someone who would give it a good home. _________________ '69 Beetle, '69 Beetle Convertible |
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J Kirkindoll Samba Member
Joined: June 22, 2004 Posts: 24 Location: Camarillo, CA
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Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 11:47 am Post subject: |
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It could be a Sundial. I have a 70 and my wife has a 65 (his and and her's busses ). Both are Sundials. My 70 has a nameplate on the passenger side below the door.
Jeremy |
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Hippie Samba Tinner
Joined: August 16, 2004 Posts: 1781 Location: Iowa: The Mud State
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Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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My '69 is like that but homemade by a PO. They really did a good job. I don't care that we can't stand up in it. If we were out a week I'd pack a tent big enough to stand in and set up beside it. Otherwise, we're either laying down or sitting while on board anyway.
I bet you'll like having a bus.
When time and parking space induced me to choose, I sold my '64 Beetle, (which was prettier and in better overall condition) because I love that camper-bus so much. |
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hambone Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004 Posts: 1617 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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The only time I'm in my bus whilst camping is sleepy time, all the rest of the time I'm outdoors. Even in the rain, just string up a tarp to a tree, happy trails! That table is just about worthless, unless yer alone. The icebox is nice, good capacity too. That sink pump is really awkward, I've found it easier to just wash dishes in a bucket of river water, toss the dirty water in the weeds.
I'm amazed how much the bus is like a jeep, it really goes thru some places that a car wouldn't make it, due to gearing and ground clearance. I can't imagine taking any other 36 year old vehicle to the end of the earth.
I just got a 74' westy for my friend, and I must admit, the camper is a HUGE improvement from my 69'. Full length bed, another one up top, no side cabinet, no squeaky plastic seats, etc. But "Ma" has been good to me, plus I dig the vintage simplictiy. Camping should be about nature, not the gizmos. To me at least.
I've been putting on about 6k miles a summer, just Oregon camping. Keep it well tuned, fresh fluids, hasn't let me down yet. And, we took our month and 1/2 old baby wilderness camping for the first time this July! The cycle continues. |
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Hippie Samba Tinner
Joined: August 16, 2004 Posts: 1781 Location: Iowa: The Mud State
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Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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hambone wrote: |
I'm amazed how much the bus is like a jeep, it really goes thru some places that a car wouldn't make it, due to gearing and ground clearance. I can't imagine taking any other 36 year old vehicle to the end of the earth. |
Oh yeah...last summer crawling up some ruts that used to be sort of a trail, at about a 20% grade, I remember reasuring the wife, "Relax, it's old, but it's still a Volkswagen!"
I need a bumper sticker that reads, "More ground clearnace than your $40,000 SUV" |
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