﹒Exceptionally well restored example
﹒Desirable 23-window model
﹒Very rare opportunity

The rear-mounted flat-four drivetrain of the original People’s Car was never going to be limited to just a small family saloon. Over the years the layout found its way into everything from military vehicles, to sleek coupes like the Karmann-Ghia Type 14 and Type 34, and a variation on the theme even formed the basis of Porsche’s early cars.

But one of the most celebrated and now most desirable applications was in the Type 1 bus (though known as the Type 2 in VW’s lineage, the Type 1 being the original Beetle) – Volkswagen’s now-famous Microbus, Kombi, Samba, Transporter, Camper, and multitude of other names given to the loaf-like, flat-four powered van.

Introduced in 1950 as a practical working vehicle with proven mechanicals, its forward-control layout (with the driver sitting over the front wheels) and rear engine both maximising interior volume, ideal for carrying either cargo or people – both of which would be loaded from the barn-style side doors.

The bus took a different trajectory in the 1960s though, its low price and spacious cabin striking the right chord with America’s counter-culture movement. Fond memories of that period have rendered it cool ever since – particularly early split-screen models, and nowadays the general rule for desirability is the more windows the better...

Conveniently, this particular bus, as a 1962 Deluxe (known by the Samba nickname) has a full complement of 23 windows, including pop-out front windows and a full-length soft-top, making it among the most desirable Type 2s of all.

The bus was exported to the USA from Germany in 1962, then eventually imported back to the UK in 2003. It was converted to right-hand drive at this time and its mechanicals given a comprehensive overall. Work done included converting the reduction boxes to a straight axle, with a Volkswagen Beetle 1303 gearbox, a 1642cc twin-port rebuilt engine, and a 12-volt wiring conversion. The van also got front disc brakes from a bay window Type 2.

The seller has owned the bus for around three years, since 10th October 2017, and in this time the whole interior has been re-trimmed, including the seats, door cards, headliner, and vinyl floors. The seller bought the bus partly to enjoy on weekends and at shows, and partly with the intention of hiring out the vehicle for weddings, and suggests there’s plenty of potential for similar use for the next owner.

There is relatively little paperwork with the bus. That’s largely a result of its sparse use since its import, right-hand drive conversion and re-trim, and the MOT history shows only a few hundred miles per year of use up until its most recent in October 2017. There is no current MOT and the vehicle is currently on SORN, though at 58 years old it’s eligible for zero-rate VAT. The seller has indicated though they would be happy to put a fresh MOT on the camper for the lucky winner!

The vehicle does come with a V5 registration certificate though, and one interesting item of paperwork is the VW’s certificate of title from the United States from the year it was imported to the UK, in 2003.

With 23 windows drawing in light and the full-length fabric roof folded back, the Samba’s interior redefines bright and airy. It’s no surprise to discover that with a fairly recent retrim it’s also absolutely immaculate in here – almost too nice to use in fact, though that would be a shame given the improvements to the car’s running gear.

The seats, door cards, headlining, floor and eight lap-belts are probably better than the day the bus rolled out of the factory. The luggage space behind the seats is as well-trimmed as the rest of the cabin and again, appears to have never actually been used for luggage! Glasswork, seals and opening mechanisms are all in great condition, the one small flaw being paint chipping around the centre door latch. While the roof takes a deft touch and a bit of muscle to properly open and close, it too is as-new, and shouldn’t cause any issues if you were unlucky enough to be caught in a downpour.

The front cabin is arguably even more of a highlight than the passenger compartment. The trim and paintwork quality is excellent here too, but pleasingly there’s just a hint of use to all the major controls and switches that hint at the van’s 58-year life. Some chipping around the handbrake button is the extent of what you might call blemishes, with only modest pitting to the brightwork and on the charming classic radio. If you prefer your tunes in a slightly clearer format, there is a modern headunit in a compartment hanging under the dash. Oh, and the obligatory flower vase, of course.

It’s not surprising that 23-window buses are among the most prized by Volkswagen enthusiasts – one look at this bus and you’re transported (no pun intended) straight back to the 1960s. The fabulous white and turquoise colour combination is absolutely right for the period and being able to see so much of that interior from the outside only adds to the effect.

And having been garaged and used only sparingly since being imported back to the UK, the exterior is in excellent condition. The seller notes the exterior paintwork is a combination of L380 turquoise on the lower half, and L289 blue-white on the upper half, as well as details like the bumpers and wheels. Wherever you look, the paintwork, brightwork, weather sealing and lighting are all immaculate.

Happily the story is true beneath the van too. There’s no evidence of corrosion, and everything has been properly undersealed, from the underbody to the running gear. The wheels too are in great shape, and the tyres (Continental EcoContact 3 in 195/65 R15 at each corner) still have the majority of their tread left.

The seller doesn’t quote a power figure for the 1642cc twin-port engine installed when the bus was imported to the UK, but does note that it has no issue keeping up with modern traffic and cruises happily between 60-70mph on the motorway, aided by the longer gearing of the axle conversion and VW 1303 gearbox.

It also starts in that effort-free way owners of well-fettled air cooled Volkswagens will be used to, bursting to life barely a moment after you’ve twisted the key. There were no untoward noises as the bus was being manoeuvred around for the photography and the flat four sounded more than happy puttering along at idle.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the engine bay is almost as clean as the cabin, and the tinware and pulleys are painted in the same fetching turquoise shade. Once again, everything appears effectively new, and the engine compartment itself is devoid of nastiness – no rust, and no evidence of leaking oil. Peer under the vehicle and the sump and engine casing are both dry too, and the heat exchangers are free of corrosion.

Even if 1960s pop-culture means very little to you, this 1962 Samba exudes the same sense of freedom that made these buses so appealing to the young and free-spirited more than five decades ago. While you might not choose to take it to a muddy festival these days (though we’d commend anyone willing to do so!), the idea of piling friends or family into a 23-window bus for a weekend away is a huge part of what makes these vehicles so desirable.

With a more powerful engine, longer-legged gearbox, front disc brakes and a solid structure though, this bus also has the benefit of being genuinely usable. The value of VW Type 2s means many are treated as investments these days, but pick one stout enough to handle proper trips and there’s little reason to keep it cooped up in a garage for all but a couple of days each year. Volkswagen designed it as a working vehicle, after all.