If you’ve ever hankered after a VW Type 1 bus that’s been restored to an almost money no object standard, then step this way. For this bus has been used as the after hours project of the owner of a body shop as a way to demonstrate his capabilities and the results are simply stunning. A spend of £25,000 on parts alone belies the true cost of restoration into which the owner has not factored his considerable work.
Staying true to the original specification wherever possible - and for the record, that means everywhere apart from the period-correct Safari windows as the non-opening versions couldn’t be sourced - this bus has had a ground up restoration with many new parts and is now in immaculate condition. It wants for nothing and is only for sale because the owner doesn’t have time to use it. So, if you want to tour the shows and collect the awards that will surely come its way, then get bidding now!
This has been a long restoration for a variety of reasons, chief amongst them that it’s been carried out mostly in the owner’s spare time to his exacting standards. But he’s also been keen to restore the bus to its original specification and has had to work hard to locate all of the necessary suppliers. As an example, he tracked down a company in the US that reproduces exactly the fabric in which the seats were trimmed from the factory, which means that the cabin is trimmed precisely as it would have been from new.
The condition inside is therefore almost as new, the only non-original detail being the pool ball style gear knob which has been retained as a nod to the bus’s US heritage (though is easily replaced if the next owner so desires). There is even an original 1967 radio, albeit subtly modified to add an auxiliary input which can be used to connect an iPod or phone. With new rubber matting, headlining and door cards, and not having seen a great deal of use since its completion, everything is pristine. The (also new) fabric roof does not leak and retracts smoothly. Everything works as it should and it’s all just so.int.jpeg367.52 KB
The Exterior
Finished in the original colour scheme of Velvet Green under Pearl White
New wheels and tyres
Immaculate condition
As it was to act as a promotional tool for the seller’s body shop, he wanted to be absolutely sure that the bodywork was as good as it could be. After applying his exacting standards to both the body and the paintwork, he is now confident that you won’t find a better example. This is matched by all new ancillary parts such as badges, mirrors, bumpers and window rubbers.
The original wheels have been shot blasted and repainted and are fitted with a set of well-treaded modern tyres, chosen for their increased performance over the original fitment cross-plies. As for the underside, if we told you that the vendor’s wife found him underneath the bus the other day wielding a touch-up pen, then that probably tells you all you need to know.
A great deal of research has been carried out as to whether the engine that came with the bus was the original item. Ultimately it proved inconclusive but as the engine build date is within a few months of the chassis and given the period of time that the bus spent off the road, it seems likely that it’s a matching numbers vehicle. The engine was taken apart to assess its condition and found not to need attention so is back together with fresh gaskets.
It starts first time and reportedly goes exactly as a bus of this vintage should, together with the characteristic exhaust note. Performance is not necessarily a strong point and without power assisted steering or servoed brakes it takes some wrangling but that’s surely part of the fun of driving a vehicle like this. Whatever the inherent limitations, the all new suspension and brakes mean that it drives in exactly the manner that it should and the seller reports no untoward noises, leaks or smoke. It’s just ready to be enjoyed.
If you’re looking for an all original spec 1960’s VW bus, you’re unlikely to find much better than this.
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