'61 23-window . . .

[CamBiscuit]

Freshly purchased and loving it!

Only 11 windows though

[Bullethead]

Sweet, Cam... congratulations! Walk-through or bench? I imagine scoring a personalized Cali license plate relating in any way to a bus is impossible. But you never know... might be worth checking combinations online to see. Thought it would be like that here in Florida as there's a big VW underground, but amazingly was able to get this.

License tags 002.jpg

I bought this bus from the original owner in Santa Cruz. Still have the black plates, front is pretty ragged, but the rear tag is nice.

[DTMLGND]

Attachment 0

Freshly purchased and loving it!

Only 11 windows though

Nice!!

Here's my 21-Window Microbus Deluxe I foolishly sold(ashamed of what I let it go for knowing how much these go for now!)
VW21W4.JPG

[Jules Dielen]

My 21 window as found near San Diego after a loooooong slumber tucked away in a garage. Still original paint (titian red) and I plan to just keep whatever is left of the paint and carefully reassemble it. The paintless dent removal guy already had a field day with it - but it came out great. I like 'patina'. Those of you who know my 356 know what look I am after.

[LongRanger]

Here's another 23-window, again on eBay . . .

(Not mine)

. . . Offering an exceptional car for an exceptional person, the "big league" of Volkswagen collecting.

1959 marked the beginning of the new, more robust bumpers. The bumpers which preceded these were merely pressed thin gauge steel with no over riders to protect the body. The 1959 model year also changed the color on deluxe buses to the very striking beige grey over sealing wax red.

This is an original 1959 "23 window or samba bus" not a hacked up imposter nor a rusty remain. This bus still wears all of its original floors, rocker panels, and even the always deteriorated battery tray. It sat in a garage unrestored for many years.

The bus was finally rescued from the dry storage and became the object of a serious restoration focus. It was stripped completely and was somehow incredibly rust free. The cargo floors did show a very minute and insignificant amount of pinholes, the choice was made to not cut and paste but to accept the very minor imperfections. This was the only rust found on the original body. The doors are original to the bus.

The paint on this bus is absolutely amazing, very straight and tidy. This bus came from the factory with the very rare ambulance fan, the rare 2/3 middle seat arrangement and all 6 pop out windows. We installed new safaris windows during restoration because it just seemed a no brainer.

The engine chosen was a blueprinted and balanced 1600 dual port motor fitted with 36mm dellorto IDA carburetors and header exhaust. It has plenty of power and its just a blast to drive. The bus is stored in a climate controlled workshop. It has surprisingly never left any oil drips which is very unlike an air-cooled vw.

The original 6 volt electrical system was upgraded to the more modern 12 volt system. Even a Optima battery was used.

The ride is actually very comfortable, and the bus was lowered by the most modern techniques and equipment available today. The front spindles are stock units dropped correctly. The rear end has a 1968 beetle transaxle mounted with dropped and stepped spring plates. What is so nice about this arrangement is the ride is bettered by the loss of the stock reduction boxes and the amount of actual spring plate travel hasn't been compromised.

This bus can run right along with modern day traffic. All "5" wheels were repainted and the tires all are matching making for perfect rotation maintenance. The restoration took place several years ago and it has never suffered a mechanical breakdown nor has the finish shown any deterioration, which is yet another testament to this high level restoration effort.

While the later model "21 windows" and early 1960s "23 window" buses show up often, the early models have become incredibly hard to source. As a result, these early model deluxe buses have become rightfully coveted . . .

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ht_1568wt_1167


I remember when a few of these things started hitting $40k, a few years back, 'n thinking Wt#. There's more to life than horsepower, I guess, but still --- Buses are so . . . . different. Style, layout . . . pace

Then, seeing that dream-boat 23-window clear $200k, last year at BJOC . . . I think a lot of people woke up to the charms of these cars. I crawled all over BJOC's 23 . . . and I'm still smiling . . .

. . . but not as much + big as Russ and Cam, I bet . . .

[CamBiscuit]

Mmmmm sweet.

Russ mine is a bench. much more fun with three up the front!

[lkadams]

Yup, it's nuts.

I have a friend here who has restored a couple of 23 window busses, and then started collecting and restoring barndoors - he's done 2 so far, with sliding sunroof kombis. Amazing. And he's got a 23 windown barndoor that may be the restoration of a lifetime waiting in the wings.

[Bullethead]

There's more to life than horsepower, I guess, but still --- Buses are so . . . . different. Style, layout . . . pace.

Puuur-zackly.

Mmmmm sweet.
Russ mine is a bench. much more fun with three up the front!

Ditto... my first was a 15 window walkthrough, and hoped to find similar bliss in 21 windows. This is it, bench and all.

Yup, it's nuts.

I have a friend here who has restored a couple of 23 window busses, and then started collecting and restoring barndoors - he's done 2 so far, with sliding sunroof kombis. Amazing. And he's got a 23 windown barndoor that may be the restoration of a lifetime waiting in the wings.

In '90 I passed on a completely intact '52 Deluxe barndoor awaiting resto by a well-known VW guy. $18K (resto included!) might have seemed tall at the time, but to me it was very reasonable. I wanted a car to DRIVE though... 25 HP won't cut it and to USE a museum piece seemed wrong. Back then rarities were still being modified, but that one was special, deserving of nothing less than perfection. Glad it went to a good home, it's been in several mags.

[LongRanger]

Here's a Kombi, on eBay . . .

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...577+&viewitem=

72k mi . . . in Arizona

(Love the branding)

(Not mine)

[Bullethead]

Cutty Sark Samba 1.jpg

Figured you wouldn't be able to resist this one, Rick! Not sure how many of 'em Cutty Sark had in the fleet, but this is at least the third different bus offered in the last 3-4 years. It's got some rust but worth the effort... the best was in Washington ($12K IIRC), almost no rot at all.

EDIT: This bus is now on BaT generating a bit of yak... Everett B. (of the Samba) posted that there's just ONE Cutty Sark bus. I have no reason to doubt him, but it's weird this thing has changed hands a few times, along with notable details like bumpers and wheels... which is why I thought there was more than one. My bad.