Aircooled VW South Africa

hi All,

I bought this 1971 Bay Window Panel van from a lady in Randburg over the weekend.
The bus used to be her husband's - John Gregg.

John used the bus daily and was a radio personality and used to have his own show on Radio Today for more than 15 years (some info here: http://www.1485.org.za/johngreggcv.html ).
He passed away a few years ago and the bus was just standing in their garden.

The exterior of the bus is in desperate need of attention and some panel replacements and paint, but the interior is very complete considering the age. A few years ago someone drove into the side of the bus causing the damage to the left hand side and sliding door, so that will need replacing. The sliding door slides and locks but there is a gap at the top and bottom, so not ideal...

The first owner of the bus also decided that they do not want a panel van and cut 4 holes into the once solid sides. Someone else the decided they wanted half a panel van and used some galvanised sheet and riveted the two middle holes closed. As we have two small children, I am going to make it a kombi with 4 windows/glass again... I considered to restore it back to a panel van, but that is practical considering the family and the existing holes. - Opinions welcome regarding this decision....

So here's the good news:
- the bus is complete, bumper to bumper
- the engine started with the 3rd try and does not smoke one bit - bus was standing for around 6 years
- all the lights and electronics work - except the hooter...
- keys for the ignition and all the locks...

What needs attention:
- the obvious body work and sliding door.
- some rusty bits that need cutting out
- the obvious panel van that is trying to look like a "normal kombi"
- need middle and bench seats
- roof lining (panel vans only has a roof lining above the front seats
- door carts and carts to cover the metal inside the bus - once again, panel vans did not have this
- all the paperwork but the liscense is faaaarrrr behind
- fuel tank clogged...

I will take some pictures over the weekend, but here are a few from the advert and when I collected it.

A quick question: Is it better to pay the licence and get it up to date VS scrapping and re-registering? Or will it be the same cost?

Input and advise welcome along the journey...

Thanks.

Congrats Hendrik!
She's a super cool project!

hi Retrobug,

jip, its been way too long since I had a drivable air-cooled...
It is also my first bus that has an engine and that can actually drive....

Im not selling this one to you. (hows the beetle going?)
If you still have that bus roof rack, maybe we should talk soon...

Lekker Hendrik...Lekker!!!!
Ek sal met aandagtigheid dié thread dophou...

Beetle now has a warm garage!
Busy getting some cash together to give the motor a top to bottom recon
Been drooling over Buggers extreame engine makeovers
Now that I have somewhere to park I can get things done properly!
Jip I still have the rack , it needs some work though as I said in the post:)

Nice one Hendrik,that should keep you out of trouble for a while,good luck.

Wow Congratulations.

I'm sure you must have picked her up for change. lets me think of ugly betty once her make-up was done she was stunning. I'm sure the sense of achievement will be immense when you are done with her.

I would love a project like that. its good that she has had only a few owners and not owned by the whole village. seems that anything that was done is reversible at least.

hi guys,

Thanks. Yes there is a lot of work to be done, but I like the look, feel and story of the bus. now we gonna make it our own....in time.

Hi Hendriks,

Nice bus!!

In order for you to scrap the bus, you will have to pay up the license first before they will scrap it, so it will come to the same thing paying it up or getting it scrapped, unless it is in achive, then the system has already scrapped the vehicle automatically but the old license is still outstanding.

Rashaad

Rashaad wrote:Hi Hendriks,

Nice bus!!

In order for you to scrap the bus, you will have to pay up the license first before they will scrap it, so it will come to the same thing paying it up or getting it scrapped, unless it is in achive, then the system has already scrapped the vehicle automatically but the old license is still outstanding.

Rashaad

Hi Rashaad,

Thanks for clearing that up. If would make no sense for me to scrap the bus then seeing as I want to register it in my name.

Here are some more pics of the bus inside and out.

So during the week I spent some time re-connecting the air filter and charging a battery.
I put some Dot 4 in and pumped the brake a few times - the brake fluid reservoir was empty so just took a chance and filled it up. worst case sinario, there will be a visible leak somewhere...

Friday after work I replaced the fuel lines and installed a new fuel filter - close to the fuel tank. The battery that I charged provided some red lights to come on the dash but no engine movement... we jump started the kombi and gently Dr. John was idling away.

after driving in first and reverse in a straight line, I could feel the brake pedal starting to push back when I tried to stop and just could not resist going for a drive around the block. If felt awesome to be driving our own bus down the street!
- engine needs a tune up
- brakes work very well
- most lights work
- steering has a lot op play!...!
- what a feeling to be driving a bus down the road!

On Saturday we went to collect a parts bus. Here are some pics as we found it on a farm and towed it home in a heavy thunderstorm - did clean the bus better than I would be able to!!

(Meaning of KARKOER WA - another word for "karkoer" is "wild-watermelon". The bus was used on a guys farm for several years as a game viewer. very clever actually. the middel-floor section has huge holes in but luckily I dont need that...)

Did some work yesterday:

-Swapped the sliding door - I know it is a late door on an early bus, but it will do for now.
- Removed the metal panel on the driver side of the bus to see what the hole looks like. Anyone know where I can get hardened/safety glass cut to fit in there?

looks like this project is going ahead full steam!

Cool project Hendrik!

Since you're going to be in for a bit of cutting and welding anyway, why don't you consider cutting out the side window frames from the parts bus and welding them in to make the panel a "proper" kombi. Panels with windows cut in always look crap to my eye because the rubbers stand proud of the body.