TheSamba.com :: View topic - '62 Samba 23-Window Walk-thru Bus

Tue May 08, 2012 6:52 pm

After months of searching everywhere, I found the bus of my dreams just 10 minutes drive away. Thanks to George and CraigsList.

George bought this bus in San Francisco decades ago after high school. He dragged it from place-to-place gathering parts . . . SoCal, Tucson, Denver. The bus was stripped of many parts at one point so it must have been in a junk yard or otherwise scavenged for parts.

His dream is now mine. Below are the photos of the start of the project. Follow the journey.

There are a bunch of parts that I will need help finding so here is the list:
Sealing Wax Red (SWR) gas door
SWR rear apron
Springs for a 2/3 wide middle bench seat
Safari window glass
Silver beige blanking plate for the radio

There is rust around the windows with one theory being it sat somewhere covered by a tarp, but is mostly rust free beyond that. The nose and back corners have some bodywork, but most of the rest of the bus is perfect. Just covered in primer, house paint, spray paint, etc. that saved the OG paint underneath. It may have been in a junk yard or been used for parts as many random things are missing.

For those wanting to see more photos, the full stream is available at: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjzcthNg

Tue May 08, 2012 7:10 pm

Looks good! it appears to be really straight.

Do it justice, get it running, and enjoy it. Congrats!

How complete is it? Seats, etc.....

Tue May 08, 2012 7:13 pm

I talked to a bunch of folks that wanted to help me make this car into a trailer queen. Only one problem . . . I want to drive the car.

The journey begins with Ian Strack of German Specialties in Denver. Ian doesn't have a job, he has a passion for air cooled VWs. We are working toward a driver with all the rust halted.

The transmission is going to Rancho with small nut reduction gears being traded for large nut.

Inspired by this thread on The Samba (http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7...highlight=), Ian is seeing what OG paint is under the many layers of humiliating paint. Goodbye hippie van graffiti . . . hello OG Sealing Wax Red.

Here is what he found last week:

Tue May 08, 2012 7:57 pm

Soul_VW wrote: How complete is it? Seats, etc.....

Most everything is there in one box or another.

It had the wrong 2/3 middle seat so I sold that and need a '62 middle seat. I have gathered a frame, grab handles and maybe springs to build up one that will look close except will be missing the arm rest.

Almost everything else can be readily found as a repro or OG here.

Tue May 08, 2012 8:39 pm

Pardon a partial hijack but are you sure the bus was red? I have attempted to get down to my og paint too and our layers are exact only my bus is mouse gray.

above the bondo seems like bare metal then the thin brown/red (not sure what this is?) , then a light gray(primer) then what appears to be mouse gray then the red. See with mine the color above the dark gray was a re-spray. Yours is that red color, what does your m-tag say? If I am wrong I am hoping a paint expert can speak up and say what the three layers are under your red?

Tue May 08, 2012 8:47 pm

sventinker wrote: Pardon a partial hijack but are you sure the bus was red?

Yes. Sealing Wax Red below and Beige Gray on top. One of the photos on top shows the headlight buckets and the engine compartment is red.

Tue May 08, 2012 9:12 pm

reeler wrote: I talked to a bunch of folks that wanted to help me make this car into a trailer queen. Only one problem . . . I want to drive the car.

And lots of people tell me to convert the '58 15 window to a 23......just look at it as a suggestion.

Drive it! Cars are meant to be driven and trophies are meant to collect dust.

Tue May 08, 2012 9:18 pm

Soul_VW wrote: Drive it! Cars are meant to be driven and trophies are meant to collect dust.

I agree. With pristine paint outside, a detailed undercarriage and OG drivetrain, who would drive a split window bus with any regularity.

I plan to do the inside completely detailed and stock. The outside, undercarriage and drivetrain can be done when I no longer want to drive the car.

Tue May 08, 2012 9:21 pm

reeler wrote: Soul_VW wrote: Drive it! Cars are meant to be driven and trophies are meant to collect dust.

I agree. With pristine paint outside, a detailed undercarriage and OG drivetrain, who would drive a split window bus with any regularity.

I plan to do the inside completely detailed and stock. The outside, undercarriage and drivetrain can be done when I no longer want to drive the car.

You and I sing from the same sheet of music. Sounds like a great plan....looking forward to your progress

Tue May 08, 2012 10:18 pm

does your bus have its m code tag? if so please share I have a 62 as well.

Wed May 09, 2012 1:36 am

sventinker wrote: does your bus have its m code tag? if so please share I have a 62 as well.

07 6 2

378 081 082 121 129

XJ 251 BGR SR xxxxxx

Wed May 09, 2012 8:47 am

Very cool bus, walk-thru 23's are hard to find, especially one as solid and clean as yours is.

Wed May 09, 2012 8:59 am

VintageDreamz wrote: Very cool bus, walk-thru 23's are hard to find, especially one as solid and clean as yours is.

I knew that and had resolved to a multi-year search. What are the odds to find one on Craigslist 10 minutes away in Denver? :D

Wed May 09, 2012 9:52 am

Awesome Bus =D> Cant wait to see it rolling around Colorado soon!!!
Congrats

Wed May 09, 2012 10:06 am

reeler wrote: sventinker wrote: does your bus have its m code tag? if so please share I have a 62 as well.

07 6 2
378 081 082 121 129
XJ 251 BGR SR xxxxxx

Congrats on the Bus

XJ = Italy delivery
Interesting.

129 = 34 hp motor
I'm not sure exactly what that means, a lower compression or lower powered engine?

Wed May 09, 2012 12:56 pm

EverettB wrote:
129 = 34 hp motor
I'm not sure exactly what that means, a lower compression or lower powered engine?

The rated output of the "40hp" engine is 34hp if measured using the German test standard. I don't know why you would need an M code for a 40 horse engine though in '62.

Wed May 09, 2012 1:14 pm

2Pack wrote: The rated output of the "40hp" engine is 34hp if measured using the German test standard. I don't know why you would need an M code for a 40 horse engine though in '62.

That is right 2Pack. The car was delivered to Italy with a US package so I think that is why they had to be specific that a EP car was getting the bigger engine standard in the US.

I don't know the story, but I be someone in the service or a diplomat bought the bus intending to bring it home after their tour was done. Somehow it made it to San Francisco where George bought it.

Wed May 09, 2012 1:26 pm

reeler wrote: 2Pack wrote: The rated output of the "40hp" engine is 34hp if measured using the German test standard. I don't know why you would need an M code for a 40 horse engine though in '62.

That is right 2Pack. The car was delivered to Italy with a US package so I think that is why they had to be specific that a EP car was getting the bigger engine standard in the US.

I don't know the story, but I be someone in the service or a diplomat bought the bus intending to bring it home after their tour was done. Somehow it made it to San Francisco where George bought it.

There was only one engine available for buses at that time though. There weren't any options. The difference between the 40 hp and 34 hp ratings is just how they tested the engine.

Wed May 09, 2012 1:46 pm

I am not an expert, but from my memory: US horsepower ratings, SAE, were determined back in the day by dyno test at the flywheel with no generator, fan or other accessories being pulled by the engine and no exhaust system. Whereas the German standards, DIN, horsepower was determined at the flywheel with all accessories such as generator and fan being operated by the engine and stock exhaust system being utilized. I do not remember the DIN ratings for the 40 hp engine (which was SAE standards), the 36 hp SAE standard engine was 30hp DIN. Also, the 356B Porsches were all advertised and sold with the DIN standard. The 1600 Normal was 60hp, the 1600 Super was 75hp and the Super 90, as the name implies, was 90hp. These were all DIN ratings. Through the years the DIN vs SAE ratings have created a lot of confusion in regard to horsepower. While not exact, the SAE ratings are about 20% more than DIN rated horsepower.

And: That is a really nice project 23, good luck with it regardless of the horsepower of the engine.

Wed May 09, 2012 4:00 pm

Nice find!