You are bidding on a restored, 1973, Bay Window, Westfalia VW Camper bus. Life circumstances require a lifestyle adjustment and it's time we said goodbye to the VW bus we called Nikita. We thought we would own this bus for a long time and invested a lot of time and money into it. This restoration is in excellent condition and includes a complete engine rebuild, bodywork/paint, and an interior cabinet rebuild. We designed the bus so that it could be used for what it does best for another 20 years, while minimizing maintenance. That means this bus is ready to roll in current condition. If you are interested in a show-vehicle restored to completely original condition, then Nikita could do that too, but you would need a couple extra projects completed. In general, we spared no expense and used quality craftsmen for the engine and bodywork, while my wife and I handled the interior upgrades. This bus would be ideal for someone wanting to take it on the road, wanting a custom show vehicle, or someone looking for a solid base to create an original restoration. Nikita's next adventure is up to you!

Engine:

The engine has under 1000 miles on it and the rebuild was completed in 2011 by a very respected mechanic in Longview, WA with over 20 years of experience specializing in VWs. The 1973 engine was replaced with a 1978 engine to improve performance and reduce maintenance. The engine compartment was modified to accept the air intake assembly for the 1978 and a new ECU. The engine itself was completely overhauled, including splitting the case, with every piece being inspected, and replaced as needed. The heads were also replaced with quality set of heads that my mechanic felt lucky to have found available. This (wizard) mechanic also installed a new wiring harness and completed the electrical because we wanted to take advantage of his expertise and ensure compatibility with the new engine.

I removed the factory-installed heater because the fumes are terrible, they brake all the time, and from what I hear they love to cause buses to burn to the ground. There is now extra space for a house-bank battery.

Bodywork:

Eagle Street Automotive in Vancouver, WA completed the body work over many months. This shop regularly does high-end restorations and only does quality work. They prepped the bus for the new engine by altering the engine compartment. After the engine was installed, they stripped the bus down to bare metal. They reinforced the nose section with a steel plate in order to prevent he metal from wrinkling over time. They removed all rust and repaired metal as needed. They painted the bus using the original paint codes for factory Neptune blue color.

We installed a new windshield and replaced all of the seals for it and the other windows with OEM German seals. I think the jalousie windows are the only ones with the original seals.

Interior:

Finally, my wife and I tackled the interior. The dashboard is repainted and a new CD player and speaker is installed. What you don't see in the pictures is that Dynamat was strategically placed throughout the vehicle. I wasn't skimpy with it and you can tap along the walls and hear the difference. This greatly reduces road noise.The walls were insulated with Reflectix insulation. Then, the side and roof paneling was reconstructed using 1/8" Baltic Birch sheets. New carpet is installed and new seat covers were placed on the front seats. These were provided by SewFine out of Texas. A new floor was installed using Marmoleum. All the cabinets were remade using 3/4" Baltic Birch. All of the cushions were remade using new, high quality foam, and new material. New curtains were made. A new tent from Bus Depot has been installed.

We upholstered all the interior door panels with burlap from reclaimed coffee bags, giving this bus a very unique look.

I did not install the factory-installed camping items like the stove and refrigerator on purpose. I feel that modern camping stoves and coolers offer a better and hassle-free alternative and there is now more storage space in the bus.

Items that would need to be completed in order to be in "perfect" condition as a show-quality car:

There are a few small paint dings that need to be touched up. I can get touch-up paint from Eagle Street but they've been really busy the last few weeks.
I couldn't figure out an elegant way to create door seals for the interior cabinets. I've done my best with 1/4"x1/4" weatherstripping and glue, but a more permanent solution is needed.
The passenger side door mechanism needs a little work and currently only opens from the outside.
The interior door pulls are attached using really tight zip-ties (picture included). I couldn't find the appropriate screws and backing to re-insert them. This shouldn't be too difficult for a VW interior specialist.
I'm pretty sure this bus is not currently California legal because I haven't installed the catalytic converter. I have it though and a potential buyer from California is welcome to the part.
Upon installing the tent I had a nervous breakdown. Have you ever tried installing one of those? There are a couple small tears that occurred during installation that are visible. I repaired them with clear tent repair tape. I think that a very small sewing job could also do the trick.
There is a section of the floor trim that needs to be re-glue so that the corner fits tightly together (picture included).

That is the story for this bus. The reserve price doesn't come close to the value of materials that I've put into the bus. This is a unique build and one that I think is very beautifully done. It will be a great addition to anyone looking to hit the road, or for those looking for a 95 percent completed show-quality project.

Thanks for your interest!

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2013 Volkswagen GTI Driver's Edition brings exclusivity to the granddaddy of hot hatches

Thu, 07 Feb 2013

The Volkswagen booth at this year's Chicago Auto Show was filled with various special edition models of the Beetle and GTI. In addition to the GTI Wolfsburg Edition, the Volkswagen GTI Driver's Edition helps to wrap up the 2013 model year as VW readies the all-new MkVII Golf next year.
Only 3,000 of the GTI Driver's Edition models will be produced in four-door body style only, and the available color palette will be limited to just Candy White, Carbon Steel Gray and Deep Black. The package will come standard with the GTI's Sunroof and Navigation package, and it will add unique features such as the 18-inch "Laguna" wheels, a golf-ball shift knob, partial leather seats and red-stitching on the carpeted floor mats. Buyers of this package will also get a certificate of authenticity and some GTI swag such as a hat, keychain and parking sign.
Starting price for the 2013 Volkswagen GTI Driver's Edition is $29,695 with the six-speed manual and $30,795 if you choose the DSG - both prices exclude destination charges.

VW recalls 1.1M Jetta, Beetle models in US, China over suspension fears

Fri, 17 Oct 2014

Volkswagen is recalling about 1.1 million vehicles in China and North America in a newly announced campaign affecting the rear suspensions on some models. For the US, the action covers about 442,265 vehicles, including 400,602 examples of its 2011-2013 Jetta and 41,663 units of the 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible. According to Reuters, the recall affects a further 126,000 vehicles in Canada and about 581,090 in China, including related market-specific models like the Sagitar.
The problem can occur if the affected models have a collision to the rear or the side-rear of the vehicle. It's then possible for the trailing arms on the torsion-beam rear suspension to be damaged. If the harm isn't noticed, then the part could fracture while driving. Obviously, a broken rear suspension is going to have an adverse effect on handling.
To fix things, VW dealers will inspect the trailing arms on the models, and they will all receive a sheetmetal part that will make a distinctive sound if broken in the future. If already damaged, the entire torsion beam will be replaced. Obviously, this work will be done at no charge to owners.

VW Super Bowl teaser with Jimmy Cliff is like a less-mean Tosh.0 Web Redemption

Thu, 24 Jan 2013

Reggae super-duper-star and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jimmy Cliff has been using music to send positive vibes out into the universe for decades now, so its no surprise that his message on behalf of Volkswagen is one of redemption.
Dubbed Sunny Side, this web-spot is VW's warmup of sorts for what promises to be another blockbuster year in the world of Super Bowl commercials. Without giving away the game, the euphonious commercial sees Cliff opening his arms and his heart to some YouTube 'celebrities' that might see courser treatment from the likes of Tosh.0, for instance. We can't help but be reminded of Coca-Cola's legendary 1971 Hilltop spot with the "I'd like to buy the world a Coke" lyric, too.
Enjoy the pre-Super Bowl VW spot below, and don't forget to pay it forward... your karma will thank you. For those of you that just can't get enough of commercial-making magic, we've included a "making-of" video, as well.

Restored Vw Westfalia Camper Bus, 1973 on 2040-cars

Volkswagen Bus/Vanagon for Sale