Aircooled VW South Africa

Finally, we are on the board with regards to projects. So, for the lack of a better heading, we are calling her Bessie for now.
It is bought from a friend’s father in law. He builds ice cream vans out of the newer bay windows. This one is the only low light we managed to secure. He will do all the body work and paint. Hopefully we will have some newer pictures to share soon.

This is as she stands now. Work to commence hopefully next week








The idea is to build a camper and general runabout vehicle. Wife would like to use it to do the school run, and when the mood hits, we pack and head off for a weekend or week or whatever. Want to do swivel front seats, rock ‘n roll bed, and some cupboards/storage space.

It is currently without engine and gearbox, so that will be next on the agenda together with wiring. Then interior.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congrats on your new bus, keep the progress pics coming

Good starting point,good luck.

You have a 71 standard / basic model Kombi here. It would have been one colour only, ie roof and body all the same. It would have had painted hubcaps and the interior door panels would have been a painted wood variety. The chairs also had a plain brown vinyl with no pleats in them.

Thanks for all the positive comments so far! Will update as it progresses.

sean wrote: ↑Wed Jan 09, 2019 6:30 am You have a 71 standard / basic model Kombi here. It would have been one colour only, ie roof and body all the same. It would have had painted hubcaps and the interior door panels would have been a painted wood variety. The chairs also had a plain brown vinyl with no pleats in them.

Amazing what you can learn... This is why I still love the forums. Can't buy the knowledge people have. Thanks for sharing!
So, the bus as it is now, is pretty much standard interior and colour wise?

Out of curiosity, what engine and gearbox should this bus have?
I am massively undecided on the engine, but am leaning towards a well build aircooled motor.
I am still learning, but at least know there are different gearboxes (3 rib and 4 rib or something)...
Any help will be aprecicated! Thanks.

So... finally have some movement on the bus.
Got a commitment on the body work and spray painting to be done before Christmas break this year.
Also managed to secure the engine and gearbox from Eugene from his bus. After some deliberation with the wife, we decided that the golf motor would be the way to go, at least for now. Maybe some day we will upgrade to a proper aircooled motor, but for now, this is what we aer going with.

Pics from his thread:

As it is at the moment waiting for the bus to arrive.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey Gav....looking at these pics, maybe what you should do is to get rid of that hideous monstrosity up front, give the old lady a good valet and see how she cleans up. Then get that engine and box in, sort the brakes and get it running.
Good luck with the project...keep the pics coming

Keep that patina, that is hard to come by

Eugene wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2019 11:35 am Hey Gav....looking at these pics, maybe what you should do is to get rid of that hideous monstrosity up front, give the old lady a good valet and see how she cleans up. Then get that engine and box in, sort the brakes and get it running.
Good luck with the project...keep the pics coming

Yeh, the front is being put back to stock. Luckily they previous owner didn't cut anything except the bumper to fit the water cooled engine's radiator. Part of the deal is that it is removed and replaced with a stock bumper. So, delivery should be mid December, resprayed and ready for the rest of the journey. wiring, brakes and suspension is next on the rather long list of things to do.

John Alves wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2019 12:10 pm Keep that patina, that is hard to come by

You mean people pay good money to have their busses look like this on purpose??
Like I said, already in the process of being resprayed. Wife is not a huge fan of the patina look anyway.

V6 Capri wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2019 12:22 pm ... Luckily they previous owner didn't cut anything except the bumper to fit the water cooled engine's radiator.

So will the radiator that you're putting in with the Golf engine require any surgery to the bus?

73type2 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2019 12:56 pm

V6 Capri wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2019 12:22 pm ... Luckily they previous owner didn't cut anything except the bumper to fit the water cooled engine's radiator.

So will the radiator that you're putting in with the Golf engine require any surgery to the bus?

It's a belly mount, so should be nicely out if sight and not spoil the looks at all

Nice to see when Projects come-together

Bugger wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20, 2019 7:43 am Nice to see when Projects come-together

Always exciting when things happen in a project car!
Might still have to come visit you for some spares in the near future...