High Roof Bay Window Panel Van 1976

[jolas]

I got a lead on a bus in Beaufort West a few months ago, I could'nt get any pics of it from the owner - it was tucked into a corner of his his dark garage and was apparently surrounded by too much junk and stuff - I found this hard to believe (I mean really !), but when we arrived to fetch the bus, I realized that the oke was serious - I thought that I had a "problem", but hells bells, this dude takes 1st prize
Anyway I took a chance and paid a deposit for the bus without seeing it. I could only go fetch it a few months later - which we did last weekend.





Sean and the 1975 Merc were the willing partners on the venture and we left on Friday afternoon. Nothing beats a Karoo sunset - any excuse to hit the long road to the Karoo, the peace and quiet and the folk and sights are always a blessing.













We arrived after dark, dropped the trailer off in the dudes yard, and made it just in time to check into Grandmas Place at 20h00. Nothing special about the this place, but it was clean and neat and not too expensive.

Come the crow of the cock the next morning we were at the dudes gate. Somehow the old fella had loaded the bus onto the trailer himself !!! Good man - this gave us time to check out his "stuff" - eish serious hoarding issues here - but what lovely goods for the eye .....................

[jolas]

Somewhere along the line, Oom Sakkie had a massive trailer reversed into his yard, this had slowly been accumulating junk over the years, what a treasue trove, but alas not very much VW aircooled stuff, nevertheless, a few goods were spotted by the beady eye of Sean










pitch dark in there, and no order, tut tut tut







Sean found some missing vital parts of the panel van on top of the chicken hok - good boy



And then some gold

[jolas]

Oom Sakkies's yard was also an interesting nest - mein hemel



















and in and amongst all of this stuff stands the high roof

[jolas]

Anyways - to the bus ......... Eish, ja, not quite a lemon. But also not quite what I had in my head. Sadly there have been "windows" hacked into the sides. The 1600 motor is long gone, to make way for a Datsun motor (also long gone), and a lot of metal has been cut out of the engine bay for a water cooled motor. The body itself is amazing in that it is so solid and rust free. Most of the high roof busses I've come across have rust issues in the gutters and areas around the fibre-glass high roof.
The wiring loom is complete and most of the other bits and bobs are also there - all stashed in a box. The old dude had begun sanding and prepping for repainting about 7 years ago - but it was eventually pushed into a corner of his garage







The bus was originally a (govt) mobile clinic, and after this it was used by a home for physically challenged folk, and then aquired by Oom Sakkie. Long term storage for now and definetly a keeper - I've always wanted one of these and this is such a good restoration candidate

[jolas]

very good assistant this ....


ready for the long haul back to Cape Town - hideous winds and rain made for unpleasant driving on the way back

partner in crime, shot for the help dude, another one saved

[Stütz]

Nice job boys. Between the two of you there can't be too many left to save.

[Tony Z]

nice one guys!!!
One day I'll be keen to join you for a Karoo adventure - as long as its not "the hills have eyes" type adventure.

[jolas]

Yeh Richard, they're still out there. Even in our suburban neighbourhoods - its the busses that are hidden away in the garages that must come out now. Most ofthe stuff standing out in the open is gone now (although there are still plenty of gems standing outside ....)
Tony, you must get a lead on a bus so that we can go man - these "hills with eyes "besigheid doesnt sound too good to me iether, so no worries there

[Stütz]

If you see this guy ..... run!

[Tony Z]

you are the guy with the leads... I'll come along for moral support

[Donovan D]

Damn that yards a mess !!

Good trip and good save.
Good luck with the project !

[Klaus]

Awesome save and road trip

Hope you scored the slot rims off the blue bug

[jolas]

[jolas]

[Cyndi Kritzinger]

WOW PAULIE!
IF THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW IT'S DEFINITELY A KEEPER.