It was offered to me purely by luck. Last week just before leaving work, I recalled needing a part at the spares shop. 5 minutes before 18:00, closing time, I ran in to grab the part. One of the regular salesman always asks how's it going with the busses. After a brief minute chat with him, there was another customer standing next me and said he knows of a bus for sale and asked my opinion. Of course I ask him what model, such as split, or bay or T3. He then whipped out his phone and showed me the pic. Well, it was a split. He then told me he doesn't have the resources to buy and fetch it and kindly gave me the owners number.
I got hold of the owner, arranged a time, and Paul and myself hit the road through the Karoo to check it out.
First gate into the farm.
Second gate into the farm.
The farm entrance
Here it is. Its a 1960 SO23 Westfalia. Born 29-03-1960, making it exactly 60 years old today.
Here are the numbers listed with specs on the M-plate.
368 - South African export package, Includes 6 pop-outs and Safaris
D23 - SO-23 Westfalia interior, with chemical toilet and petrol cooker, left cupboard with ice-box
156 - Second rear view mirror
168 - 88 ampere/hour battery up to Chassis No. 216 190 000
181 - Chrome hubcaps
TE - Tourist Delivery, Europe. From what I understand, it was not destined for SA, it first went to Europe and was later shipped to SA.
SK654C
Beige grey over
Sealing wax red
First look. Its been resting here for around 30 years.
Loading up time.
Lovely Safari's.
Its going to need to be restored. It will be restored to exactly how it should be. Its pretty solid, but has years of old paint that will need to be removed first.
I'm very glad its a March 1960 which means it still uses a 30hp 1100 motor, not the later 40hp 1200.
More detailed pics to follow.
