Aircooled VW South Africa

They are still around

Since early days, in S.A. (and maybe Australia)? Those of us who grew up with a split Kombi in the family never heard someone calling it a bus. A bus was known as something with double rear wheels and a roof, powered by an engine, that could transport at least 20 to 100 or more people.

What is a bus-bakkie, or bus-panelvan? Kombi-bakkie sounds better, and is more descriptive.

Some pictures of a bus with an aircooled engine at the back.



Magirus Deutz, type r80. Some of these were used to transport passengers and their luggage between Jan Smuts airport and Pretoria and Johannesburg. They have large storage area under the floor, as there is no propshaft or hot exhaust in the way.

Owned and run by SAA in the late seventies, as airports were still run by the SAA, before ACSA took over.
This one has a different custom front panel. Original local Busaf bodied ones had a different front, (more square, with a huge false grill.)
These buses were built with aluminium outer panels, over a steel frame.

This one is being converted into a motorhome, so some windows were replaced with aluminium panels.

Where you looking for something like this?
http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... =5&t=14004

Dawie wrote:Since early days, in S.A. (and maybe Australia)? Those of us who grew up with a split Kombi in the family never heard someone calling it a bus.

I think the bus thing started with David Kramer. Who knows. I laso knew it as a Kombi, but I do call it a bus these days.

In the mid-80's Elwierda had a service from Pretoria to Durban every weekend. Bus left Pta at ± 16:00 and arrived in Durbs somewhere after midnight. Cost R35-00 for the return trip and they also bought you a hamburger just outside Heidelberg. I was working in Jo'burg at the time and used them a lot for weekends at home.
And talking about Putco - which busses does the most damage too our roads? PUTCO (in Afrikaans - pad kou)