1958 VW Microbus FarmFind

[splitbusahollic]

Now see what you've started Donovan

[sean]

Now see what you've started Donovan

Oh, ok. Very funny

[Warwick-Lowlight]

Hunting madnes I say true hunting madness

Why not throw in a Samba aswell

I would like to speak to your spies

[aircooledculture]

Brilliant find ! looks like around a 55 to 57 bus with the pressed bumpers and all !
great effort made there !
someone called me last week and said that a guy called "jean" from Cape Town found a '52 barndoor near the Botswana border.....this of course got the phone lines going for a while !!
not a barndoor but still a fantastic find with safari's and all !
i would def. leave the voortrekker wheels on the rear..looks great !
i may have a complete steering assembly for you, steering box and shaft(no wheel) .....and of course we have this....

so once you ready...let me know what you need.

Hi Splitbusaholic ( i assume you are the Jacques I need to speak to? ), I met you son Justin? the weekend at the Inner City Muscle Carshow, I understand that he's doing his apprenticeship at the the best place possible!
I had a word with Barry as he will still have to do some work on my Bug too, but I will definitely send you a list of what I might need to fix the bodywork properly! Will keep in touch......

[aircooledculture]

Thanks for all the above messages to wish me luck on my new project!!!
I do not know everybody - and the Forum names make it even more difficult, but I'm sure that my journey of this project might get our roads to cross sooner or later...

The current demand for Splitties are the reason for unrealistic ( for me ) prices locally - this was the first find which was just what I was looking for, an unrestored early bus with minimum rust and as complete as possible - all at a fair price. I'm sure I speak for a lot of potential buyers if I say that the majority of Split Busses in SA are way overpriced, and the exchange rate does not help the local enthusiasts either....
It took me two years to come across this beauty!

This June 1958 Microbus served its owner as a toolshed next to his clay hut in an informal farmers village next to the Botswana border for the last 36 years.
He also had very very naughty children which sold some spares off the bus throughout the years. Hence the missing benches and front seats, steering column, steering wheel, lights, engine, gearbox and wheels.
Beggars cant be choosers so these are minor setbacks in my opinion if I compare it to the parts that is intact.

As a Capetonian which came across this bus a good 1700kms away from me, I had to carefully plan the best, most cost effective and fastest way to get it down to CT.

After I was informed of this Bus and contacted the owner, I had my "spy" to go and take pictures of her as the telephonic conversations between myself and the owner was very broken ( bit of a language barrier ).
I understood 1958, and saw the semaphores on the pictures....and knew this was just the bus for me!!!

Within two weeks, without seeing the bus in person, I closed my eyes, booked flights to Pretoria and back, rented a car and hired transport companies to collect there and deliver her to CT. So the long weekend of 9-12 Aug I took my lovely girlfriend and very good friend Donovan with me to share my adventure with me.

I will keep you all posted to the progress of this project, i'm in no particular hurry....but i can say....this Bus will bring sexy back!

PS:I cannot elaborate too much on my spy's otherwise everybody will know what my next great find and project might be ! Once i get more storage space I will bring down my Barndoor !

[splitbusahollic]

if you use the "B" word without pic's to back it up then the Gerson panels cost you double !
and i have loads of space if you need to store any early buses and stuff............
OUT WITH IT NOW !!
did you or did you not ???
i have a friend who has a '55 gearbox complete with reduction boxes in mint condition(he lowered his bus) ...same as a '52.....but some one else might buy it first....
you should call Sean and go past his place and check the panels and how they fit...just to get an idea.
you found a great bus...restore it with the respect it deserves..remember it was around looonng before you were
ask the "fig" about the steering changes...i don't think they would have changed that too much...the one i have is from a '64 bus.
the windows and safaris still look great on your bus ! and what a bonus to find a semaphore bus with safari's !! you are one lucky !!

[Bugger]

Hell what a find and sommer in our back yard here in GP

Good luck with the Resto and keep them pics coming

[Warwick-Lowlight]

You are cooking Dude

Any spare box bits lying about ??

[Warwick-Lowlight]

Soorry wrong Split

[Donovan D]

Is the speedo not also a scarce item ?

[GavinHuart]

Truly epic trip guys! Congratulations on a stunning find and flawless execution getting it back home. Best of luck with the rebuild and here's to many happy miles in that beauty

[Retrobug]

Brillaint rescue!
Good luck with the project!
Love the profile on them back wheels!

[sean]

Hi Juan

What is happening here man, no update on this lovely bus?