(first posted 3/19/2018) Like so many other artifacts of the past, genuine VW hippie buses are becoming harder to come by in Eugene. And this one is a real gem, about as good as they ever got, thanks to its Beetle raised roof. This is a cultural artifact, my friends, and it’s probably headed to the Smithsonian eventually, since Eugene’s Museum of Hippie Culture never quite got off the ground.
I cant exactly add a lot of colorful commentary, as this bus speaks for itself so eloquently.
It is a bit shy on the obligatory bumper stickers on the rear end.
The paint scheme is somewhat different on the other side, once you’ve broken through to it.
And there’s even a donation box to to “Help This Bus Move”. And what’s written on the note on the windshield? probable an offer to buy the bus for $50k.
Someone is obviously living the dream in their bus.
This is a rolling living history exhibit. Peace!
UUUUMMMM, WOW,Im speechless
Yes, definitely a Gem. Not my kind of daily drive, but great to look at. Thank you. Unfortunately these do not survive in salt infested Brattleboro, VT. I’m beginning to think Eugene is the west coast Brattleboro with out the salted roads and old cars. Eugene appears to be (almost) the North American Havana, Cuba.
Shot this a while back, not quite as groovy.
Far out! I’ve got another bus CC coming on Thursday..
This is what happened to the owners 1974 Super Beetle
He won’t do THAT again…
Grafting a Beetle roof on a VW bus wasn’t uncommon back in the day, but the roof was usually mounted forwards.
Perhaps surprisingly, I like this!
It’s more aerodynamic mounted backwards. The front of the bus and the back of the bug make a nice unbroken curve together. The sudden drop of the ex-windshield might even have a Kamm-back effect. Brilliant.
There was one featured in the 1974 road trip movie “Harry and Tonto.”
Bizarro – but far out! Hope you put a buck in the donation box after you shot it.
Groovy, man!
It’s a VW type -1/2. (Negative one over two).
Nothing says “Eugene” like that bus!
The scary part is I have friends who if they lived closer would probably buy it to save the bus if I showed them this.
I know they would.
It would appeal to their retired hippie hearts in a second!
Vista Cruisers ….. before VC’s were cool …..
The Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser pre dates this bus by more than a few years.
Groovy, a piece of art worth preserving.
“…somewhat different on the other side, once you’ve broken through to it.” Nice one.
It’s fitting that the other side is the one with more doors. 🙂
Don’t think I’ve ever seen one with the beetle roof backwards like that. Surprising, as it really seems to work better this way.
Wouldn’t this be more of a Hippie Tribute bus? Seems to me that the real Hippie era ended when this bus was showroom new. The hippie buses I remember were the old split window, barn-door type. I agree that the bug greenhouse is facing the wrong way, although it might be more aerodynamic that way…
Posted 3/19/18 by Twalton “Unfortunately these do not survive in salt infested Brattleboro, VT.” I remember seeing a long wheelbase version of a st generation VW bus in Burlington VT. I never knew such a model existed.
A mate of mine loves these vans he recently parted with a long term splitscreen so was down to one VW a mint Beetle he has restored but he also now has another Kombi e4x US camperised nice van from what Ive seen but in true VW style the engine let go bigtime and had a 7k rebuild, his beetle went bang loudly but now new 1200 parts are actually available repop so its had a rebuild too.
This van is a unique style it should be saved and driven