Those Bus vans seriously struggled with 1.6 and 2.0 engines with hp rates of between 50-75hp. I can’t imagine how anyone would drive one with a camper and people in it…
Brother had a ’56 VW Bus with a ’53 Beetle 1131 cc liter 25 HP engine. Bought the engine from the junkyard for $75.00 around 1970. This replaced his original 1192 cc 36 HP engine which broke it’s crankshaft. Calling it slow is being generous, especially going up the grapevine (I-5) at 15-20 mph on the steepest grades.
I drove a 55 beetle with the same 25hp engine, given enough flat road it could hit 60 mph eventually, they were slow even compared to other 4 cylinder cars of the same era.
1800 Kombi van will cruise at 70 mph with a load in it and the 2 litre vans actually go ok, at least as well as the 4 banger vans we got from Japan of the same age.
I drove as a delivery vehicle a ’79 2 liter VW Bus. It actually ran pretty strong, and could keep up with traffic. And it was a 3 speed automatic to boot.
I like to photograph these in the Pacific Northwest and seeing them around, but I consider my Minivan to be the modern and more safe though less cool version of these Kombies.
Can’t really tell from the picture, but if it’s a ’73 or ’74 with twin carbs it’s a polluter, but ’75 to ’79 had fuel injection and catalytic converter.
Looks like a well kept version of the first van I had. A 74 Kombi with the 1800 engine. Once I had put a weber progressive carb, headers and Bosch 009 distributor on it any Hyundai pony, Renault lecar or chevette was soon to be left at the stop lights. I have thought about getting another one but then the memories of constant tinkering, lack of a decent heater (for Canada anyway) and sky high prices for solid examples have left me driving my $800 Toyota Previa instead.
I never had one of these later model Typ II’s with the Typ IV engine , it was a good engine , robust bottom end .
I crossed America many times in wheezy old 36 , 40 and 53 HP single port VW Vans , slow up hill but easily able to make 65 MPH on the flat if properly tuned and maintained .
I sort of miss those dayze , now the stupid kiddies and jerkhoffs have ruined the entire Vintage VW scene .
I wish I could drive my commute around a bunch of people like this “bus” driver! It would be such a peaceful drive to and from work!
Remembering my uncle’s 23-window Samba that he used for his dry-cleaning business …… with that 2-ft. long gear-shift lever rising from the floor …..
That was the original ‘vista cruiser’
Those Bus vans seriously struggled with 1.6 and 2.0 engines with hp rates of between 50-75hp. I can’t imagine how anyone would drive one with a camper and people in it…
Brother had a ’56 VW Bus with a ’53 Beetle 1131 cc liter 25 HP engine. Bought the engine from the junkyard for $75.00 around 1970. This replaced his original 1192 cc 36 HP engine which broke it’s crankshaft. Calling it slow is being generous, especially going up the grapevine (I-5) at 15-20 mph on the steepest grades.
I drove a 55 beetle with the same 25hp engine, given enough flat road it could hit 60 mph eventually, they were slow even compared to other 4 cylinder cars of the same era.
1800 Kombi van will cruise at 70 mph with a load in it and the 2 litre vans actually go ok, at least as well as the 4 banger vans we got from Japan of the same age.
I drove as a delivery vehicle a ’79 2 liter VW Bus. It actually ran pretty strong, and could keep up with traffic. And it was a 3 speed automatic to boot.
This Kombie reminds me of this amusing ad.
http://www.google.com/url?q=http://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DyYeyUAyVTgs&sa=U&ved=0CCEQtwIwBmoVChMI8qTAyuL8yAIVCfNjCh0iiAv5&sig2=AoFALCztwZoIyutu1xsmkw&usg=AFQjCNGvbKz6X2np8ASgn9SfgRbfC5DTeg
I like to photograph these in the Pacific Northwest and seeing them around, but I consider my Minivan to be the modern and more safe though less cool version of these Kombies.
My siblings and me in the Tillamook baby loaf VW. This one is actually inside the Tillamook Cheese Factory.
“Love your Mother [Earth]” is ironic on an old polluter like the Microbus, unless the owner stuffed a VW Diesel [!?] or something inside.
Methinks someone wants to play hippie.
You’d have to drive an old car quite a distance to equal the environmental effects of manufacturing a new car.
Anyone worried about that much about the environment shouldn’t even own a car; in fact many people in other nations do without.
Can’t really tell from the picture, but if it’s a ’73 or ’74 with twin carbs it’s a polluter, but ’75 to ’79 had fuel injection and catalytic converter.
Before the pic loaded I figured it was about a ‘Bus.
For a moment I thought this was the same one I saw
http://c1.staticflickr.com/1/653/21417336390_1600940c04_b.jpg
University faculty parking lot? Note the Volvo wagon to the right and general lack of ‘merican trucks in view.
Ive got FINS UP! stickers on the Thing, but need to find a MAKE CUPCAKES NOT WAR.
I don`t care what Chrysler said. They didn`t invent the minivan. VW did.I never was a VW fan, but I always loved the “bug in an box”.
Yes, and look at all the vans that have sliding doors now. VW invented that too, but never get credit for it.
I don’t know which van had the first sliding doors, but the Citroën TUB from the late thirties already had one.
Looks like a well kept version of the first van I had. A 74 Kombi with the 1800 engine. Once I had put a weber progressive carb, headers and Bosch 009 distributor on it any Hyundai pony, Renault lecar or chevette was soon to be left at the stop lights. I have thought about getting another one but then the memories of constant tinkering, lack of a decent heater (for Canada anyway) and sky high prices for solid examples have left me driving my $800 Toyota Previa instead.
Memories…..
I never had one of these later model Typ II’s with the Typ IV engine , it was a good engine , robust bottom end .
I crossed America many times in wheezy old 36 , 40 and 53 HP single port VW Vans , slow up hill but easily able to make 65 MPH on the flat if properly tuned and maintained .
I sort of miss those dayze , now the stupid kiddies and jerkhoffs have ruined the entire Vintage VW scene .
-Nate