(Submitted by LDeren)
When it comes to modified VW Transporters, the T3 Vanagon with a Subaru EJ flat-four has always been a favorite of mine. The owner of this T2 has a very different perspective, preferring extreme expressions of whimsy to any functional improvement. I’m going to assume the engine is still present and if that is indeed the case, I wonder how well its flat-four arrangement enables it to avoid flipping over versus something like, say, a similarly shortened version of the Simca Paul posted. Do you think this T2 is just one corner away from judgment day?
I don’t mind modifications to an old car if it’s to improve the driveability. That can be done by transplanting a more powerful engine. Or to improve the workability of the vehicle. But I fail to see what there is to gain from shrinking it.
Approach traffic with caution. Not just corners. That thing looks like a death trap.
Quirky bus indeed. An article could be written on that Corsica replacement the Malibu about how it reflected the attitudes of GM at that point in time.
This mod was very popular back in the late ’70s – I remember seeing a number of them done this way. Easy wheelies!
The Beetle (and T2) platforms were one of the main (if not *the* main) “go-to” platform for folks wanting to create their own interpretation of What Transportation Should Be.
EDIT – just zoomed in, and noticed this bus has wheelie bars! +1
Before looking at the larger photo I thought the wheelie bars might have been a drawbar, to use it as a trailer which would tie in with painted-over windows.
…yes ..all true …it looks dangerous ..but ..but ..don’t you see ..it’s a quirky chick puller !
…lining-up themselves up for a ride to check it out ..greenies ..baby kitten lovers ..old hippies ..hot grannies lol
Is it any worse than this monster?? 🙂
Probably. This truck doesn’t look like it’s ready to flip over. You spend your money and you take your chances.
Agreed, absent any sketchy suspension, that truck looks like a fairly typical hot rod.
Totally off-topic, but CC desperately needs to write a post on that N-body generation of Malibu. I’m surprised no one has done it already. I’d greatly enjoy reading that, or writing it, even… fewer cars exemplify growing up in 1990s Michigan than those things.
Surprisingly few of these on the roads in salty Ontario, despite how many were sold…
Unfortunately those and the W-body Impala are the Official Working Class Sedans of Michigan(TM). They kind of blend in to the background if you’re not looking, but I don’t think they’ll ever totally go away here. The early Malibus do tend to rust badly around the rear gas cap door.
Well, if you’re interested, submit your work to ccsubmissions1@gmail.com. At the top of this page, the third button from left says “submissions.” It’ll tell you the process. The the left of that button is the button which links you to the Writer’s Guide. It’s labeled… “Writer’s Guide.” Follow its instructions and should have a submission-worthy piece.
Thanks, I’ve written up a draft… now I just need to go out and photograph a few of the 3 billion indifferently-cared-for examples decaying in the streets and I’ll send it in.
First CC and next the circus.
I know that bus! It lives in New Orleans, which explains the Mardi Gras colors. I don’t know what the owners do with it but it isn’t regularly driven and I’ve always assumed they have it in some parades. For several years it was parked along Saint Charles Avenue but perhaps two years ago it moved to Broadmoor.
The short wheelbase must make the ride rather brutal and we’ve got some seriously bad streets here.
Here’s one an old friend did circa 1968. he said it was downright scary to drive, but this is a guy who had a 1951 Rambler, took all the shocks off and went on the highway! All of a sudden, due to certain harmonics, it began bouncing uncontrollably. He got the Rambler stopped, and drove home very slowly! Scared the daylights out of him, and he was pretty fearless.
The photo was taken with my brand-new Polaroid model 219 in early 1969 in Ellisville, MO., on Hwy. 109, just off Manchester Road in STL county.
He was and is crazy.
I’ll take the Riviera parked in front of it!
A friend of mine loves Vee-Dubs. He has 3 Beetles and 4 Busses, one of which is a Shorty. Those things are nuts, but are also fairly common modifications.
I remember these , yes they were all deathtraps , scary to drive and easy to crash .
I assume that’s why this one has the windows covered ~ because he’s too smart to drive it so it becomes another static ” Art Car ” .
-Nate
They look cool, and years ago it was not that uncommon to see one in LA. That wheelbase combined with reduction gears that jack up and tuck under when you accelerate must be really scary, especially if you were brave or crazy enough to drive in the rain on slippery roads. Turns could easily become unintentional 360’s or worse. In the 70’s a dealership I worked at had a Bus pickup cut down like these but had a fifth wheel hitch and trailer that was used for picking up and delivering customer cars. It looked really cool, and had a 1835cc engine. It was called the “Volkstoter’.
On a couple of (fairly) recent vacations I’ve seen shorty ’55 and ’57 Chevys, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen one based on a bus. I’ll have to try to upload the Chevys to the cohort as a comparision point!
I dig the shortened VW busses.
I dont mind modded car but prefer they remain driveable too short VW are lethal, sidestep the clutch and arse over head they go I saw one recently that was shortened one door not both it is returning to road use in the near future, belonging to one of the local VW nutters its part of quite an extensive collection.
I only have eyes for the malibu.
Talk about the CC Effect — Here’s a very similar vehicle as viewed from the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line (New Orleans) in February 2008! Or maybe it’s the SAME one, repainted just slightly differently and with chrome wheels. Even the building and iron fence look the same as in the lead photo.
It looks perfectly safe to me………….As long as it is parked.
I recall that VW arranged a meeting for US Insurance people and possibly the NHTSA to demonstrate the safety and handling of the transporter. Everything went well until it tipped over.
Sorry, I can’t find a reference for this on the web.
Thats the first bay window (1968+) bus ive seen shortened.