ORIGINAL!!
-Purchased new by my father in 1978 / Family ownership ever since
-Mostly original paint / no accidents / minimal rust
-Original numbers matching 2.0L Fuel injected engine & 4 speed manual transmission
-Original service manual is included, with full maintenance and repair logs
Nothing else drives quite like a VW bus. You sit up high and ahead of the front wheels, so you can see everything in front of you. Parallel parking is a breeze in these vehicles. The big oversized steering wheel sits flat, more like a commercial truck and makes them easy to steer, despite the lack of power steering. They are huge inside yet take up no more space than a compact car in a parking lot. Everybody loves these things and wants to talk to you about it at gas stations and parking lots. There is nothing pretentious about a VW bus, and since millions were produced, nearly every person on earth, older than 40, has great memories of them. They just make people smile and you will love driving them. Perhaps their only Achilles heel is wind; with so much surface area, riding high on skinny tires, the wind blows you around a bit, when passing semi-trucks at highway speeds, but you get used to it and will quickly discover this is the vehicle you will want to drive everywhere you go. Sure, you’ve got better cars, but you’ll grab the bus keys more often than you think?
For those who want to know everything, this bus has:
1) COLD AIR CONDITIONING, using the original DPD overhead blower and evaporator but with modern compressor, 134a refrigerant, hoses, 3 condensers, and upgraded 110Amp alternator to power all the electrics. This is a fully engineered upgrade, not a bolt on aftermarket kit, and will cool the whole bus in 100 deg F heat without overburdening the engine. You barely notice any engine power loss, when the system is running.
2) Working Heat – Heat exchangers and all other components, fully refurbished. Heat works surprisingly well in these vehicles, when nothing is missing. This one has all the essentials, including fully functional engine thermostat (essential for heat and engine longevity, but often missing in these vehicles)
3) Original numbers matching Engine was rebuilt about 40,000miles ago with all new parts and some upgrades, like double thrust cam bearing, pistons weight balanced to within 1 gram each and much more (just ask, if interested). It starts/runs perfectly and has been a daily driver, so it has been meticulously maintained since. It leaks a small amount of oil but does not burn any.
4) QUIETEXHAUST – The original exhaust setup is mostly maintained, including fully functional EGR system (for those who drive in emissions monitoring states/cities), but uses a modified custom muffler that’s factory quiet, using parts you can easily get.
5) Fuel system refurbished – 1978 busses came with galvanized fuel tanks, so rust is not a problem, but all fuel and emissions hoses have been replaced to be compatible with today’s ethanol blended fuels, and it runs great on standard 87 octane fuel.
6) Brakes– everything works well, including the parking brake. Every component was replaced about 10 years ago, and brake pads, fluid changes, routine adjustments and maintenance have been done since.
7) Suspension. Everything has been replaced and is in good working order (tie rods, ball joints, wheel bearings, CV joints, shocks- (Koni adjustable-best you can buy for a bus). Full 4-wheel alignment has been done and torsion bars adjusted to factory ride height.
8) Tires– Current set is matching Hancook Vantra 185 -14 (2 years old, with about 5000miles on them) These busses can carry as much weight as a 1-ton pickup, so today’s passenger tires are not enough. The Vantra is D load rated and rides very smooth.
9) Interior– The original brown vinyl upholstery was replaced about 10 years ago with a custom vinyl and factory plaid fabric. It still looks great today and is much more comfortable than the original vinyl. Nothing represents the 1970’s like plaid.
10) Paint/Body– All window seals were replaced about 8 years ago, and the top was repainted about 6 years ago. This vehicle has always been driven in the South, so there is no structural rust, and it has never been in an accident (other than my son backing into a parking lot barrier and denting the rear bumper). The bulk of the paint is original, so every attempt has been made to preserve it, while most surface rust areas on the body have been repaired and repainted. These repainted areas are not a perfect match, but at least stop further rusting. I have included pictures of common problem areas, such as under the battery box, jack supports, and under the floor mats, all of which are in great shape on this bus, but I can provide additional photos as needed. Overall, I'd rate the paint 8 out of 10; it has some small dents and scratches, but still looks very good after a wash and wax and won't make you nervous in a crowded parking lot.
This is everything I can think of, to the best of my knowledge, but there could be errors and omissions. THE CAR IS BEING OFFERED AS IS, WITH NO WARRANTY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. This vehicle is 45 years old, and will never approach the reliability of newer cars, so expect to fix something, if you drive this vehicle regularly. That said, the last 10 years of driving it have been very reliable; the bus is currently registered, and it starts and runs perfectly, every time I drive it. The buyer is responsible for shipping / delivery, but I am willing to drive it a reasonable distance (a few hundred miles) from the Knoxville, Tennessee area.
I know a lot about these vehicles, since I've maintained and driven them for years, so ask any questions you have prior to purchase, or arrange to see it in person. I can provide additional pictures, if needed. $500 deposit is due at close of sale, and remaining balance of sale price is due within 10 days. Under no circumstances will vehicle be delivered, or title conveyed to new owner, until full payment has been received. eBay now charges processing fees for deposits, so I have kept this to a minimum. If buyer backs out of the sale for any reason, up to the entire amount of the deposit may be forfeited to cover these costs. In addition to conveyance of clean title, I can also provide a Bill of Sale, or any other state or country documentation required to convey new ownership.