This 1965 VW bus was purchased in 1966 from the original owners who had it custom built in Germany and drove it around Europe before shipping it to San Diego where they lived. When our parents bought it from them it had 1100 miles on it. The bus has lived in Southern California ever since.

The “SO 33” was ordered with a velvet green exterior, a balsa wood panel interior, off-white vinyl upholstery on the front seat, and green/orange/blue plaid upholstery on the bench seats in back. Pre-dating the Westfalia pop tops, a 2’ x 3’ “subhatch” in the middle of the roof allows light and air into the back and over the dining table and/or twin bed area. A hammock can be mounted over the front seat to allow extra storage or act as a bed for a small child. Curtains close off that area to the back and cover the windshield and side windows for privacy.

A canvas and leather tent in “honeybee” yellow-and-gray stripes can enclose the entire passenger side of the bus, complete with an outhouse area, to provide additional privacy and comfort.

In 2010, the bus was fully restored to its 1965 condition. A 1971, 1600 cc engine was installed and the transmission, exhaust system and clutch were rebuilt. Light fixtures and bulbs were all repaired and/or replaced with factory originals; as were the door handles, side-view mirrors, door locks, and bumpers. In 2011, the upholstery and balsa wood paneling in the interior was redone, the rubber gaskets on windows and doors were replaced, and the van was re-painted in its original factory color. The metal body of the bus and 95% of its plywood interior are original. An electric fuel pump was installed in 2020 to ensure consistent fuel flow into the Solex carburetor.

The tent and poles are all original, as are the tent stakes and storage bags. The tent poles were sandblasted and powder coated in black during the restoration to protect them from rust. The patented VW fasteners and leather ties on the tent are original. The portable toilet, mirrors (on the vanity, closet and rear-view), tables, steering wheel, and the icebox are the 1965 originals (and are operational).