Restored Vw Westfalia Camper Bus, 1973 on 2040-cars
Forest Grove, Oregon, United States
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You are bidding on a restored, 1973, Bay Window, Westfalia VW Camper bus. Life circumstances require a lifestyle adjustment and it's time we said goodbye to the VW bus we called Nikita. We thought we would own this bus for a long time and invested a lot of time and money into it. This restoration is in excellent condition and includes a complete engine rebuild, bodywork/paint, and an interior cabinet rebuild. We designed the bus so that it could be used for what it does best for another 20 years, while minimizing maintenance. That means this bus is ready to roll in current condition. If you are interested in a show-vehicle restored to completely original condition, then Nikita could do that too, but you would need a couple extra projects completed. In general, we spared no expense and used quality craftsmen for the engine and bodywork, while my wife and I handled the interior upgrades. This bus would be ideal for someone wanting to take it on the road, wanting a custom show vehicle, or someone looking for a solid base to create an original restoration. Nikita's next adventure is up to you!
Engine: The engine has under 1000 miles on it and the rebuild was completed in 2011 by a very respected mechanic in Longview, WA with over 20 years of experience specializing in VWs. The 1973 engine was replaced with a 1978 engine to improve performance and reduce maintenance. The engine compartment was modified to accept the air intake assembly for the 1978 and a new ECU. The engine itself was completely overhauled, including splitting the case, with every piece being inspected, and replaced as needed. The heads were also replaced with quality set of heads that my mechanic felt lucky to have found available. This (wizard) mechanic also installed a new wiring harness and completed the electrical because we wanted to take advantage of his expertise and ensure compatibility with the new engine. I removed the factory-installed heater because the fumes are terrible, they brake all the time, and from what I hear they love to cause buses to burn to the ground. There is now extra space for a house-bank battery. Bodywork: Eagle Street Automotive in Vancouver, WA completed the body work over many months. This shop regularly does high-end restorations and only does quality work. They prepped the bus for the new engine by altering the engine compartment. After the engine was installed, they stripped the bus down to bare metal. They reinforced the nose section with a steel plate in order to prevent he metal from wrinkling over time. They removed all rust and repaired metal as needed. They painted the bus using the original paint codes for factory Neptune blue color. We installed a new windshield and replaced all of the seals for it and the other windows with OEM German seals. I think the jalousie windows are the only ones with the original seals. Interior: Finally, my wife and I tackled the interior. The dashboard is repainted and a new CD player and speaker is installed. What you don't see in the pictures is that Dynamat was strategically placed throughout the vehicle. I wasn't skimpy with it and you can tap along the walls and hear the difference. This greatly reduces road noise.The walls were insulated with Reflectix insulation. Then, the side and roof paneling was reconstructed using 1/8" Baltic Birch sheets. New carpet is installed and new seat covers were placed on the front seats. These were provided by SewFine out of Texas. A new floor was installed using Marmoleum. All the cabinets were remade using 3/4" Baltic Birch. All of the cushions were remade using new, high quality foam, and new material. New curtains were made. A new tent from Bus Depot has been installed. We upholstered all the interior door panels with burlap from reclaimed coffee bags, giving this bus a very unique look. I did not install the factory-installed camping items like the stove and refrigerator on purpose. I feel that modern camping stoves and coolers offer a better and hassle-free alternative and there is now more storage space in the bus. Items that would need to be completed in order to be in "perfect" condition as a show-quality car:
That is the story for this bus. The reserve price doesn't come close to the value of materials that I've put into the bus. This is a unique build and one that I think is very beautifully done. It will be a great addition to anyone looking to hit the road, or for those looking for a 95 percent completed show-quality project. Thanks for your interest! |
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