My new project - a 1976 RHD double sliding door panel bus

[Sam K]

Although I've had a couple busses, I certainly wouldn't consider myself a "bus guy" but I ran across this one for sale the other day and I couldn't say no. I don't know much about bus history, but I assume this this one is fairly rare. I've only seen one double slider bay window before but it was LHD and I'm farly sure this one was built in South Africa. I bought it from the son of the original owner, who bought it new in Johannesberg, South Africa in 1976. Apperently he was a wildlife photographer and the bus spent the first few years of it's life in the wilderness of South Africa. In the early eighties, they put it on a boat to South America and drove it to the U. S. from there. It spent most of the eighties on Texas and eventually the moved to Colorado. The owner had passed away anfd his son had possesion and used it ocassionally until the transmission got stuck in 2nd gear a couple years ago. He decided to sell it and put an ad up the bulletin board at the local VW shop. I really don't need anymore projects, but it's so unique that I just couldn't say no.

This morning, we dug it out of his garage and towed it to my shop. Overall, it's in pretty good condition. There are a few dents and on small rust spot. It seems to run well, but the brakes are pretty iffy and of course there's something wrong in the transmission. I'll probably sort out the mechanicals pretty quickly so it's at least driveable but after that, I'm not sure. It would look pretty cool slammed on a set of alloys, but it would be sort cool restored to stock condition as well. Does anyone know more about South African built VW's?

[bodgit]

Does anyone know more about South African built VW's?

Only that when the bodywork on my Oval was gone over, apparently you could tell from the welds that it wasn't german

[Sam K]

I finally got my panel on the road this week. I had to pull th engine and transmission out to fix the broken shift rail bracket. I also replaced the shift rod bushings, coupler and a couple of C.V. boots. As far as the engine goes, I cleaned and repainted the tin, gave it a minor resealing, valev adjustment, clutch and tune up. My brother and I also gave the whole bus a thorough cleaning. It still needs a windshileld, seat covers, some brake work and a wheel bearing somewhere, but at least now it moves under it's own power. I must admit that driving a right hand drive panel van is very strange!

   
At the gas station.


Engine before.


Engine after.