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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 17, 2008 - 01:05am PT
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OK volks! Lynne was trying to hijack her own picture thread on a Volkswagen tangent... so I thought I'd just go ahead and start another... some of you posted on the car breakdown and climbing trips - a lament thread a little over a year ago... but I thought I'd post and repost a few here... all VW's
We had them because it was the only car we could afford, both to buy and to keep running. I think I touched every part of that 1961 bus, every part. And the 1967 Bug (no pictures...) and the 1970's bus...
Here's to those great cars that carried us to adventures.. sometimes carried us into adventures.
Long may you run
Debbie, infant Stephanie and ZOT580 at my grandmother's in Belmont, MA, 1977
Mike, Richie and Bill, with ZOT580 in New Hampshire, 1979
Stephanie and ZOT580 outside of the Tarrytown, NY appartment, c. 1979
5257APO out in front of the Tarrytown, NY appartment, early 1980s
Mike and 5257APO at Stoney Clove, NY for some ice climbing, 1985
George, me and 510OW at Olmstead Pt. pullout, Tuolumne Meadows
Lawrence, me, Bill, Richie and Mike, reunion in Tuolumne Meadows, with 510OW, summer 2006
loading 510OW onto the car carrier, Pimm NV, failed Sushifest I trip (image by Jaybro)
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Jun 17, 2008 - 01:07am PT
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Something wafts of rebirth! or is it French fries?
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 17, 2008 - 01:10am PT
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it started last week, for me... soon, soon...
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nick d
Trad climber
nm
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Jun 17, 2008 - 01:10am PT
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510 OW can pass a California emission test? Just curious after seeing that last photo.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 17, 2008 - 01:14am PT
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busted ring... read the Sushifest I thread for the story... but it is about to become a bio-diesel burning, high mpg, TDI totting super-bus.
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Off White
climber
Tenino, WA
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Jun 17, 2008 - 01:17am PT
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TLY 986 outside view, 1985
TLY 986 inside view, 1978
349 UZE family christmas in Baja, 2007
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Jun 17, 2008 - 01:25am PT
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Ed...you have no idea on what you started.
My wife, son and Alreet 2 at the Gunks in 1978.
I have so many fond memories with that bus, traveling cross country numerous times, taking our son home from the hospital after he was born, traveling with my wife, our son and Lab, Tesuque to different climbing areas, day trips into the mountains and basically our house for a summer in Santa Fe the year before our first was born.
We set out on our life together in that bus...I have a cool picture of us on our wedding day about to get into Alreet after the wedding.
Our 65 bug that I just sold to get a primo 67 bug.
My wife and I counted that we had 15 different VW's by the time we were 25 years old.
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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Jun 17, 2008 - 09:34am PT
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Don't know if the link will work, but a shot of my buddy Tim's 1990 Synchro Westie in front of the Cap...
and in front of the 0.5 Dome...
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salad
climber
Escondido
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Jun 17, 2008 - 11:28am PT
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heading to the gunks, 1999
headin to veed, 1999
thought i had more pics of the great gray beast online.. will search some out tonight and upload...
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salad
climber
Escondido
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Jun 17, 2008 - 11:46am PT
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tessa's first camping trip at 3 months old, sonora pass
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L
climber
A rubber raft in a sea of sharp teeth...
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Jun 17, 2008 - 12:22pm PT
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Great thread, Ed. I remember that shot that Jaybro took from ex-SushiFest I.
I, myself, loser that I am, never owned a VW. The guy I dated my senior year in high school did, however--a bright shiny red van. I was just learning to drive...had driven my grandmother's 55 Chevy once--and decided I could just as easily handle a stick.
The harsh bite of reality got me going uphill, right in front of my high school as everyone was walking out the front doors and heading home. I stalled the thing when I stopped at the crosswalk. And then, with 200 pairs of eyes watching me, had to let it roll all the way back down the hill to flatland so I could get it started again.
I've never dared drive a VW again. :-)
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 17, 2008 - 01:45pm PT
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Russ has many proud pix too, and the actual item parked in his driveway, just waiting for that short-block order to be filled...
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Fletcher
Trad climber
The hear and now, currently Pasadena, CA
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Jun 17, 2008 - 02:05pm PT
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I love these VW themed threads. Thanks Ed!
Never had one myself, but my dad had a 1960 blue bug convertible that carried all of my brothers and I to the hospital and home when we were born. No mean feat since my parents lived about three hours from the hospital where I needed to get birthed (but that's another story).
I still remember that car... leaky roof, dad always boasting how good it was to blow by other vehicles in the New England ice and snow.
I drove a VW bus one summer in 1985 for about an hour when working at a summer camp in Wisconsin. Dang that was fun!
Salad, those are some damn hairy legs! :-)
Fletch
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salad
climber
Escondido
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Jun 17, 2008 - 02:13pm PT
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fletcher, we had been on the road for three months at that point and my wife wasnt wasting money on razors, so she was just letting it go(grow)!
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goatboy smellz
climber
colorado
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Jun 17, 2008 - 02:28pm PT
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lil Jefe waiting patiently for whenever I get around to fixing all that's broke.
A great sticker for the tailgaters.
^^^ Yes that's a '74 VW Automatic, the first year zee Germans were allowed the technology after WW2.
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F10 Climber F11 Drinker
Trad climber
medicated and flat on my back
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Jun 17, 2008 - 02:30pm PT
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Fish might dig the homemade haulbag, maroon and hot pink (free materials/borrowed??)
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swill
Social climber
Colorado
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Jun 17, 2008 - 03:16pm PT
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It wasn't all love and happiness! Baja 1981 with the bus "Lucky." We did a rebuild on this van a year latter in the lodge lot with the help of some great guy's who seem to hang around this place supertopo. Thanks!
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jun 17, 2008 - 03:23pm PT
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Ed, thanks for saving me from myself....I think. You have to admit it was a good idea. smiles Lynne
ps, the foot photos are a nice touch. I say more foot photos.
So, now I can put a face with a name, nice to see you Blinny.
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Double D
climber
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Jun 17, 2008 - 04:01pm PT
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VW's...oh yeah touched EVERY part and re-built the engine TWICE in the Lodge parking lot with the help of Dave Hitchcock...THANKS DAVE if you're lurking out there!
Racking for Sea of Dreams
EDIT: Note Dale stirring the PB with a parking lot stick 0-;
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scuffy b
climber
watching the flytrap
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Jun 17, 2008 - 04:26pm PT
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eKat,
This looks like an opportunity for you.
Please, tell us about what Dale is doing in that picture.
Big stir stick, no?
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Jun 17, 2008 - 04:39pm PT
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getin ready for;
A) Sepeku
2) stirring hippie peanutbutter.
Gotta dive into the VW foto files...
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nita
climber
chica from chico, I don't claim to be a daisy
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Jun 17, 2008 - 05:26pm PT
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eKat, I think your hair looks cute..modified mullet, lets get married. ;-)
Hey, do you still own that purple VW?
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Jun 17, 2008 - 07:05pm PT
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Oh man, I'm so jealous of all you van owners. . .
I got to drive one across country from DC to the Tetons
in '74, we averaged about 30 miles per hour. A speed trip!
But never owned one. Alas, I have a picture of my first car below--it did almost as fast up to West by god Virginny. . .
and even just Cumberland Maryland. . .
It got more colors as it grew older and as my driving
worsened. . . . but I slept in it more times than I'd like to
admit. . .
Oh god, I forgot, I even had hair in that picture!!!!
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Jun 17, 2008 - 07:45pm PT
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I only owned three of them; all spit windows '64,5,6. Though those Were the days, there is something to be said for a more modern reliable machine; My current ride, a 19 yr old Saab, combines enough mystery and reliability and the odd bit of actual performance, to keep my toes where I want them to be!
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jun 17, 2008 - 07:59pm PT
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510/511 I think your van is the same one I had. I know the color was the same. Could you check out the Van on some old pic's and slides Thread....it's like the 3rd pic I think...and let me know. Why are so many of us gals model and year challenged when it comes to cars? Only If you have time of course. Thanks! Lynne
Surely you guys have some more legs and feet photos with your van pics!? Mr. Fish must be ill, can't believe he hasn't contributed from his vast store of knowledge and photo library. hahaha
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mooser
Trad climber
seattle
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Jun 17, 2008 - 08:13pm PT
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VW's--there's nothing like 'em (for better and worse).
I've shown this one before...my most recent two VW's, along with wife and son:
And then my '67 Westy during a tire meltdown on the way to Red Rocks:
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Fletcher
Trad climber
The hear and now, currently Pasadena, CA
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Jun 17, 2008 - 08:35pm PT
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Hey eKat:
What rack?
What hair?
The first thing I noticed in that photo are those wicked cool Vuarnets!
Fletch
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Forest
Trad climber
Tucson, AZ
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Jun 17, 2008 - 08:49pm PT
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Fast forward:
my friend cob and my 2004 Jetta TDI.
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k-man
Gym climber
SCruz
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Jun 17, 2008 - 08:55pm PT
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Ed, what a great thread.
However, it will never be complete until we have a picture of that fabled bus that graced Camp 4 for so many years.
How do you spell...
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Jun 17, 2008 - 08:58pm PT
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Ekat...the hair cut must have been a 80's things...my wife in Telluride in 1982 with my oldest.
PS...that is a nice rack you have there.
Thanks for the birthday thread...you are a special one.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jun 17, 2008 - 08:59pm PT
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Forest, nice car. Jettas go faster, right. I had one VW. They were just to slow.
Question: VW owners, when you're going 50mph and you could have been home 2 hours ago, well does that bother you?
From: We like speed.
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perswig
climber
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Jun 17, 2008 - 09:03pm PT
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What goes around, comes around...
No pics, but a) parents gave up a Karmann Ghia convert. when I was born; b) learned to drive stick in a bus; and c) now we're a Passat and Golf fam.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 17, 2008 - 09:04pm PT
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Lynne, maybe Gary Carpenter will post about how fast I would drive 510OW...
the water cooled rigs moved a lot faster...
but Debbie didn't like the new bus because we didn't go slow enough up hill for her to botanize from the passengers seat.
As for "going slow" it is part of the VW Zen, learning patience, and being one with the journey. It was good to learn that sometimes, things go at their own pace.
And eKat... the thing Gary and I notice about a gal first are her cams... and you got a nice set in that picture!
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jun 17, 2008 - 09:23pm PT
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Hi Ed,
I caught the ST flu but have recovered today after climbing, "al b et" indoors but the endorphines are there even indoors to heal and cure the flu bug.
"Patience.....Things go at their own pace". Story of my life.
Since my whole life is P&P I have a fast car and I love it! Smiles! Lord it is good to feel like Lynne again!
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Jun 17, 2008 - 09:27pm PT
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Lynne...My wife has a new bug at it is steady at over 100 mph...I still like my 67 bug. Picking it up in two week...can't wait.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jun 17, 2008 - 09:30pm PT
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ekat, good ...maybe it will encourage hairy monsters to post more toes, feet and legs. Ekat I don't get the Blinny, ekat thing...I'm kinda new...could you re explain it to me.
I confuse easily. On ST people have two names, then you have three or more....??? Help...Lynne
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jun 17, 2008 - 09:46pm PT
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An early model sport utility:
Beetles were great for mileage, repairs, in snow, and for clearance on logging roads. The mufflers were pretty cheap, too.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jun 17, 2008 - 09:55pm PT
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Mighty Hiker, thanks for the first gut laugh I've had in several weeks! Now I love my SUV even more. We actually rock climbed with one of our Suv's ...rednecks couldn't believe it!
Good report, Bob, I can deal with 100mph. Let me know how she likes it. You have a really terrific family! God Bless you all.
Lynnie
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marty(r)
climber
beneath the valley of ultravegans
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Jun 18, 2008 - 02:32am PT
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Mussy's rig has a sticker that reads "I Brake for Monster Booty." Can't get more real than that!
Roy/Tar has some cool shots of Bill Russel rebuilding his rig that's pretty classic as well.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jun 18, 2008 - 10:41am PT
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ekat, thanks for the refresher course, I think it may stick this time. Plus I have all these great pics to reinforce!
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hlehmann
Trad climber
San Fernando Valley
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Jun 18, 2008 - 11:34am PT
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Jun 18, 2008 - 11:38am PT
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Ha!
Lookit them old hexes, jumars, and even the tubechocks!!!!
WOW
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F10 Climber F11 Drinker
Trad climber
medicated and flat on my back
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Jun 18, 2008 - 11:57am PT
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Lynne,
Checked out your V dub bus from the "old pic's" thread and does look quite similar. Mine was a 66 with a bench front seat, bummer no pass through just roll over into the back. I couldn't be in a hurry going up Tioga pass, 2nd gear most all the way. Nice setup for road tripping. OT, but now I use a Sportsmobile and built the custom interior myself. Lots of room and goes up Tioga pass like it was flat until you get behind the rentabago's. Glad to hear you are getting out and enjoying some climbing, have fun
James
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Jun 18, 2008 - 12:02pm PT
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and note, county 23 plates, way cooler than the obiqtuos posuer 22's!
Jay-5,17-bro
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Jun 18, 2008 - 12:32pm PT
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after a while, you just leave the engine compartment door permanently open as demanded by the frequency of action, eh?
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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Jun 18, 2008 - 12:32pm PT
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Yeah, you don't see many from Sublette County. Pinedale I reckon...
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goatboy smellz
climber
colorado
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Jun 18, 2008 - 01:04pm PT
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A few more illustrations by Peter Aschwanden
from the John Muir book.
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salad
climber
Escondido
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Jun 18, 2008 - 01:12pm PT
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wild iris:
road trip!
preparing for sunset at ved:
good thing i wasnt behind the wheel... hippy lettuce!
first paid camping site in a few months.. sippin red wine out of a nalgene
violated in DC..got most of my rack and ice tools back, found em in a trash can 1 block away.
geekin out in colorado
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hlehmann
Trad climber
San Fernando Valley
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Jun 18, 2008 - 01:19pm PT
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" Yeah, you don't see many from Sublette County. Pinedale I reckon... "
Yep, it's the Skinnermobile.
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Risk
Mountain climber
Olympia, WA
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Jun 18, 2008 - 01:48pm PT
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My 5th van, following a 66, 88, 86, 02.
Fresno, about 1967 with European version Ghia
Fresno, 1973
Mora Campground, 2000 with Granny and Stella
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TrundleBum
Trad climber
Las Vegas
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Jun 18, 2008 - 01:53pm PT
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My first ever vehicle:
68 split windshield bus, full camper.
I sold it two years after I bought it for the same price I paid $500.00.
And yes the sale and realization of the $500.00 was what financed my first fall season in the valley.
(insert Susan's dirt bag thread here -- )
The pic was taken on a sub zero morning, early ice season North Conway N.H, in 77'
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Double D
climber
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Jun 18, 2008 - 04:11pm PT
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Jeeze Goatboy, the only thing that John Muir book illustration is missing.....
Lots of greasy smudges...LOTS
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tolman_paul
Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
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Jun 18, 2008 - 05:32pm PT
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I came across a red and white bus that somebody rolled down into a streambed. It's obviously been picked through and vandalzied, but the body looks like it is in good shape. I'll have to take some pics. I'm half tempted to recover it, but don't know how I'd go about registering it, and would likely need to get some permission for the recovery, as there would be some vegitation that would need clearning. If I could figure out how to fit a small diesel in it, would make for a pretty trick rig.
My mom had a vw wagon when I was a wee lad, followed by a couple of rabbits (I know, fwd doesn't count). She always wanted a vw thing.
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Jun 18, 2008 - 06:02pm PT
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on.....,
yeah prolly, I was pulling for La Barge, though (or is that over the line?) i lived briefly in Big Piney, never registered a car there, though.
is that a Quinlan rig in the photo?
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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Jun 18, 2008 - 06:12pm PT
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My first taste of Wyoming was at the Antler in Bondurant when I was 15! I got a summer job up there and my new co-workers thought they'd get me on the right track.
My mom and dad had late 60s bug that me and my sister rode around in all the time, sans seat belts of course.
I had two VWs, both vans. I loved the repair book chapters- "Red Light Comes On" "Green Light Comes On"
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Jun 18, 2008 - 06:15pm PT
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Too funny!
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jun 18, 2008 - 06:33pm PT
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Say 510/511,
Thanks! for checking ... sounds like ours. It was so slow up grades I was always tempted to get out and run along side and clock it. Your Sportsmobile sounds great.
Going to peoples wall as sound as the 5 o'clock whistle blows. Tiger and company kept me away all last week due to the golf hordes. Should be great today! L.
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F10 Climber F11 Drinker
Trad climber
medicated and flat on my back
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Jun 18, 2008 - 06:57pm PT
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Lynne,
Have a good time at people's wall this pm, I always preferred the am nice and cool.
Now Pump wall at sunset cliffs was my pm choice, and if you were lucky ya might catch the green flash!!!
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Forest
Trad climber
Tucson, AZ
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Jun 18, 2008 - 07:04pm PT
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Lynn, you'll be happy to know that even fully loaded in climbing and mtn biking extended weekend mode (that's a hitch-mount rack with two bikes plus climbing gear, plus camping gear, plus food, plus plenty of other crap), my trusty little TDI torque machine can still do 80 mph up the grade heading north from phoenix to flagstaff. The biggest impediment is all the dopes in their huge SUVs who can't do it and don't get out of the way fast enough.
Oh, and we're getting 38 - 45 mpg average on the trip!
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craig mo
Trad climber
L.A. Ca.
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Jun 18, 2008 - 08:05pm PT
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I had a 78 westfalia for a few years. 3 engines, many road repairs. i had a hard time slowing down but i did finally learn that bus zen thing.the engine hatch was a good thing i think. its the only car ive had that people would wave hello at you and twice i was offerd cash for it.I should have gone for the cash befor she broke again.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jun 23, 2008 - 04:34pm PT
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Yikes! I got passed by a yellow beetle yesterday and I was going over 80. It must have been juiced. Whole new respect for the bugs! lrl
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, Ca
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Jun 23, 2008 - 05:13pm PT
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Nice van's and bugs y'all. I especially like the synchro's. Just to reprezent a different side of the VW lineage, here's the '92 GTI-16V 2L makin' time somewhere between Boise and Bishop..
And of course when it comes to horizontally opposed cylinders behind the occupants there is big daddy:
Can't sleep in it though...
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Jun 23, 2008 - 08:38pm PT
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These two guys/girls have weather a few storms together. Somewhere in northern NM.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jun 23, 2008 - 10:03pm PT
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Last two photos great! I like memories...but practicality wins. Ksolem .... very cool ride. Wonder how it matches up to mine? lrl
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Matt
Trad climber
primordial soup
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Jun 25, 2008 - 04:12am PT
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newly in the VW club!
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Bovine
Trad climber
USA
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Jun 25, 2008 - 10:48am PT
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Here are a few of many over the years...ahh the travelin' life!
1998 at "High Acres" in Estes Park, Colorado in the 76'er
And more recent (maybe 2007) at Quartz Mountain, Oklahoma in the 84'
Morning preclimb Hippy Speedball meeting, Jackson Falls Illinois 2006
And last but not least, the lovely 76' in the background in Tuolumne, 2001 SAR site and posse...
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Jun 26, 2008 - 06:01pm PT
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The new ride. I pick it up next week. 67 bug...classic!
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Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
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Jun 26, 2008 - 06:07pm PT
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Jimmy Dunn, Ron Cox and Ron's beetle at the Fisher Towers, 1971.
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Jun 26, 2008 - 07:28pm PT
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Dunno bob, not sure if I could trust one of that vintage that didn't have a sprung hood.
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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Jun 26, 2008 - 08:19pm PT
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Jeez... What's in the back of your bus, there Kat? Looks like you have a pallet of bricks in the back, the way your bus is sagging in the back! lol
Definitely a cool ride, Kris - been thinking about buying one. But I'm not exactly sure I'd call the Boxter the "big daddy"... :)
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Jun 26, 2008 - 08:30pm PT
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Jay...here is what the car looked like six months ago.
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Bargainhunter
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Jun 26, 2008 - 09:46pm PT
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I have a few....how to post my photos?
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Matt
Trad climber
primordial soup
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Jun 26, 2008 - 09:49pm PT
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search "post a photo" on the forum
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, Ca
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Jun 26, 2008 - 09:53pm PT
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Nef - Big difference when you go to the "S" model.
Bob D, that 67 is nice. As I recall that was the first or second year after they started using ball joints (not kingpins) for the front end. Also, I think that was a crossover year which was the first 12V, but still with many of the burly 6V components. As I recall 68 was a bummer...
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Matt
Trad climber
primordial soup
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Jun 26, 2008 - 10:01pm PT
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but can you sleep in it?
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Jingy
Social climber
Flatland, Ca
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Jun 26, 2008 - 10:17pm PT
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Is this all strictly old buble style VWs?
or can us newer owners chime in.
But then again, I don't want to ruin the motif!
Shaggy Edit: What is it about the VW owner that seems to automatically give them the sense that they are down to earth, wholesome, and good natured people?
Cheers to you all!
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Jun 27, 2008 - 12:06am PT
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Okay Bob D. What's the engine look like in that baby?
Totally redone? What kind of compression?
Looks awesome!
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Jun 27, 2008 - 04:16am PT
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Too cool for school, Bob. Those of us who get it, know better, But I'm one of the ones that kinda truly get what you're after there even if I drive a more northern (almost 20 yr old) european rig as my, daily, 'get there', machine.
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J. Werlin
climber
Cedaredge
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Jun 27, 2008 - 01:51pm PT
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Clean up
The Swell
Celebrity sighting
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rockermike
Mountain climber
Berkeley
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Jun 27, 2008 - 02:20pm PT
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VWs, sweet. Great pictures.
My mom's first car was a '54 bug. One of the first imported into the US I understand. Cost (new) $1900, $1 a pound. My first car was a '68 bug. Had it for a few years until the engine blew somewhere in Southeastern Idaho. I actually lived in mine for a year on an extended road trip. Took out both the back seat and passenger seat. Tool chest sat in place of passenger seat and bed would lay across the top. Makes me nostalgic thinking about it although truth be told I don't remember being particularly happy that year. Did climb a lot though. ha Its probably youth I miss more than the car.
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Jun 27, 2008 - 02:25pm PT
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Laurel (my lovely bride) and me in 1974.
Laurel...with the first (Herness) of many VW's.
Pretty classic!
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Jun 27, 2008 - 02:29pm PT
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I had a 64 (I bought it '74,even)and a 67 bus that each looked just like that one, Bob, too funny!
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Majid_S
Mountain climber
Bay Area
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Jun 28, 2008 - 12:55am PT
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1974 VW Westfalia Camper, powered by a 1980 Mazda 1400 cc 4 cylinder (non-rotary) water cooled engine, 4 wheel disc brakes.Fuel consumptions; 25-35 mpg and only one such VW camper in the entire world with this configuration.Engine adapter design,fabrication and installation by me. No more leaking or burning oil, no more freezing ice box in winter .
[url=http://imageshack.us]{{img}}h~~p://img105.imageshack.us/img105/521/img0415ve1.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://imageshack.us]{{img}}h~~p://img47.imageshack.us/img47/1875/img1026ag3.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://imageshack.us]{{img}}h~~p://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4120/img1027do1.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://imageshack.us]{{img}}h~~p://img183.imageshack.us/img183/943/veo0023na3.jpg[/img][/url]
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nita
climber
chica from chico, I don't claim to be a daisy
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Jun 28, 2008 - 01:49am PT
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Mr Bob d"antonio, I Love your *VW Wedding pictures*, Classic and Beautiful!!! Hope you don't mind, going to copy it and put it on my fridge- with my other cool pictures.
I had a vw bug once, it died going up Old priest grade. We hitch hiked to Groveland, and the folks at the Iron door saloon had pity on us, and gave us a room for the night.
Don Reid used to have a white VW Van~ that he bought from Gail Wilts. Someone broke into it when he was climbing the Captain. They robbed him blind, climbing gear and everything, well.. they did leave behind my Peter Tosh cassette and his Ziggy stardust poster....Wish I had a picture of the van.
edit: this story has a good ending, to lazy to post it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl4X6nGI-rA&feature=related
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Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
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Jun 28, 2008 - 01:58am PT
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Between the ages of 0 and 7ish my parent had a parade of VW Busses.
First white. Then orange. Then turquoise. Then baby-poo green.
I used to stand in the space in between the two front seats. (Or sit on the cooler.) If the adults in front were smoking, I'd probably go to the way-back to escape it and play on the blanket back there. Times sure have changed. There were bars on the back of the front seats that facilitated this.
I remember stepping in my mom's birthday cake once at a sudden stop when it was left on the ground next to the stick.
Also, growing up near Buffalo, I remember how cold they would be in the back during the winter...except for your feet if they were near the lone vent between the seats...in which case you'd get blisters.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Jun 28, 2008 - 12:20pm PT
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Great thread Ed! Here is a unique one: RR cutting a Matelija poppy for our dashboard while on a winter trip out near Kelso, CA back in 1972. In the background is his red VW bus---kind of his trademark really---that by this point had had four engines. He loved to lug the motor. I think RR was about 37 years old then.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 28, 2008 - 12:50pm PT
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wonder pictures all!
I was looking closely at Peter's and wondered what seemed odd to me, I think that it is reversed, the doors to the main compartment open on the right side of the bus, and RR is right handed (I assume) so I'd expect his knife to be in his right hand...
but it doesn't really matter as it is a fantastic image from the past.
four engines! it doesn't seem too unusual...
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Ron Raimonde
Big Wall climber
Sedona,Az
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Jun 28, 2008 - 03:50pm PT
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My 67 Deluxe road ready!
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goatboy smellz
climber
colorado
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Jun 28, 2008 - 08:03pm PT
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Wow, this thread just keeps getting better.
Thank you all for sharing your stories and photos.
Here's a custom job I spotted along the way.
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Jun 28, 2008 - 08:12pm PT
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Nita...thanks, one of the best days of my life.
Thanks Ed for this great thread and everyone else for their great stories and photos.
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L
climber
Eating sand on the shores of Malibu...
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Jun 28, 2008 - 08:35pm PT
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I'm with Nita, Bob. Those are some classic wedding photos of you and Laurel.
And Majid--That yellow fellow with the Mazda engine sounds/looks awesome! Is it as easy to work on a Mazda as a VW?
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Jun 28, 2008 - 09:45pm PT
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Well, Ed,
In fashion photography we usually reserve the right to flip images for the sake of the layout. .
Anyway, I am thinking you are right, I must have scanned the slide wrong face down. His VW didn't have doors on the drivers side...mine had doors on BOTH sides but it was a freak of nature, a VW transporter. Anders just pointed out that Royal was 37 then, not 42, so I edited my post. And Anders goes on to remark how much RR had accomplished by this point, 1971 early winter. I think his only huge effort in the Valley after this was trying to solo first ascent the Tangerine Trip. And by your and my terms at this point, we picture him as being rather young and spry . He was about to be a father for the first time btw and it was scaring the hell out of him...long story.
best ph.
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salad
climber
Escondido
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Jun 28, 2008 - 11:12pm PT
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great pic peter..
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jun 28, 2008 - 11:22pm PT
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Thanks, everyone, for the wonderful stories and photos! Very much a wayback, or a flashback, thread - though I'm glad to see that some still run with VWs.
After the photo I posted upthread, I guess I'm lucky not to be persecuted for VW abuse. :-)
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salad
climber
Escondido
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Jun 28, 2008 - 11:39pm PT
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ron, that there is a pretty bus!
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salad
climber
Escondido
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Jun 28, 2008 - 11:50pm PT
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while this link has very limited content of our vw(it does have a little), the content it does contain was most certainly influenced by her...
tessa goes to big basin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gYIljAEJiU
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L
climber
Eating sand on the shores of Malibu...
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Jun 29, 2008 - 12:26am PT
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That was great, Salad! She was a little talker then, wasn't she.
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swill
Social climber
Colorado
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Jun 29, 2008 - 01:18am PT
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They held a lot of sh#t that's for sure. My 72 helping us climb the East Face of Mt Alice!
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Ron Raimonde
Big Wall climber
Sedona,Az
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Jun 29, 2008 - 03:54pm PT
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Salad,thanks. Fun Video, I'm also having fun with a little one in Yosemite these days. Quite a change from back in the days! Unfortunately I hesitate to park this one at the base of the captain for any length of time.
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Russ Walling
Social climber
Out on the sand.... man.....
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Jun 29, 2008 - 04:06pm PT
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Ron Raimonde
Big Wall climber
Sedona,Az
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Jun 29, 2008 - 04:54pm PT
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eKat thanks for the advise and the earlier posts. What you said about her majesty bringing a smile to peoples faces is spot on. If I pay attention to everyone I pass, 7 out of 10 have a big grin on! its what makes the old dubs special. Rus- A picture is worth a thousand words dude!
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Jun 30, 2008 - 02:09pm PT
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I hope I'm not overdoing it with posting these photos...it's just that VW's played such a big part in of our lives when we were young.
My wife Laurel in Madrid, NM 1973.
Dancing with joy after finding out she was pregnant with our first. Tesuque, NM
The sporty time of our lives. The Ghia. Tesuque, NM
Our son Jeremy first day on this planet. Santa Fe, NM
Thanks, Bob
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salad
climber
Escondido
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sonora pass, she was up ALL night nursing...
play time in the back seat
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Just got this baby home from Taos...
Cruised at 65-70 mph the whole way...
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L
climber
Soy latte center of the Known Universe
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Now that's a work of art, Bob!
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Kindredlion
Big Wall climber
4hrs too far from YNP
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Nice Post...
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dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
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I lived in this '66 van for 6-8 years with my dog Washoe. This was it's first trip to the Navajo Reservation (Lukachukai) where Todd Gordon lived. It barely made it and was hard to drive with no clutch. This is his Hogan. On the interior it was a mini version of most houses he has lived in since, albeit with a dirt floor. This was in ~1977 or '78.
I lived briefly in Sacto where the tranny blew the week school ended. I bought a rebuilt tranny and put it in the day before I was to move to San Diego. When I got the "new" tranny in I went for a test drive only to find out they had accidentally given me a bad one. It only had one gear. I went straight back to the tranny place (in first gear) and got another and immediately put that one in and I was good to go.
I went through several engines and put the second one in at Hidden Valley Campground. I had started to build a hot engine for my previous car which was a '60 sunroof bug. I didn't finish the engine until I owned this van (it's third engine). It was an 1835cc with hot carb and camshaft and the van hauled ass. You could merge on the freeway and go straight into the fast lane and cruise. It lasted for less than a year until one day I was at Santee and was blasting a dirt hillclimb and broke both axles. Greg Epperson towed me home with the axles banging on the street the whole way.
After I fixed that mess it broke down in Mex at the Throne. I returned a week later with parts and fixed it again.On the drive home the engine blew and I washed my hands of it, leaving it on the side of the road west of La Rumerosa. My girlfriend Margy rescued me in her '64 bug. We spotted it for a couple months after and then it disappeared. I believe someone is living in it now.
I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER VOLKSWAGON!
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Sep 13, 2008 - 08:39pm PT
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I thought this would be the resurresction of 510 ow
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 13, 2008 - 08:53pm PT
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I visited 510 OW yesterday, like I do every Friday I'm in town... it was driving around. Right now it's just down to the ECU communication to the connector in the front...
so soon, soon!
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Indianclimber
climber
Las Vegas
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Sep 13, 2008 - 08:59pm PT
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Sorry I got your hopes up Jaybro
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Sep 13, 2008 - 09:27pm PT
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'scool. Those of us with a VW past have learned the value of patience.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Sep 13, 2008 - 09:33pm PT
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Had a great VW once.
Lost it headed for the west coast of Vancouver Island with a load of sea kayaks and too much wine. Those logging truckers don't mess around. Circa 85 ish
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Grahm Doe
Sport climber
Just South Of Heaven
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Mar 25, 2010 - 12:50pm PT
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Steves Synchro kickin it into 4 wheel drive to get back on the road. A tree blocked the way so a little derbying got him around and back on the way to Shuteye.
[/url]
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looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Latitute 33
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May 22, 2011 - 01:13pm PT
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Ran across this old slide the other day. My 1959 Bug with the partially completed Dead Album painting at Vedauvoo (a cross-over photo to the Dead Head Thread). This car went everywhere, 36 hp engine, crash-box transmissions and no gas gauge (just a little lever you kicked over with your foot when the engine sputtered due to lack of gas).
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drljefe
climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
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May 22, 2011 - 01:43pm PT
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Nice, sketchy!
Drove all over Baja with my parents in a green 77 Westie, southern Mexico in a Beetle, and everywhere from Smith south in my 81 Westie.
Then it was "Oh what a feeling! "...
Toyota!
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o-man
Trad climber
Paia,Maui,HI
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May 22, 2011 - 02:49pm PT
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BillO
Trad climber
Yachats, OR
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May 22, 2011 - 04:07pm PT
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Joshua Tree
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - May 22, 2011 - 04:13pm PT
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my '89 Golf at the trail head leading to the Saskatchiwan Glacier, Alberta, Canada... 1993
lest you think this was not an automotive adventure trip, the main hose from the radiator to the water pump... same trip, jury rig:
which got changed in Lethbridge.. I still feel guilty for the pirate cooling system repair on some back street that released coolant into the local water table... sorry!
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o-man
Trad climber
Paia,Maui,HI
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May 22, 2011 - 05:09pm PT
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perswig
climber
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May 22, 2011 - 06:29pm PT
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Driving the back roads to N. Conway last fall I thought I saw a familiar shape sticking out of a guy's garage; turned around just to check.
Sure enough, a VW Thing. Hadn't seen one since I was a kid.
Dale
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OnL4ch
Sport climber
San Francisco
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May 22, 2011 - 07:30pm PT
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:) props to goatboy for the idiot manual pics. I did a pan up resto of a 66 type 1 with only that book to guide me, brings back memories.
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Vegasclimber
Trad climber
Las Vegas, NV.
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May 22, 2011 - 07:52pm PT
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Thanks for posting up all these great shots!
I have rebuilt a few bugs over the years, but I've lost all the pics that I had. Did a few Baja conversions, but most were Cali mods.
Awesome to see the Fish mobile, I've read a few references to it here and there and wondered what it looked like. Awesome that he still has it.
My girl and I are talking about doing a restoration project, she wants to do a Ghia but I'd love to do a split window bus....I remember seeing a pic of one in Hawaii that had hinged windows in some massive graveyard over there that I thought was pretty cool.
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mctwisted
Social climber
superslacker city
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May 22, 2011 - 11:26pm PT
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had this 1970 bus for 15 years, of coarse it was parked in camp 4 for a dozen years without moving. only went through one engine, drove her like i was an old lady.
(miss that proud rig.)
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Off White
climber
Tenino, WA
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May 23, 2011 - 12:18am PT
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Rooting mouse nests out of the ventilation system in the 91 Vanagon. I'm not fond of mice.
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o-man
Trad climber
Paia,Maui,HI
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May 23, 2011 - 01:41am PT
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I saw this baby setting all by herself at the beach today when I was looking for waves.
This thread came to mind so I snapped a couple pix.
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Vegasclimber
Trad climber
Las Vegas, NV.
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May 24, 2011 - 09:19am PT
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Bumping this, because I don't want to see the thread die just yet :)
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guyman
Trad climber
Moorpark, CA.
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May 24, 2011 - 09:46am PT
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What I love about em is this... when you get tired, no need to set up a pup tent, just pull over and pass out.
Needles CG 2010
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Off White
climber
Tenino, WA
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May 24, 2011 - 12:15pm PT
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Yeah, I've cast covetous glances at the Delica, just chatted up a Canuck at Red Rocks who gave me a card for a dealer in Vancouver. I think there are import issues for the US though. Can't just be the drive side, around here all the rural mail carriers drive private cars with right hand drives, so maybe there's emission issues too. Canada does emit more CO2 per capita than the US.
The Delica is smaller, does it comfortably sleep folks 6' and taller?
Not surprised that Delica owners wave to each other, its been VW Van standard behavior, across the model changes, forever. Its rather charming to be able to count on complete strangers stopping at your roadside breakdown just because you share an obsession with a vehicle. It's less charming that sometimes those breakdowns are more frequent than seems reasonable though.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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May 24, 2011 - 12:21pm PT
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I saw a Thing yesterday in Moab. A smattring of Delica's the last few weeks, as well.
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o-man
Trad climber
Paia,Maui,HI
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May 24, 2011 - 04:05pm PT
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Darwin
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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May 24, 2011 - 06:26pm PT
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Great thread Ed! Thanks for all the postings up until now (esp. yours Bob D'.)
This is my dad (also Darwin) just off Saddlebag Lake road just past Tioga Pass in maybe '68. He took me and Matt Pollock up there for a weekend. He was a great dad and passed away in 2005. Before this bus, he had a 195? that had the semaphore turn signals. He gave me the van (I am not worthy) and it spent two Falls in the Valley and got broken into by a bear through the cracked back window by a bear. The bear shredded that cloth lining they put in the early 60s vans.
Peter Haan, did I miss the photos of yours?
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youngharz
Boulder climber
Carpinteria
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May 24, 2011 - 10:38pm PT
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A pic of My Buddy Jeff's van on the way up to Slesse during a 2004 roadtrip to Canada. Adventuring around in this van inspired me to eventually take the plunge and get a westy of my own!
This winter, the two westy's finally met down in Cochise Stronghold!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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May 24, 2011 - 10:59pm PT
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Had a VW Bus in the 70's, got flipped off because I was going too slow up hills and froze my ass in the Winter due to the funky heater- didn't stay a fan for long.
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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May 24, 2011 - 11:29pm PT
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Baja approach
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perswig
climber
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Just traded in a '03 Golf with 219K (195K were mine) for a '10 Golf with 24K.
It's like Groundhog Day.
Love this rig.
Dale
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zBrown
Ice climber
Brujo de La Playa
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Hadn't seen this thread. Haven't seen my photos of my VW's either.
Loved the Complete Idiot book.
Loved being able to pick up mine or someone else's to "make" a new parking spot in the Mammoth parking lot.
Not really what I was talking about, but a great photo nonetheless.
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anita514
Gym climber
Great White North
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vw golf wagaon (jetta wagon in US) tdi, baby
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Captain...or Skully
climber
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Nice rig....I got one of those too...not the wagon, though. It's badass. A tank and a third to ND from Boise. Sweet
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Fat Paul
Trad climber
Right Coast
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Spot on donini, those buses and bugs were freakin cold in the winter. Would have to use an ice scraper on the inside of the windshield to get rid of the frozen condensation from my breath off. Started using an old coleman gas lantern inside my bug during the winter which hung from the roll bar. Produced almost tropical conditions on the inside. The only draw back was that you became blinded if you did not rap foil around the lantern glass.
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mctwisted
Trad climber
e.p.
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yeh bud, as good as it gets right there
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Anita,
Got that Jetta Wgn TDI. Sweet rig.
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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My ol' volkswagons took me everywhere back in the 1970s... I could pull the engine and have it rebuilit, re-installed and running again in 8 hours - all by myself. Of course, I got so good at rebuilding the engines because I had to do it so many times. Do you think it was because VW engines were so bad, or was it because the guy rebuilding the engines was so bad? Alas, my squareback perished when it was rear-ended, and I sold the scrap to help finance a trip to Denali. Now I want a VW window van, but my wife says she'll divorce me if I get one.
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perswig
climber
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Looks like McTwisted scored some good aftermarket options for the bus.
God help me, I almost bought this beauty at this year's OHTM car auction.
Instant attraction.
Never had seen one before, thought it was a Rabbit, but it's a Squareback. Pretty sure '66, although they also had a Ghia so this may have been a '74. I luckily came to my senses WAYYY before the bidding ended at $7300.
Dale
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jopay
climber
so.il
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I had two Bugs a 66 and bought a new 71. How did you folks keep from burning an exhaust valve, seems mine always did, even if I had them adjusted. Something about the oil cooler blocking the number 3 cylinder, as it seemed the number 3 cylinder was most prone to burning.Did Porsches of that era use a different valve material, or perhaps their cooling fan was different.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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Yep ,I am a vw mechanic.87 Wolfsburgh Weekender,under reconstruction.
The Rocket Ship just did 960 mile round trip up to the White Mountains[mountain driving], a shade under 24 mpg.I call it the Rocket Ship because some dude from PA with a 64 bus called it that.
Great pics,Harry and Dan.
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drewsky
climber
Seattle
|
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The only car I have ever owned: my trusty 1990 VW Fox. I'm really not sure how it's lasted a decade in my 'care', but I'm definitely becoming a mechanic, albeit slowly.
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perswig
climber
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Oct 13, 2013 - 04:15pm PT
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Dale
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Oct 13, 2013 - 05:36pm PT
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87 Syncro
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mooser
Trad climber
seattle
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Oct 13, 2013 - 07:09pm PT
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My '86 Westy on my way to the Sound for some paddling...
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goatboy smellz
climber
लघिमा
|
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May 19, 2014 - 04:57pm PT
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74 Bus weekend Camper for sale
Nederland has new city ordinance that a vehicle needs to be registered in order to keep around.
I dont have the time for a project so anyone interested in a restoration project feel free to contact
me through ST or The Samba site.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1640757
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goatboy smellz
climber
लघिमा
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May 19, 2014 - 04:59pm PT
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I love it too but it's time for someone else to take of her.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
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May 19, 2014 - 05:18pm PT
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Here's a bump for goatboy's ride.
Ran into this bus just outside of strawberry at Chuck's cabin.
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hobo_dan
Social climber
Minnesota
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May 19, 2014 - 09:00pm PT
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Man I thought it was the Skinnermobile!
Todd was the best--I remember him giving me a can of brake fluid for my leaking bug from that very same rig
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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May 20, 2014 - 09:14am PT
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Isa doing home work. My syncro had the most agressive 4X4 traxtion of any rig I have ever owned. better than mu F10 and k20 with chains. I could creep up icy hills no problem.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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May 20, 2014 - 09:38am PT
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Isa's 86 westy. Just took it out of winter storeage sunday.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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May 23, 2014 - 11:42am PT
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[Click to View YouTube Video]
Family transportation included a gas guzzler and a gas miser.
Dad always wondered about gas mileage and kept track, but it was erratic on the bug because we'd disconnect the odometer when we borrowed it.
Note the tail end of another bug
and the fact we are able to travel in both directions on Southside Drive!
Ten years after this I got to climb the Salathe.
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okie
Trad climber
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May 23, 2014 - 08:01pm PT
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The "peoples car" was the one thing Hitler got right.
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zBrown
Ice climber
Brujo de la Playa
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May 23, 2014 - 08:42pm PT
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Power to the people
going to surf city gonna have some fun
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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May 23, 2014 - 10:48pm PT
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Back in the Space Race the saying was that "Our German scientists are better than their German scientists."
We had Werner, the Russkies had shyte.
Passat's Rocket Man commercial.
http://vimeo.com/30118892
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zBrown
Ice climber
Brujo de la Playa
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May 24, 2014 - 09:20am PT
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A great thing about the bugs was the fact that several people could pick one up and move it over to create an additional parking space hopefully right near the lodge at Mammoth, but watchout for those winds on 395.
Speaking of Mammoth
There is an interactive map here where you can click on various areas of the mountain to see trails and info.
http://patrol.mammothmountain.com:83/Atlas/AtlasIndex/AtlasIndex.html
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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May 24, 2014 - 11:21am PT
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These two feisty ladies Marge and Harriet from Salt Lake City stand at the beginning of the runway to Mazatlán International Airport shooting jets as they come in to land. "There's too many dang big game fishermen coming in to town depleting our already dangerously depleted stocks of Marlin and other fish-type things."
The local police says the 'lovely ladies' [sic] will never down a modern jet with those peashooters so we leave them be to take pot shots. The chief of police continued "However if we see them using a a rocket propelled grenade we may have to do something about it. But at the moment we let them have their fun."
When I accused the nasty little man of secretly having a 'women with gun' fetish he drew out his oily sidearm and asked me to hold it while grinning lasciviously. He saw the back of my hand across his smiling chops I can tell you but not before demanding I give him 500 pesos for the pleasure.
--mazreal.blogspot
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JerryA
Mountain climber
Sacramento,CA
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May 24, 2014 - 11:38am PT
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Bugorama 2014 is being held at Sacramento Raceway Park on Hwy.16 at Excelsior Road tomorrow ,May 25th. There are thousands of VW's of almost every year & model there. The commercial vendors & the flea market sellers have enough on sale to assemble a new- old car in the parking lot.A couple of years ago I met a guy form Germany who told me he fills several cargo containers with used parts to ship home every annual visit. Check it out.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Aug 17, 2014 - 10:59am PT
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Aug 17, 2014 - 05:41pm PT
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Tricouni
Mountain climber
Vancouver
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Aug 17, 2014 - 08:47pm PT
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Now what? (1964)
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Oct 24, 2014 - 03:05pm PT
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Good one Goatboy
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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"My VW doesn't leak oil.It is just marking it's territory"
LOL.
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nita
Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
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Nov 29, 2014 - 07:54pm PT
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*
This is a good watch for Volkswagen fans..
http://www.hulu.com/watch/683455
Hey eKat, have you seen this ?...worth a watch...fun..
edit : The other John Muir...never irrelevant ..
" Come to kindly terms with your ass for it bears you" John Muir
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Nov 29, 2014 - 09:19pm PT
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That was more than a good watch.
Thank You Nita.
The vw ad of the bus crying when Jerry died.......
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 29, 2014 - 09:59pm PT
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thanks for the link Nita,
I'm a sentimental old fart and it made me cry in parts... it was the vehicle of our youth. I miss it, but then again I'm happy to be driving around in my little car now.
I can't remember how much we spent on the first bus we bought, in fact, we bought two, and got one working out of the pair. Then we drove it from Berkeley to NYCity via LA with everything we owned in it.
seems like a million years ago.
[EDIT] amazingly Debbie can't remember how much we spent on the first bus... but the number $600 (in 1975) sticks in my mind... if you use an inflation calculator that's $2,647.95 today. It was probably on the edge of our financial means at the time.
Doing a quick look for used vans/minivans for a maximum price of $3000 turns in my local area turns up this list:
1988 Ford-Econoline 250
1991 Ford-Econoline 250
1993 Toyota Previa
1994 Chevrolet Astro
1995 Nissan Quest
1996 Dodge Caravan
1996 Mazda MPV
1997 Mercury Villager
1997 Nissan Quest
1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
1998 Toyota Sienna
1999 Toyota Sienna
2001 Ford Windstar
2001 Ford Windstar
with an average model year of 1996, that's 18 years ago... in 1975 we bought a 1961 and 1964 T1... only 14 years old... for similar value.
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nita
Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
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Nov 29, 2014 - 10:04pm PT
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*
Wilbeer, glad you enjoyed watching ~ The Bus... (-;
How about the image at 5.23 with hitler admiring a volkswagen bug..Wish i knew how to do a screen capture.
Ed, love your VW story...and always love seeing the above picture of Miss Debbie with your daughter..
Cool you guys watched this little documentary.
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Risk
Mountain climber
Olympia, WA
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Nov 29, 2014 - 10:11pm PT
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I've owned six VW vans. I love them, but will never own another until I win the lottery.
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
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Nov 30, 2014 - 11:06am PT
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Love my 1987 Westfalia Vanagon Syncro.
Really good Vanagon/Syncro promo film ...
The VW Vanagon & Syncro Video by VW of America 1987
DoIKnowYouDouble07
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sII5loesIHg
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Nov 30, 2014 - 12:46pm PT
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Likewise Klimmer.Great video.
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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Nov 30, 2014 - 12:55pm PT
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Funkengroovwan!!!
Wilbeer that is the picture that you left all us dogs panting for!!
First tracks woo ha! Stalking at itZ icy best,(the tunes fit too)
Glad to see what a cardio workout it really was, wow good for you!,
just save your knees for the Snow!,it's coming!!
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BooDawg
Social climber
Butterfly Town
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Nov 30, 2014 - 05:48pm PT
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I guess I'll post this pic on Guido's "Every Picture..." thread.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Mid Life Crisis
A man in his 40's bought a new Karmann Ghia and was out for a nice evening drive.
The top was down, the breeze was blowing through what was left of his hair, and he decided to open her up.
As the needle jumped up to 90 mph (144.84096 kmph), he suddenly saw flashing red and blue lights behind him. "There's no way they can catch a Ghia," he thought to himself and opened her up further.
The needle hit 95, then 100.... then the reality of the situation hit him.
"What the hell am I doing?" he thought and pulled over.
The cop came up to him, took his license without a word, and examined it and the car.
"It's been a long day, this is the end of my shift, and it's Friday the 13th. I don't feel like more paperwork, so if you can give me an excuse for your driving that I haven't heard before, you can go."
The guy thinks for a second and says, "Last week my wife ran off with a cop. I was afraid you were trying to give her back."
"Have a nice weekend," said the officer
Photos lifted from "Small Wonder: The Amazing Story of the Volkswagen" by Walter Henry Nelson (1967 edition, Little/Brown).
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steve shea
climber
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I recently sold my '58 Porsche speedster. It had all the VW DNA the good Doktor Ferdinand intended. It was absolutely trouble free for years. With a screwdriver and a timing light you could keep it running no muss no fuss. What a car. It was a lifelong friend that became too valuable too keep.
I still have my old camper and just bought a TDI wagon. Nice but no more roadside bivies to cool the valves for adjusting the next morning. Plus 6volt electrics were a challenge at night and the animals around here are bigger than the speedster.
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hobo_dan
Social climber
Minnesota
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not sure if I ever told this story BUT I was down in Baja in '89 and I see a guy doing the valves on his bus. I sit down to reminisce about the John Muir book and to rekindle a memory or two of my own.
The guy tells me this is not the first bus he's owned. The last one he rolled somewhere North of La Paz. He's crawling out of the wreckage just as another gringo pulls up to see what happened. The guy says that he's going all the way to the states so if he wants a ride it's now or never- The guy looks at the rig, shrugs, loads a box or two, and climbs in- leaving the van for the next opportunistic salvager to come and pick up the pieces.
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JerryA
Mountain climber
Sacramento,CA
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Bought our new Model 117 VW (red sunroof sedan ) on February 13, 1965 at W.B.Lasher Co. in Sacramento & still drive it with +300,000 miles so far . It cost $2240.03 total cash price. We put a $10 bill in an envelope at the first of the month to pay for gas for many years & I was shocked when I saw gas for 45 cents a gallon in Bishop in the 1970s . Did not get a four-door until the kids were too big for the Bug's back seat.
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
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Jul 13, 2015 - 07:28am PT
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This summer's projekt:
We were at Legoland this summer, with their 9 year old cousin. Great place.
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hobo_dan
Social climber
Minnesota
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Jul 17, 2015 - 05:58am PT
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O-man--Those Sailworks monofilms will sink your ship every time--I can only imagine the deep despair of watching it all go up in smoke. San Carlos was a pretty little town with Catch-22 beach.
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Jul 17, 2015 - 09:38am PT
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Learned to drive in one.
Owned a beater bug in the early 70's for a few months.
But, now that I commute by bike fairly regularly I can't help but think that the Germans tried to get even for losing WWII by exporting the carbon monoxide generators left over from the gas chambers.
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throwpie
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Circa 1972 Mathes, Nancy, Peggy Lou and I drove this yellow convertable from the Meadows to Billings and points between. Had an Idiots Guide and a few tools.. I was the mechanic and managed to solve all the problems we encountered. Made it back to Portland with No Brakes Whatsoever. I won't bore everyone with the details, but it was an adventure for sure.
Here's Jeff at the wheel....
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zBrown
Ice climber
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It was a literal VW convertible convention.
Circa 1965 and none of the above were on board, the car was red, no women, no book, and the trip was Chula Vista to Punta Banda. Sleeping in the front seat of a VW is not recommended.
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MikeMc
Social climber
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Now that these are past the 25 year point, if I had the cash to import one, I would.
VW LT40 4x4
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throwpie
Trad climber
Berkeley
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The VW we have now
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zBrown
Ice climber
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We're all Bozos on this bus (circa 1974 Ensenada).
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Gettin ready for FaceLift....................
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Jan 29, 2016 - 07:51pm PT
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Tom
Big Wall climber
San Luis Obispo CA
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Jan 29, 2016 - 10:23pm PT
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My ticklist: 1968 Squareback, 1967 bus, three 1974 914's and a 1970 911T.
The John Muir VW repair manual should be mandatory reading in all high schools.
The first time I ever heard people cheer in a movie theater, it was for this scene
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Jan 30, 2016 - 05:08am PT
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Jan 30, 2016 - 07:45am PT
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Love that bus on a trailer, pulled by the same bus!
So weird that Volkswagen has overcome its underdog status, to become the largest car company in the world, only to throw a wrench in its own works, to regain its status as the company you don't quite trust... Again!
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Mar 25, 2016 - 02:43pm PT
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zBrown
Ice climber
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Mar 25, 2016 - 07:42pm PT
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Courtesy of Von Dutch - ride Willie ride!
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Gearhead
Trad climber
Novato Ca
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Nov 18, 2016 - 06:31pm PT
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perswig
climber
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Nov 18, 2016 - 07:30pm PT
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Gearhead!!
Posted here before, but my folks sold their butter-yellow '65 Ghia just before I was born June, 1966.
Think they held a small grudge about it ever since...
Didn't buy that around Chester Co., PA, did you?
Dale
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
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Nov 18, 2016 - 10:49pm PT
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Nov 18, 2016 - 11:25pm PT
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bajaandy
climber
Escondido, CA
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Nov 19, 2016 - 06:01pm PT
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Gearhead, nice Ghia! My first car was a '65, yellow, just like yours.
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Gearhead
Trad climber
Novato Ca
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Nov 19, 2016 - 06:23pm PT
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Thanks, The original owner has B/W pictures of this car at Tioga Pass Ranger Station from 67/68.
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EdBannister
Mountain climber
13,000 feet
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Nov 20, 2016 - 07:37pm PT
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bump... yes i felt it too, and isn't there a way to get more heat in this thing?
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jgill
Boulder climber
The high prairie of southern Colorado
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Nov 20, 2016 - 09:15pm PT
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Bought my first VW in 1961, a brand new green bug. Then over the next 14 years bought three new buses. Lots of fun times, but cold in the winter. Finally left VWs behind in order to contend with Colorado weather and Colorado roads.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Nov 20, 2016 - 09:28pm PT
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Had two Squarebacks - what a nightmare. Granted, they handled well and were stable in flight on Seattle ridge runs but a maintenance horror show. Moved on to Volvo wagons and never regretted it, especially one of Oddvar's (a legendary figure in Seattle) early 70's wagons with Buick short block V8's! You wanna talk sleepers? Hoh, man! The 285 tires and 2.5" exhaust only gave it away to some. One cop that stopped me just stared and never said a word other than "Just slow it down a bit, OK?"
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Nov 21, 2016 - 09:39am PT
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Hippies, Camp 4 troglodytes, and anarchists, the folks Wagon is for you. Hey, wait a minute, I had one, a 1966 1300 Bug, and we had a 1968 VW bus and...
bump
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Nov 21, 2016 - 10:13am PT
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Unfortunately, I put that '66 Bug into an oak tree. Not really, I was driving along and this oak tree jumped out in front of me, damn trees can do that.
It was right on the Lafayette-Walnut Creek border, semi-rural, semi-suburban.
You would have thought it was a major accident. There was: a Lafayette police car, a Walnut Creek police car, a Contra Costa County deputy's sheriff car, a CHP car, a fire engine and a fire truck (there is a difference), a fire marshall's car, and two ambulances. For little ole' me. No other cars or persons involved.
I was in shock white as a ghost (seat belt failed, bent the steering column and broke the steering wheel with my chest, took the door handle off with my arm so I had to crawl out the passenger door) and the oxygen the paramedics gave me was like a breath of fresh air from an angel.
Was taken to Walnut Creek Kaiser (where I was born in 1956). X-rays were negative, just cuts and bruises and a gosh darn sore neck and chest..Discharged and instead of going home one of my closest friends Andy, who picked me up at the hospital, just scored a pound of weed and we partied.
Poor VW Bug. But I was lucky, about three weeks earlier we had a friend in a similar accident, impaled on the steering column. Dead.
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Gary
Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Nov 21, 2016 - 12:11pm PT
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Loved my '63 bug. The starter didn't work, but it was easy to start in reverse, just stick my leg out the door and get it rolling. In the winter there was nothing wrong with the heater that a blanket wouldn't fix. When it snowed, snow drifts built up inside over by the passenger. That was a bit much.
It blew a rod bearing on US 41. It made a lot of noise, but it would still make 35 mph, so I drove it around for a bit after. Sold it for $25.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Dec 23, 2016 - 04:55pm PT
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Rainy day VW 12V & 45mpg.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Jun 19, 2017 - 02:12pm PT
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Sad......
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Gary
Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Jun 19, 2017 - 02:42pm PT
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Commuting in to work last week got caught in a freeway lane that was only doing 50. When I passed, sure enough, at the head was an old bus.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Jun 19, 2017 - 06:23pm PT
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I do not missing climbing the Grapevine in a VW bus. Napping at the base to let it cool it off before making the climb.
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hobo_dan
Social climber
Minnesota
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Jun 20, 2017 - 06:49am PT
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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Jun 20, 2017 - 06:57am PT
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gotd misses his lil'goat
I was just gonna bump it to
They took my car back and nothing will ever be the same again
Nothing,
Reduced to on overpriced to run in the sun car,
Not given near enough for the great polluting beast they took to replace it with anything that is as economical to run
I'm phooked, not able to risk or afford to risk the one family batmoblle,.
I can't risk leaving the one that's left standing at the lonely turn outs and off dirt road trail heads, it is a magnet for both redneck vandalism and tweeker hopes of scorin' dope from the contents, wich of course are nil but the broke can't fix a broken into A4, just leave the widows and doors open & unlocked?
I've not a thought to buy another VW, but there diesels were to climb 'fore
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Off White
climber
Tenino, WA
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Jun 20, 2017 - 08:25am PT
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Galen Kirkwood with his Yosemite Lodge Lot abode for the summer of 1977. He took out the passenger seat and installed a wooden foot locker which with an ensolite pad on top served as his bed. There was a whole community living in the lodge lot that summer.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Jun 20, 2017 - 08:39am PT
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My only experience with VWs up on through the '80s was driving past burning ones on the side of the road once or twice a year. Kinda put me off them...
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
Cali
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Jun 20, 2017 - 09:53am PT
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Yeah, as you drive around you see these burn areas on the side of the road and every time I think to myself 'There burnt a VW van!'.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Jun 20, 2017 - 10:02am PT
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And christ, when the magnesium in Vanagons goes off it's spectacular. Had one burn on the side of I-84 in the Gorge, maybe twenty-five feet off the shoulder, and even from the lefthand lane with the windows rolled up it felt like I was getting singed from the radiant heat. All the tire rubber was in puddles as well and fire guys were just letting it burn.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Jun 20, 2017 - 10:19am PT
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Tom Patterson
Trad climber
Seattle
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Jun 20, 2017 - 01:26pm PT
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My wife and I just made the gut-wrenching decision to sell our '86 Westy this past weekend. We got almost twice what we paid for it, and the drivetrain is in really great shape. Sold it to a family for their own set of new adventures, and felt good about it.
We've decided to buy a little teardrop trailer for less than we sold the Westy for. That way, we can set up a camp without having to take down poptop, awning, etc., to then drive to where the rocks are. Plus, given that we'll be pulling it with a fairly new Subaru, we can drive across country and Canada without always wondering, "Is this the moment that things fall apart?"
I've always been fine with that part of the deal, but it's not necessarily fair to inflict that excitement on my wife.
A new chapter, but dang...I almost cried seeing it drive away on Saturday.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Jun 20, 2017 - 01:46pm PT
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That is sad,Mooser,damn......
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Captain...or Skully
climber
Boise, ID
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Jun 20, 2017 - 04:59pm PT
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Manning the jetta, motoring through the Utahn desert.
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jgill
Boulder climber
The high prairie of southern Colorado
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Jun 20, 2017 - 05:09pm PT
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There are 10,000 new VWs sitting and rotting away in a field south of Colorado Springs. Should be able to get a good deal.
I had one Bug and four vans over the years.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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Jun 21, 2017 - 05:43am PT
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We got almost twice what we paid for it? Including maintenance?
The envy I had of these things back in the 80's and 90's has been replaced with laughter whenever I see one still on the road - often piloted by someone who is too young for the era and could have paid less for a Sprinter...
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chill
climber
The fat part of the bell-curve
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Jun 21, 2017 - 07:56am PT
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Summer of '82. My GF (now wife) and I slept in the back of this in the Camp4 parking lot for a few nights. She still married me, even after that.
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Tom Patterson
Trad climber
Seattle
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Jun 21, 2017 - 07:58am PT
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Including maintenance?
Good point, JLP. But I sort of figure that into the daily reality of owning a VW.
It's actually in considerably better shape--and had lots of extras I added--than when we bought it.
And wilbeer...yeah, that was a tough one. I was crying on the inside, but my wife was full on crying on the outside.
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BLUEBLOCR
Social climber
joshua tree
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Aug 21, 2017 - 08:54pm PT
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Ha. Maybe a buss bar car?!
It sure don't look as neat.
But I'll take my 88' for all time. After I bolt up a Subby engine of course!
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Don Lauria
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
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Aug 22, 2017 - 10:56am PT
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Even though I bought a new Beetle in 2001 that I'm still driving now, my favorite auto was my brand new 1962 Bug. Took my family everywhere in that Bug. Three kids, a wife, backpacking gear (including a large heavy McKinley Tent from the Co-Op), a food cooler - all stuffed into the bug - no top rack! Summer of '65 we drove to the Tetons, the Wind Rivers, and then to the Needles of South Dakota.
From 1964 through 1976, I owned 5 different VW vans - one of those I purchased from Russ McLean - great bubble top with built-in features. We called it "The Magic Bus". Cruised through Manhattan Beach with the side doors wide open and the Beatles turned up loud. Gave it to my son when he graduated from high school. His first summer he took it Baja on a surfing trip and it was stolen.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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And then there were three.
Thank You California.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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My Life - Vol. II by RR.
"That winter [1956] while continuing to work at Union Bank, I skied every weekend, entering ski races as often as possible. It was during this winter that we learned to appreciate Volkswagens, both the "Bugs"" and the vans.
"They were inexpensive, didn't use a lot of gas, had the engine weight over the rear wheels (better for driving on snow), and you didn't have to worry about the water freezing because the motor was air-cooled.
"The vans were slow but economical. they got us to the ski areas, and we could sleep on the way. Volswagens simply made a lot of sense, and skiers began to look with disdain at the big gas-guzzling cars of the period, with their flamboyant tail fins."
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 30, 2017 - 01:21pm PT
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Oct 30, 2017 - 03:15pm PT
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Just got back from a 2k mile roadtrip in Isa's westy.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Oct 31, 2017 - 06:00am PT
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Nice tradman!
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Oct 31, 2017 - 10:30am PT
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 31, 2017 - 10:32am PT
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My favorite Volkswagon Group voiture, bien sûr...
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 31, 2017 - 04:26pm PT
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Just saw this. Somebody’s getting a nice Halloween treat! BANK!
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BLUEBLOCR
Social climber
joshua tree
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Oct 31, 2017 - 05:33pm PT
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I almost got 2 months in the camp4 parking lot😎
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Oct 31, 2017 - 05:59pm PT
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GTD,for those who do not want a Bugatti.
Nice Blue.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Nov 16, 2017 - 05:09pm PT
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lostinshanghai
Social climber
someplace
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The Valley, taking guess sometime in mid 70's maybe later ???? sure someone here know the details. Run out of gas, no plates, trunk, engine and everything removed and filled/stuffed with dinky dau airplane pot.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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I saw this in a local airport hanger the other day...
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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May 19, 2018 - 10:28pm PT
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2013 VW Bus, driven up from Brazil via Chile. Retracing the route Antonio's father took in the 1970s.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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million dollar bug, I do not think so. A 64 van in the same condition might go for a few hundred thousand.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Nov 30, 2018 - 02:51pm PT
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WBraun
climber
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Nov 30, 2018 - 02:55pm PT
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Looks like it might be Dave Hitchcock's stuff .....?
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mastadon
Trad climber
crack addict
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Nov 30, 2018 - 05:12pm PT
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Hitchie says it’s not his. He thought it might be mine (it’s not).
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Nov 30, 2018 - 07:39pm PT
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Three of them.
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swanson
Trad climber
Carlsbad
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This is my 3rd bus. '77, '87, and now 90
My brother (Mooser) and I have always had the VW itch. We both grew up inheriting the family '67 Bug. When i got it, it was pretty much in boxes and had to build it if I really wanted to drive it :p
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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zardoz, how did you get it smogged? Smog check was the bane of our existence when all we drove was VWs. Once the engine would pass smog it ran like crap. Phucking throttle positioners, messed up timing on 009 distributors, bad memories. Most of the squarebacks and Type 4s got junked because of the smog issues. We partied hard when the 74 and early models became exempt.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 7, 2019 - 06:43pm PT
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I always worked very gingerly back there until first blood. After that it was a lot more relaxed.
Once I was changing spark plugs for a friend, the #4 was a bitch to get at and I usually did it blind fishing my left arm through the engine compartment door holding the spark plug socket against any cross axis torque and the right arm to muscle the wrench.
It was a tight fit, and I didn't want to strip the threads. What I couldn't see was that my right hand was up against some sheet metal, which cut me and streamed a bit of blood down my hand. My friend was just watching. When I got it out and removed my hands I startled, "I'm bleeding! Why didn't you say something?"
"Oh," she said, "I thought you were just acting macho."
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Good story.^^^
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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zBrown
Ice climber
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Not a VW, but just as popular, a Z car, with brake shoes rusted (tightly to say the least) TO THE DRUMS.
I tried, while not everything, most of everything. Would not budge
My solution, with a six foot breaker bar on the nut.
When the thing popped it sounded like I had set off a bomb in the garage.
Michele came running out to see if I was dead and NO BLOOD WAS SHED.
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Don Lauria
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
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VW Remembrances
I’ve owned 6 VWs in my day, one 62 Bug and 4 different vans: Brand new 1955, a brand new 1958, a used 1960 bought from Dave Hanbury, and a used 1954 bubble top all equipped with cabinets and bed (bought it from Russ McClean). Drove it for a year or two. Loved it. We called “The Magic Bus”. Used to drive it down the center of Manhattan Beach Boulevard with the side doors open and the audio system blasting out Beatles tunes. Ah, the Magic Bus. Gave to my surfer son for his birthday. He took it south into Mexico and it was stolen.
The brand new 1962 VW Bug – best car I ever owned (except maybe my 1977 Honda Civic).
I had my copy of Muir’s maintenance book and I did all the work on the Bug for all the years I owned it – gave it to my oldest daughter in 1972.
One year, maybe 1968, driving on the Ventura Freeway on my way home, as I descended an off-ramp, I noticed a wobble in the front right wheel. Luckily, only had a short drive to my home. Got home, jacked up the front end and discovered the right wheel was on the verge of coming off the axle.
The day before I had greased the front wheel bearings. In the process of remounting the wheels, I forgot to secure the lock on the axle nut and it had slowing been untightening itself to the point of departure from the axle. Dumb and lucky.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Don, the practical engineer.
Here's a fancy rod with a VW heritage polloited by Detrout.
V-R-R-ROOM!
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JerryA
Mountain climber
Sacramento,CA
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I still own and drive the 1965 1200 Sedan I bought new on February 13,1965 in Sacramento.It cost $2240.03 with license , title, & tax. I've only met one original buyer who bought their VW before me.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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I posted this in an RV/van thread earlier but of course works here too. Seen at the Cozy Cone Motel on Route 66.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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VW is deepening its ties with Ford? 🙀😱
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zBrown
Ice climber
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zardoz
Doing valves was just time consuming. I rarely found one that was out.
Generator replacement. NO thanks, though I got it done.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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If you find that the valves need frequent adjusting then there is a good chance the head studs are pulling out. Frequent cause is excess compression. The heads need to be cc'ed and shimmed after milling them. Extra compression will jack up performance for a while then the motor dies.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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My good friend Roger Madison slid off the road in his 72 Bus,He sold it to me for 600 bucks.
I blew a head gasket ,1600 motor,just outside of Flagstaff in 79.
I had to hitch to town to find one , the parts store guy did not have one ,but, knew a guy ,who not only had the part ,but ,gave me a ride back to the bus and helped me tear down half of that motor.
Started it up ,said our goodbyes and shut it down and slept for a day.
Man.
Wish I had a pic of that German desert camo 72 Bus,what a machine,all 46 hp.
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hooblie
climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
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we were having skunky luck with the weather on an early season start in the valley. a trio was formed for a road trip to josh in my rig.
although the young ladie's VW squareback was briefly considered, it was ruled out for mechanical reasons involving a repair unique
to aircooled engines; the drilling of the case, rethreading, etc. to relieve horrible pounding at each combustion cyle.
the gas station next to C4 was closed for the evening but a guy would come in to pump gas after hours for card customers in the village.
the attendant fills out the little paper, reaches across the counter for the card and rolls the inky thing across.
it's been an almost awkwardly quiet transaction considering the courtesy rendered.
so as she signs her name, flanked by two dudes and without any preamble or context,
the little miss offers matter of factly, "I have a loose head, I need oversized studs"
having no reason not to take this at face value, the attendant sizes us up, initiating a three way volley of concerned glances
exchanged between the males in the room. squirming commences.
as she sets the pen down and surveys the situation the remark must have echoed in the space between her ears.
to our relief, she led the gang in a bout of hysteria, one of the cherished gut wrenchers from my days in the park
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Jan 10, 2019 - 06:47am PT
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Yes.
That motor was like working on a lawn mower compared to more modern VW’s.
Like my Vanagons,I probably had my hands on every part of that Bus at one time or another.
Good times indeed.
BTW, I made it home to NY,but ,that motor never ran right until I did a complete rebuild with head /valve jobs.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 10, 2019 - 08:18am PT
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fortunately never suffered an engine catastrophe in my 1961 bus with a 1964 engine.
There was the comment in the Muir book about getting a temperature sensor for the #4 cylinder, which I did. Rigging it up to a nice VDO gauge on the "dashboard."
Driving would then be at the speed that kept that temperature in a reasonable range (I can't remember what the range was) but it was certainly welcome information on the status of the engine, I think 54 hp?
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Jan 10, 2019 - 09:15am PT
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There is no head gasket on aircooled VW engines
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Jan 10, 2019 - 11:31am PT
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I stand corrected ,for sure,I believe it was a head itself. My brain is going away.
It may have been 54 hp as well.lol
After thinking of it for awhile I cannot really remember why I have referred to it as a head gasket,I know I have before. I am not actually sure if it was a head ,or the gaskets that made it lose compression. Maybe they referred to them as cylinder gaskets.
Senior moments.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Jan 10, 2019 - 12:34pm PT
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Loss of compression on an air cooled is usually a valve issue, burnt or dropped. Most commonly fixed by replacing the head. The copper gasket between the head and cylinder was factory installed on the 1200s. They are sometimes still used as shims, although steel shims are preferred as they more accurately set cylinder volume (CCs). Most rebuilt engines today end up having elevated compression so CCing and shimming the head is mandatory.
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mastadon
Trad climber
crack addict
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Feb 20, 2019 - 07:43am PT
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Sure wish I still had access to this shop to work on my stuff.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Mar 13, 2019 - 02:19pm PT
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ManMountain
Mountain climber
San Diego
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Mar 13, 2019 - 05:42pm PT
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Had six VW cars from 1969 to 1980, bugs, Wagons, Ghias and even a Thing briefly. Fabulous cars on the highway but suffered from overheating in the steep slows. Never got 50,000 miles from any engine before a major rebuild; finally had two engines for each car, the rebuilt engine ready for installation in my basement, to replace the runner which could crater unexpectedly. A simply tow to my house and 30 minutes of switching out and I wuz' good for another 50,000 miles of roaming while I rebuilt the trashed engine.
Lessons learned. Stay stock, original oil cooler, all cooling flanges in place, stock exhaust system with passenger heat system, etc. Boosting hp with a stroked and/or bored engine, big dual carbs, full flow exhausts, etc., invites premature failure.
Your mileage may vary but f**cking with the factory setup is asking for trouble. They're essentially airplane engines which run good @60 mph cruising but blow up crawling and in max 100mph situations.
Glad I switched to similar underpowered water cooled engines, 4 cyl lunchboxes (Subaru/Honda/KIA/Ford) sh#t, much more reliable 150,000+ mile engines. MY Hyundai is at 180,000 miles and still meets factory compression ratio specs. The VW aircooled engine is an anachronism.
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johntp
Trad climber
Punter
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Mar 13, 2019 - 05:48pm PT
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Who's was it?
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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I don’t know why y’all are whining about adjusting the valve clearance. Wear gloves when you pop off the covers, and have a feeler gauge that you don't have to bend to get it there. And don't overtighten the damn nuts (make it easier for you next time.) And while you’re at it set #4 just a shave looser. The valves cool when they’re closed against the seat.
True story. My friend Jean and I drove his ’68 van (IMO an awful year) up to the gunks from NYC. After a day climbing, we drove down to New Paltz for dinner and a beer or three. When we went out the van wouldn’t start. It had spark, it had fuel, it cranked just fine. We were both decent VW mechanics and we were stumped. We figured the camshaft wasn't turning. We were right but didn't rub enough neurons together to Sherlock it out. No matter what we did the damn thing was dead. Finally we took a bus home and came back a week later to tow it home with my Dad’s truck.
Back at home on Staten Island we dropped the motor and began disassembly. Of course, the first things off were the valve covers and the second were the rocker arms. There were no pushrods. Some f+ck had stolen the pushrods. They popped the covers, pulled off the rocker arms (two 13mm nuts, NBD,) took the pushrods and then put the rocker arms and valve covers back together. I’ve always wondered if they needed the parts or if we pissed someone off at the bar who knew how to totally f us up.
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zBrown
Ice climber
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I had a red 1968 - worked well when there was no wind
Did not have gloves
After rebuilding my 1965 bug {all balanced and everything } I recall getting 40 miles per gallon
I was not on the east coast
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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{all balanced and everything }
As in measuring the weight of each piston and rod? I love that sh+it.
They all had a burr of metal designed to be filed off to match weight. Find the lightest one and proceed. Have a motor that sings.
I won't say what else that fine scale was used for...
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zBrown
Ice climber
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Did not have a scale!
Had associates who dealt in bulk!
The shoppe did it for me - cheap :)
I think it was 41.1 mpg
Edit
Had a friend who loaned me the crankshaft gauge (he worked at a dealership)
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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I was riding in a friend’s car, going through the town of Tupper Lake, New York (in the Adirondack Mtns.) We passed a house which had a nice looking ‘64 VW van in the front yard with a 4 SALE sign on it. We stopped, and I was looking over the very clean van, when a grumpy old guy came out of the house and barked “Fifty bucks and it’s yours, but you don’t want it. Damn motor seized again!”
I went to the back and opened the engine compartment lid and began to inspect the motor. It looked new. I grabbed hold of the lower pulley on the end of the crankshaft and pulled and pushed. It had about the right end play, which you could feel on those motors, so I knew the crank wasn’t seized. Then I saw it. Looking in the opening in the generator (where the brushes are) I could see a tangled mess of freshly shredded copper.
I called the old guy over and told him that I thought the generator armature had disintegrated and that was keeping the motor from turning over. He basically told me “F*ck off, you didn’t know sh*t. If you want it cough up the fifty bucks.”
I paid him and he signed over the slip and gave me the keys.
While he watched, I took out my Swiss Army knife, cut the generator / fan belt, started it up and drove it off his lot. Of course I had to park it a few blocks away, before it could overheat. I got a replacement generator for about $35.00 and had a great van. I drove by the old coot’s house many times over the next few years and always tooted the horn.
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