Second-built Samba discovered in a field, to undergo restoration

[mahatmakanejeeves]

That will buff right out.

Second-built Samba discovered in a field, to undergo restoration

Daniel Strohl on Jul 19th, 2017 at 8am



Photo courtesy WDR.de.

Had it not been for an ID plate that had remained with the bus – and a Volkswagen enthusiast with an eye for rare Wolfsburg tin – then a rare 1951 VW Microbus Deluxe left sitting in a German field for more than 50 years might well have become so much scrapyard fodder. Instead, it’s now destined for a 10-year restoration.

According to that ID plate, which current owner Florian Kalff of Bonn, Germany, ran by Volkswagen’s archives before buying the dual pickup loads’ worth of rusted metal, the 23-window Microbus – aka “Samba” – not only dates to 1951, the first year of production, it also dates to one of the first days of production. Reportedly, the Volkswagen archives only list one earlier chassis number for a Samba, which has since gone missing.
....

Kalff has since carted the remains to his shop about 30 miles away and started planning the Samba’s restoration, which he said will require at least 10 years and another six figures; a British coachbuilder has been conscripted to replicate the missing parts of the body and incorporate as much of the existing body as possible. The result of the restoration, he told the General-Anzeiger, should document the Samba’s history rather than sparkle and shine.

Progress on the restoration will be posted to Kalff’s website.

[Binkie The Clown]

1. Those tail lights might need replacing. n/t

[SonofDonald]

2. It's neat but....

Can you imagine how much money it's going to take to bring it back?.

Truckloads.

[dweller]

3. good luck

finding OG parts... ✌🏼️

[byronius]

4. I understand this well.

In 1970, my family went on a crazy journey (crazy father) that lasted four months -- from Saudi down through Africa (in the rainy season), across to Sri Lanka, up through India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Kuwait, and then back to Saudi, all in a 1969 VW bus. I was ten, and broke my right arm the day before we left.

Four people, old-style tents, food, water. We nearly died every day. But I grew to love and respect that bus. It saved our lives numerous times. Stock, with snow tires and an engine plate installed in Egypt.

Two other families went, one in an older Samba, one in a Singer station wagon. The family in the Singer didn't make it -- terrible accident night-driving in India. The mother lost an arm, the daughter an eye -- that was a long, long drive to the hospital in Delhi.

Anyway. Miss that old bus. Tough as nails. Survived the most incredibly bad roads you can imagine. Got us through.

[SonofDonald]

5. They are the best buses ever made

I've never owned a bus but I have had more than a few bugs in my time, I've always wanted a Karman or a notchback but a kombi or a panel bus would be bitchen, I've ridden in a few buses in my time, the first at age seven.

Damn, now I want one, again....

If it wasn't for that air cooled engine....