1957 Volkswagen Bus/Vanagon

Minivan, Van

none

Manual

357988

Clear

Gasoline

You are looking at a rare find. A late '50s or early '60s (no newer than 1961) Volkswagen Fifteen Window Microbus. It was purchased in package deal, and the farmer who's grove it was pulled out of is fairly sure he has the titles, but is still looking for them. If located, a title will be provided with the vehicle, otherwise it will be sold with a bill-of-sale only. I found what I believe to be the VIN number behind the front seat on the passenger side which is stamped into the steel divider panel. The number reads 357988. There may be some other numbers located in the engine compartments, but both vans are parked back-to-back on my trailer with no real way to get them loaded back up if I were to take them off. I was hoping to leave them on the trailer until sold, then transfer them over onto the buyer's trailer at that time, or else possibly deliver each one in person. They were gently picked up with a forklift without damage, and set onto my trailer at the location we picked them up from. I don't have a fork-lift myself, but can carefully drag them off the trailer. As you can see, I have hubs/drums to go onto the splined axle shafts, which can have wheels bolted up to them, although I only have 3 wheels and would have to round up a 4th in order for it to be sitting on rims. As you can see, the driver's front end area is damaged from an accident, but could be straightened back out with a porter-power or bottle-jack with a piece of 2x4 so you could get a door hung back on it again. I'm told they sell the whole front body panel section aftermarket, as well as floor pans, rocker panels, and everything else that needs replacement due to rust. As you can see in the pictures, the main 2 structural rails that run the length of the vehicle are still solid despite sitting in the dirt for years. The outer body mounts are rough, as are a lot of other aspects of the van, but I've seen people pull rougher busses than these out of the bottom of a lake to restore. At one time, they were totally worthless, and when people were finished driving them, they typically just junked them or abandoned them by the side of the road. Those days are long gone, and finding a 15 window in a grove like this is completely unheard of anymore! This is an ambitious project, but they are extremely collectible & valuable, so it's well worth restoring. After pulling it out of the grove & getting it home, I power-washed all the moss & caked on dirt off of it to really expose everything. It was still wet in the pictures, so it perhaps looks a little worse than it is, but you get a realistic idea of the condition it's in. It's the more desireable Deluxe model, so it came with all the extra aluminum trim & brightwork that the standard models didn't have. The rear curved glass is un-broken, but has some milking around the edges. The rest of the panels are just flat glass that can be cut by any glass shop inexpensively, although many of them are okay as well. The original round taillights are still there, and unbroken. There's no engine, but the transaxle is still in there. I don't have a way to know if it's good. The vehicle steers, but is't something that can be rolled around at this point without a little more work & a 4th wheel. If you're looking for a VW Bus project, and don't have the dough to fork out for an already restored one... here's a good start on a very desireable body style. If you wanted to make it into a 23 window clone, you can buy those little curved roof-glass panels, and install them, as well as sliding ragtops to really make it neat! By bidding on this vehicle, you acknowledge that it is being sold As Is with no warranty. I require a $250 security deposit within 3 days of auction's end, and remainder of balance to be paid for in full with cash in person. If having it shipped, a cashier's check, money order or bank wire-transfer is acceptable, and I will assist with loading. If you have any other questions, I can be reached afternoons/evenings at (641) 512-5229, or message me through eBay. Thanks for looking! If you have any trouble viewing the slideshow at the top of this page, please be sure to go directly to: picasaweb.google.com/oldcargeek ...or click on the thumbnail image below to view the link to my web-album with 87 photos of this bus!: Volkswagen Red Bus for sale