1966 Volkswagen Bus/Vanagon

Minivan/Van

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Gasoline

This is a 1966 Volkswagen Deluxe Microbus, very good driving condition. Mechanically very sound, I have driven this bus for the past several years and never hesitate to take it on longer trips, including Salt Lake to Las Vegas and back, and Wheeler Peak State Park in Nevada... elevation 10,000 ft., as well as around town whenever I want. It has always performed flawlessly for me, and I would not hesitate to hop in tomorrow and drive anywhere in the continental U.S. The motor is a stock dual-port 1600, with less than 8,000 miles. Transmission is stock. As the pictures show, there is very little rust on this bus, the front floors were the only bad rust on it, and I have replaced them recently. The cargo door rocker has some pinholes and may need to be replaced a few years down the road. The outer 10" of the cargo floor has a couple of holes, and a person would probably want to replace it when the rocker gets done. I have done a few minor cosmetic body repairs over the years, and have gone to some length to save as much of the original paint as possible, matching and blending the new into the old. You can see in some of the pics where the new paint meets the old. Overall, about 60% of the original paint remains, and the patina is beautiful. There are a couple of major condition problems with the bus, however. That huge hole in the roof is one. You see, in it's previous life it sat for some years abandoned in someone's back yard where a tree limb fell on the roof and mashed it in pretty hard. A friend of mine rescued the bus from it's unloved state, made it mechanically sound again, and cut the big hole in the roof, and installed a "Dormobile" camper poptop and cabinetry. At this time, he also cut out the spare tire well in the bulkhead between the passenger compartment and cab so that the Dormobile cabinetry would fit. My friend drove the bus all over the western U.S., camped everywhere in it, and enjoyed it for what it was... a pretty cool old OG paint split-window camper bus. Later, he decided to take it apart, sold the Dormy equipment, and was ready to cut the bus up for repair panels. (EGAD!) Fortunately, I was at the right place at the right time, and the shell of this bus became mine. I built the motor and put the bus right mechanically, and decided to put a big "band-aid" on the roof so that I could drive it around while I looked for a 21-window roof clip. I soon found that camping in a bus with a roll-back canvas roof was the best way to camp ever, and decided to leave it that way. The Sunbrella synthetic canvas snaps in place, fits tightly, and is water proof. I have been on a camping trip where it rained all day and night, and well into the next day... never leaked a drop. I have also driven at 65 MPH in a driving rain... no leaks. I do not, however, leave it outside in the rain while it is at home... no sense in inviting leakage. The interior is very basic, and not period "correct." It is functional and clean. Rear seats are from a later model bus. All door and window seals are in need of replacement. If the new owner would like to fix the roof or bulkhead issues, I have a complete standard roof and a correct bulkhead that I can sell at a very reasonable price. They are not included in this auction. I have enjoyed this bus very much for the last 4 years or so... but it is time for it to move along. If you are the winning bidder, I am sure that you will get as many smiles per mile as I have had. This is a REAL fly in, drive home bus.