Jefferson Middle School is just a few blocks away, and part of our (me and the dog) morning post-breakfast walk, as it’s adjacent to an open space. The usual assortment of CUVs, minivans and compact cars typically populate the parking lot, but on this morning, there was something a bit less boring. Not exactly surprising, for Eugene, but worth shooting. And since it’s not drop off time, I’m assuming it belongs to a teacher. Now that brings back some memories.
I’m going to guess it’s from 1965 – 1967, the last years of the original VW “Bulli” buses and transporters. I did a lot of my unofficial training behind the wheel of one of these. In my sophomore year at Loyola High School, a fresh-out-of-college French teacher was hired that fall, and he had a white-over-green ’65 bus, just like this. And the choke in it would get hung up, so I often had to help him start it. The payback was that I got to drive it, even though I was 15 and had no license. Minor detail.
This is one has the three-across seating in front, which was pretty unusual in the latter years of these. Three really could sit comfortably in the back seats, but the front doors pinched in towards the front, and with the stick shift there, it just wasn’t very conducive to three adults. But practically half the sophomore class piled in sometimes, to get a ride into Towson, or for some other inappropriate activity or another. Given that this teacher was like 22 or 23, and a bit immature, we didn’t have a hard time coercing him into all kinds of…things we shouldn’t have been doing, in his bus, and with me often behind the wheel. Including a ski trip to Roundtop, in Pennsylvania, in a snow storm, with me driving, and a number of other sophomores in the back seats. Who were passing bottles and joints around. Quite a trip.
So when I look at the driver’s compartment of one of these, it brings up very deep-seated and intense memories. If you can drive a bus through the mountains in a snow storm carrying a bunch of drunk and stoned kids, your sense of invincibility does tend to swell some. Or just your actual driving skills.
Ironically, this is by far the most valuable vehicle in the parking lot. In fact, it’s probably worth more than all the cars here put together. Now that’s something I couldn’t have imagined in 1967, hunched over the wheel, shifting furiously to keep up some semblance of speed.
By the way, that teacher only lasted about three months before he was fired. Too many reports about his students seen behind the wheel of his bus, and a few other activities not conducive to a Jesuit High School teacher.
’67 Bus has backup lamp above the taillamps, so not a ’67. It does have ’67 type switch knobs on it, however. The 4 way flasher switch location points to it being a ’66. My old ’66 Sundial camper had 3 across seating, at least until I attacked the compartment wall with a Sawzall and cut out the divides and spare wheel section and installed Mazda bucket seats.
In high school we had an art teacher that would sit in tobacco road and smoke pot with the students, often between a couple of pretty girls. He actually lasted for a couple of years as a teacher at our school.
It came out looking pretty good, but I would think if I did that today to a pristine Bus I would be sent to the VW insane asylum!
The reverse lamps didn’t start until mid 1967 model year, late Dec 66 or early Jan 67.
It’s a 67 for sure. 1967 only hatch, rear panel, gas flap and 1967 only radio opening.
Both Beetle and Bus always bring back memories for almost everyone, that is by far one of the best “features” of these cars and this white and dark red combo is one of the best colors for the Bus IMO, I think that’s why Volkswagen Brasil opted for this color on the custom T2 Kombi they made for the 2008 Sao Paulo Auto Show:
Who would have ever guessed back when these were new that they’d be so valuable today? It boggles the mind.
Theres one of these on trademe at present the ask is 120k, will he get it? who knows Kombis sell for stupid money these days.
That’s a very attractive little bus. I could never get into these as they were so under powered and unsuitable for American freeway use. After driving my old 70s Hondamatic Civic wagon for a couple of years I could see how an owner would learn to compensate. I remember having to very accurately judge the speed and distance of oncoming vehicles as I entered the freeway. Sometimes I would misjudge and have to come to complete stop on the ramp. This was not appreciated by traffic behind me. A coworker of mine was an old surfer guy and he did a restoration on one of these buses in the early 90’s. His was an early one that had the little windows around the top and the crankout windshield. I read that a model like that went for 100k at auction. I guess that a lot of old ex hippies have done pretty well for themselves.
These were always my favorite VW buses, and it’s nice to see one in good shape and obviously well cared for. A few years ago, I saw an interesting documentary on the history of the VW Bus. Here’s the link to the website:
http://www.busmovie.com/
Air Cooled VW’s are rapidly becoming toys for the rich. 5 years ago, I restored a ’64 40HP engine. (Have yet to run it). Was just yesterday looking at part prices, and they have at least doubled in the last 5 years, assuming you can still get them. Prices shot thru the roof the day the last air cooled Beetle rolled off the line.
Paul,
My recollections of the teachers at LHS were, well, a little more remote!
With the exceptions of this one, I’d agree with you. He did not last long for several good reasons.
Given the way prices have gone with these, i wonder what the theft rate is like.
And since air cooled VW’s are, shall we say, ahem, moving upscale, will probably see less of them in Eugene, or SE Portland….
Drove quite a few of these around the Dundak Marine Terminal in the early ’70’s, when I had a part-time job as a stevedore back in my college days. Slow they were, but the smooth shifter and great visibility made them pleasant to drive. And, the fit and finish was impeccable, as was with the Beetle. Excellent packaging all around.
Didn’t get to drive much at highway speeds, but I would think the light front end and tall profile could make it a handful.
This van in this condition MIGHT draw $30K from someone that doesn’t know what they’re doing. The 23 window vans that generate six figure prices in the US are something else entirely. You can buy completed projects all day long in the US for less than $50K, and making this one as nice as those will cost more than it will be worth when it is done. OTOH, these vans were expensive when they were $3,000.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Cars-Trucks-/6001/i.html?Model%2520Year=1901|1902|1903|1904|1905|1906|1907|1908|1909|1910|1911|1912|1913|1914|1915|1916|1917|1918|1919|1920|1921|1922|1923|1924|1925|1926|1927|1928|1929|1930|1931|1932|1933|1934|1935|1936|1937|1938|1939|1940|1941|1942|1943|1944|1945|1946|1947|1948|1949|1950|1951|1952|1953|1954|1955|1956|1957|1958|1959|1960|1961|1962|1963|1964|1965|1966|1967&_dcat=6001&_dmpt=US_Cars_Trucks&makeval=Volkswagen&modelval=Vanagon&_mtrvfc=1&_sop=7&_stpos=92109&_nkw=Volkswagen%20Vanagon
As costly as these vans might be, the people I see driving them in Northern California don’t look monied. They’re generally slightly scruffy 60ish men with longer grey hair who look like they understand their vehicle. And on the freeway they are always in the far right lane going maybe 55mph which I assume is near top speed.
It’s funny how these vans are calling cards for “”Eco” crowd. They belch pollution and are unsafe as hell. Totally at odds with their image.
Nice old Kombi ! .
I had one , more than one actually .
-Nate
Somewhat related, there’s early, rare VW pickup that’s always parked outside a cafe around the corner from my neighborhood. It’s solid and with the aftermarket canvas modifications, it looks like a Kraut Conestoga Wagon. I can’t tell what year it is but know there are Wolfsburg analysts out there who can.
Field trips in the teachers personal car, oh how I remember! 1987, 7th grade I was in home ec, as it was known as back then, a required class. I was one of 2 boys in that class. Teacher was single tall blonde woman, had a thing for black leather and heavy metal, smoked cigarettes. Had the whole 80’s metal look going on for field trip day to dominos pizza. Another parent volunteered their time and 70’s round plastic fishbowl window with mag wheels Dodge Van to shuttle the rest of the class to the field trip. Teacher took both us boys and one of the girls in her 72 Dodge Dart Demon. I rode shotgun. I remember the car was lime green, console shifter, glaspaks and jacked up in the rear. Probably had the 340 in it. She was playing the new Whitesnake album on cassette on high volume and puffing away on a Virginia Slim. Best field trip ever! How times have changed.
I remember riding along with teachers on field trips on a couple of occasions too, but replace “tall single blond with a thing for leather” with “tall married woman in her 40’s” and “’72 Dodge Dart Demon” with “mid 80’s Olds Cutlass Ciera”.
Loses something in the translation…
I’m sure nowadays that sort of thing is strictly prohibited. The laywers would pounce.