CC reader Dave just sent me this video, which I found very worthwhile watching. Working from a tip given him by a mushroom hunter, a young man searched for and found a ’55 VW van abandoned 40 years ago deep in the French Alps. The initial plan was to tow it out, but he decided to “restore” it on site, and drive it out instead. With the help of some friends and a lot of parts, they get it running on the second day, and manage to drive it back to civilization. Very sweet, and it reminds me of the woods of Oregon.
Wonderful story and video! The world is a better place with young men such as this one. I hope he drives this VW for a long time.
+ 1.
Great !! I think 55s were just after the ” barn doors” right ?
This is a beautifully shot video, very similar to the Petrolicious series of films. It’s a nice story. It was a good idea to completely go through the braking, electrical, and fuel systems. I hope they don’t find any structural rust damage. They even swapped in a different motor. Not really the barn find start up I imagined. It’s never really a good idea to drive off in a barn find without going through the a fun watch!
I sure like that he acted on his “good idea” immediately before he could talk himself out of it! What a great story resulted!
A wonderful story, and amazing that he followed through with it. I can all too easily imagine coming across an old car abandoned in the forest and passing by (after taking pix for CC of course) without a thought that it could be resurrected.
Epic!
Excellent video! Amazing what they could get done in two days, it’ll be a long road to get that bus back into good condition.
Great video. A simple vehicle such as this makes a fix and drive a realistic option. You only need a good battery and a hot wire jumped to the coil to get you home, especially if you hand crank start (or push) it as was done here. Wheel and master cylinders, possibly brake lines. A friend had a ’56 panel van like this, but her’s had the rare cargo doors on both sides. It was primer grey as well. The floor and sills have got to be rotted out to next to nothing left in this damp setting, and along with the bent roof the real job is going to be cutting out and replacing all the cancer. Well done!
Reminds me of the Woody Allen film, Sleeper, where he ends up in the future, finds a VW in a cave that was abandoned 200 years ago, and it starts right up!
The Twilight Zone had an episode like that. Some gold thieves pulled a heist and holed up in a cave in the desert. They suspended themselves in time for 100 years and when they woke up their old Ford truck fired up on the first try. That aside, it was a really good episode.
Great story on the VW panel van. Good to see it all worked out.
For a neat abandoned vehicle story, Google ” Maine abandoned locomotives”. There are two old steam engines left over from logging operations that ended in the early 30’s. They’re out in the woods miles from anything. I don’t think that they are going anywhere though.
Same colour and model 54 as the one my friend Renee found in the bush in southern Tassie she dragged her one home behind her 73 Dodge 2ton flat deck, it was well beyond revival the left side was actually detached by rust, the one in the video is quite good for its age.
Going back to the roots:
https://www.netcarshow.com/volkswagen/2017-id_buzz_concept/
Drat. Fires up a long dormant itch for a type 2.
I’m really beginning to like drone videos….
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This whole thing is a joy to behold ..
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I hope they can save it ~ in the late 1970’s Crooked Cliffy had a ’54 (? IIRC) Panel Van also in Dove Blue, it has serious rust and i think got ruined by the body shop entrusted to save it .
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-Nate
Great video and soundtrack. It’s a similar shade of blue (and condition) to a ’59 Transporter I came across a few years ago. It had been parked since 1977, and the new owner (in Little Current, Ontario) was planning to restore it. I emailed him a few photos that I took, but I have yet to see it around. I’m very happy to see this old van brought back to life.
What an adventure!
What a great video, very well done!
Fantastic, well shot and great to see.
That was neat.
So who is going to resurrect that Corvair in the central American jungle?
https://thecitypaperbogota.com/travel/pacific-travel-guide/the-lost-corvair/1429
Great video – almost unbelievable (miraculous?). Johnny Cash was a inspired addition.
This fellow has a few other videos on YouTube, and the AirMapp.com site seems dedicated to mapping worldwide locations/photos/events connected with the air-cooled objects of its obsession. Some great vintage & modern photos of old VW’s.
Fantastic video. I got tell you… when she moved for the first time, I had tears in my eyes.
Very cool video & story.
From a rustbucket to a running rustbucket.
How many bolts, nuts, fasteners or lug-bolts wanted to or did SNAP?
I’d think the guy would’ve brought a case of PB Blaster the day before… & saturated every fastener that needed to be wrenched?
I didn’t see any PB-Blaster ON FIRE from a torch or an impact driver running from a compressor or generator! Impact drivers are your best friend to break things loose in these situations. Otherwise, they just twist and SNAP! lol
Great job!
😎