This past Sunday, I attended the Grape Festival car show in Nauvoo, IL, where I usually meet up with my Aunt Lori and Uncle Dave to have lunch, visit and attend the car show. They inherited my aunt’s grandmother’s little house there that was built in the 19th century, and inside, hasn’t changed much since about 1973. So it was only appropriate to take this picture of my cousin Sara and her husband Ty’s 1973 Westy parked out front!
Sara and Ty got the original, unrestored Type 2 late last year, rescued from a garage where it had been sitting since the mid ’90s. After getting the mechanicals up to snuff (and new tires!), they immediately took it on a camping trip to Colorado, where the Westy performed admirably–even in the high mountain passes. I am currently trying to convince them to write up that trip for us here at CC, so any encouragement in the comments will be welcome!
Sweet looking VW Bus. I’ve always liked the early 70s Buses, from 1970-1974.
That shot through the window and curtain is just perfect for the period effect. Keep On Truckin’ and Have a Nice Day.
I wish it was 1973!
I wish I was 22 again, as I was in 1973.
In 1973 I was a fetus!
An aunt and uncle had one of these around that same time. They traveled from New Jersey to Indiana for a visit later in the 70s.
That’s a sweet ride! Give them a copy of John Muir’s VW book for Christmas.
I think Ty already has one. 🙂
Very nice photos ! .
I prefer the 1971 and older Typ II’s but this was a good little 3/4 Ton trucklet indeed if maybe a bit pokey on hills .
The Typ IV engine it sports is usually good for three top end refreshes before needing to dip into the bottom end .
-Nate
My Uncle and Aunt bought one just like this in 1974, under a factory delivery program. They took my cousins on a pretty epic German vacation that summer (my Aunt was a German immigrant). Eventually it was replaced in daily use with a Vanagon, but the Westy was eventually passed down to my cousin when she had a family.
Good year for a Bus, although the dual carbs can be somewhat troublesome. Looks like a really clean example. The Type 4 engine is more durable in these heavy vehicles, and it’s good it’s pre converter era. Looking forward to a writeup of their adventures.
Go on, write it up!
We need photos of Colorado, if only to prove that my Fiesta is Colorado red (as Ford say) and not Royal Mail red
Really nice bus and a great color. Ive never cared as much for the ‘bay window’ buses as the split window ones but this would have been KILLER last weekend when I was camping in Tillamook, OR!
Wait’ll you have to work on a battered , oily and filthy old swing axle , split wind screen Typ II VW .
UGH .
They’re really ‘ fun ‘ (! NOT !) to drive in a cross wind too ~ sort of like flying an old Piper Cub except the Cub won’t ever flip over on it’s side .
-Nate
A company I worked for part time in 1973 leased a VW bus for hauling odds and ends around to different sites.
Driving it one weekend, as a 18 year old kid , I thought i was pretty cool.
Especially when trying to wind up the flat four engine thru the vans four gears:)
I did accidentally turn on the high beams while driving it at night.
Not having a drivers manual, and 1973 being 20 some years before the internet I had no idea how to turn them off.