Deep in the woods of northwestern Pennsylvania near the town of Strattanville lies this abandoned 1960 Volkswagen Bus. It can be found here on eBay with a buy-it-now price of $1,800. Unfortunately, the ad is only two short sentences. We can piece together some of the story by taking a look at the photos. Have a look for yourself and leave a comment if you have any other thoughts. Thanks to Jamie for the tip on this V-dub.
Like most neglected vans, this one has been used for a bit of storage. As with the outside, the interior paint is mostly gone and has been replaced by surface rust. The rear door is missing (or at the very least, removed) which has probably let weather and critters into the interior more easily. It’s hard to tell from the photos in the ad, but from this view, the upholstery and dash look okay. Luckily the windows don’t seem to have been broken or shot-out, which is a plus also.
Aircooled VW engines ranged in sizes from 1000 to 1600 cubic centimeters. I’m not sure which engine this is but I’m sure there are some knowledgeable Volkswagen folks who will chime in. I do know these engines are known for how easy they are to work on, swap out, and modify. Based on the exterior condition, this one looks like a challenge. Hopefully, it is usable or at least there are parts that are usable.
Amazingly, it looks like the tires are still holding air although it’s hard to tell for sure. Unfortunately, someone has stripped the big “VW” emblem off the front along with the headlight trim and various other pieces. Hopefully, they will be found inside, but it isn’t likely. I’m not sure if this van is able to be saved or if it’s too far gone? What do you think?
Junk nothing to see here….
Price is hilarious 😆
I would not want to make the critters homeless and take their homestead away👍
I guess the Title states Forest 🌳😜
Exactly!
… Run Forest …… RUN !
The steering wheel looks salvageable.
another you gotta be kidding ads. Expensive parts car that will probably break in 2. Good luck.
Cheer
GPC
https://youtu.be/z_aoJDpkjmM
Don’t know if the link will post, but if not, YouTube VW van rescued from German woods.
This van will live again.
Jim in Florida. Great video, everyone should watch that. Tremendous!
That’s the first time I have ever seen a VW of any description have it’s engine started with a crank handle! Terrific video.
On m.roadkillcustoms.com there’s footage from the rescue operation of a ’57 Samba that was ditched in a Norwegian fjord 1973 due to a faulty transmission. Plenty of before – after pics too. After laying completely submerged for 36 years it was lifted and is now highly alive and appreciated
I was going to post this same video! And the van in this barnfinds edition is in a lot better shape than the one in the video. And it’s windows are all intact… Agree, this van will live again.
Absolutely fantastic video. Thanks for bringing that to us. Whether or not you are into VWs or Type II “vans”, safe-to-say anyone can appreciate this video. The photography and staging alone are Oscar worthy.
Now that I’m totally depressed, having spent 5+ years trying to restore ONE car IN a nice shop, I’d better get to work!
GPC, the “Break in two” might happen, but you better have a really good guy moving it. Otherwise it’s three or four pieces. If it’s in NW PA, it’s BAD. I live here.
My Dad had a junkyard in the 1970’s and 1980’s and I helped out on Saturdays, mostly drinking beer. I moved a couple of uni-body cars that were marginal with a C-60 Chevy with a Chevron tilt bed If you’re a smart operator, care a lot, and use enough chain in the proper places it’s usually possible. Otherwise it’s two, three, or four pieces.
Jim in FL, I’m glad they saved the one in Germany. But Northwestern PA is WAY different than Germany. There are places around here that average 15 feet of snow per year. PenDot dumps 20 ton dump truck loads full of salt 24/7 in a big storm on every road in the ‘hood for days in every storm here.
Strattanville is about 60 miles south of Lake Erie. But if this bus was in that area for a while, it didn’t see the salt that it would have in my neighborhood, it still saw a lot. That plus sitting on the ground . . . . looks really bad. You can save anything, but it looks like this one is parts at best.
If somebody out there wants it, I have a friend with a tilt bed who would haul it in Western PA, Eastern OH, and Western NY. No guarantee how many pieces it arrives in, and he wants cash in advance.
Pretty cat in the one picture on Ebay….Would be afraid to try and move this bus.
Nothing quite as reassuring as seeing digging implements in an abandoned vehicle in a forest!
Better spending your hard earned money elsewhere
Get it sorted mechanically, make sure you’re current on your Tetanus shot and drive as is. Would look good with period white walls like my Uncle Irving had on his 409/409.
GLWTS
given the current level of insane pricing for split windshield type II Volkswagens, I’m surprised this has not been snapped up at the “bite-it-now” price……..
If a VW Bus rots in the forest… Does anybody hear it?
That video is fantastic!
and
“No marajuana was harmed in the making of this video”
This bus actually looks pretty good compared to some that I’ve seen that were going to be restored.
You can buy every piece of sheet metal for these things. My 66 that’s on a rotisserie right now needed pretty much the whole bottom 12 inches replaced. About $4k in sheet metal from KlassicFab in Bogota, Colombia. If you can weld, rust repair is so much easier than collision repair. This will get snatched up quickly, given the options for restoration and the what the market will currently bear for these split-window buses.
And while I’m one here, a big thank you to BarnFinds.com – I found a nice 86 Land Cruiser on here a while back. Love it!!
To answer the question, the engine is a 40 horse! Such a shame…love bullet turn signals on an old bus..so cool looking!
Thanks for posting the video. It was nice to see all those young people involved in the rescue, maybe there is hope for our hobby still.
Once you got it sand blasted you’d have a unusable steering wheel!
Great video – the bus was actualy rescued by french guys in the french alps, not in Germany.
And great how this bus manages to ride through the bushes and dirt!
Try that with any musclecar.
Usualy you need a 4×4 for that kind of ride, or, a VW-bus!
Best cars ever, IMHO –
I just cant believe the rust buckets people are trying to sell now a days.Bruce.
Let the old girl return to mother earth…..