When I first encountered this 1960 Volkswagen Type II bus it immediately reminded me of a parking lot positioned dumpster emblazoned with a “Do Not Park In Front Of This Container” warning affixed to its front. I’m not trying to be ugly about this van but, it is green, square on the ends and, well, the condition speaks for itself…Still, it’s an interesting find, kinda like a barn find, without the barn, so let’s take a closer look. Crocketts Bluff, Arkansas is where you’ll find this former people mover, and it’s available, here on eBay for a current bid of $3,550 with ten bids tendered so far.
This VW Type II is also known as a “T1” which was the initial version, marketed between 1950 and 1967. There were various additional body styles offered including a pickup and a panel van. The “Samba” website states that 140K Type IIs were built in ’60 and 22K of that total were microbuses such as our subject.
The seller tells us, “Purchased to make signage for a marijuana shop…they removed the interior so his grandkids could use it to hunt out of.” Okaaay then, say no more, that explains everything. Judging from the exterior sunburn and how deeply this bus has descended into the muck, I’d suggest that it has been languishing outdoors for a long, long time. That said, there doesn’t appear to be any exterior rot-through and the body panels show as being straight. The listing claims that the windows are original but doesn’t state their condition i.e. cracked, fogged, delaminated, etc.
Inside, however, is another matter entirely. Specifically, according to the listing, “It was left for years with burlap sacks of rice in the floor which is what caused the floor to rust. Frame is unharmed.” Well, there must have been sacks of rice everywhere because the entire floor pan is about as swiss-chessed as it could get. The simple instrument panel and tiller are still in place, as is a dilapidated front seat, but that’s about it. As previously noted, the hunting lodge attempt caused the jettisoning of the passenger seats.
The 40HP, 1200 CC, flat four-cylinder engine is said to not be locked – well that’s a start. While 40 HP sounds weak for moving a multi-person van the size of this Type II, keep in mind that this vehicle’s curb weight is only 2,300 lbs. Still, it’s a slow ride and I imagine the engine, if still operational, is pretty worn out at this stage. Gear-wise, a four-speed manual transaxle was the only game in town in ’60.
So, the ten bids have been generated by two bidders so I’ll assume these competitors see something of future value in this “project”. I must admit, that’s a vision completely lost on me; how about you?
Given the rampant Barrett-Jacksonitis these days, and the over-the-top pricing of these hippie-haulers, it will fetch more than we think.
When I was in high school a girl friends father had one of these. The things I remember 1. The only time it would go fast was going down hill and 2. If he took a turn while going downhill you always braced for a rollover. I don’t understand the interest that these generate today, but to each their own.
I learned a lot about Arkansas from this write up.
It just re-affirmed what I already knew (or suspected).
Are we sure this is a ’60? The front turn signals and rear tail lights are similar to what was on my ’65. A buddy of mine had a ’62 with smaller lights and a smaller rear window. Not a big deal, I guess. I enjoyed my Kombi in high school and have no desire for another.
Unless it’s plainly obvious, I go with what the seller claims.
JO
It is plainly obvious…it is not a 1960. It is a maybe a late ’62 but likely a ’63-’66. Easy clues are turn signals, large rear windows, door handles, low hinge cargo door, inside vents.
“It is a maybe a late ’62 but likely a ’63-’66.” Apparently, what it is exactly, isn’t plainly obvious to you either.
JO
This is a 1965 model. The third digit of the provided chassis number is 5 corresponding to the fourth digit of the model year, a practice that began for the 1965 model year. This is consistent with the exterior features that place it in the 1964-66 range.
Cute when restored but still unsafe and dangerous. Much like some previous commentors, I don’t see the appeal of these things. It’s like driving down the road with a sheet of tinfoil in front of you. For me, a restored version would be good for a parade car but that’s about it.
Owned a ’55 panel and a ’77 camper and loved them both. I found that if you don’t want to worry about hitting something don’t hit anything.
That’s what scared me the most was sitting behind the wheel and realizing that the only thing in front of you is a thin panel of sheet metal with no lining, insulation or anything else to protect you from whatever you’re about to hit. Some mounted a spare on the front, but even that prospect offered little solace.
One of the few vehicles that still garners a lot of bidding action despite it’s condition. That should tell you everything you want to know about the Dub market….
With those taillights and that wide rear door this is not a 1960 transporter. That wide rear hatch should indicate a 1500cc engine. I had a 1960 single cab and the engine looked like a 1200cc 40 HP, but when I tried to rebuild it found out it was a crossover last-year 36 HP mill. The small engine and large frontal area made for a slow ride but the reduction gears hanging on the ends of the axles did give them tremendous load-carrying capability!
The inward facing louvers started in ‘63 and the that was also the last year of the narrow rear hatch. This is a ‘64 or later bus.
Love the color! I had a ’77 Westfalia in green. Yes, they’re not what you want on modern Interstates, but I enjoyed mine. Moving to a climate where it’s below zero at night or even during the day as well in winter the very limited capacity of heat exchangers on a small engine becomes apparent. I felt like an old man having to sport a blanket across his lap on a 15ºF day.
Sadly, I sold it in 2004 for what I paid for it, $2,700, but it would be worth much more now. I like this one for its patina. Put in some used seats and a working engine and it’d be a great head turner if only to make people muse, “How is that jalopy even running?”
Had a few different versions of these, had lots of fun in them. Had a transporter with the big sliding door on one side. The length of the side was Mickey Mouse relaxing smoking a skinny cigarette and on the back under the window it said” Don’t laugh you daughter maybe inside”. Never did give the front protection a second thought, one thing is for sure the driver would be the first person at the scene of the accident! Not sure about the color of this one!
“Marijuana Shop?” Cannabis Clinic, Howard Cunningham. Cannabis Clinic.
A pot dealer that took the kids hunting, out of the back of a hippie van. You can’t make this stuff up.
You will always be the first to arrive at the scene of the accident.
Day gone by not worth restoring
A buddy of mine had one of these (exact year in the ballpark). Drove it from LA to NYC and back twice in the mid 70s. He said it took about three days to make it through the Rockies.
This is a 64-67.
The give away is the windows, lights, and handles.
These are no longer daily drivers, unless one is suicidal.
They are a cool weekend cruiser.
The novelty of having one is what makes them popular, you are not going anywhere fast.
They fall into the 1 ton catigory, because they are a Transporter.
I still have my 62 panel coming up on 40 years.
I paid 50 dollars for it, I have been offered 100K, from an inlaw from Germany.
People that want one? I advise you learn how to work on every bit of it, cause if you don’t? you have no business owning one.
Carry spare parts, have a dedicated tool kit for it, and a 1st edition Idiot Book.