This rare single-cab pickup bodied Volkswagen Type 1 is a nearly complete restoration project that the seller isn’t going to see through to completion. Though details aren’t offered as to why the restoration stalled, the VW is finished to a level of completeness that allows it to be driven with a fair amount of confidence. Oftentimes, restoration projects get halfway finished with boxes of parts old and new mixed together, leaving the next owner to sort of a jigsaw puzzle of epic proportions. This single cab looks far better than that, and it’s listed here on eBay with an asking price that reflects the high degree of work completed: $52,000, with the option to submit a best offer.
The flip-down side panels on the pickup-bodied trucks were a genius design that made loading from all sides a breeze. This example, however, has an extra bit of kit that makes this bodystyle even more unique, as the seller is including a brand new canopy to provide some extra all-weather protection for whatever is being hauled on the bed. This is a great look for one of these light-duty Type 1s, and I wouldn’t hesitate to install it as soon as I got my hands on it. You’ll notice some details with the bed sides in the up position that clue you into this being an early model, such as the “bubble”-style Hella taillights. The seller also points out that it retains its original 16 inch wheels with new tires mounted.
The interior is in very nice condition, with an untorn bench seat and clean door panels. The early-style dash reveals just a solitary gauge, and the exposed wiring reminds you that the seller was clear this is an incomplete project. Among some of the details left unfinished is the interior kick panels, which have yet to be installed. The seller notes that the Bus will come with the brake system having been completely gone through with new soft and hard lines installed. Though you’re buying someone else’s unfinished project, it appears much of the heavy lifting has already been done – including the much-needed upgrade from six volt to 12 volt electrical capacity.
A 1600 cc engine powers the rare Type 1, but is likely non-matching as I believe these were found in the later Type 2s. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but in a perfect-world scenario, you’d get the larger engine already installed and the original mill included on a shipping pallet or engine hoist. Again – this is a nice upgrade – but for the asking price, one would think the original engine would be in the picture. Regardless, this becomes a less egregious offense if the later engine has been with the truck for decades by the time it went up for sale. This barn door single cab also sports fresh paint, which the seller notes has been polished and wax but needs one more section finished up to be perfect. An expensive pickup, but early model barn doors don’t come up too often in condition like this.
Nice rig. The “bubble” headlights were used on several German cars of the era such as Porsche, DKW, etc. There was always some sort of art engineering on the German cars and the headlights, parking lights and several other small features made them unique.
They’re nuts. With those front snow tires, must be a rare AWD model,,, While I think these are about the best use of a VW, I certainly wouldn’t pay $50g’s for one. No surprise there, but pure California fluff and I don’t like those hubcaps either. I read on VW forums, many comment they look a lot like a subtle German swastika. The fact someone would put those on a VW and not think it’s a problem, is pretty sad.
Howard, then you don’t have a clue about early VW’s… tires are period correct, as are the KDF hubcaps. Whether you like it or not irrelevant.
Those hubcaps are nowhere near correct on this truck. KDF stuff is WW2 era.
The Hubcaps are from the early Post WW2 era when the British ran the operation. They have the “VW” center logo with the gear around it. These were used in 1946 to about 1948. Not correct for a 1954 VW, but also not KDFwagen.
Good grief man, stop looking for Nazi’s behind every tree. The Nazi’s were wiped out, all her large cities full of innocent women and children were fired bombed. Germany was totally destroyed and looted of – EVERYTHING, Eisenhower murdered better than a million surrendered soldiers in his death camps and Germany is still under American occupation. You can rest easy with that can’t you?
Eisenhower death camps ? Even if thats true its small potatoes compared to over 6 million innocent civilians murdered in Hitlers death camps , and the 100s of thousands of villagers rounded up and shot as the Germans advanced into countries , and then looted everything of value from every country they could . I suppose its ok that thousands of soldiers died defending their country from Germany ? Germany wasn’t bombed by the Allies because we didn’t like them , its what they did – Can I rest easy knowing what the Allies did ? CAN THEY ?
That story was debunked years ago – some guy writes a book with supposed “facts” and gets it published. Remember “Chariots of the Gods” ? It was full of supposed facts and photos that were all later found out not to be true or stretched so they seemed plausible , but he sold millions of copies before the truth came out.
@Karl. The word “charlatan” springs to mind.
A type 1 is a bug, a type 2 is a bus/transporter, single cab (this vehicle) or double cab…and big tires, for me, on one of these is to give it more of a work truck look and feel vs the skinny transporter tires….I have them on mine. And is something is off with the vin they list….it should start with 26 not 20…Nice looking truck though.
Sorry, the vin 26xxxxx didn’t start until Late 64…it may be correct…
As far as the subtle swastika, I see what you mean, but it took a bit of imagination when I looked at it. More of a windmill looking deal. The reason I wouldn’t buy this truck at any price is that I’ve driven vans of this era and they are really crappy underpowered vehicles. In the 1970s my dad had the chance to get something similar from a friend for nearly free. He knew it was a bad idea and declined the offer. People romanticize this air cooled, underpowered junk (CORVAIRS are dangerous, but not VW’s?) and their connection with the counterculture of the 1960s is probably the only reason anybody cares at all about these fiascos on wheels.
I can think of 20 other muscle cars that I’d rather own they pay 50K+ on one of these!!!
I could think of more AND have money in the bank
I owned one of these when nearly new and it wasn’t worth the $200 that I paid for it then! I only bought it to transport my 1925 Harley and sidecar to bike shows, and that was enough. Gutless wonder.
Ultra rare Barn Door Single Cab. it looks to be very complete with the correct rare parts. Wrong engine hurts it but, Worth every penny of asking price.
A friend of mine once described driving one of these –
“It’s like you’re racing…..but nobody else is aware of it”.
Nice feature Jeff 👍. These Type-II’s continue to hold their values. This particular model shows quite a few hard sourced parts. Take for instance those tiny rear tail lights, a complete original set can easily fetch $2k. The comment above about the hubcaps is incorrect. This particular design depicts a “cog” reminiscent of the KDF years of Volkswagens production. The very early and much larger VW logo was intended to give the illusion of a swastika when driven at “parade speed” in front of Hitler himself…
@Rick 👌👍
Doesn’t the term ‘barn door’ refer to the double side doors vs. the sliding door on later buses? This one does not have barn doors because it’s a pickup. It is nice though. There was one recently parked on the street here in Eugene that had a single top window (like the 21 window buses) above each door. I would see it on my morning bike ride and the day I decided to take a picture of it, it was gone; never to be seen again. If this one is worth 52 large, the one I saw should be worth even crazier money.
The term “Barn Door” refers to the very early Buss that had a single rear door that when open revealed the engine as well as the cargo area. Later models had separate doors for the cargo area and the engine compartment, so that term would be incorrect for this “Type 2”
Really you can access the cargo area from the engine bay?
How?
Back in the early 60’s a neighbor who lived about 2 miles down the country road from us had one of these. He was an elderly black man who had to talk through a voice box with some kind of hand held device that made his voice sound robotic. He built his own house over a house trailer with a oak tree growing up through the middle. I loved going over to talk to him, he had stories to be heard of real life experiences that could peek the interest of a teen age boy. There was a steep winding hill that led the way from town up to our neck of the woods. His VW truck was so slow he had drive in first gear all the way up the two mile grade. Yet even to me the drop sides was quite a marvel of design.
God bless America
This one is complete and later (less rare) and is at $26K with six days to go:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967-volkswagen-single-cab-transporter-4/?utm_source=dm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2020-07-09