EDITED 1/1/12
My wife and I are relocating to Colorado, and I need something that won't get stuck so easily on snowy mountain roads. I'm looking to trade even for an excellent example or cash plus a '78-'82 BJ40 with a hard top, preferably a 5-speed (4-speed is acceptable), power steering and AC, little to no rust (must be safe and not have issues with water leaks or bad drafts), and as close to stock as possible (modifications may be acceptable, it depends on what we're talking about and more importantly the quality of workmanship). Low mileage is preferred (more or less goes without saying, but high mileage is fine if everything checks out), as are the longer 2-person jump seats (not sure yet if that was a stock thing or not... it's a preference is all), and everything MUST check out completely mechanically. The car up for trade is a no nonsense well maintained runner, and I need the same in return as this will be my only vehicle and I won't likely have a shop for a year or two once we get up there.
We've had a lot of amazing memories with this bus including:
TheSamba.com :: View topic - An Irresponsible Adventure: Andy the Bus
This bus was the getaway car for our wedding, and:
TheSamba.com :: View topic - Honeymoon Road Trip: 4K Miles in a '62 Panel (With Photos!)
Among many others. This is my daily driver (only car) and it doesn't let me down. It's a very fast bus (as far as buses go), and I have absolutely zero trouble keeping up with Dallas traffic, and other buses in my car club have a hard time keeping up with me. It was recently repainted with Krylon Global Blue. Why spray paint you ask? Because when we were prepping it we found some pretty awesome logo work, and I wanted to be able to get the blue back off easily (will come off with graffiti remover instead of having to sand everything off).
TheSamba.com :: View topic - Handy Andy TV and Appliance (Now with Photos!)
Everything else has been done as well as it can be in 2010/11. It's currently registered as a Classic Car in Texas, which means it has to pass all inspections save emissions (you can register it as an antique if you want and avoid the inspections, but it'll pass with flying colors).
All window rubbers are brand new, as are both windshields (the originals were separating and hazing at the edges and then a nasty rock chip finished off the drivers' side). I have new door seals for all doors, but didn't ever install them because the originals are in such good shape. I recently (at the time of the repaint) reamed the door hinge pins up one size and put new pins in, so the doors open and close like they should with minimal effort. I get between 17 and 22 mpg depending on highway/city mix and how punchy I'm feeling. Fuel fillings, oil changes, valve adjustments, repairs, etc. are all fully documented.
I've replaced the entire brake system with brand new, high quality parts (WW or better) including brand new (NOS Frum) rear drums, two new brake backing plates, stainless flex lines, and I even replaced all of the hard lines for good measure.
Everything electric is either new or the best original I could find when new was not as high quality as the original. The only thing that's working less than perfect is one of the park lights doesn't work (bad ground connection); since it's just a park light, I figured I wouldn't mess with it until I get into the headlights for something that matters (headlight goes out or something).
The engine is a brand new Lyle Cherry built 1600dp with a 110 cam, VintageSpeed stainless exhaust, ACN SVDA w/ Pertronix, dual Weber 40IDFs jetted by ACN w/ CB Performance linkage, Gene Berg full-flow oil filtration, Gene Berg Equalizer, CB Performance Porsche-style oil filler, new Bosch 12V alternator, oil pressure gauge w/ stock idiot light sender, oil temperature gauge, cylinder head temp gauge, and every single piece of cooling tin and even every single screw in its place. I have a 4500 RPM rev limiter (Bosch of course) in place just as a safety measure to ensure that my lead foot doesn't interfere with my babying. All of this puts the power down through a 3.88 tranny w/ stock RGBs. Since this is my daily driver and I can't miss or be late to work, I've spared nothing getting this bus running perfect, and it does. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it across country (and plan to do just that in the event a suitable trade is found to prove the bus's roadworthiness, the roadworthiness of the 40, and because I doubt there are too many BJ42s within a reasonable distance of Dallas).
Inside, the factory seat covers are still there (tan now instead of gray after 50 years of sun and use), the afore mentioned gauges are attached to the dash using the screws from the headlight and e-flasher switches (no new holes), 12V fuel gauge is there and works like it should, speedo works, but reads about 18% faster than reality due to it having 14" wheels instead of the correct 15" wheels (came to me like that and didn't want to change them until I needed new tires). There is a top of the line RetroSound radio w/ the mp3 player hookup hidden under the dash and a cigarette lighter power point also hidden, and a single stereo speaker in the stock location (see their website, and just see the top of the line everything that works for the bus). I have a cab divider (a reproduction using original glass, supports and rubber), and cleanly installed three point retractable seat belts ( TheSamba.com :: View topic - Clean 3-Point Seat Belt Install (By Request) ).
In the back is a rock and roll bed that was modified to go on the passenger side with a freshly rebuilt box using the highest furniture grade plywood. Our ultimate intent inspired by the Bumfuzzle bus:
bumfuzzle | sept 2007
But life has other things in store...
Fun things that come with the bus are a roof rack, e-brake extension, shifter extension, spare tire emergency gas can (14"), and probably a number of other VW-related odds and ends that we don't want to move or store.
Downsides: rust that I haven't yet repaired in cab floor (not enough to be noticeable unless you're looking for it), a little in the pass-side rocker (again, you need to be looking for it, and it's all on the inside), the battery tray has some small holes (again, not enough to be a concern of any sort), and some light surface stuff in the passenger floor. It had some body work done in the early '70s (some light filler in the rear belt line near the rear hatch), and there are light dents and dings here and there. Finally, I haven't really touched the suspension. It's a '63 front beam and I would like to rebuild it (it's essentially the only thing that hasn't been rebuilt), but there's really nothing wrong with it, I'm just anal. Obviously, it's been painted a spray can blue, which is hardly original, but I preserved as much as I could under it and the paint on the inside and the seat cover are 100% original. I have detailed photos of what's under the blue for restoration purposes.
The bus was originally a TV Repair truck for a small electronics store chain (5 stores) in Northern California. When repainting the bus for my wedding this past spring, we discovered the logo work under the '70s repaint. I was able to get in touch with, of all people, the manager of the Sacramento store (where this bus was) when the bus was purchased new in '62 (he's still alive and retired in Arizona). He gave me the full history, a few photos, and some details for restoring the logo work (all of this naturally comes with the bus). They had two '59s, and then bought four more in '62. All of them had similar paint schemes (the photo of is one of the '59s). More information available to the buyer for restoration/information purposes.
I don't want to add up receipts and such (because it'll just make me even more depressed about having to let it go), but I know I have AT LEAST $18-20K in this bus. Other buses in similar aesthetic condition are going on the Samba right now between $10-15K, and this is electrically/mechanically as good or better than any other bus out there. No strippers or flippers, just people who can truly appreciate what this car is and what it means and have the time and energy to take care of it. Most of the expensive stuff (save paint) has already been taken care of, and all of the parts, as previously mentioned, are top quality, so it shouldn't be too much to keep him going as long as you take the time to properly maintain him.
My wife and I are relocating to Colorado, and I need something that won't get stuck so easily on snowy mountain roads. I'm looking to trade even for an excellent example or cash plus a '78-'82 BJ40 with a hard top, preferably a 5-speed (4-speed is acceptable), power steering and AC, little to no rust (must be safe and not have issues with water leaks or bad drafts), and as close to stock as possible (modifications may be acceptable, it depends on what we're talking about and more importantly the quality of workmanship). Low mileage is preferred (more or less goes without saying, but high mileage is fine if everything checks out), as are the longer 2-person jump seats (not sure yet if that was a stock thing or not... it's a preference is all), and everything MUST check out completely mechanically. The car up for trade is a no nonsense well maintained runner, and I need the same in return as this will be my only vehicle and I won't likely have a shop for a year or two once we get up there.
We've had a lot of amazing memories with this bus including:
TheSamba.com :: View topic - An Irresponsible Adventure: Andy the Bus
This bus was the getaway car for our wedding, and:
TheSamba.com :: View topic - Honeymoon Road Trip: 4K Miles in a '62 Panel (With Photos!)
Among many others. This is my daily driver (only car) and it doesn't let me down. It's a very fast bus (as far as buses go), and I have absolutely zero trouble keeping up with Dallas traffic, and other buses in my car club have a hard time keeping up with me. It was recently repainted with Krylon Global Blue. Why spray paint you ask? Because when we were prepping it we found some pretty awesome logo work, and I wanted to be able to get the blue back off easily (will come off with graffiti remover instead of having to sand everything off).
TheSamba.com :: View topic - Handy Andy TV and Appliance (Now with Photos!)
Everything else has been done as well as it can be in 2010/11. It's currently registered as a Classic Car in Texas, which means it has to pass all inspections save emissions (you can register it as an antique if you want and avoid the inspections, but it'll pass with flying colors).
All window rubbers are brand new, as are both windshields (the originals were separating and hazing at the edges and then a nasty rock chip finished off the drivers' side). I have new door seals for all doors, but didn't ever install them because the originals are in such good shape. I recently (at the time of the repaint) reamed the door hinge pins up one size and put new pins in, so the doors open and close like they should with minimal effort. I get between 17 and 22 mpg depending on highway/city mix and how punchy I'm feeling. Fuel fillings, oil changes, valve adjustments, repairs, etc. are all fully documented.
I've replaced the entire brake system with brand new, high quality parts (WW or better) including brand new (NOS Frum) rear drums, two new brake backing plates, stainless flex lines, and I even replaced all of the hard lines for good measure.
Everything electric is either new or the best original I could find when new was not as high quality as the original. The only thing that's working less than perfect is one of the park lights doesn't work (bad ground connection); since it's just a park light, I figured I wouldn't mess with it until I get into the headlights for something that matters (headlight goes out or something).
The engine is a brand new Lyle Cherry built 1600dp with a 110 cam, VintageSpeed stainless exhaust, ACN SVDA w/ Pertronix, dual Weber 40IDFs jetted by ACN w/ CB Performance linkage, Gene Berg full-flow oil filtration, Gene Berg Equalizer, CB Performance Porsche-style oil filler, new Bosch 12V alternator, oil pressure gauge w/ stock idiot light sender, oil temperature gauge, cylinder head temp gauge, and every single piece of cooling tin and even every single screw in its place. I have a 4500 RPM rev limiter (Bosch of course) in place just as a safety measure to ensure that my lead foot doesn't interfere with my babying. All of this puts the power down through a 3.88 tranny w/ stock RGBs. Since this is my daily driver and I can't miss or be late to work, I've spared nothing getting this bus running perfect, and it does. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it across country (and plan to do just that in the event a suitable trade is found to prove the bus's roadworthiness, the roadworthiness of the 40, and because I doubt there are too many BJ42s within a reasonable distance of Dallas).
Inside, the factory seat covers are still there (tan now instead of gray after 50 years of sun and use), the afore mentioned gauges are attached to the dash using the screws from the headlight and e-flasher switches (no new holes), 12V fuel gauge is there and works like it should, speedo works, but reads about 18% faster than reality due to it having 14" wheels instead of the correct 15" wheels (came to me like that and didn't want to change them until I needed new tires). There is a top of the line RetroSound radio w/ the mp3 player hookup hidden under the dash and a cigarette lighter power point also hidden, and a single stereo speaker in the stock location (see their website, and just see the top of the line everything that works for the bus). I have a cab divider (a reproduction using original glass, supports and rubber), and cleanly installed three point retractable seat belts ( TheSamba.com :: View topic - Clean 3-Point Seat Belt Install (By Request) ).
In the back is a rock and roll bed that was modified to go on the passenger side with a freshly rebuilt box using the highest furniture grade plywood. Our ultimate intent inspired by the Bumfuzzle bus:
bumfuzzle | sept 2007
But life has other things in store...
Fun things that come with the bus are a roof rack, e-brake extension, shifter extension, spare tire emergency gas can (14"), and probably a number of other VW-related odds and ends that we don't want to move or store.
Downsides: rust that I haven't yet repaired in cab floor (not enough to be noticeable unless you're looking for it), a little in the pass-side rocker (again, you need to be looking for it, and it's all on the inside), the battery tray has some small holes (again, not enough to be a concern of any sort), and some light surface stuff in the passenger floor. It had some body work done in the early '70s (some light filler in the rear belt line near the rear hatch), and there are light dents and dings here and there. Finally, I haven't really touched the suspension. It's a '63 front beam and I would like to rebuild it (it's essentially the only thing that hasn't been rebuilt), but there's really nothing wrong with it, I'm just anal. Obviously, it's been painted a spray can blue, which is hardly original, but I preserved as much as I could under it and the paint on the inside and the seat cover are 100% original. I have detailed photos of what's under the blue for restoration purposes.
The bus was originally a TV Repair truck for a small electronics store chain (5 stores) in Northern California. When repainting the bus for my wedding this past spring, we discovered the logo work under the '70s repaint. I was able to get in touch with, of all people, the manager of the Sacramento store (where this bus was) when the bus was purchased new in '62 (he's still alive and retired in Arizona). He gave me the full history, a few photos, and some details for restoring the logo work (all of this naturally comes with the bus). They had two '59s, and then bought four more in '62. All of them had similar paint schemes (the photo of is one of the '59s). More information available to the buyer for restoration/information purposes.
I don't want to add up receipts and such (because it'll just make me even more depressed about having to let it go), but I know I have AT LEAST $18-20K in this bus. Other buses in similar aesthetic condition are going on the Samba right now between $10-15K, and this is electrically/mechanically as good or better than any other bus out there. No strippers or flippers, just people who can truly appreciate what this car is and what it means and have the time and energy to take care of it. Most of the expensive stuff (save paint) has already been taken care of, and all of the parts, as previously mentioned, are top quality, so it shouldn't be too much to keep him going as long as you take the time to properly maintain him.
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