Vehicle Description
Who would have thought that the funky, quirky VW microbus would
become a red-hot collectable? This 1979 Volkswagen bus takes a
little different path with a California-style custom makeover that
includes a few performance upgrades, an awesome custom look, and a
rolling movie theater within. Just imagine hitting the cruise
nights with this neat little bus!
Traditional busses are everywhere, but if you want to really stand
out, building a custom bus is the only way to go. This is a cargo
van, not a transporter, so it lends itself perfectly to the
two-tone look, since you don't have to worry about windows. The
burgundy metallic paint has a lot of metallic and pearl in it, so
it really glows in the sunlight, and even in our studio you can see
that the sheetmetal is incredibly straight and smooth. The black
strip along the window line adds length and further differentiates
this Vee-Dub from its siblings. A few body-colored trim bits such
as the simple steel bumpers make it seem sleek (as sleek as a box
on wheels can look, anyway) but the big chrome VW emblem on the
nose is recognized around the world. There's clearly a lot of money
tied up in this build, and while it's not perfect, it does make a
statement that is hard to resist.
Inside, there are a host of changes and you'll see why the panel
truck was ideal for this build. The front seats are the usual wide
buckets now wrapped in comfortable two-tone gray vinyl. Slide
behind the big, leather-wrapped steering wheel and you'll see the
original instruments, which pretty much amount to speed and fuel
level, just like in the Beetle. However, with the upgraded engine
and a 4-speed manual transmission, it's pretty peppy around town.
Neatly fitted black carpets throughout help control noise and heat
and are a big step up from the original rubber mats, and the custom
door panels add a little flash, too. Open the rear sliding door and
you'll see why using a panel van was important. There's a standard
bench seat, of course, and it's upholstered to match the front
seat, but everything else is black. Hit a button and a flat-screen
TV rises out of a special housing behind the front seat, giving you
long-range entertainment, including a Sony PS3. It's dark and quiet
back there, like a movie theater, and it's easy to imagine hitting
the road with the whole gang in this one. There's still plenty of
storage behind the seat, and it's all quite nicely finished so
it'll draw a lot of attention at shows.
The engine is a strong-running 1774cc flat-four with a pair of EMPI
carburetors and a few other horsepower tricks that really wake it
up. It's neatly detailed and painted to match the bodywork, so
don't be afraid to show it off. That giant alternator powers two
batteries, and it offers 110 volts to power the entertainment
system as well. The 4-speed manual transmission shifts about how
you'd expect a VW to shift, a little vague but you'll get the hang
of it, and the suspension is augmented with air bags so you can
fine-tune the ride height. Disc brakes have been fitted up front
and there's a great-sounding exhaust out back that has a bit of
aggression but loses none of that traditional VW soundtrack.
Reproduction 17-inch Fuchs alloys look like they belong on an early
Porsche 911, and they're wrapped in reasonably fat 205/50/17
Yokohama radials.
This is the coolest thing you've never seen before, and just
imagine the crowd it'll attract everywhere it goes. Fun to drive
and nicely finished, this VW is a great combination of practical
and fun. Call today!
