Skip to content
Aussieveedubbers

Barndoors......what do you guys think about em?

0 likes
Share Share on Facebook Share on X Share on Reddit

frog Wolfsburg Wizard

571 posts · joined Feb 2003 ·

#217904
What do you guys think about barndoor busses?
Are they the ultimate original Kombi,or are they just too old and scary to be driven?
If there was a paddock in the bush and there was a 65 kombi and a Barndoor bus both in good condition and you could only choose one........Which bus and why?.....Text
"-Hannovermetalmadness-"(Infectious desease with no known cure).

VolksFolks Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,869 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#217914
Barndoor for sure, i love the dash set up the way the speedo goes in reverse,3 spoke wheel and the passenger foot rest/grab rail

andy
They laugh because You are different, You laugh because They are all the same.

check out www.lowlight.com.au for low lights only..

Mr Bubble Head Insano Dub Head

829 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#217925
I love barn doors too they stop the sheep shitting in the hay
recycle, restore, enjoy

Desert Bug Wolfsburg Wizard

687 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#217940
The Barndoor ofcourse!!! If as you say in your senario they were both in good condition and you had the choice of either, presumably the value of each was the same, then definately the Barny. A lot of VW enthusiasts have only seen Barndoors in pics and to have the opportunity to have the first model of Kombi that was brought into Australia is definately somthing not to pass up.
I have had 5 Barndoors (pre '55), 2 Panels, 1 window van, 1 standard microbus and a single cab ute. I found another standard microbus ( turned out to be a '53) but passed it on to a bloke who bought one of the panels of me. Standard m/busses had sunroofs with the internal pressings for the roof windows but didn't have the pressings in the outer section.
Cheers, Ian.

robnjo Veteran Volks Folk

2,082 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#217997
I love the back on them ...damn tricky... and smooth😎

Unity-28 TOO LOW? NEVER

1,742 posts · joined Nov 2002 ·

#218027
BArndoor, It might be older and a little harder to drive, BUT WHO CARES, ITS A BARNY!

SKEWtYpe3 Custom Title Time!

1,859 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#218033
Barny cos then u can say i own a barny !

just 4 that reason 🙂

aggri1 Insano Dub Head

824 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#218121
Yeah a barny'd be cooler I reckon, but only for taking to shows.

Ultimately I want a tricked-out camper bay for camping, a late sixties split for cruisin' in town, and maybe a special barny for rare occasions.

So ultimately, I'd say get the barny given the choice of only one - it'll be easier to get a sixties split later anyway if you change your mind.

Also - in what ways are they 'harder' to drive? Starting off or what?

frog Wolfsburg Wizard

571 posts · joined Feb 2003 ·

#218465
Barndoors are the very basics in driving comfort,Has any one here driven one around?how do they go compared to a later more advanced splitty.Alot of the parts are Barndoor only,the front doors are about the only bits the same as 55+models.
How many were imported in 1954,I have heard about 700ish.
Hey Desert Bug,If you have owned 5,have you still got any?if not where did they go and why did you sell them?Must be a few still floating around somwhere,I wonder how many are left in OZ?
I think the ones left in Australia are sacred.They are like Anzacs,I heard Steve Muller was doing a register in Aus to get an idea of how many are left here.
Barndoor.dk.is the most imformative site I have seen with some Oz barnys on the register too.
When I first saw a barndoor I could not stop shaking my head and looking all over it over and over and saying"No waaay"this is like finding a live dinosaur.
About 10 years ago I saw a 23 window barndoor at a sandblasting shop in Brisbane.....Anyone know where it is now?
Got any pics of any in OZ anyone?
"-Hannovermetalmadness-"(Infectious desease with no known cure).

XXX-1.8T Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,113 posts · joined Oct 2002 ·

#218474
post some pics of some 🙂

Desert Bug Wolfsburg Wizard

687 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#218546
G'day,
Frog,
The first one I got in 1978 off a farm in north central Vic and was still owned by the original owners family and was the 10th VW sold by Innes Motors in Bendigo and had been around Australia twice. It still had 5 16" wheels with it.
The second one I picked up 2 weeks later having remembered seeing it when I was going to school in the early 60s, it was a panel owned by a painter in Bendigo so I tracked him down and he still had it at his brothers' farm near Bendigo and I could have it if I wanted to go and get it. After having them for 13 years, sold them to a couple of Kombi enthusiasts in Melbourne.
Third one I found in the bush near Bendigo 3 years ago, it was a Singlecab and totaly wrecked but I brought it home anyway. It originaly had safari screens but they were missing. It was sold to one of the guys above early this year.
Fourth one I found 2 years ago in a 10' deep gully in Bendigo where it had been for more than 28 years, it is now being restored by an enthusiast in Melbourne.
The 5th one I found on a farm in n/e Vic and this is the one Rob King is restoring (Barny)
Cheers, Ian.

byronbus dsk

4,204 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#218559
That singlecab has been ressurected if its the same one...

I know who has the 23 window from Brisbane, its nearing completion...

I would definately go the barny...

Uri's barn singlecab at valla was definatly the coolest VW there...my pick of the show
www.dsk.com.au

mnsKmobi Wolfsburg Wizard

589 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#218564
Desert Bug wrote:...
Third one I found in the bush near Bendigo 3 years ago, it was a Singlecab and totaly wrecked but I brought it home anyway. It originaly had safari screens but they were missing. It was sold to one of the guys above early this year.
Fourth one I found 2 years ago in a 10' deep gully in Bendigo where it had been for more than 28 years, it is now being restored by an enthusiast in Melbourne.
The 5th one I found on a farm in n/e Vic and this is the one Rob King is restoring (Barny)
Cheers, Ian.
How do you find them? Aerial surveillance?

Desert Bug Wolfsburg Wizard

687 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#218727
Just drive with one eye looking out either side and you will find them but you need to average 400ks a day as I have for the last 13 years. Whenever I went to a new area I always asked at the oldest looking servo/workshop if they new anyone who might have an old VW liying around and it's amazing what you find and the stories you hear.
Cheers, Ian.

[Edited on 16-8-2004 by Desert Bug]

irsa76 Learner Dubber

10 posts · joined Aug 2004 ·

#218848
Barndoor for sure. And a panel at that. Do it in period style sign writing and I reckon it would look sweet next to a new T5. More so if I can ever convince the boss to get a T5. Besides, for some reason I prefer my splitties to be '63s. Must be because of the workshop, body, manual I've got for the '63 😎
Ian
Automotive information mole. If it's out there, I'll find it.

frog Wolfsburg Wizard

571 posts · joined Feb 2003 ·

#219187
Would it be Richard in Vic who got some of your barnys?
Byron Bus....Is the 32 barn still in QLD?
My oldman had a barny ute sold it to a guy in Brisbane,looks like this below.
I like unrestored barndoors as they have all the character marks of years of fun,rat look barndoors make me drool:P

1 attachment · Log in to view

"-Hannovermetalmadness-"(Infectious desease with no known cure).

frog Wolfsburg Wizard

571 posts · joined Feb 2003 ·

#219189
I think you had a choice in 54 of dove blue or dove blue in the commercials unless you got a microbus.

1 attachment · Log in to view

"-Hannovermetalmadness-"(Infectious desease with no known cure).

frog Wolfsburg Wizard

571 posts · joined Feb 2003 ·

#219195
A Rat barny from europe,I think 5 speed porsche box and motor.

1 attachment · Log in to view

"-Hannovermetalmadness-"(Infectious desease with no known cure).

Desert Bug Wolfsburg Wizard

687 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#219255
Yeah it is Richard, he and his mate Kevin bought the first 2 off me in '91 and Richie got the Singlecab earlier this year.
Cheers, Ian.

byronbus dsk

4,204 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#219280
frog wrote:Byron Bus....Is the 32 barn still in QLD?
:P
Frog,

The 23 is still in Qld but will be heading to NSW soon...not that far from being on the road...
www.dsk.com.au