Hi note my icon is a smiley. Makes you wonder about a restorers mentality. Says Im happy dealing with all these problems related to fixing my 58Euro 23 window. Truth be told Im often cursing but overall its been great fun so far.

My bus originally lived in Germany and moved to the states in 1966 with its first owner. He sold it on to the guy whos sold it to me. I brought it to Japan where Im teaching English and hope to bring it home to OZ with me one day. (the second owner developed a BD lust and so the 23 window sat while he tinkered with other BD projects). It has been registered all through its history and as a result all the running gear is in tired but fully operating condition. The body hmmmm needs some work.

Im going to do it stock, the bullets will go and Ill put some aftermarket bike blinkers just above the bumpers and also run the semaphores with a flasher unit. Hopefully that will catch peoples attention. It will be a RHD bus in a few months and the cargo doors will be relocated so it looks stock. I have new metal for all except a replacement dogleg for the late right dogleg. Maybe Ill get a METWIZ extension.

Check the link below.
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/thomson_dale2000/album?.dir=/fd5d&.src=p...

Ill be updating this as I go.

Cheers all

oh that said, any help finding a good second hand dogleg would be appreciated. Im also after RHD pedals what do you say?

[Edited on 28-4-2004 by Zimblewinder]

[Edited on 29-5-2004 by Zimblewinder]

[Edited on 20-6-2004 by Zimblewinder]

I get the following error message when I click the link

The File You Are Looking For Is Inaccessible.
Please sign in and try again or check with the owner of the file.

You might need to do something to the settings in yahoo photos.

That's what I get too, I really want to see some pics!

What's the scene like in Japan? I've seen a few pics and it seems that they have a lot of coin to throw at their buses.

Mmm please fix the link coz we're dying to see some pics.

OOPS try that maybe it will work now.

As for the Japanese scene... Its a bit of a shame really. All of the busses here are dogs breakfast, mixed up busses. If you need a part they just adapt anything and theyre also into cal look and chrome and big exhaust pipes and stuff. Looks incredibly cheep. They also believe a restored bus is one where someone used liberal amounts of plastic and applied a fresh coat of paint over. YOU SHOULD SEE THE BUBBLES .

Most Japanese have no idea about VWs or mechanics or do it yourself for that matter. So there are alot of people flocking to get in on the recent VW trend without the knowledge to keep their busses and bugs on the road. Many times people tell me they used to have a bug but they couldnt afford to pay for the upkeep. As for do it yourself ... they all think Im a miracle worker cos I know what Im doing (most of the time). I had a crowd of about 20 people circle around to watch me cut up some tubing at the local Home depot with a diamond saw. ( I dont think anyone had ever used it themselves in their tool room)

Also cos of their lack of knowledge there are more than a fair share of sharks here willing to rip people off. Take a look at any of their shop web pages and the crap they are selling for exhorbitant prices. I get most of my parts from the US and UK and some from OZ. Thank goodness I can read English. Its the only thing stopping everyone else from buying out.

Theres also a fibrglass body kit you can put on one of their little vans to make it look like a VWs little brother and its proved quite popular. Causes its fair share of problems in summer cos theres no opening for the radiator so they regularly cook themselves.

If youve got more questions please ask any time. Im really interested in your feed back about my bus and Ill probably need you noggins at times. Thanks all. Hope the pics work now

Cheers

dude dont completely shut off where the cargo doors are make it a double door 23 window ( just cut in the coors the other side!!!) much easier and makes it way more better and saves time and money!!
Rob King done this to his american imported 23 window and it came up atreat!!
cheers
rhys

Konichiwa Zimblewinder san,

Just looked at your photo album and must say that is one lovely bus!
Would you mind sharing with everyone how your came to own this beauty in Nippon?
Thanks-W

Wow love the photos & what a cool bus.Please keep us posted on the progress.:thumb

Awesome bus!
Japan sounds like a good place to set up a workshop, seeing as no-one knows how to work on cars.

I thought about double door treatment but to tell the truth there were so few dd 23's built that it would have been a dead give away for a chop job. Besides sourcing the extra parts is more of a problem for older busses. Ive seen Robs bus and had a good long look at his pics and stuff. Most informative.

I looked in the US on the net for busses for quite some time. Those I thought fit my pocket and my ambition I followed through. People can catch everything you want to know about a bus with a digital camera these days but you have to ask for SPECIFIC photos. Theyll shy away from giving you the dirt straight forward. Anyway if you insist then they eventually give you all youre asking for. It scared me off a few busses and lead me to try and buy a couple too. Unfortunately I had some sold out from under me while I was waiting for detailed photos and other times the owner sold to someone who'd come along in the middle of the process (easier to sell locally) and snatched it from under my nose. Missed a 60 23, a 59 23 and a white on white 67 that was perfect! DOH.

Anyway after having one guy cut out on me I talked to SEACAL trading who was shipping VWs to Japan at the time. He didnt have anything that suited me but said hed keep his eyes peeled. About a month later he called me and said I should check out this bus. It was being sold by one of the big names in the VW scene in the US (which made me feel a little more secure about buying without seeing it in person) and it had never been listed so no competition until Id worked out if I wanted it or not. After asking for a stretch of photos I took up the offer an here it is.

Japan did import about 10 50's 23 window busses for use by the government to ship dignitorys about in back then. They have all dissolved by now or near enough. And that is Japanese split bus history (pretty short huh).

nice
have you thought about just leaving it left hand drive?

sure dude do the double door treatment!!! would be awesome!
cheers
rhys

Im also kinda attached to that beautiful long panel. No broken lines.... Double doors dont have that and all that expanse cant be had in other classics (unless youre looking at a chevy roof) If youve ever seen a mirror long panel without the waves then you know what I mean.

As for leaving it LHD.. all the standard arguements apply and for me its a keeper so I want to be as comfortable driving it as possible (for a bus). The steering gear change over isnt that difficult and the front floor is kaput anyway so a new floor pan and some care changing the dash and you wont even know the difference. Sure its not what the chassis history says but apart from that youre not going to know.

nice to hear from you guys thanks

Heres the link again for anyone down this way
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/thomson_dale2000/album?.dir=/fd5d&.src=p... s.yahoo.com/ph/thomson_dale2000/my_photos

[Edited on 29-4-2004 by Zimblewinder]

i know what ya mean but seeing a 23 window double door is a great feeling!!! (rob gave me the chance to ride in his 23 window with the safari's cracked and it blew me away!!!!)
i reacon it woiuld be cheaper putting in double doors then shuting that side off and switching sides
cheers
rhys

sweet bus!

I dont know if there is no one in japan whos knows how to work on VW's There are some nice GL style bugs at this site

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/jeffreys/vw/

You have u2u.

The quys who do bug stuff do it well and charge as if they were Ferrari mechanics. The shops that specialise seem really good but I dont think I should be paying that kind of money when its not a Ferrari. Home do it yourself however is almost non existent. Its sad cos Ive seen some nice busses and bugs going to rot because the owners think its enough to own one. Preservation isnt a thought when your last car was a riceburner designed for an update in 5 years.

All that said.. as with any country there are fanatics who have gone to the extreme to have the cleanest most correct of any model classic/vintage. It still shocks me to go somewhere and see advertising for someones PRIVATE Abath collection or Bugatti collection etc. This is not rare!!! In Australia if youre rich you have one of these (if your lucky) and a commodore. Here those with money are of a different lot. On the weekends if the weather is fine the local Lamborghini and Ferrari club goes for a spin in my area. Its unbelievable to see 100 of these cars out together. Pity they cant drive them to purpose here. Still....

To dream hey....Its an incredible country! (shaking my head)

By the way Daniel, thats a sweet kombi! My other itch was for a Westy or a Devon with a more custom ride (IRS, brakes, a medium drop and 1600Sp) and I was a moment or two away from doing a camper in a Kombi not much different to yours. Held the cravings and decided one major project is enough at one time. I still have a Landy defender110 in OZ so I really dont need another camper.But.......

THERE ARE MORE PICS - some progress. I want a friend with a sand blasting business. (NONE IN jAPAN) cough cough splutter....:puke

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/thomson_dale2000/album?.dir=/fd5d&.src=p...

[Edited on 29-5-2004 by Zimblewinder]

[Edited on 29-5-2004 by Zimblewinder]

did you end up getting your right hand drive parts?
i gave up trying to contact you because every time I tried to send a photo email it rejected. good to see you continueing the project. your neighbours must be understanding or is it an industrial area. keep up the good work.

[Edited on 30-5-2004 by eirecooled]

Havent got everything yet but Ill be busy with the holes and bends for a while. Ill get back to you then to see if you can help me out. Sorry about the email. Hotmail is a bitch!

CUTTIN BRUSHIN GRINDIN

take a look, new pics
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/thomson_dale2000/album?.dir=/fd5d&.src=p...

Hey just a quick question. Is this the best way for other users (on dial up etc) to view pictures? Would it be better if I posted a few in this thread?

[Edited on 21-6-2004 by Zimblewinder]

So considering it took a month to get here its really only five working months. Im really happy with the progress. A new mig and a box of tin from Schofield and Wolfburg west and Im on my way. Ive really only got to clean off the underside and Ill be done with all the cleaning (body only:repuke) I should have taken a photo of myself caked in paint, rust and dirt to keep me happy when things are a little more difficult later. Its never going to be as grungy as that again (thank God!!:thumb)

Anyway heres a few pics of whats happened so far. Theres quite a few so I suggest you start a slide show after selecting the photos you wish to look at.

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/thomson_dale2000/album?.dir=/fd5d&.src=p...

guess what happens next. Stay tuned folks. I still have all my fingers and toes and can honestly say Im having a ball. Hope alls good for you.
Cheers



[Edited on 23-7-2004 by Zimblewinder]

Dale....Please can u update your profile with your contact info....

By the way...Love your 23....Good to see it's coming along so well, in a rather less than perfect workshop!!!

Later

Lucky lucky lucky. Got a NOS waso shift lock and some straight louver trims to complete my set. Now if only I knew how to fit the thing.... (anybody fitted a shift lock before?)

Here's my wish list from now for all yooz with spare parts in the shed.

- Aussie VW optional mesh headlight protectors (fluted lenses are toooooo expensive to ever replace)
- 15" beauty rings
- centre seat end panel (I did say WISH list)
- NOS mirrors
- A RHD front floor mat (NOS???)
- Period appropriate spotties (6volts and VW flutes just dont cut it, Just as well I cant drive my 36hp very fast)
- NOS VW mudflaps
- A engine lid church key bezel
- NOS dash knobs
- A full Judson supercharger kit (to make my spotties necessary)
- A set of period lap and 3 point seat belts (2x 3point lap sash and 7x 2point lap belts) to balance the supercharger.

Hmmm Im bound to think of more...

Better ad a thong for selling myself to rich supermodels... Im going to need the money!