Well I thought I should post some pics of my new 23 window microbus. It arrived yesterday and I spent some time today cleaning out dust and rubbish from the front.

It is remarkably rust free and has some minor dents. The first owner cut a couple of chunks of the rear quarter skirt for what ever reason but other than that it is pretty well unmolested and I am thrilled that so far it has proven to be very rust free.

It has six pop outs which I really like, as well as genuine safari windows, which everyone loves!! There are a number of parts missing though and I thought I would start the long process of parts hunting by asking if anyone has anyone of the below listed parts for sale please u2u me. I will be using Roy of Classic Pacific for the new bits want when I can afford a part by doing my chores and paper-round!!

Parts needed:-

Front bench, middle and rear seats.
Steering column,
Steering wheel and horn button
Gear stick
Sunroof
Deluxe trim
Jail bars
Front and rear rubber mats
Rear lights..2 round ones each side
Windscreen wipers

Not sure if I will keep it totally standard, uprate to a 1600 motor or go the lowered, disc front look.

I wont be over- restoring it as I cannot afford to and I want to use it regularly without waiting for a 3/5 year- open chequebook resto to finish. I will be getting it resprayed in the original colour. Not sure what the coulour is called but it looks like Salmon Pink from the front cab. Anyone know the colour and code etc.

I will get the chassis number so that i can find out from one of you guru's what year it is.

NOW ENJOY THE PICS!!

[Edited on 31/5/2005 by preacherman]

[Edited on 5/6/2005 by preacherman]

[Edited on 6-6-2005 by vw54]

Trying to post pics

its a good feeling when its sitting in your driveway..hat off that you actually found one following the telephone discussion i had a couple of months ago.can help with a lot of those bits am wrecking a 63 window van..also know of a dlx steering wheel,will follow up a guy who is said to have the sunroof mech..u2u me for a few more details cheers dsk steve

last try with pics. If this fails can i email pics to someone on this list more computer literate than me ie. anyone else in Aust.!!

Have more pics but they are over the 50kb mark. Can anyone help me if I email you the pics please. I think I can get one more to go

Nice buy,
The salmon colour is usually "sealing wax red"
That is the name for it, if the top is a dark brown almost black, it is called "chesnut brown"

Other combinations were used, best to scrape some paint back and have a good luck.
Post the chassis number and I can tell you the year.

Cheers
Dave

Need to relocate this post onto another forum. How do I do this please?

Man i got those bench seat brackets if ya need them, will need to be spot welded in..

let me know

Andy

nice work
well brought
enjoy your prize
your a lucky man!

pic

pic

pic

pic

well done
keep us posted on the resto pics
i can only dream ,dam lotto numbers!

pic

man thats a good thing...

well done.

cant believe someone would cut a dash outa that baby, and then leave the rest behind!!!

wow wow wow how cool is that, well done im so jealous
is that the one that was for sale on ebay?

Are the dashes anything special ??

or "just" a splitty dash???

You could always graft a bay dash in there like the tripple

is this baby from australia ? how many arrived in oz ?is the dream still alive to find another?

Well done - an amazing find. Can't believe the condition of it.
The colour combo would most probably be beige grey over sealing wax red as Dave said, the earlier ones had chestnut brown on the top.
All the best on the resto:thumb

what a great score ,everybodies dream splitty,a lucky man

Well to answer the questions

It is the one that was on ebay. I could not get too much history but was told that it was owned by an old guy for years who used it as a camper. When the sunroof deteriorated he put what looks like cut parts from a pop top on it. and pop riveted a rail on the roof to take an awning.

The guy i bought it from had if for three years or so and told me someone punched two holes in the cargo doors so he could pass a chain thru it as he kept his compressor in the 23. Philistine!!

I dont know the reason why the botttom of the back corners were cut and turned up but I am sure there was a good reason for it!!

I wil post updates as work is done on the old boy. Thanks for the well wishes guys. How about diggin around your garages and yards for the parts I need to buy. Oh I forgot I need the bumpers as well

unfortuantely all the parts u need will eat ur budget away me thinks!! hate to think of what they would acumulate to cost!!
but then again ur a lucky bastard for owning a 23 window who cares!!
good score
rhys
p.s. people there still out there!

aaaahhh Bizarre...graft a bay dash onto it!! I froze at the thought LOL

I am sure I wont do a concours resto as it is not me but I could not contemplate that fate for 'him'. I suppose I could also cut out the roof and put in a pop top but NAH too much silicon!!

One sad part of all this is that I will have to think what I am going to do with my nearly restored 15 window lovingly called 'Ernie'. I bought him at a time when I had all but given up hope on getting a 23. He is one of the most rust free splittys I have ever seen..like new in most parts and straight as a die. I cannot be greedy and will need to finance the 23's resto. I also know that it is silly to have two restored splittys sitting around as they wont get used. Breaks my heart at the thought of selling him as there is alot of love time and sweat invested. I know i don't want him to go overseas and he wont be cheap.

I have learned what many of you guys have when you come to a place of parting with a vdub that has alot of self invested in it.

well done as much as everyone would of loved 2 get this im glad u got it and its staying in australia:P

There should be a plate behind the drivers seat that contains a load of numbers that are known as M-codes. VW Germany gave me a booklet to decode M-code numbers when I got my splittys birth cert off them. Let me know what it says and I can tell you exactly what your missing!

Great catch!

Cheers

Steve

Looks like its a 59-61 judging by the gearstick position and the engine lid and nipple indicators. Like it was mentioned above, sealing wax red (L53) and beige grey. Interior would also be grey and it would have the rounded bumpers (luck for you cos theyre much easier to find at a reasonable price). Nice front floor, I envy you the rust free bits on this bus. Keep us up to date as you get along. I have a fair few bits doubled up for my 58 23 but itll be a while before I know exactly what needs to go back in and what Ill have spare. Maybe I can help you out. Look forward to seeing your progress. Cheers

PS there is a sunroof mechanism complete on theSamba.com at the moment!
Also, you can flip bay corners to fit a splitty, turn them upside down and weld them on their opposite corner. Only thing that gives them away is they have a drain hole indentation on them. Its behind the bumper and if it really bothers you you can cut it out easily.

[Edited on 31/5/2005 by Zimblewinder]

nice score

This is the Identification Plate in the engine bay. The plate behind the Driver's seat reads:

02 03 1

394

AM 244 BGR SR 74331

Will be interesting to find out the year it was made and the trim it left the factory with.

Thanks guys

The 02 03 1 is the build date:- (DD M Y)

2nd of March 1961

Chassis Number 74331 puts it into March 61

My M-code info is at home, but Type 24 is a Microbus Deluxe 9-seater and I know on the M-code the number 244 is:- means Microbus Deluxe 9-seater, right hand drive (the last 4 denoting RHD).

Cheers

Steve

[Edited on 1-6-2005 by matara]