'56 Bus

IronVan · Post by **IronVan** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:40 pm

I just got hold of my first split, and I thought I'd introduce it to you all before I soil myself with excitement!
I have posted a few photos, which the previous owner shot, but will add some decent ones once the slides come back from the chemist.
It's an unusual bus because it began life in Wolfsburg in 1955, only to be transported over to the new Hanover factory in 1956, to be finished off. What was created therefore, was the bastard son of a barndoor; many of the barndoor features, such as pressed bumpers, really small rear lights and so on, but with some post-'55 characteristics, such as large tailgate and uprated gearbox - I'm sure there are many others but I haven't had time to put a comprehensive inventory together.
The story goes that I was 2 days away from buying quite a nice '59 in England (where I currently live, until I emigrate to Sydney next April), when I saw this bus on thesamba.com. I got very excited and lost 3 nights' sleep sending emails and talking to the owner in America. The day before I was due to go and make an offer for the UK van, I decided to sack the idea, and fly to Washington state instead, and have a look at this van. To cut a long story short, I've just got back this weekend with the deal done. The bus is well kept, straight and totally gorgeous! It was about half the price I would have paid for it in the UK, plus I paid for the whole trip by the saving I made in the difference in UK/US retail price on a laptop and specialist tent I bought out there. This really was a bargain hunt.
So now I have to decide on what I want to do to the van to get it looking just right for me, and then work out what I want done in the US before I ship it out to Sydney. I also need to find someone over there to carry out the final work, and somewhere to store it until I get over there. I will soon be flooding this forum with questions on all of this stuff, so thanks in advance for your help guys, Jez

byronbus · Post by **byronbus** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:47 pm

congrats, looks unreal... give steve a call at kombi rescue 0400 356 057

IronVan · Post by **IronVan** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:22 pm

Thanks Byron, I'll do that. Steve has already been recommended to me by other DSK members and I've already had a brief exchange of emails with him a month or so ago, when things were a bit vague on what I wanted. Now I know what van we're discussing, and have a good idea on what needs doing to him, I can start firming up a complete list of work, and put some costs on it all. My biggest question mark right now is where do I store it in Oz? Is it pretty tough finding storage space in the Sydney area does anyone know? The good thing is, the bus is in storage in America for as long as I want to pay for it, so there's no immediate rush to get him shipped over to Oz. Also, I was introduced to a guy over there who really knows his stuff and may be able to help sort some of the van out in-situ before I ship him over.
Cheers for now, Jez

Rich Oakley · Post by **Rich Oakley** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 5:54 am

Beautiful bus! Who did you purchase it from and whereabouts in the UK are you? I've just bought an original paint RHD '57 (see Member's rides).

frenzix · Post by **frenzix** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 5:56 am

lovely, nice buy!!

frenzix · Post by **frenzix** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 5:58 am

those bumper's are the correct ones for a 56 bus.. barndoor ones were slightly different.. the tailights are barndoor lights though ... whats the interior like??

IronVan · Post by **IronVan** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:27 am

Rich Oakley wrote:Beautiful bus! Who did you purchase it from and whereabouts in the UK are you? I've just bought an original paint RHD '57 (see Member's rides).

Hi Rich, cool ride and a right hooker, nice find. All the bits look the same as mine, except for the rear lights. I'm in the Shropshire Hills, not too far from Shrewsbury - I'm in the DubTypes club. I bought the bus from a guy in Bellingham, WA.

kombinationdetailing · Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:32 am

Durka Lah!

sweet ride...durka ..durka! You will be a VERY popular person when this hits our shores...Congrats on your search and find of this most PREMIUM ride.

IronVan · Post by **IronVan** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:39 am

frenzix wrote:those bumper's are the correct ones for a 56 bus.. barndoor ones were slightly different.. whats the interior like??

Right, nice to know; so what is the slight difference then, out of interest? There's no interior, just grey primer. I've got one of the back seats, which looks okay, but needs reupholstering. It needs the panels fitting too. I haven't really decided what to do with the inside yet, a rock 'n' roll bed might be cool. A picture of the interior below.

IronVan · Post by **IronVan** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:55 am

kombinationdetailing wrote:Durka Lah! sweet ride...Congrats on your search and find of this most PREMIUM ride.

Cheers pal, very kind. So, judging from your username, you might have something to do with detailing; does that include signage? I'm planning to put my company details on the van when I get over there, and it would be handy to get an idea on price. Any advice appreciated.

byronbus · Post by **byronbus** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:13 am

Rear bar is the same, front the gaps between the ribs is less on a barny, later bumpers were made bigger for the rego plate...

Ask Steve about storage, im sure for a reasonable fee he'd store it in his shed...

byronbus · Post by **byronbus** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:17 am

Oh and the bumper mounts are different on later splits, not sure about 55's

byronbus · Post by **byronbus** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:19 am

Oh and if you want to swap those tail lights for ones that are safer and easier to see then ive got some ill swap you with. Just looking out for you fella, would want anyone to run into you...

Frogsta · Post by **Frogsta** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:47 am

The barndoor tail lights were kept in the U.S. up till 58 then went to the 2 screw big glass.
In Aus we got the small euro glass number in 55.
Good to see some nice ones coming back to Aus.

Frogsta · Post by **Frogsta** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:49 am

Your funny as, Bruce.