The End of the Road for the VW Bus

vienna · 09-25-13, 01:54 PM

For those of us my age or older, this is a sad passing of an icon of the 60s and 70s. I never owned one, but I spent many happy and eventful hours in VW buses running around San Francisco and Los Angeles. Several years ago, I worked with a fellow who still had an original VW bus and we used to use it to go between office locations. Growing up in San Francisco, there is a system of jitney buses and back in the 60s to the late 70s, VW buses were a staple of the jitney routes and I used to ride them frequently to and from work or to get to downtown quickly...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...razil/2854119/

Dread Knot · 09-25-13, 02:21 PM

I guess those remaining hardcore hippies will have to walk or take the real bus now.

BrucePartington · 09-25-13, 02:29 PM

Given it is a classic and an icon, and so many were produced, I doubt they will suddenly disappear.
Enthusiasts will keep them running for years to come, and parts should be easy to obtain for many, many years.

Schroeder · 09-25-13, 02:33 PM

I wasn't even aware they were still produced. Over here they pretty much vanished years ago. It's become pretty seldom to still find some on the roads. Too bad. It was a nice little transporter.

09-25-13, 03:17 PM

VW camper.

Jimbuna · 09-25-13, 03:47 PM

That vehicle certainly brings back a few 'happy' memories

vienna · 09-25-13, 03:51 PM

I was just thinking back to something I saw happen several times in San Francisco. The city has a lot of hills that give even 4WD vehicles pains. There is nothing like the sight of a bunch of people pouring out of an underpowered VW bus, getting behind it, and then pushing the bus the remainig distance to the top of a hill...

Mr Quatro · 09-25-13, 04:25 PM

I remember San Francisco lived there for a year ... my friend had a alarm on his van that he would set after he parked it using a level filled with mercury and if the level changed the mercury would shift and set off the alarm.

I wonder how much the last VW bus cost ... an old 70's used one around here is in the 6k to 8k range USD

Ducimus · 09-25-13, 04:31 PM

Can't say i ever cared much for the Hippie bus.

AVGWarhawk · 09-25-13, 04:52 PM

The buses are neat. So are the older bugs. I can say my experience with VW have not been pleasant.

nikimcbee · 09-25-13, 05:56 PM

Don't worry, they will live on in Oregon.

Buddahaid · 09-25-13, 11:39 PM

I sold my 1969 camper earlier this year and divested myself of true VW's for the first time since 1978. I miss them but I no longer feel like working on cars. It used to be fun but I'm over it now.

Wolferz · 09-26-13, 05:29 AM

The last bus I saw was sitting in the middle of Dixie Highway on fire.

Talk about your Phirephegneugen! The burning experience.

TarJak · 09-26-13, 07:20 AM

You can hire this one in Sydney:

Sailor Steve · 09-26-13, 09:39 AM

I've seen a few of these over the years.

I also saw one with a fighter canopy grafted onto the roof.

This one is cool.

Did you know they also made a pickup?

09-25-13, 01:54 PM	#1
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,711 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	The End of the Road for the VW Bus For those of us my age or older, this is a sad passing of an icon of the 60s and 70s. I never owned one, but I spent many happy and eventful hours in VW buses running around San Francisco and Los Angeles. Several years ago, I worked with a fellow who still had an original VW bus and we used to use it to go between office locations. Growing up in San Francisco, there is a system of jitney buses and back in the 60s to the late 70s, VW buses were a staple of the jitney routes and I used to ride them frequently to and from work or to get to downtown quickly... http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...razil/2854119/ __________________ __________________________________________________ __ Last edited by vienna; 09-25-13 at 02:27 PM.

09-25-13, 02:33 PM	#4
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	I wasn't even aware they were still produced. Over here they pretty much vanished years ago. It's become pretty seldom to still find some on the roads. Too bad. It was a nice little transporter. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

09-25-13, 03:47 PM	#6
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	That vehicle certainly brings back a few 'happy' memories __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

09-25-13, 03:51 PM	#7
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,711 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	I was just thinking back to something I saw happen several times in San Francisco. The city has a lot of hills that give even 4WD vehicles pains. There is nothing like the sight of a bunch of people pouring out of an underpowered VW bus, getting behind it, and then pushing the bus the remainig distance to the top of a hill... __________________ __________________________________________________ __

09-25-13, 04:52 PM	#10
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	The buses are neat. So are the older bugs. I can say my experience with VW have not been pleasant. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

09-25-13, 02:21 PM	#2
Dread Knot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,288 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	I guess those remaining hardcore hippies will have to walk or take the real bus now.

09-25-13, 02:29 PM	#3
BrucePartington XO Join Date: May 2013 Location: KM AM99 Posts: 405 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	Given it is a classic and an icon, and so many were produced, I doubt they will suddenly disappear. Enthusiasts will keep them running for years to come, and parts should be easy to obtain for many, many years.

09-25-13, 03:17 PM	#5
Tribesman Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	VW camper.

09-25-13, 04:25 PM	#8
Mr Quatro Navy Seal Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 6,772 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I remember San Francisco lived there for a year ... my friend had a alarm on his van that he would set after he parked it using a level filled with mercury and if the level changed the mercury would shift and set off the alarm. I wonder how much the last VW bus cost ... an old 70's used one around here is in the 6k to 8k range USD

09-25-13, 04:31 PM	#9
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	Can't say i ever cared much for the Hippie bus.

09-25-13, 05:56 PM	#11
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Don't worry, they will live on in Oregon. __________________

09-25-13, 11:39 PM	#12
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,319 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	I sold my 1969 camper earlier this year and divested myself of true VW's for the first time since 1978. I miss them but I no longer feel like working on cars. It used to be fun but I'm over it now. __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie

09-26-13, 05:29 AM	#13
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	The last bus I saw was sitting in the middle of Dixie Highway on fire. Talk about your Phirephegneugen! The burning experience. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

09-26-13, 07:20 AM	#14
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	You can hire this one in Sydney:

09-26-13, 09:39 AM	#15
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I've seen a few of these over the years. I also saw one with a fighter canopy grafted onto the roof. This one is cool. Did you know they also made a pickup? __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo