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Thread: I bought a 1976 VW camper van!!! :)

  1. #1
    PhillyDancer1982
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    I bought a 1976 VW camper van!!! :)

    LOL bear with me here, I just had to take a minute and brag...

    Today I took a day trip to Atlanta, Georgia to visit and purchase the car I've been after for years now...a 1976 yellow-orange Volkswagen campmobile! I'd been planning to buy one of these by sometime this summer, but I couldn't resist when I saw a good condition one for less money than I'd intended to pay. Hey, why wait three months for the vehicle you want, when you can push yourself to work a little harder for 2 weeks and get that car now? Especially since old cars come and go very quickly, and each year makes the VW busses harder to come by? In Philly, all that snow and rain makes old cars very susceptible to rust, so I kinda expected to go a long distance to get the car I wanted. So yeah, it was a hike and a half to Atlanta, especially since I was running on no sleep at all...I worked 10pm-5am last night, then went straight from work to the airport to Georgia.

    Here is a picture of my baby:

    What I like about it is, the owner obviously put a lot of work into it and had a lot of fun with it but simply doesn't have the time to go camping with it anymore. The engine and transmission were taken from 78 and 79 busses, respectively, then rebuilt and installed in 1998. The clutch was replaced, too. Then only a year after the restoration work, the car was garaged and driven less often, so it doesn't have much mileage on the newer engine. It runs pretty good, although steering it is a challenge in itself(LOL!), but I just need to get used to it. It felt so foreign, especially since I had to rely on my side mirrors for driving because the back window visibility isn't the best since it's a van! I'm used to a brand-new little Mustang with power everything, whereas this VW is a much older, simpler built vehicle.

    It should be arriving at my place in another week or so! I'm having it shipped via truck/trailer, because driving an unfamiliar 30-yr-old car up 7 states just isn't a very wise decision, especially since Georgia doesn't require annual inspections on older cars so I'd want my long-time VW mechanic to check out the bus before attempting any long drives. Hopefully everything will go good! I'm going to be worried up until the time that it enters my hands, fully tagged, insured, and registered. But hopefully it'll be here soon! Anyone else have any VW stories they want to share? Any advice or tips I should know about maintaining it? Thanks!

  2. #2
    God/dess Rhiannon's Avatar
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    Default Re: I bought a 1976 VW camper van!!! :)

    Woot! A shaggin' wagon! Congrats!

  3. #3
    God/dess Emily's Avatar
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    Default Re: I bought a 1976 VW camper van!!! :)

    I think it'd be hilarious to see this in a SC parking lot!

    awesome purchase. Have fun this summer

  4. #4
    God/dess PaigeDWinter's Avatar
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    Default Re: I bought a 1976 VW camper van!!! :)

    I so love those things. I live in an area with a really decent hippie percentage, and I see a LOT of them!! Rock on!
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    God/dess Bridgette's Avatar
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    Default Re: I bought a 1976 VW camper van!!! :)


    Quote Originally Posted by pheno View Post
    When you lead a nontraditional life don't try to measure it with traditional milestones.

  6. #6
    mermaidnz
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    Default Re: I bought a 1976 VW camper van!!! :)

    my dream car when i was 16 was a kombi!! does this mean you will stop catching the bus and drive? heh if you were too tired to drive home you could just park up and sleep in the back! awesome!!

  7. #7
    Veteran Member big_daddyII's Avatar
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    Default Re: I bought a 1976 VW camper van!!! :)

    I want one! Will it pull a trailer with 1000 pounds on it????
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  8. #8
    PhillyDancer1982
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    Default Re: I bought a 1976 VW camper van!!! :)

    As far as driving to work, I might still take the train to Atlantic City, just because it will avoid putting wear and mileage on any of my cars. Volkswagen busses are known for being rather slow on highways, and are actually at risk of toppling over if they are driven at too-high speeds alongside big tractor trailers!! However, I MIGHT drive the bus down to Atlantic City on occasion...the idea of sleeping inside the bus if I'm too tired to drive home right after work, was exactly what I had in mind!

    I can't wait until it arrives! I'm just nervous about getting it registered, because in Georgia they are more lax on the rules with cars, whereas Pennsylvania is a lot more strict and requires a lot more paperwork and inspections. But anyways, hooray for shaggin wagons!!

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    God/dess GoldCoastGirl's Avatar
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    Smiley Re: I bought a 1976 VW camper van!!! :)

    No story yet Tho' I totally want me a Herbie for my next car !! Then I will eventually buy one of the new style Herbies and totally pimp it out (well, two-tone paint, rims, decent stereo system, and so on).

    I couldn't get a Herbie as my first car as they weren't in my price range when I was looking.... plus the fact that I had v.little experience with older manual cars didn't help either. Now that I have the confidence (I will get that license...soon.. in july or august I'm hoping) .. and I am driving a car where "power steering" equal YOU putting the POWER in the steering I should be okay with having a Herbie.

    I always loved the Herbie movies when I was younger. Not too much a fan of the newest Herbie movie (have yet to see it) however "Herbie" the character in the movies.. ahh.. not to mention the old "punch buggy" game. hehehe


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  10. #10
    Sitri
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    Default Re: I bought a 1976 VW camper van!!! :)

    Very nice. I worked my way through college in a Volkswagen Repair Shop / junk yard. I owned two VW buses.. so far.
    Since you are going to Philly, you may want to add a gas heater. These little units are invaluable in the winter. They attach to the gas line and have their own little gas engine to heat the van. Other wise you will be known as "The Philly Dancer with the cold ass".

    As long as the transaxle and engine are in good shape this will be a lot of fun.

    Good work.

  11. #11
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    Default Re: I bought a 1976 VW camper van!!! :)

    Man, that is one sweet ride! I know what it is to love an old car but I think VW enthusiasts have everyone beat. Enjoy, and post pictures when you decorate.

  12. #12
    Pamela
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    Default Re: I bought a 1976 VW camper van!!! :)

    Quote Originally Posted by PaigeDWinter
    I so love those things. I live in an area with a really decent hippie percentage, and I see a LOT of them!! Rock on!
    Yea i can think of 2 that are down my way! One is kinda yellow, the other looks sprayed with a can of flat black! But damn if they dont run! Both very little rust.

    I think they are cool! I am a fan of a VW though, simply because they stuck with us all these years!!!! Back when people thought they were ugly and could not wait to up-grade to that new ford van...now one would be lucky to own a 76 VW van imo!

    Pamela

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