Exploring the iconic Volkswagen Bus and Vanagon, this episode features a lively discussion among enthusiasts who share their personal stories and experiences with these beloved vehicles. The hosts, including first-timers, dive into the history, variations, and cultural significance of VW buses, highlighting their appeal across generations and socio-economic classes. From restoration tales to engine swaps, the conversation reveals the camaraderie within the VW community and the joy of driving these classic cars. Unique insights into the mechanics and values of different models add depth to the discussion.
Analog and Grit Member Ruben brings his Volkswagen Bus friends to join the podcast along with Mainstay Dylan. The guys share their ownership stories and explain why they love the VW Bus. I am selling my 89 BW Vanagon and may regret it because it’s so good. How the VW Bus became so impactful on the automotive industry.
"...your host Victor Troyer who do we have on today's Volkswagen bus and van episode we got Dylan over here returning ..."
The Volkswagen Bus is a big, boxy van that many people love for its retro style and roomy interior. It's often used for road trips and has a fun, laid-back vibe.
The Volkswagen Bus, also known as the VW Type 2, is a classic van that became an icon of the 1960s counterculture. Its spacious interior and unique design have made it a beloved vehicle for road trips and camping.
"...I know yours is air-cooled well all all your guys's buses and vans are air-cooled right yes right..."
An air-cooled engine is a type of engine that cools itself using air instead of water. This means it doesn't have a radiator like most cars do.
An air-cooled engine uses air to dissipate heat, rather than relying on a liquid cooling system. This design is lighter and simpler but can lead to overheating in extreme conditions.
"...I'm the only water-cooled van here so obviously maybe I need to you know educate myself..."
A water-cooled engine is one that uses water to keep the engine cool. This helps prevent overheating and is common in most modern cars.
A water-cooled engine uses a liquid coolant to absorb and dissipate heat, allowing for better temperature control and efficiency compared to air-cooled engines.
"Leno's garage and he talks about it all that like 21 window and bay window and all this stuff I know from fluff like I'm not gonna lie so I need you guys as help here but how when did they first come out 49 I believe like September late was like the beginning of it but the first one that was like out we're getting sold to the public was 1950..."
The Volkswagen Type 2 is a classic van that was first made in 1949. It has different versions, like the '21 window' which has more windows for light, and the 'barn door' which has a special back door design that many collectors love.
The Volkswagen Type 2, also known as the VW Bus or Kombi, was first introduced in 1949 and became iconic for its unique design and versatility. The '21 window' and 'bay window' variants refer to different configurations of the bus, with the 'barn door' model being particularly sought after due to its distinctive rear design.
"...what bus do you have you want to slide it over for him I have a 1974 panel bus that I got when I was like 19 20 years old..."
The Volkswagen Type 2 Bus is a famous van that many people love for its retro style and roomy space. The 1974 model is one of the last versions before changes were made in later years.
The Volkswagen Type 2 Bus, also known as the VW Bus, is a classic vehicle that has become iconic for its unique design and versatility. The 1974 model is part of the second generation of this vehicle, which is known for its spacious interior and ability to transport multiple passengers or cargo.
"...the engine blew up oh wow it was a 1.08 liter yeah and maybe about five years I had it sitting there..."
A 1.08 liter engine is a small engine size, which means it uses less fuel and is usually found in smaller cars. It may not be very powerful compared to larger engines.
A 1.08 liter engine refers to the engine's displacement, which is a measure of the total volume of all the cylinders in the engine. Smaller engines like this are typically found in compact cars and are known for better fuel efficiency but may offer less power.
"...the engine blew up oh wow it was a 1.08 liter yeah and maybe about five years I had it sitting there..."
Engine failure means the engine stops working, which can happen if it gets damaged or isn't taken care of. It can be very expensive to fix or replace.
Engine failure occurs when an engine stops functioning properly, often due to mechanical issues, lack of maintenance, or severe damage. This can lead to costly repairs or the need for a complete engine replacement.
"...you had a beetle okay I had one but not running they did not know I had a bus..."
The Volkswagen Beetle is a small, iconic car that many people recognize. It was popular for its unique shape and reliable performance, making it a favorite among drivers for decades.
The Volkswagen Beetle is a classic compact car known for its distinctive rounded shape and rear-engine layout. It has a rich history and is one of the best-selling cars of all time, often associated with the counterculture movement of the 1960s.
"...didn't know how to drive stick shift my dad had a 300 ZX 91 they didn't want to teach me didn't want me to..."
The Nissan 300 ZX is a sporty car from the late '80s and early '90s that many people loved for its speed and style. It's part of a family of cars known as Z-cars.
The Nissan 300 ZX is a sports car that was produced in the late 1980s and early 1990s, known for its sleek design and performance capabilities. It is part of the Z-car lineage, which has a strong following among car enthusiasts.
"...because it's a you know late bay and nobody wants those so we came to agreement and I ended up getting it for $1,800 Wow with everything dang that's..."
A 'late bay' is a type of Volkswagen bus made in the 1970s. It's not as popular as older models, which is why some people don't want to buy them.
The term 'late bay' refers to the later models of the Volkswagen Type 2 (commonly known as the VW Bus or Kombi) produced between 1972 and 1979. These models are characterized by their distinctive bay window design and are often considered less desirable among collectors compared to earlier models.
"we had a bunch of parts saved like the brakes Porsche 944 brakes we had a bunch of air ride parts..."
The Porsche 944 is a sporty car made by the German company Porsche. It's popular for its good handling and performance.
The Porsche 944 is a sports car produced by Porsche from 1982 to 1991. It is known for its balanced handling and front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.
"so you said it's a bay window right so bay window explain what that is..."
A bay window is a style of VW Bus that has big windows on the sides. There are two types: early and late, which look a bit different from each other.
Bay window refers to a specific style of Volkswagen Type 2 (commonly known as the VW Bus) that features larger windows on the sides, providing more light and visibility. There are early and late bay window versions, which differ in design.
"just has the one large window flat gotcha okay so split window you can open them up kind of like you know individually"
A split window is when the front windshield of a car is divided into two parts that can open separately. It's a feature seen in some older cars that gives them a unique look.
A split window refers to a vehicle design where the windshield is divided into two sections, allowing for separate opening mechanisms. This design is often found in classic cars and adds a vintage aesthetic.
"I know like for example yours the one that you got from the junkyard is Westfalia right so that means it's got a camper top"
The Volkswagen Westfalia is a type of camper van that has special features like a pop-up roof and space for sleeping and cooking. It's popular among people who love camping and traveling in their vans.
The Volkswagen Westfalia is a camper van variant of the Volkswagen Type 2, known for its distinctive pop-top roof and interior amenities designed for camping. It is highly sought after by enthusiasts for its versatility and nostalgic appeal.
"...because I noticed that on the vanagans at least right but then besides just Westfalia..."
The Volkswagen Vanagon is a type of van that came after the classic VW bus. It's known for being spacious and practical, and some versions can even drive on rough terrain.
The Volkswagen Vanagon is a successor to the Type 2 and is known for its boxy shape and versatility. It was produced in various configurations, including a four-wheel drive version called the Syncro.
Syncro is a name for Volkswagen's four-wheel drive system, which helps the van drive better on rough or slippery roads. It makes the vehicle more capable in different driving conditions.
Syncro refers to Volkswagen's four-wheel drive system used in some models like the Vanagon. It provides better traction and stability in off-road or slippery conditions.
"...yeah yeah we've seen one actually when we went to Monterey and we were at the car wash I think Josh posted a..."
The Mercury Monterey is a big car that was made for families and has lots of space inside. It was popular in the past and is seen as a classic American car.
The Mercury Monterey was a full-size car produced by Ford's Mercury division from the 1950s to the early 2000s, known for its spacious interiors and family-friendly features. It represents a classic era of American automobiles.
"...let's talk about like buses so like I know the 21 there's a 21 window 23 window 21 23 yeah so it is different..."
The 21-window bus is a classic Volkswagen van that has 21 windows. It's popular among collectors because of its unique look and history.
The 21-window bus is a variant of the Volkswagen Type 2, known for its distinctive number of windows, which includes a large front windshield, side windows, and a rear window. This model is particularly sought after by collectors due to its iconic design and historical significance.
"...let's talk about like buses so like I know the 21 there's a 21 window 23 window 21 23 yeah so it is different..."
The 23-window bus is a classic Volkswagen van that has 23 windows, making it even more spacious and desirable than the 21-window version.
The 23-window bus is another variant of the Volkswagen Type 2, featuring even more windows than the 21-window version. This model is highly prized among enthusiasts for its spaciousness and classic styling, making it one of the most valuable VW buses.
"...because of rarity that's right those are valuable..."
Rarity means how few of a certain type of car there are left. If a car is rare, it usually becomes more valuable because not many people can find it.
Rarity in the context of classic cars refers to how few examples of a particular model exist. The rarer a vehicle is, the more valuable it tends to be among collectors and enthusiasts, as scarcity often drives demand.
"...you have to smog yours yes so you don't have to smog your 74 right so I guess that's that's cool..."
Smog is a type of air pollution that can come from cars and factories. Some places require cars to be checked to see how much pollution they make, which is called a smog check.
Smog refers to air pollution that can be caused by vehicle emissions, industrial discharges, and other sources. In many areas, vehicles must pass smog checks to ensure they meet environmental standards.
"running right out of the junkyard just took the fuel injection off through the carburetors went around the block everything was solid"
Fuel injection is a way to deliver fuel to the engine. It helps the engine run better and cleaner than older systems that used carburetors.
Fuel injection is a system that delivers fuel to the engine in a precise manner, improving efficiency and performance compared to carburetors. It is commonly used in modern vehicles to optimize combustion and reduce emissions.
"just took the fuel injection off through the carburetors went around the block everything was solid"
Carburetors are older devices that mix air and fuel for engines to help them run. They are less common in new cars today because fuel injection is more efficient.
Carburetors are devices that mix air and fuel for internal combustion engines. They were widely used before fuel injection systems became the standard in modern vehicles.
"but they never did in the gas well I was surprised cuz I'm like you're definitely gonna have to pull the gas tank out"
The gas tank is where the fuel is stored in a car. It holds the gasoline until the engine needs it to run.
The gas tank is a container in a vehicle that holds fuel until it is needed by the engine. It is crucial for the operation of internal combustion engines.
"ripped all the fuel injector system out made it carbureted runs amazing"
The fuel injector system is what delivers fuel to the engine in a precise way. It helps the engine run smoothly and efficiently.
The fuel injector system is a component of fuel injection that includes the injectors which spray fuel into the engine's combustion chamber. This system is essential for the engine's performance and efficiency.
"...and I think also as a daily driver it has a similar appeal to my Mercedes diesel..."
A 'daily driver' is a car that you use every day to get to work, run errands, or go places. It's usually a reliable and comfortable car that you can count on.
A 'daily driver' is a vehicle that is used regularly for everyday transportation. It is typically chosen for its reliability, comfort, and practicality rather than for performance or luxury.
"...you said there's a you mentioned the euro van had a v6 in it er 6 er 6..."
The Eurovan is a type of van made by Volkswagen that has a lot of room inside. It's popular for families and people who like to go camping because you can fit a lot of stuff in it.
The Volkswagen Eurovan is a multi-purpose vehicle that was produced by Volkswagen from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. It is known for its spacious interior and versatility, often used for family transport and camping.
"...front-wheel drive front-wheel drive yeah you don't get the engine in the bag..."
In front-wheel drive cars, the front wheels are the ones that get the power from the engine. This setup helps with handling and can make the car feel more stable, especially in bad weather.
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a vehicle configuration where the engine's power is directed to the front wheels. This design typically offers better traction in slippery conditions and allows for more interior space.
"...you know you can get an old car and it can have so many miles but people don't care you get a new car nowadays it has over a hundred thousand nobody wants to buy that car..."
When a car has been driven for a long time, like over a hundred thousand miles, people often worry that it might not work well anymore. This can make it harder to sell the car.
The phrase 'hundred thousand miles' refers to a common milestone in vehicle mileage that can significantly impact a car's resale value and perceived reliability. Cars that exceed this mileage are often viewed with skepticism regarding their condition and longevity.
"...ad or worse worn out but then you're looking at a Mustang you're looking at a Porsche anything you're looki..."
The Ford Mustang is a popular sports car that has been around since the 1960s. It's known for being fast and stylish, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts.
The Ford Mustang is an iconic American muscle car first introduced in 1964. It is significant for its performance, style, and cultural impact, often representing freedom and rebellion in automotive history.
"I could tell you if my Alfa Romeo Spider had 250,000 miles on it people are gonna be like..."
The Alfa Romeo Spider is a classic car that many people love for its looks and driving feel. It's not usually driven a lot, so high mileage can make people worry about its condition.
The Alfa Romeo Spider is a classic Italian sports car known for its stylish design and engaging driving experience. It has a strong enthusiast following and is often appreciated for its aesthetics rather than high mileage.
"...ble and accessible parts are for you know for the Volkswagen I mean you guys all have air-cooled right so let's ..."
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a new electric van that looks like the old VW Bus. It's designed to be good for the environment while still being fun and spacious.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is an electric van inspired by the classic VW Bus, representing Volkswagen's shift towards electric mobility. It combines retro design with modern technology, appealing to both nostalgic fans and eco-conscious consumers.
"... Porsches right people want an air-cooled Porsche 911 because it was a different time as different soun..."
The Porsche 911 is a high-performance sports car that has been loved by many for decades. It's famous for its unique shape and powerful engine, making it a dream car for many people.
The Porsche 911 is a legendary sports car that has been in production since 1964, renowned for its distinctive design and exceptional performance. It holds a special place in automotive history, especially among enthusiasts who appreciate its air-cooled engines and driving dynamics.
"...linder motor with yeah power was never like their forte right I know you know I remember seeing fluffy ri..."
The Kia Forte is a small car that's budget-friendly and has a lot of modern features. It's a good choice for people looking for a reliable car without spending too much.
The Kia Forte is a compact car that offers a balance of affordability, comfort, and technology features. It has gained popularity for its value and warranty coverage.
"...re's a little bit of like like if I roll down the window wind will get in and it'll like circulate a lit..."
The Renault Wind is a small car that can be turned into a convertible, meaning you can drive it with the top down. It's fun for sunny days and has a cool design.
The Renault Wind is a compact convertible that was produced in the early 2010s, known for its unique design and fun driving experience. It appeals to those looking for an affordable open-top car.
"...he beetle right so they had their beetle that the Karmann Ghia they had I believe it's the same is it the same b..."
The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is a vintage car that looks stylish and is based on the popular Beetle. It's loved by collectors for its unique appearance.
The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is a classic car that combines the chassis of a Volkswagen Beetle with a stylish body designed by Italian coachbuilders. It is cherished for its unique design and is considered a classic among vintage car enthusiasts.
"...e it was like the affordable it was like the Fiat 500 for Italians right the Volkswagen beetle but it t..."
The Fiat 500 is a tiny car that looks cute and is great for driving around the city. It's known for being easy to park and has a fun, retro design.
The Fiat 500 is a small city car that has become a symbol of Italian automotive design since its revival in the 2000s. It is celebrated for its compact size, retro styling, and urban maneuverability.
"...whiling on the freeway yeah when your average new Corolla has 200 horsepower right yeah that's a really goo..."
The Toyota Corolla is a small car that many people use for daily driving. It's known for being very reliable and saving money on gas.
The Toyota Corolla is one of the best-selling cars in the world, known for its reliability, fuel efficiency, and practicality. It has a reputation for being a dependable choice for everyday driving.
"...out of the driveway when I had my 1985 Volkswagen Golf I didn't have a reverse either and I had to kick ..."
The Volkswagen Golf is a small car that's fun to drive and has a lot of space inside. It's been around for a long time and is well-liked for its quality.
The Volkswagen Golf is a compact car that has been popular since its introduction in the 1970s, known for its versatility and fun driving experience. It is often praised for its quality build and practicality.
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yeah you are listening to the analog and grit podcast I'm your host Victor Troyer
who do we have on today's Volkswagen bus and van episode we got Dylan over here
returning for this episode who else and I got Reuben over here first-timer
first-timer Reuben Sergio Mascareno first-timer as well all right who else
we have HL Suarez first-timer here at analog so a lot of first-timers yeah
mainstay Dylan and a few first-timers Reuben and I we met at Monterey car week
right you think we yep right analog and grit member so we kind of connected on
the fact that you had this like fascination with VW buses yes and at the
time I think I just bought my my van again and I was new to the van bus you
know culture so to speak and I know yours is air-cooled well all all your
guys's buses and vans are air-cooled right yes right all right so I'm the
only water-cooled van here so obviously maybe I need to you know educate myself
on which one is more preferred right so why don't you go around talk about what
bus or van you guys own and just talk a little bit about it well I got a little
rust bucket it's she's a 1959 I've owned for about maybe eight years and
it's been a long project just trying to restore all the rust and make a look
back to the original state without changing the paint okay you know the
original patina although look you know how I found it right and just me and my
buddy been working on it for we can say five years now that I brought it over
he's the one that pushed me because I just had it safe storing parts saving
it and he's the one that's like here's my trailer go get it stop playing around
yeah you know and got it running literally in the weekend like we locked
in Friday Saturday Sunday by Monday we were driving it up and down the street
not perfect but you know just like Finnegan would say you know and like
dude just don't just get it running don't make it right just get it running
you know yeah yeah get it running one thing at a time yep right okay and you
said what year it is 59 59 dang that's crazy yeah so so when did the bus cuz
like honestly I'm gonna be real guys like my knowledge of Volkswagen buses is
all from fluffy the comedian like that's that like he when he goes on like Jay
Leno's garage and he talks about it all that like 21 window and bay window and
all this stuff I know from fluff like I'm not gonna lie so I need you guys as
help here but how when did they first come out 49 I believe like September
late was like the beginning of it but the first one that was like out we're
getting sold to the public was 1950 that's where they came out 1950 1951 but
throughout those years which is 49 and 54 they're really desirable actually 55
and a half so oh okay yeah so 55 and a half was the last year they called the
barn door with the big decklid in the back that's like really desirable but
the last year 55 still shares the same chassis so you're looking at the same
bus we have but when you look under it has the vintage style chassis from 1949
oh it's just like a six-month kind of bus that came out pretty desirable as
well they have like half years like I noticed like the last water-cooled van
was 83 and a half oh the first they started water-cooled at 83 and a half
right where like like before early 83s are technically air-cooled so I noticed
they do like the half right yes okay so so let's go around let's what what uh
what bus do you have you want to slide it over for him I have a 1974 panel bus
that I got when I was like 19 20 years old and ended up getting it in a very
unique way I went over to one of my buddies shops he had maybe like 10 buses
five bugs around and I asked him if he could finance me a car and he looked at
me funny like what do you mean I'm like well I'm young I'm a youngster I'm not
good at saving money so I'd appreciate it if you could help me out like I
really want a bus and he's like looking at me and I'm like all right I'm gonna
help you out so he goes around showing me the buses and bugs that he wants to
sell me and then he stops and says wait a second I got the perfect bus for you
runs over to the front of his shop and he sees a panel bus and he's like this
one take this one and he gave me a pretty fair price about nine years ago I
paid $150 every weekend for a year $150 a weekend yes so that was your finance
yes my finance price so 150 every weekend so that's what $500 a week a
month yeah so in a year and a month I paid him $5,500 okay all right there we
go dang yeah and it came looking just like how it looks now yes he had it
freshly painted the motor was roughly running everything was running good he
gave it to me moving I was 19 years old I was really excited still learning
about Volkswagen's I've always known Volkswagen's my whole life but never
owned one ended up taking the sucker down the freeway made it to La Jolla and
the engine blew up oh wow it was a 1.08 liter yeah and maybe about five years I
had it sitting there until Angel came around and was like I got a bug and I
was like no way well I got a bus and he's the one that was like as well did
the same thing to me started pressuring me to go build it fix it help me find a
motor sorry sorry to interrupt funny story about all this I was working in
that shop at the moment okay and then I became good friends with him and then he
was out here buying buses and we like I did not okay so so when you got your
panel van the 74 you none of you guys had buses yet right you had you had a
beetle okay I had one but not running they did not know I had a bus okay so
they just thought I had a bug I met Ruben's dad before I met Ruben okay so I
see so tell me what made you want a bus so bad like you told the guy I need a
bus like I want like you're a young kid like what what possessed you nine years
ago to get a bus well growing up my dad always would tell me that his older
brother used to own a bug back in Mexico right and he used to drive it up and
down the street take it into the mud to the to the river and that thing would
keep running anything would happen he'll just take it off by himself and it
impressed me that he'll tell me he would take off the motor with his hands by
himself sit on a table fix it tune it up slap it back on and just keep going up
and down the road so since I was a young kid I always had that impression that
Volkswagens are really reliable I gotcha okay fair all right and I imagine
so let's uh shift gears here so I imagine you had a beetle and kind of
thought the same thing yes I got a beetle and right after high school like
2016 2017 I just wanted something to learn stick shift I didn't know how to
drive stick shift my dad had a 300 ZX 91 they didn't want to teach me didn't want
me to burn the clutch so I had to find a way to learn stick shift so I thought you know beetles are easy to work
with parts are not that expensive why not go for it right so I ended up
finding the beetle around Lakeside area me and my dad we went to I was like 8
o'clock at night we went to go pick up an RV RV didn't happen but the beetle
still did happen the next day we went to go pick it up and brought it home okay
so the beetle then got you hooked on VW's right because you said your dad
had a 300 ZX 91 91 oh nice okay I see so then you guys then
connected and then what got you to buy your bus so going camping with Ruben and
some other friends we would go to all these camps I would always have to
trailer the bug so I could carry all my camping accessories my girlfriend
would always sit next to the bug while everyone was inside chilling so I
thought you know what I think it's time to look for something and you know we
gotta get comfortable you know we can't always be sitting out in the tent camping
around so I found this 70 bus at the junkyard I went to go pick it up Wow so
before we recorded we went out and saw you I'll post pictures on the Instagram
page so your bus was in a junkyard pretty much ready for you know people
pulling parts off of it but you kept it the entire thing instead of going there
for like a door or a seat panel or whatever you end up taking the whole
thing that's correct we went over there and it was about three weeks of back and
forth what do we want to do technically we were supposed to get the bus so we
could strip it but the was following a furniture to my sister's 69 was following
a big window did it happen I ended up keeping the bus and Ruben came over
helped me start it so the main thing was if it doesn't start we'll strip it it's
not worth saving it if it does start and we'll just keep it and kind of do a
Eurostyle on it right so how does that work when you buy like a whole car from
a junkyard like do they have a price for like a whole car yeah I figure they
would want to I my guess would be that they would want to part it out right
because they can make a little bit more money so like how do you come up come
across like buying a whole bus so they priced it out I guess they talked to
their manager up in LA and I guess they're doing their research on it I
guess they're going to Carfax or you know whatever history you bring out what
the buses are worth and they at first they gave me a pretty high price that
you know even Ruben was like it's not worth spending more than $2,000 on
because it's a you know late bay and nobody wants those so we came to
agreement and I ended up getting it for $1,800 Wow with everything dang that's
worth I mean I guess for them they're like we can get rid of it and we don't
have to have it in the yard for a year while people pick parts off it yeah but
dang that's yeah it was it was a steal and Ruben came over and the first thing
he did was chop it up he said hey we're doing your stuff he showed up I was
trying to fix the brakes you know to get around the blog he just started chopping
it up trying to get him to go around the blog he started going through the brakes
trying to clean everything and turns around and I'm like with the salsa he's
like what are you doing I'm like we're lowering it like yeah we're not gonna
waste time you know doing all this and I'm like we know it runs let's just do
it yeah and he already had a bunch of parts saved like the brakes Porsche 944
brakes we had a bunch of air ride parts airbags and stuff that we had from his
bug and we try to utilize and get the bus where we needed it to be yeah
euro-style like I said just lowered keep the patina brand-new on the inside
really comfortable and just laid out on the ground yeah so you said it's a bay
window right so bay window explain what that is so bay window is basically you
got two types of bay windows you got an early bay you got a late bay the early
bay is right after the split window the split window you can always tell by the
two windows in the front it has the window split mm-hmm and the big window
just has the one large window flat gotcha okay so split window you can open
them up kind of like you know individually individually right a bay
window is one solid windshield yes and then the difference between the early
bay and a late bay is that the early base how the turn signals down by the
bumpers mm-hmm and they base have them up by the grill okay gotcha so I imagine
you know we talk a lot about values on this podcast so their values I noticed
are all over the place depending on what type of bus or what type of van you know
it is right so I know like for example yours the one that you got from the
junkyard is Westfalia right so that means it's got a camper top right it's
got like a little kitchen in there with a sink right some ports where you could
what like and like electricity right you try camping you can connect you know run
a generator and run an extension cord to the plug and right gives you power to
the inside and and universally Westfalia's are worth the most yes
desirable because I noticed that on the vanagans at least right but then besides
just Westfalia or not Westfalia like you have tin roofs which is not a
Westfalia obviously doesn't you know you can't pop the top but everyone has
their preference but for the most part generally speaking when it comes to
values Westfalia's you know synchros what what where buses ever four-wheel
drive like vanagans had the synchro no they're always no the newer ones like
right you want to slide it over to you which one was it the similar one you
have synchro vanagan yes those there's double cabs and single cabs that were
used for the war like later on oh those are the ones with the pickup beds right
yeah yeah we've seen one actually when we went to Monterey and we were at the
car wash I think Josh posted a picture and it even has Porsche logos and
everything yeah on the side a red one yeah I believe that one was four-wheel
drive yeah yeah so Porsche did collaborate with the van again and make
their own version I think like less than like 30 you know exists or something
like that some crazy low number where they put like a flat six Porsche engine
in there right brakes yeah yeah yeah which those are worth I mean if you want
to say values that's probably the holy grail of buses and vans but let's talk
about like buses so like I know the 21 there's a 21 window 23 window 21 23 yeah
so it is different and that's like it has the Safari window or sky when on top
plus the regular window so are those considered one of the most valuable to
people do think those are the most valuables but in my opinion I think the
15 window it's the most desirable one for me it doesn't have the windows on
top does it have the rack top still just has the corner window and there was only
a few of those made hmm okay so because of rarity that's right
those are valuable mm-hmm in the year sometimes yeah that helps a lot if
they're newer I feel like that impacts the value a lot okay you know 62 and
later more affordable still expensive but anything 62 down or 60 and down once
they got bullets and they go from the egg turn signals in the in the dash that
impacts the value a lot okay so newer is more valuable than older no older older
okay so pre 62 yeah is more valuable gotcha okay that's interesting cuz um
sometimes I feel like with car values like the more contemporary the car like
the sweet spot like it doesn't it can't be too new right because then it's like
it's not classic looking enough and it can't be too old because then it's not
daily driver daily drivable enough it's got to be like right sweet spot in the
middle so 62 I mean that's obviously right in the middle because they came
out you said in the 40 late 40s mm-hmm right so that kind of makes sense well 62
or earlier right so then all right so the ones you guys have besides yours is
you said 74 and then yours is what 78 78 okay so you have to smog yours yes so
you don't have to smog your 74 right so I guess that's that's cool and then
yours is obviously you know that's one of the biggest things I I think I look
for when I buy a car when I do get a car it's just like make sure it's smog
exempt you know that's the reason Ruben didn't want me to keep this bus because
of the smog and you know if it was a transporter I probably wouldn't have
kept it I probably would have trashed it but that's what was follies what come my
eye but I mean for how much you paid for it too and the fact that you're able
to get it running like you know it's all of like a push and pull yeah it came
running right out of the junkyard just took the fuel injection off through the
carburetors went around the block everything was solid yeah all the gears
went in reverse usually third or fourth pops out mm-hmm but they never did in
the gas well I was surprised cuz I'm like you're definitely gonna have to
pull the gas tank out I know this for a fact he's like no he's like takes the
gas uh gas line off clean like clean smelling gasoline clear like it looks
like they try to get it running before throwing it on the junker like they gave
it a second try let's get this running it didn't work they're like trash it oh
wow but okay ripped all the fuel injector system out made it carbureted
runs amazing yeah he's been dailying it almost for a year now drives it
everywhere that's awesome up and down cars and coffee camping goes to the
drive-in like once a month probably in it yeah try to get it try to get the use
out of it yeah yeah I mean it's the most fun part of it forgot about the bug
already yeah bugs been sitting I don't remember the last time I think last time
I took it out battery was dead just hopped in the bus didn't want to deal
with it yeah believe me I told him once you get
this bus going that port you're just gonna say he's like no I'll go cars and
the same thing new yeah and and you know as a I've owned his van again now for
just a few months not not very long but like what I noticed right away and even
the people I've let drive it like my buddy Christian he has a he's been he
has that red bug he's come to Sunday grid a lot and he it's like I want this
thing like right like and I could tell like cuz you had the beetle like like
you already have the Volkswagen itch now you get a van and he drives he loves
camping too so I had him drive it he was obsessed with it my other buddy
drove it he was he never drove a car like that ever in his life you know had
no experience with Volkswagens really and he loved it and I feel like it's a
testament to like not only the build quality but like the way Volkswagen like
the way the card handles the way the car like just feels driving down the road
like I don't know how to explain other than the fact that it's like for such a
big car it still feels nimble like the turn radius is so easy like and then you
just the seating position the visibility like all the things you don't really
think about that much right it's so good at it it does all those things so well
and then you look back and you're like damn like I have that much car behind me
right now you know like granted they're slow up hills right there's all these
things you know saying how you know it's a debt trap because your your knees are
in the crumple zone all that stuff but that kind of adds to like the cool
factor right cuz like no car ever today would ever be like that like they like
like God forbid you got into an accident like like but you're not
thinking about that cuz you're going like 50 miles an hour like you're not
worried about it you know so what are your thoughts Dylan being that you know
I know you don't have one but like just from the outside looking in what do you
what do you think I mean safety for me is never a priority when I choose a car
so that's like out the window I could care less about that but I was actually
reading a comment on your about your bus where somebody was talking about how
they would take it camping and they enjoyed like driving it through the
mountains and just the experience of having the flip seats in the back with
people and them loading up like all the homies into the back of the bus and and
like making memories and I think that's a big part of it and I think also as a
daily driver it has a similar appeal to my Mercedes diesel where it's just like
you can't exactly put into words what it is but something just feels right about
driving it like it it just feels like it's easy to drive it just feels like
you know it's not a bad place to spend time behind the wheel like it just feels
something about it it's like you're driving an old time capsule yeah and
like you get you get the looks and attention from like the right people who
like appreciate it rather than like just having like a typical modified car that
everybody else has like you get like the right kind of like looks and attention
in it which I think is cool and the really cool thing is it's generational
like you guys are all really young and you're driving cars like older than your
parents right like it's there's only certain amount of cars that are
generational like that meaning they they continue to transcend and people like
like obviously you guys like slammed you know the bus and it looks different than
what it did from brand new yeah but like you're making it cool again right and
it's like it'll never be uncool that that that car give it another life yeah
you give it another life and obviously you know literally you resurrected it
yeah but I think it's a testament to Volkswagen how easy those cars were to
work on how like reliable they were right in general and and overall the the
look is timeless no one will ever be able to recreate that look you know like
you look at the euro van right because I always think when it comes to cars like
in the automotive industry they eventually there's a point where the the
ball stops right and the euro van don't get me wrong I look at values of those
right I know they there's camper versions of those like I know there's
the MV and all these trims that obviously are different based on whether
it has the sliding you know door seats or the table that flips up like there's
certain things that make those more valuable but the engines in the front so
you no longer have that crumple zone right what else you said there's a you
mentioned the euro van had a v6 in it er 6 er 6 so like it lost like the rear
engine you know the engine in the back and and a radiator yeah we don't like
that well mine has a radiator to front-wheel drive front-wheel drive yeah
yeah you don't get the engine in the bag with the rear-wheel drive now and
transaxle I don't think it has a transaxle either yeah as a front-wheel
drive transaxle if it's not gonna be in the rear but regardless it lost its
appeal like that's those are things that people still look at you know so like
when I learned when I got my van and I heard that people don't like like the
first thing I think Josh was saying cuz Josh the owner analog and grid has a
you guys saw the van again I don't know if he's doing like an STI swap on it and
you know the first thing he said is that we don't talk to euro van Pete owners
you know like right there you know they're like outcasts you know it's like
so it's interesting to see like how the the van kind of evolved right so what
are your guys's thoughts overall on like why people love the bus and love the
Volkswagen back just like he said I believe I was right he was like on the
perfect track when he mentioned like for me in my experience is driving it you
can just your drive ideally my car and you're driving it you're having a bad
day or something somebody in the road like you'll turn around somebody out
there just giving you the thumbs up just like dude and also like you
mentioned the factor of us like kind of being young in a way I feel like that
kind of makes people trip out a lot like to put this young kid is it his is it
not is he working on it it's funny that Ruben mentions that on the way over here
I live in Chile so it's about 20 minute drive I probably had about four people
honking at me giving the thumbs up you know so you can't get a rid of having a
bad day it's like that like yeah you forget everything else you're driving
the car people are you like doing like you know like what was I mad about yeah
I don't care you know like that's the main my car my regular car just messed
up from sitting because I don't drive it I'll drive the bug I'll drive the bus
and I daily my cars I think driving them around the experience the people stories
you're pumping gas some guy just walks up tells you this amazing story you're
like what like I'll just sit there I don't care I'll be late you know I'll
the old people talk yeah I had one in high school my dad had one they wish
they never got rid of it so now they tell you oh where can I get one is you
know it's just good luck there are harder harder to get fine yeah cuz they
used to be like a dime a dozen right like back in like the 70s and 80s like
they were like nothing cuz they were plentiful my grandpa had one when he was
living TJ said I think he bought for like 150 bucks yeah even in the 90s you
can buy him left and right five yeah eight hundred bucks less than a thousand
bucks I heard my dad you know sir I I wish we lived in the 90s one really
special thing about the Volkswagen bus and van is that it crosses like
socioeconomic classes so for example if you go to Ocean Beach right you'll see
hippies with with them right like like nice ones 21 yeah windows 33 windows
right nicely restored these guys that's probably their house like they don't
even have a home and they don't care but their car is worth like 40 grand but
like besides that you'll see him in people's driveways right in Point Loma
you'll see it in you know by the beach you know whether they're rusted and
clapped out and then you go to Coronado and you see the same types of buses and
vans like all over people's driveways super clean right and for those of you
that don't know Coronado is an affluent area right parts of OB are not
necessarily affluent but like you know it's by the beach so you expect that a
little bit but like my point is is people of all different incomes and you
know walks of life can own one right it's cool the cool factor is not just
with hippies anymore you know what I mean it's even people that have money
that that obviously want a really cool fun-looking car that is easy to drive
you know you mentioned this last week in the daily driver episode is like you
just turn your key and go like sure sure an adventure right now and have a
couple friends share an adventure and then do stuff together I think that's
also a big part of it like you mentioned I've been in locations where I'm just
living the moment in the bus and hang out with this guy I just met leaves and
it's like oh you know that guy is a millionaire I was like huh this guy's
super cool like what do you mean he's all like you would not expect he just
left in his rusty bus like yeah that guy's a millionaire it was like you
just the environment you don't you meet so many people you open so many doors
and I feel like they all share the same thing just drive an old car the
adventure of it create memories and also like he had mentioned when you're
driving and it happens you break down you're on the side of the road with
your friends like you figure it out you find a piece of wire like you make it
work like that story nobody takes that away from you yeah I'm getting all those
adventures and saying dude we made it home like or me personally we went to
Big Bear maybe like three years ago I broke a valve on the way back it was in
in Poway and he had his trailer but he was like up up ahead mm-hmm so I was
like just keep going if I stop or like I'll call you and you know he's probably
gonna have to drop off his bus go to San Diego come back pick me up but I was
like the motor blew up already it's done like let's just go for it that thing
ran all the way Poway broken valves oh I still started it the next day move
shuffle cars around and put it in the lot so I can yeah pull the motor out and
it's like I don't know what other car would do that right it's broken still
made it home like yeah that's the adventure of that like nobody takes that
away from you yeah that's a testament to Volkswagen you know my van again has
252,000 miles on it more like 252 and like 500 so like when I bought it I was
like not even slightly worried I did my research you know I know a lot of people
like Subaru swap them so I thought okay if I ever down down the road want to do
that or if the next person I sell it to want to do that like they're gonna care
about this this van more for its condition of the exterior and interior
forget about the engine right you can think like people swap them right what
are you guys's thoughts on that like obviously my my engines original to like
back then no one even thought a car goes past a hundred thousand miles
that's funny that you say that about you know your van again having 200 something
miles and people still love it still want to buy it I'll just tell you to my
dad it was like last week that we're watching Bear Jackson and I was like
it's funny how you know you can get an old car and it can have so many miles
but people don't care you get a new car nowadays it has over a hundred thousand
nobody wants to buy that car you know because you don't know the engines bad
or worse worn out but then you're looking at a Mustang you're looking at
a Porsche anything you're looking at old you don't care cuz first thing you think
I'll just swap the motor right you know and it doesn't impact the value of the
car yeah yeah the mileage isn't as relevant
older stuff my buzz out the junkyard is salvage you know and a lot of people
look at it's like I don't care it's salvage it's you know I just wanted for
the looks I wanted to drive around so I just think it just amazes me how old
cars don't really impact the value of a new car nowadays yeah that's a good
point yeah at least at least with this type of car like I could tell you if my
Alfa Romeo Spyder had 250 2,000 miles on it people are gonna be like like yeah
you need it yeah what are you doing like first of all we'll never get that far
right you'd be putting in like doubt like hundreds of thousands of dollars
to get it yeah right and again that that's another testament to like how
affordable and accessible parts are for you know for the Volkswagen I mean you
guys all have air-cooled right so let's talk about that real quick so 83 and a
half late and on like I mentioned earlier they went water-cooled right he
said no radiator in the front right obviously you know air-cooled is another
level of like a generation of like obviously with Porsches right people
want an air-cooled Porsche 911 because it was a different time as different
sound the cars ran differently but what are your guys's thoughts do you feel
like there's a perk there's a benefit or is there is there a benefit to water
cooled what do you guys think I think it's a benefit to air-cooled I mean you
really don't have to worry about your motor overheating like a radiator you
just overheat you throw oil fan in keep it cooling I don't know throw some ice
in it how much you need but I just think once you get to water-cooled it's just a
lot a lot more things to it than it is air-cooled okay they do overheat though
they do overheat they do give him the microphone just talking to the mic
Mongo's a mechanic and I was worried about the air-cooled you know what I
mean I asked him how reliable is an air-cooled and he told me those cars
are designed to drive in the desert hmm that just gave me a solid response right
there right I shouldn't worry about it you know obviously be considered that it
can overheat and blow up but on the long run you can drive it in the desert and
you'll be fine yeah interesting and it's hot in the desert it gets up to 100
degrees right of course yeah that's when you keep them stocked you I think you
have more issues once you start upgrading the motor bigger cam bigger
pistons and higher compression and luckily nowadays they sell everything
though we got all kinds of big coolers aluminum radiator so we can get more
cooling out of the motor make sure that the motor stays like super cool but
there is a lot of work you have to do you know know what kind of motor you're
gonna have what kind of compression you're gonna have so you can have the
right amount of cooling that's a big factor okay and like displacement never
really went up like it was it like 1.8 you said yours was 1.8 or 1.9 2.0 okay but
there I know they had a 1.9 and then a 1.8 okay yeah they just went up like
just 1 10th of a displacement like mine's a 2.1 you know so went from a 2
liter to a 2.1 right and I don't think you know I don't know I don't know what
the euro van with the vr6 but regardless like 3.2 yeah okay totally started from a
25 horsepower one yeah a little four-cylinder motor with yeah power was
never like their forte right I know you know I remember seeing fluffy right with
with the Jay Leno driving up a hill in his episode of Jay Leno's garage and
and they were just like yeah like like we ain't going more than 50 like like we
need to know like we accept that right but I take my van again on the freeway
yeah maybe I'm not going uphill but I hit 70 75 no problem and I'm chillin
there's a little bit of like like if I roll down the window wind will get in
and it'll like circulate a little bit but for the most part the wind noise
ain't bad because you're driving a brick literally you know down the road but like
how is it on the freeway I know you guys have four speeds probably right yes
yeah so like there's no overdrive like how is it on the freeway with you guys
well on my my transmission actually I had to upgrade it so if it was original
with the original running gearbox reduction gearbox it wouldn't good luck
hitting 50 okay you're not gonna go so okay I had to swap it out put a bug one
and then we changed the gears for longer gears so it has a 344 so it does
pretty good on the freeway well you're talking 1959 you said yes right yeah so
so I can do 75 60 yeah 70 75 relaxed pushing it we can probably do 80 you
just see a break down the hill yeah his window does really good too I feel
because of the transmission being newer yeah he does really well that was a one
thing is that we were talking about when we got our my big window running was how
is it gonna do on the freeway because you know test original transmission we
didn't know so I was already looking at upgrades of you know freeway flyer or
trying to gear up the box but we went up to San Clemente for a show a couple
months ago and Ruben was impressed he came to catch up to me I was just flying
down the freeway and you know there's a difference in in big windows on what bus
you get because you know you have the rip 3 the rip 4 the rip 5 rip 6 so I
feel like my transmission a little bit bigger because it's a camper edition so
it's meant to carry more weight mm-hmm you know keep the gearing load on it so
you can carry weight and not affect the motor you know so so you got a climb
you can climb up hills like Sergio's bus has a panel van so it was meant to be a
work van so you know cargo and stuff so I'm pretty sure his transmission had to
be a little bit updated from the dealership mm-hmm I know with the the t3
the van again they added a fifth gear right I know Syncros got a fifth gear
not they were options where you can actually get a five speed so like there's
certain options that came later right which is cool because it's like
obviously getting modern with the times but like t1 let's talk about it so t1 t3
is a van again right that's like the 80 what is it 90 but no I'm I talking about
79 it was like late 70s I've seen people call my bay window t3 and others t4 but
I don't know that's like a euro edition or that's how they they say in Europe I
think there's a type and then there's a T like right but either way like bay
window is a technically a T2 yeah and then a split window is a t1 right so you
guys are mentioning to split windows type 2 but it's not it's considered a t1
maybe a type 2 t1 like what's the t1's got to be the first generation bus yeah
I think that's a different yeah it'd be different yeah type 1 would be the bug
type 2 is bus yeah then we got to type 3s which is notchback fastback square
mm-hmm and the type 34s which is the rare coming here it's pretty rare with
the tooth kind of looks like a Corvair in a way yeah that's a confusing part
because you have like a t1 type 2 right like it's like that's the part that I
got was telling you guys earlier like that is a confusing part with the
different generations but like looking it up yeah it says like t1 means the
original and then you can get different types of a t1 because what was it like
the split window like you guys were saying is really distinctive you can tell
right away and then like you guys know the difference of the lights where the
placement of the lights are like Vanagin's had some of them had like the
round headlights and then like the later ones had the square double like
headlights little things like that but overall I wanted to talk like value so
Dylan mentioned that my Vanagin is on bring a trailer right now it's live for
sale it's an 89 Vanagin GL Wolfsburg edition so what I've learned is if you
get a like it's a tin roof so it's not a Westfalia but if it has the rear facing
seats and it has the the bed that pulls out those are more desirable right
because clearly you can sleep in it right people want these cars to go
camping exactly so that's usually the draw right these cars were meant for
people to take and share adventures go around the country and obviously
reliably and then sleep in it like that you can use them as your home you know
so like what are you guys's thoughts like just culturally like with the
impact that the the van and the bus had on the car culture I think it just
changed the perspective perspective of people going camping like you know some
families cannot afford a motorhome you know and there's some motorhomes that
now you could trick out live do what you want but if you're talking about
seventies and eighties you know you couldn't get a motorhome you know into a
remote area like a bus can so I think that's why they came out the Westfalia
so you could go places where motorhomes can't right and I think that was a good
idea of home because now you know we so my parents own the motorhome and I
rather take my bus than a motorhome just easier to go you just get up and go you
don't have to worry about dumping it going to storage you know you just get
back home late at night and park it in your driveway go to sleep yeah that's
true the first one started also like back would be 1960s 19 were the easy
campers there was this addition there was this company getting buses like the
panel buses kind of like his white buses and now they're pretty rare if
you find a bus with the logo stamped easy camper and there's a they're
numbered they came with a sink some came with the stove some were cut on the roof
and they did what they called a little popped up mm-hmm a little hatch yeah a
sub hatch so there's a couple those are pretty rare so that's where once you
start getting it's like 23 window 20 is like no like this bus is actually more
rare because there's less of these mm-hmm some of them are one-off we have
a buddy that goes camping with us a lot and he has one mm-hmm we have a friend
who just picked one up to the easy camper yep I was trying to remember the
name but I know that that was like one of the really rare like early pre West
Follia campers they would soup him up and rent him out for the public so the
public would rent him out go camping and well later on they shut down so now you
can you know buy the buses keep them but they're pretty rare yeah find one they
got under the door they got the the stamps they got an aluminum plate with
the number and everything they have a tent that attaches to the side right I
remember my buddy's trying to find one of those yeah so he just went to you
guys probably know what it is but wasn't up last weekend there was a big air
cooled thing right on Saturday yeah yeah type twos only mm-hmm so he went up
there trying to hoping to find parts and stuff that's where angel comes in and
to sell the bay window that he has you go to you go to that show in your bay
window your parking at Walmart in the front okay so let's talk about that
because like there's so many different variations right so like when you think
about you know I know like in the Jeep community right you have like Rubicon
you have YJ TJ CJ 5 CJ 7 right and like they have a big strong you know group of
people that go out and you know but they're obviously welcoming everyone as
a Jeep you know except maybe like people with YJs because they have square
headlights but like with the vans and buses what's the car culture like what's
the car meets like because I imagine like you were mentioning earlier
everyone's willing to share everyone's excited like everyone's friendly about
it it's it's not it's not snobby like snooty people that you know don't like
care to share what you have or care to learn about what you have so that's my
experience so far but it's only been short so what is your experience been
with like car meets with the bus community it's great I like I mean it
depends the area you're at because like you said the snobby you'd be surprised
you know you you will find I guess go around you will find that you know maybe
three characters around you know bugs and around around San Diego there you
know they're around but some of them like the old older heads and the people
I guess we grew up like they're really genuine they're really nice they'll
always stop me they see you on the side of the road you know help you out be
there but it's a big big big culture big and then the shows up there and everybody
out here like it's all kind of connected everybody kind of knows each other you
know going all the way up to Vegas and all the way in California even we know a
couple people UK like France and then also Thailand they've came down also
like cars like they bring you together like I was mentioning social media we
had a couple friends they come down to shows and it's like they tell us hey
come over and it's like next thing you know you got like other places you can
expand go to other shows around the world and that's our plan for next year
is they have every four years in Europe they have the bug show the bug show you
know you got people from over that come down to our show so a lot of San
Diegans to a lot of people from out here try to go down there so we've been
talking about it maybe going out there and show our support since they come
down here 2026 actually is the next year next year so every four years get some
experience out there it gets knowledge you know like in Europe they do a lot of
what they do it well not technically because they do a late base they don't
have a lot of spin windows out there since you know it's always raining out
there and always you know rot it out and stuff so the next step is being windows
and you can see those out there left and right lower drop and that was our idea
that brought it to my buzz it's like let's do their style over here in United
States and see what people think of it oh well so this meetup is every four
years every four years and it's like the World Cup yeah is it different locations
like is it always in the same spot yeah same spot same spot but since it's every
four years they know people from all all over the world go they do like a week
and a half of shows it's like a home almost like a whole month you kind of
want to go to Germany just be there for a whole month so you can enjoy all the
shows and it's just this is in Germany yes okay interesting Wow okay and people
like are in like shipping their cars out there for these meets or you just kind
I've heard of that before but I recently haven't seen it yeah but a lot
of our friends they go out there I know a friend actually from out there I was
talking he's from the UK he's actually shipping his car over here and it's
gonna store it in LA to come shows down here they do that oh yeah yeah so that's
like kind of one thing you know I was telling him one cool thing I think we
should do is ship his bay window out there because once it touches grounds
over there the value is way different right it's it's more desirable there's
less the snow just took everything like he said it's yeah yeah we can I told him
to take it drive it sell it and you know yeah come back buy your split window
there you go there you go I feel like when you see a bus you think of America
like you think it's so American simply because of like yeah beach vibes hippie
culture surfboard all that stuff right but like what do you think like it's
obviously not it's a German car you know and you forget that but like I
wonder what like the Germans think of the bus like do they see it like that or
they like no that's ours like you guys just you know you just put flower power
on it and and you know and and Scooby-Doo you know made it famous well
yeah I mean I think I think it everything about it and what it was
intended for when the buses got popular in the u.s. like just really spoke to
like 1960s and 70s America so I think that's kind of maybe why you feel that
way about it because that's why they that's when they were first really
popular you know but yeah I don't really know how people perceive it abroad yeah
I'm curious to know like what they think like because it's obviously not our car
I mean it's a it's a German car but I think like I don't know if you guys know
Jason Kameesa he's a automotive journalist and now there's a lot of
videos for Hagerty he did a video on Volkswagen pretty much like showing how
Volkswagen used that same chassis in the beetle right so they had their beetle
that the Karmann Ghia they had I believe it's the same is it the same body on the
on the van or there's another application they used it for forget
which one but either way thing the thing yes perfect yeah so obviously the bus
was it the bus was a different like yeah similar yeah they're both yeah
buses unibodies and the other ones they but yeah the pants changed slightly
different yeah they're wider pants like on the Karmann Ghia and the things
different pants the bugs share the same pen bug you can change pants any year
but I say even bugs from Mexico up to like 1990 you can still use their pan
and throw it in the 1950s cars I'll be direct fit right so like his pretty much
point of the of that episode was like how interchangeable everything was even
though the car looked completely different like you had your your car
that took everyone across the country like it was like the affordable it was
like the Fiat 500 for Italians right the Volkswagen beetle but it took Germans
everywhere it obviously even took Americans everywhere and then you have
the Karmann Ghia which was like the coupe the two-door sports car that had
this Italian coach builder and in the thing which is like an open top like
looks like a came in straight out of World War two but yeah it's like a
dumpster like a ammo container that's so cool I always wanted a thing they're
worth a good chunk of money too it's unbelievable so like it's just
interesting how Volkswagen had this platform and it just you know I think it
it really revolutionized the auto industry in the u.s. and made people I
think it made our like auto companies our car makers in the u.s. like really
like think twice about the cars that they were producing like because they
can see they can look to Volkswagen and be like damn they're doing it on the
cheap creating all these different styles and they're taking American
market share from an early point right like they were like that they were
really like one of the first like German car companies that had tremendous mass
appeal yeah like before like BMW and Mercedes those were cars that like only
like the really wealthy would be able to buy you know in the 50s and 60s and VW
was kind of the first to like bring those German cars to the mass market
yep yeah exactly before we wrap up I want to talk about one last topic engine
swaps so do you guys all have the original engine in your car no no does
I believe mine is still original okay so I would have to look at the
VIN number and verify if it is or not so what are your thoughts because I noticed
that like I mentioned earlier a lot of people swap Subarus in them because they
want more power right they want a car that obviously can go 75 80 on the
freeway and it's it seems like it's pretty easy plug-and-play right but what
are your thoughts on just overall engine swapping a car or a bus reliability I
think most people do it I don't know about reliability on a Subaru swap I
don't know why they do that but that guess that's what they try to go for
reliability and go you know fast and have the bus to move because you are in
danger zone nowadays people used to do 50 60 everybody used to do 50 60 on the
road now everybody's just on their phones doing 80 right all distracted so
you're a target you're in the middle you're in slowly and you're driving like
you are a target so it's not that we want to go fast is that we need to keep
up to the speed we need to keep up to you know because or else you're in
danger you know and I feel like that's mostly why people have to do it get the
car you know so it can drive and keep up to all this new technology all these
electronic new cars that are out here whiling on the freeway yeah when your
average new Corolla has 200 horsepower right yeah that's a really good point
you know it's just like safety you got to keep up with traffic because back
when these cars were created they'd all went the same speed we're all driving
slow and you know but now everybody's trying to go fast everybody's pushing
you and now you're like and I do get people I'm doing 60 65 on the freeway I
still have people doing 90 you know it's like will you do 90 on the slowly like
yeah you know I'm gonna slow me for a reason it just like you said just people
just I think them I think them being slow though and like I haven't had a bus
but I have a 80 horsepower Mercedes diesel that weighs 4,000 plus pounds I
think them being slow is part of what makes them kind of a joy to drive in a
different way because it just kind of slows everything down you just you press
on the gas pedal and you don't floor it you just kind of go the same speed no
matter what and I think that just like kind of quiets down road rage like
you're not gonna chase anybody down rush to go somewhere you're just taking your
time enjoy the moment and you always get there yeah I mean we didn't talk about
this last week but the bus and van is a good classic daily driver I mean it
checks so many boxes it's a head-turner right you got four thumbs ups on your
way from Chula Vista today you know so like you know you mentioned like classic
cars remind you why you're a car enthusiast you know like you're having a
bad day you get in your car you start driving you get a thumbs up and now
you're not having a bad day anymore you know you park it you look back at it you
smile right all these lunch breaks yeah lunch breaks are the best yeah work take
a lunch break let's go on the bus yeah so it's and it starts it fires up right
it's easy to work on it checks a lot yeah the only issue I had on my on my
van again was the battery like I have it like we were talking like a lot of
older cars have parasitic drains right which you could you know go through and
figure out where it's coming from but for the most part like that's simple you
jump the car worst-case scenario if you leave it you know are you popping
sinking on your way see no one knows about that anymore like that's like a
thing like of the past with manuals right like you just push start it right
so so go ahead explain how do you push start a car what do you do this you know
ignition make sure you turn the ignition on put the ignition on it happened to me
where I don't have the ignition on it's gonna happen like we did where I had him
pushing for blocks I'm like did you turn the key and he we were just so like what
was it was that so you know so you gotta put it in accessory mode leave it in
second and then when you having no speed you just pop the clutch and give it gas
at the same time and second you know just keep going why why second gear it's
a little more smoother I see when you start it when you yeah cuz you're
already rolling yes I see okay a little when we try first gear it's like it'll
start but it'll just like jump or like oh you know like yeah second gear feels
a little more smoother okay give him the mic you're by yourself and you have no
one to help you can always pop it in reverse okay it rolls back yeah I did not
know about the reversal a little little little hack a hack within a hack these
guys are lucky because they got reverse I've been driving for two years no
reverse
driven out of the driveway when I had my 1985 Volkswagen Golf I didn't have a
reverse either and I had to kick out my leg and push myself Fred Flintstone style
damn so the mechanical part of it is once the car is rolling right that
alternator even kicks in charges the battery or right with like the generator
if it's old enough and as a generator yeah so that's kind of what happens
right just need a little bit of spark as long as a battery has enough to create a
spark and you get it to turn that's about it you can have a pretty dead
battery but if it just has enough to ignite that spark in the coil mm-hmm
that's it it'll start up and then good generator or alternator and then yeah
that'll keep it alive right interesting okay so nice so so having a dead battery
isn't necessarily a problem but look what I was trying to say was like my car
like when I'm driving it like I I'm on the 8 or the 805 all the time and I'm
keeping up with traffic I mean for the most part I'm not in the left lane
usually but like like I said I'm going 70 the cool thing is the tack on the
van again goes there's like a green shaded area in the middle so it's from
2,000 to 4,000 rpms is green so it's pretty much telling you like that's like
your eco mode that you want to stay within and that's that crazy like who
think like 4,000 rpms on the freeway is not eco mode anymore you know but back
then it was you know and like I mean I keep it at 3,000 maybe a little bit
above it so it's not like it's at 4 but like it's just smooth it rides great
like you like I said earlier with the wind noise it's not a factor but the
most important thing is I feel like you can daily it like it's something that
keeps up with modern-day traffic it's obviously you know air cool sorry it's
water-cooled with fuel injection has cold air conditioning I mean it easy
like when I say easy to drive it feels like kind of like a go-kart a little bit
like it's just easy to move and then the most important thing is like I don't
feel like I'm in a car that's gonna just like break down on me on the side of the
road like I have confidence driving it you know I can't say the same for my my
Alfa Romeo Spyder you know because so many times it's just either a gauge
stopped working and I ran out of gas or you know the thing just ended up the
alternator just conked out on me and now I'm on the side of the road it's
funny they say cuz even though these cars don't have power steering it doesn't
even feel like you're fighting with the wheel or so why it's so light yeah once
it gets going right it's going it's so light compared to cars that you know
those are a little bit bigger than before because yeah I'm running a 150
it's a skinny tire well a modern car runs a 225 in the front so you really
don't feel the weight of the steering wheel when you're driving it right and it just the
way they created a car it just amazes me yeah yeah my 89 has power steering but I
know what you mean like it's it's definitely like even the way the shape
of the tire because you have you're running tires that are 50s they're super
small you know but it works it works that packaging works you know and and
again like I said I think it's a great daily driver so I'm gonna miss mine I
mean I'm gonna in less than a week I'm not gonna own it anymore so that's why
partially I wanted to do this podcast before I sold it so I can at least say
I'm still an owner but I know I'm gonna miss it and but here's what it's gonna
do it's gonna open my eyes to this segment of cars this and the next
project ours right and then I might now you know see a bus and be my get a
yeah yeah yeah yours is cool man you know and then your panel van I know that
you know it's a little bit of on the creeper side but but that people want
those because that's it's easy to sleep in those right you don't you don't have
a it's a tin roof it doesn't have a that's a pop-up yeah I take it fishing
everywhere okay and stuff and that's why I just store everything I go in there
take a nap yeah I get too drunk for whatever reason I can just stay in the
van yeah all right well appreciate you guys coming on and sharing your stories
on your buses yeah no trust me I feel like that needs to be like amongst a
younger generation there needs to be more of this out there because like I
said there's a lot of young people driving these cars it's not just for old
hippies you know and then analog and grit like the way you're you're you're
both setups are like keeping it rusty keeping it gritty like it's the perfect
car for this type of car environment yeah you know so and Dylan as always
appreciate your again for having your two cents today until next time on the
analog and grit podcast we'll see you next week
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