1962 Kombi Van, Part II
With the panel work completed, it was time to make the bus look a bit straighter. Enter a few litres of bog, and hours of our most hated task, sanding! While we still had the welder, we jigged up a roofrack as well -- we think it suits the style of the bus really well.
We also got busy making interior and door panels and a back seat (with storage underneath).
With the sanding finished (but far from perfect) we decided it was time for a bit of paint. Off came the doors again, and out came the compressor and spray gun. Three coats of primer later and the result makes us smile :)
Back on went the doors and it was time to spray the interior. Some call it pink... we prefer magenta, either way it looks good.
Next came some topcoat, starting with grey below the waistline.
And to finish off the paint, an off white was applied to the top half. Our original plan was to go for a two-tone primer look, but not being able to tint primer soon knocked that on the head, however we are more than pleased with the final colour scheme.
Now it was time to start refitting the lights and interior, bumpers, mirrors, glass and the rest. New rubber went in with the glass, the pop-out windows seal so well they are difficult to open.
We hand cleaned everything up on those rainy days and also did a bit of sewing for the back seat cushions and constructed and fitted a new headliner as well.
All we needed now was some power. We rebuilt the top end of the motor, converting it to 1641cc, with electrics driven by a nice new alternator. Seeing as there was no room in the garage, the motor was built in our back porch one rainy weekend! So now the bus is almost finished, it now has an MP3 playing 4-speaker stereo, and has recently been fitted with dual 2-barrel Dellorto carbs.
The bus has been out and about recently on a trip to Orari for the Canterbury VW Club 'Cool Air Run' and runnig about town on its way to setting up the Classic Car show.
Now all we need to do is get it legal...
Comments
On 07/04/2010, Jeff said “Beautiful!! Did you select the color based on factory (color it was "born") or by preference? .”
On 29/09/2006, nate said “as a panelbeater myself i truely think you should give yourself a lot more credit for what you've done here rob, it looks great :).”