Date:         Thu, 6 Sep 2007 17:20:50 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: Remembering the First Bus
In-Reply-To:  <BAY114-F30C12D9F62014DB59E5B09B8C40@phx.gbl>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed

My first bus was also my first 4-wheeler, about beginning of 1978. It
was a 57 Panel with cut-out pseudoKombi side-windows and semaphores
(which of course didn't work). It had shop signwriting all over it.
Stock 30hp early engine.

I used it during my last year of highschool, then took it to the
other end of NZ's South Island to university. Eventually I had to
repaint it (with a brush)... turquoise front half & roof; silver
stripe down middle, red rear... and added a black stripe by the black
later. It actually looked good from any distance. It had the usual 6V
blues, so was always parked on a hill. Ditched the crossplies for
205/15 radials; what a transformation, even if they were junk like
Dunlop Aquaplanes. Eventually I found a 1600 single-port & fitted
this; when the oilcooler fell off (thanks for the "rebuilt" engine,
Wayne Hillary) & it fried, I bought a blown dual-port 1835 &
transplanted the crank & 12V bits and never looked back... with the
low early gearing, its acceleration was very good, it cruised at
60mph (premetric speedo) and would hit 80 any time (for obvious
reasons I didn't do this very often). I had some great times in this
vehicle.

Eventually I bought a rusty 66 Kombi, sold the 1600 from it, put the
57's 1600 into it and drove that... it was a bit more civilized,
especially the front swaybar (never could afford to fit a swaybar to
the 57). I bought some rear seats out of town, and carried the rear
one (backrest & lower) home on twisty roads on the back of my Honda
CBX. Eventually I sold it, after enjoying it. No way it would be
allowed on the road now... too much rust.

I sold the 57 sans engine in about 1993, which I now really regret.
The guy who bought it told me he was going to restore it, so I gave
him a couple of big boxes of lights & other bits & pieces... another
mistake. I doubt he ever did anything with it, and wonder if it still
exists somewhere.