Volkswagen® Auto Cars

1967 Westfalia Combi Bus Volkswagen

2012-01-03T14:18:00.005+07:00

My 1967 model SO-42 Campmobile was undergoing the final phases of restoration in January 2001 when I discovered an unusual SO-44 Westfalia on eBay. I had never seen one of these Deluxe Campmobiles with an entirely different camping package than my SO-42. The SO-44 models were never offered in the U.S. by Volkswagen of America. Any SO-44 that found its way into the U.S. was privately exported from Europe. In the 1960's and 70's, it wasn't uncommon for a vacationing American family to arrange European delivery of a new Westfalia built to U.S. specs (bumpers, lighting, speedometer), then tour the Continent in their new Campmobile. At the end of the vacation, the European VW dealer arranged export to the U.S.

1500cc VW

But my SO-44 found its way to American shores through entirely different circumstances as you will discover. By January 2001, it was offered on eBay with a mere 46,000 original miles in almost new, unrestored condition. Knowing it would be several months before I would finish the restoration of my SO-42 camper, I jumped on the chance to own this mint and unusal SO-44. My eBay bid was successful, and just a few days later I flew to Oregon to take delivery of my SO-44 and drive it over 1,000 trouble-free miles to its new home in Los Angeles.

Because this SO-44 was ordered in Germany for export to the U.S., it was equipped with U.S. spec bumpers, speedo, and exterior lighting with the

The M-code plate behind the front passenger seat reveals the VIN number and factory installed equipment. The silver sticker below the M plate shows this Microbus was painted in Velvet Green and Pearl White. Note that most Westfalias were assembled from the basic Kombi bus rather than a higher level Microbus. My Westfalia may be a one-of-a-kind to fill the original owner's special order.

When shopping for a classic VW bus, always check the floors for rust. Moisture is typically trapped under the rubber floormat causing serious corrosion. It is quite unusual to find completely a rust-free floorboard like this. Obviously this Westy didn't see much wet weather!

Any classic car enthusiast knows that a 30+ year old vehicle with low original milegage must have an interesting story to explain why it was driven so little. My VW Campmobile is no exception. Here's the story, accompanied by photos detailing the unique camping package of the European-delivery SO-44.

1967 VW Westfalia Campmobile 1500cc

2012-01-03T14:01:00.000+07:00

1967 VW Westfalia Campmobile
A long, slow climb with a VW 1500cc engine! Cozy camper is surprisingly roomy with a very comfy bed

Westfalia VW Type

2012-01-03T12:41:00.002+07:00

Westfalia is the designation of various specially converted Volkswagen camper vans. It is named after Westfalia-Werke, the contractor that built the vans, which is headquartered in the town of Rheda-Wiedenbrück located in the Westphalia region of Germany.

The legend lives on – Westfalia has been a trendsetter in the market for motor homes and leisure time vehicles for more than five decades. Whole generations have explored Europe or even the whole world with the James Cook or the Joker.

Westfalia-Werke also converted non-VW vans, and produced trailers and other products, but they were best known for their Volkswagen camper conversions. Westfalia began converting Volkswagen buses in 1951. Their famous "pop-top" package was added later, and became very popular on the second-generation VW Bus from 1968–1979, its successor the Vanagon, and then the T4 EuroVan, which was discontinued in 2003. This design also inspired many imitators, with dozens of other companies worldwide offering poptop van conversions. Therefore, not all pop-top Volkswagens are Westfalia conversions (although in the U.S., the Westfalia conversion was by far the most common). Conversely, not all Volkswagen Westfalia conversions had poptops or cooking facilities. Volkswagen offered a "Weekender" package in the 1970s with a Westfalia interior but no poptop. Later, some Vanagon conversions were offered with a pop-top and interior table, but lacked cooking facilities and instead included a luggable 12 volt refrigerator.

In 1999, DaimlerChrysler purchased a 49% stake in Westfalia-Werke's van conversion division, and in 2001 absorbed the remaining 51%. Of course, since DaimlerChrysler is a Volkswagen competitor, this spelled the end of the Volkswagen-Westfalia partnership. While Volkswagen still offers pop-top camper conversions in Europe, they now do have another supplier to do the conversions. Meanwhile, Westfalia now makes high-roof (rather than pop-top) factory camper conversions for Mercedes vans (distributed in the U.S. by Airstream and badged as Dodge Sprinters). They also provide automotive accessories to BMW, including trailer hitches.

In 2008, a management buyout occurred and Westfalia Van Conversion is now an independent entity. It still converts some vehicles for major car manufacturers which sell them through their own networks (such as the Ford Nugget) but also markets conversions through its own network of RV dealers. These models include the Ford-based Big Nugget, VW-based Sven Hedin and the Michelangelo. This vehicle uses a Fiat Scudo chassis and is designed to be a major competitor to the Volkswagen California.

On January 28, 2010, Westfalia-Werke filed for bankruptcy, citing a 40 percent drop in sales. According to the filing they would like to keep doing business while they restructure.

Westfalia – Company history

1844: The beginning of the Westfalia company. On 1 October 1844, Johann Bernhard Knöbel started a forge, thus laying the foundation stone for a long-lasting history. He originally built heavy horse-drawn carts to transport goods arriving at the new train station.

1950s: The history of Westfalia conversions began in 1951 with one customer’s special wish. When Westfalia in Wiedenbrück created the so-called “Camping Box”, especially designed for an officer in the British Forces stationed in Germany, he had a simple request: equip a VW transit van as a home. This had to be neatly built into the vehicle and at the same time had to be suitable as a room for sleeping, living and working. So the people at Westfalia took a VW bus, installed a double door between the B and C columns and built in multi-purpose furniture and decoration behind the front seats. For example pretty ruffled curtains which matched the checked pattern of the furniture. A real zeitgeist combination. A studio couch, folding table, seat bench, roll-front cabinet and sideboard completed the interior ensemble. The result was such a success that the Camping Box soon went into series production and the converted VW Bus became the dream car of the 50s, because it was multifunctional and could be used as a hotel on wheels.

1960s: In 1962 Westfalia built the first motor home with furniture surfaces made of light plastic material, and gave its name to the VW bus-based Westfalia SO 34. The Westfalia SO 34 was shipped across the pond in large numbers, and was the first vehicle with camping furniture with white and grey plastic surfaces instead of wood veneer surfaces. The SO 42 was also very successful in the USA. This vehicle already had insulation but it didn’t yet have the folding roof which became typical for the Westfalia later on. The equipment comprised interior panelling, roof storage compartment, cool box with water tank, manual pump and folding table on the side, wardrobe with mirror, storage compartment with upholstery and folding table. A little bit later the innovative folding roofs became standard, offering a lot of room in this jack of all trades’ “kitchen”, resulting in a comfortable standing height and more space to work in. The vehicles converted by Westfalia created a feeling of freedom and independence that had been unthinkable until then. After all, you’re at home where you feel at home.

1970s: In 1976 Westfalia created the first designs for a pioneering motor home. It was going to be named after the 18th century’s greatest explorer, James Cook. One year later the moment finally arrived: the presentation of the first Mercedes-Benz “James Cook”. This combined safety and comfort and was furthermore equipped with a wet cell. The “James Cook” became a best seller and was very soon the symbol of comfortable travel. The “Sven Hedin”, also built in 1977, was the first motor home with a shower, hot water system and a specially designed high roof on the basis of the new VW LT. These two successful models marked the beginning of Westfalia’s breakthrough. The Joker’s success story began in 1978. Many campers used this as a multifunctional vehicle, also to do their shopping or to drive to work. As a result, they no longer needed an additional passenger car, which made acquiring such a vehicle financially possible for many households for the first time. This vehicle lived up to its name: 70,000 were sold in one decade. This was Westfalia’s real trump card.

1980s: The success story of those years was clearly the Joker from Volkswagen, with various versions on the basis of the VW T3 – probably one of the most successful converted transit vans ever made. In 1981 the VW Joker was manufactured for the first time with an aerodynamic high plastic roof and a front panoramic window. After winning the Ford Company as another partner in 1985, Westfalia now also offered the “Nugget”. This was a complete compact camping van which offered mobility and agility for your leisure time and which even qualified as a passenger car with its spirit stove for registration purposes. Still this cooperation with Ford was nothing new for Westfalia: as early as the 1970s converted transit vans with the Ford emblem on the radiator grille had been sold under the names “Chiemsee” and “Wannsee”.

1990s: Production of the VW California, Vito Marco Polo, Vito F, BMW Multi Trailer and the Columbus 2 caravan began in the years 1990-1998. This series of new vehicles guaranteed exciting holiday trips in the 1990s. In 1994 there was a reason for festivities: Westfalia celebrated its 150th anniversary. Westfalia offered the special edition Highway with added California-Coach equipment to its customers to celebrate the anniversary. This model was limited to 500 vehicles. In 1996 the first Marco Polo on a Mercedes base left the assembly line, followed by the first Vito F in 1997. Shortly before the turn of the millennium, Westfalia was split into three business areas: Westfalia Van Conversion remained responsible for manufacturing and distributing leisure time vehicles, and DaimerChrysler acquired 49 per cent of the new company. Westfalia Automotive would deal with towing attachments and the Westfalia Trailer Group would manufacture trailers for passenger cars and horse trailers. The 1990s, however, were characterised by economic ups and downs caused by disputes among the company’s owners and difficult economic conditions.

2000 – until today: All is well with the leisure time vehicles and a new production record was set in 2001, when leisure vehicle number 500,000 left Westfalia’s assembly line. DaimlerChrysler AG massively increased its stake in Westfalia, and Westfalia Van Conversion became a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Stuttgart-based company. But Westfalia’s basic business policy still remains the same. And there was another success story: Westfalia won Opel-Werke as a fourth partner for its Van Conversion activities. thus completing its range of well-known partners and so opening up new possibilities. In 2003 the “Marco Polo” series was extended with vehicles based on the Mercedes “Viano”. Opening up the American market began in 2004 with the delivery of the first James Cook under the trade mark “Dodge Sprinter Westfalia” in the USA. Westfalia won the well-known manufacturer “Airstream” as a distribution partner. The first James Cook on the basis of the new Sprinter left the factory in Rheda-Wiedenbrück in 2006. In the same year Westfalia presented the first prototype of the Big Nugget with long wheelbase at the Caravan Salon. In 2007 the company was taken over by Aurelius AG and a new version of the Sven Hedin was produced on the basis of the Crafter. In 2008 Westfalia presented its first semi-integrated vehicle in more than 50 years, with the world premiere of the WestVan at the “Caravan Motor und Touristik” trade fair in Stuttgart. The base for the legendary Westfalia Sven Hedin switched to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter in 2009. The launch of the Opel Vivaro L2 started in the same year, offering more room for customers’ needs. As the leading transit van converter, Westfalia converted Fiat vehicles for the first time in 2009, when the Fiat Scudo-based Michelangelo was presented to the public. In 2010, Westfalia introduced the multi-mobile on the basis of the Fiat Scudo, thus expanding its model range even more. Finally Westfalia was acquired by the Rapido group in 2011.

Blackberry work email turned off after hours, says Volkswagen

2012-01-02T23:20:00.003+07:00

In a report by BBC News, Volkswagen notes that all Blackberry work email will be turned off outside office hours. This move has been executed by Volkswagen Germany earlier this year, following complaints about the division between work life and private life fading.

Quoting the report:

    Under the arrangement servers stop routing emails 30 minutes after the end of employees’ shifts, and then start again 30 minutes before they return to work.

    The staff can still use their devices to make calls and the rule does not apply to senior management.

    “We wanted to take a preventative approach to tackling the issue,” said Gunnar Killian, VW’s works council spokesman.

I’m actually interested why the rule would not apply to senior management of VW: do they receive so little work email it’s not a problem as such? Are they not a member of the trade union? Or are they ‘always on’ anyway and have no separation between work life and private life?

The report goes on telling about the Atos campaign completely banning internal email: a more rigorous move towards taming the flood of electronic messages.

Is your company actively managing the email load for you to give you ample time to enjoy your private life? If you don’t have a Blackberry or other company smartphone, are you obliged by job function / task description to handle email outside office hours? Let us know in the comments.

1967 Westfalia Combi Bus Volkswagen

2012-01-02T21:21:00.000+07:00

I learned that Volkswagen outsourced the conversion of the basic Kombi model bus to a "camping box" from the earliest days of the "Transporter." Westfalia was the primary company that worked directly with VW, although other variations such as the Sundial were sold. The first Westfalias from the early 1950's were very basic, giving the outdoorsman a place to eat and sleep within the camper, but they were quite spartan. By 1959, the Westfalia (seen to the right) was becoming more elaborate with beautiful birch cabinetry, a dining table and a more comfortable bed.

1959 Westfalia on display at the VW Classic Show Irvine, California - June 2003

But after discussions with my VW afficianado friend, I decided to seek the last year of the split-windshield VW Westfalia, a 1967 model. The VW Transporter bus had become more advanced by '67, offering a 12 volt electrical system for the first time, safer dual-circuit brakes, more powerful 1500cc engine (underpowered, nonetheless), and a more practical and useful camping package. By '67 much of the camping cabinetry was sheathed in durable wood-grain Formica, but Westfalia still used plenty of real Baltic Birch plywood which gave the campers a cozy and surprisingly elegant feel. In 1998 I located and purchased a nicely optioned 1967 Westfalia SO-42 Campmobile through one of the VW resources on the internet, but the old bus required considerable restoration and would not meet my standards for sometime. That SO-42 Westfalia is featured elsewhere on my site and is now fully restored and has provided many great camping experiences.

Restoration VW Kubelwagen 1971 (How To Video)

2012-01-02T14:23:00.002+07:00

Uploaded by kpm181 on Sep 24, 2009

Restoration of my 1971 German Military VW Kübelwagen between 2007-2009

Tags: VW Kübelwagen Kuebelwagen Thing Safari Trekker Bundeswehr 181 air-cooled BW Germany Army Vehicles

As far as I know the Bundeswehr never ever bought a single one of them, while the ordinary beetles and air-cooled 1600s and 1600 "Variants" were the backbone of personal transport, staff cars and the like right to the 1980s.

I have only seen hunters or game and forest keepers in 181s, for that purpose they were mostly painted in "cow-shit green" to match with the rubber boots of their drivers.

The top is a genuine VW top. The top was NOS when I bought the car about 14 years ago. It fits so tight, that I can barely close the top alone. Its easier in the summer when its warm. I really take care of my top. I store the car in a garage, and roll up the top CORRECTLY when I put it down. And I never put the top down and roll it together, unless its clean.

Thank you for the compliments. Yes, I am also happy that I could keep 1 old VW on the road for many many more years. I hope someday I have the time and money to rescue one or two more. I am uploading another video from the restoration right now. You should be able to watch it later tonight or tomorrow.

Yes, Kuebelwagen is the German name for the Thing. Kuebelwagen translates as "Bucket Car".

Tolle Arbeit! hab son Kübel auch schon mal gefahren, macht verdammt viel Spaß!