Bus Details

Ok so I have done my best to find out what the plate tags on the bus mean. So here goes - as best as I can tell this tag shows the bus was originally manufactured in Germany..... obvious really!. Plate numbers  are:

Type: 24 (Sondermodell - special model 8 - 9 seater or commonly known in the USA as Deluxe) 

Heizg. Typ 2/255 Prütz S 45 - This is a Type 2 (Microbus) and the numbers 255 Prütz S 45 relate to the petrol heater number. 
Faargest - Nr: - 24 (Deluxe) 7 (year of manufacture i.e. 1967) 145449(chassis number)
Zul Gesamtgew. kg - 2070 (all up weight)
Baujahr - this is left blank but simply means year of production. Not sure why this is blank but I guess that the year of production is shown elsewhere on the two plates located in the cab section of the vehicle.
Zul Achslast vorn kg - 950 (front weight)
Hinten kg - 1150 (rear weight)

Had a look, checked out the web site VintageBus.Com to verify credentials. The plate really tells the story of the bus from it's manufacture in Germany to the delivery specs. From the chassis number, I now know that the chassis was produced in July 1967 (1967 model). The tag plate in the cab gives me the following detail:

06 7 - 06 July 

425 - seat belts and mounting points

025 - lap belt anchors

114 - 6 pop out side windows

130 - without sunroof and roof windows

UN - USA New York (export code)

241 - Deluxe Microbus, Cargo Doors Right, Left Hand Drive

2121872 - 2 (Special Laquer), 12 (Sea Blue) 18 (Cumulous White) 72 (Aero Papyrus White)

7145449 - Year (1967) and Chassis Number which matches the main tag plate on the air vent.

At long last

My very own Type 2 1967 VW Kombi arrived from the USA. Has been well looked after by Kiwi Shipping (these guys are the best in transporting cars and they really did a fantastic job of getting the van from South Carolina, across the States to Carson, California for loading onto the boat to ship to home to New Zealand).

The bus has travelled well - first heading to China and then off-loaded onto another boat to Singapore. Finally making the journey down under and arriving in the port of Wellington New Zealand. Plan is now to check her out  and see what needs to be done. I had asked the previous owner to flick me some picks of the rust areas but he said there was none to speak of.... yeah right!. I can see now that that was a little far from the truth but I guess what can you expect from a 43 year old car. Overall I was pleased with the condition and really apart from the areas where busses are known for rusting out and I expected, it was pretty clean. 

Anyway Kiwi Shipping took a load of photos - fantastic. At least I could order some of the panels needed to throw in the back and ship out with the bus and saved a fortune on postage. America ain't the cheapest place in the world to post stuff from but the parts are so much cheaper even with postage added than those you can get out of Australia. I used Wolfsberg West mainly - these guys are the best providers of air-cooled VW restoration parts and picked a few more parts they had out of stock from CIP1.

Picked the bus up from the wharf in Wellington, New Zealand today. Tried to start but wouldn't budge. Previous owner said the bus was running...... must have sat in the front and made vrmmm vrmmm engine noises because this bus ain't turning over. Tried to jump start while on the wharf but still no go. Will check out but could be stuffed starter motor or maybe just needs the carb, points, leads replaced and a replacement battery.

Had to hire a trailer to tow to home and after a bit of pushing, finally got her up the drive and in the garage.  

Looks right at home now.