Description
The 1969 VW Deluxe Sunroof Microbus was first registered 13 February 1969 and immediately exported to Boston in the US. I have no history from the US other than the bus ended up in California and was imported into the UK in 2012 and first registered here on 1 March 2016. Since in the UK, I have a record of ownerships, all MOTs and a complete photo documented build and restoration history file, with invoices.
The bus still has the original L610 Delta Green paint and a lovely patina look. The rear has suffered a fire at some point in the past (in the US) but it was left as part of the story rather than repainted new. As part of the early restoration (2012-16) the vehicle has had some new metal work including rear floor support top hat sections, bulkheads behind front seats, front floors, replacement original rear wheel arches (paint blended/ oxidised) but retains 95% OG exterior paint and metal work. There is zero filler. Underneath, the bus is very dry and solid, structurally sound throughout. She does of course carry some sun bleaching, light surface rust and life scars which just adds to the character of these lovely old original buses.
It’s a LHD 4-speed manual, tax free and MOT exempt although it has had a test every other year to ensure it remains road worthy and up to modern safety standards – it’s passed the test every time and has no advisories. MOT history online on the DVLA website. I have all the print outs and MOTs in a folder.
From the factory 55 years ago, it was a 7-seater microbus but today the interior has a practical day bus/ retro camper feel. The front seats are in good clean condition and really comfortable - origin unknown - but they look similar to the originals and are great for longer trips. The rear area has a Bluebird rock & roll bed and a very useful rear facing original Devon buddy seat/ storage unit. There is a full set of foam cushions covered in retro deck chair fabric and wrap around curtains in green to match the exterior. The full parts and accessories list is extensive:
4. 5" king & link Pin Beam (£1500)
Dropped spindles (£300)
Adjustable Spring plates (£200)
15 X 5. 5 Flat 4 sprint star wheels with new tyres (£1300)
Wilwood disc brake kit (£1500)
Autometer oil temp and rev counter (£250)
Rebuilt high ratio gear box (£300)
CSP shifter coupling (£50)
stage 1 clutch (£250)
Original Gene Berg shifter (£375)
Leisure battery split charge with diesel heater (£200)
1835cc engine (£7k)
Dell’orto DRLA 36’s with stacks & filters (£1000)
Electronic ignition (£100)
Vacuum advanced distributor (£300)
Fully balanced and blueprinted
Fast fab breather box (£100)
Full flow oil system with Teflon hoses
Oil filter & thermostatic sandwich plate
Remote oil cooler
Engle w110 cam & 1. 25 ratio rockers (£300)
Match ported intake manifolds
CSP bell-crank throttle linkage
Electric fuel pump (£50)
CB performance 044 cylinder heads (£600)
Stainless 4 into 1 exhaust & quiet pack (£350)
AAC ‘Wolfsburg’ steering wheel (£340)
AAC handbrake handle anodized black (£30)
AAC Cup & Phone holder (£50)
OG (stamped VW) jail bars (£100)
There is over £15k worth of parts alone here, excluding the labour cost which was also significant. Many new/ NOS parts – towbar, US number plate surround, EARZ engine air intake coolers etc.
The performance engine was built by Hector Howe (Suffolk) and installed during 2021 with zero miles. In January 2024 I had the engine top end rebuilt (by G’Day Kombis) so it is now roughly 1500 miles in and is running very sweet (valve clearances, timing set up recently checked, all fine). The gearbox was built by John Walklett Transmissions (Newcastle Under Lyme). The bus has Porsche 944 brakes and the Wilwood disc brake conversion kit (David Slack designed kit) so it does a great job of stopping. It has a Slamwerks front beam with adjustable rear suspension. Currently a nice ride height for regular use but it can go a lot lower if desired. The Flat 4 EMPI Sprintstar alloys (now patina’d) are from Transporter Haus and the tyres were fitted in Jan 2024 so approx 7mm tread remaining. I’ve bills for all the above.
In January 2024 we decided to undertake the following maintenance and improvements:
Engine top end rebuild
MAHLE barrrel & pistons
CB performance push rods
Rocker cover gaskets
Top pulley & belt
Full carb rebuild
1-2-3 vacuum advance distributor
Full set up
E10 ethanol proof rubber fuel lines
All fluids
steering box and column
king and link pins
track rod ends
shocks
driveshaft
Boots, bushes, gaskets
Stainless brakelines
Clutch/ handbrake cables
Recondition gear lever and front shift rod
Rear brake strip down
Wheel bearings
4 tyres, tracking
Full electrical re wire
Hella headlights complete units
Leisure battery
Window regulators
Complete sliding door c arm mechanism
New ignition barrel and switch fittedThe VW has been professionally renewed using the best quality parts which I have the full breakdown and invoices for. The most recent work totals £8. 5k. I have lots of other parts to include with the bus such as a very nice original Devon table for the back, spare EMPI Sprinstar wheel with premium tyre and good tread, deluxe rear window seals/ chrome trim to fit. Original VW Repa seatbelts (quite rare) fitted front and rear, new OG rubber cab and walkthrough mats (hard to find) with cab insulation mats from MadMatz. It has speakers and cabling but no head unit, the dash stereo plate is an original. Easy to reinstall but I like the look of a clean dash and just use a decent bluetooth speaker for radio and music. I’ve decoded the M-plate and a have full file to go with the bus, loads of photos, spare keys etc. The sale will also come with a copy of the original 1969 (August 1968) VW Bus Owner's Manual and 1969 Bus Sales Brochure.
Setting aside all the upgrades and improvements which make this vehicle a very useable and reliable daily driver, the bus itself is a rare model being one of the first early bays with factory deluxe trim and importantly a working metal sunroof (and sliding side windows) make it quite desirable. You won’t find too many others about.
The vehicle is a unique original patina VW bus which is very well maintained, has had a lot invested in key upgrades and comes with a full documented UK service history. It will cruise all day long for many years to come and is a sound future investment. The photos in this advert form part of the description of the vehicle. Please note, as with all historic vehicles the work in never done! There is some minor surface rust only in the footwells, the sunroof lining needs replacing, a cushion cover for the storage unit etc. I would encourage you to come and view my VW, feel free to ask questions, professional inspections are welcome and I would be happy to take you out for a drive.
This particular VW bus grabs a lot of attention, sounds great and is very well known at the national events. It will storm down motorways and effortlessly keeps up with modern traffic. It brings a lot of smiles and receives lots of comments wherever we go! It really has been a pleasure to own. Ready for the Summer shows and travel- I’d not hesitate to use the VW abroad, which it has, to European VW shows and family holidays. Classic car insurance and roadside recovery (always worth having) is very reasonable. The vehicle is kept at my house in Wendover, Bucks (HP22) not far from the M25/ M40/ M1 motorways. Videos and delivery can be arranged for serious enquiries.
A couple of final things to note. This is a private sale. The V5 is in my name and ready for transfer. The vehicle will be sold as seen with no warranty implied or given. Collection is by prior arrangement and payment is by bank transfer only please. Please do ask any questions. Thank you for viewing my advert.
