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Standard Equipment

The 237 in the chassis number indicates that this bus left the factory as a Left Hand Drive, Kombi, with Cargo doors on the right and a Sunroof.  As with all VW's of this period there was no real specification to speak of, simply more character than the entire cast of X- Factor and likely to be around for a dam sight longer!

Additional Equipment

With this particular example it has now been upgraded to include Five Spoke Empi Alloy Wheels, a Wooden Roof Rack, Custom Built Camping Interior with a Fold Down Bed and Several Cupboards, A Pop Top Roof in lieu of the original Sunroof, and most of important of all a Propex Heater.  Below is an original 1966 VW Bus Specification Chart detailing the model information.  Click on the expand button at the bottom right hand side of the gallery to read it.

Model history

All the vehicles built between 1951 and 1955 have become known as 'Barn Doors' due to the large rear door that gave access to the engine bay. After March 1955 the transporter looked very different. A separate part-glazed tailgate provided access to the load area at the rear and there was a smaller engine cover below that. A long overdue fresh air ventilation system was added changing the simple look of the front of the vehicle forever. A full width dashboard for all models, rather than just the Deluxe, was added inside the cab. 160,170 transporters had been made by 1955. In 1956 manufacture of the transporter was relocated to a model-specific factory in Hanover. The first 'walkthrough' from cab to load area models were produced allowing much more flexible use of Kombi, Microbus and camper alike. The crew-cab or double-cab was added to the range in 1958. However right from the start of transporter production, special models and conversions were available from VW or from other coach-builders of the day. The pre-VW factory Binz crew-cab is one of the most notable. Production continued with small changes until the next big change in 1963 when the width of the rear upper hatch was increased to aid access. Not a big deal in itself but it meant the end of the rear corner window on the Samba or Deluxe model. The 23-window model was now a 21-window. Production continued with small performance increases and the odd cosmetic change but the reliable old Splitty was starting to look a bit dated. Here in the UK the Ford Transit started production just as the Splitty era was coming to an end. By 1967 around 1,833,000 transporters had been manufactured and after the annual summer closure of the VW works the second generation of transporter, the Bay-Window entered production. Production of the transporter also took place in South Africa & Australia where a further estimated 35,000 were built until 1968. In Brazil production continued until 1975 and around 400,000 were built. The simple design and elegant concept of the transporter was deceptively forward-thinking for its time. A box on wheels capable of carrying 700kg at 55mph all day fully loaded and return 23-32mpg was quite something in the 1950’s. When the 1 tonne van was introduced in the 1960’s, the performance had improved to cope with the extra load and the type 2 remained a very well performing commercial vehicle for its day.  Thanks to the Split Screen Van Club for this information.

Exterior

Having owned many air cooled VW's in the past we felt the most pressing concern with an Eclectic Splitscreen was to find a good solid body, I know that the VW scene at the moment likes them the rustier the better but that is not what we are trying to achieve with our stock VW or not.  

To that end what we have here is a really solid californian van that was imported in 2007  and has been well and truly sorted and painted to a high standard.  Shortly after its arrival in the UK the very excited new owner despatched his new pride and joy off to the local specialists  Bus Stop Ecosse, who set about checking over the van to remove any potential rust Waxoyle and Underseal the van to preserve it as well as possible.She now shows very little sign of either corrosion or filler anywhere in its massive expanse of bodywork.  The exterior is a pale standard VW Pastel White, over a pale Lilac known as moonstone. The paint is in very good condition with only a couple of chips on door edges and a big one on the nose to mention.  The window seals etc are all in good condition as they were replaced when the top half was re-painted even more recently in 2009.

Wheels Tyres and Brakes

The van was running on original specification wheels when we collected here but we have just fitted a brand new set of Empi Alloy Wheels complemented by a brand new set of Yokohama's. The brakes are in good working order and pull the bus up nice and evenly, as with any early VW of this era you need to leave yourself plenty of braking distance compared to a modern vehicle, but then you are highly unlikely to be going anywhere in a rush.

Engine and Transmission

The engine has obviously been replaced at some point and she is now running 1641cc unit, which is one of the most eager little engines I have had in any of my air cooled VW's. It start first turn even in this sub zero tempratures and settles down to a smooth idle with no signs of smoke or significant leaks of any kind.  I drove all the way back from Falkirk in some of the worst weather known to man, and this van never missed a beat, it was me that was ready to give in long before the van was ready for a rest!

The engine bay also has a Firetec system fitted to minimise any potential engine fire damage.

The entire van is running a 12v setup, thank goodness.

Interior and Equipment

The interior has been very thoughtfully put together with an easy to use seat mechanism that folds down into a bed big enough for two, manufactured by a company called Bluebird and is called a 3/4 rock and roll bed.There are lots of little cupboard areas and shelves utilising all the otherwise dead space. The seats have been trimmed in a lovely easy to clean cream and grey vinyl, which sits very nicely with the exterior colour combination.  The floor has been covered in a hardwearing dark wood laminate, and the front cab floors have been trimmed in an equally hardwearing reed matting, so muddy fields in whatever festival you choose should present no problem. There is a pop top roof which is in very good condition and has a combination of fabric and netting so you can see through it and leave it open on hot nights to let some air through. Of more relevance at the moment would be the Propex heater in the back that will keep the cabin warm through the night. 

Road Test

No better way to road test a new purchase than driving back over 350 miles from Falkirk to the barn in Weston,  this normally gives us a pretty clear indication of how good a vehicle is. The journey started with a beautiful sunny but crisp day, waved off by the friendly and helpful previous owners, I tentatively set off heading south.  Overall the van is very easy to drive I did struggle with the gears at first as the gears are actually quite close together and the two foot long metal rod pertruding vertically out of the cab floor somewhere to my right is an acquired art, but once mastered  they engage smoothly and cleanly. The steering is light even at low speeds thanks to the huge wheel and cab forward stance. The visibility is very good even in the rear quarters and the large wing mirrors, which is a good job really as you spend more time looking backwards than you do looking forwards waiting to see which vehicle is going to overtake you next. The engine is willing enough but at the end of the day these vehicles were designed to do 60 - 65 mph and thats it..  Generally most people are very considerate to you as every body loves the iconic Splittie so leave you ample space in the slow lane. The seating position and steering wheel make for a chilled out leaning on the wheel type seating arrangement which leaves you to enjoy the scenery. The fuel tank is relatively small so long journeys do require frequent stops, but by that time you are glad of the rest.  Having wanted to own a Splittie since I was 15 and the miserable farmer down the road would not release his chicken hut to me and simply let it gradually disappear into the undergrowth over the next 10 years, despite my repeated pleas to save it. I was delighted to finally get my chance and I have to say the charms did not disappoint, it is old and antiquated slow, noisy and cold, but it is it's simple honest dependability that shines through no wonder 59 years later people still go to such great lengths to keep these wonderful vehicles on the road.  She is a fantastic vehicle and I am certain will provide some one with many amazing adventures for years to come.

History File

 There are several invoices for parts supplied since she arrived in the UK including the work done at Bus Stop Ecosse and all the replacement window seals that were fitted. There is also the original shipping documentation listing when the bus arrived in the U.K , and an invoice for a major service and valve adjustment alongside fitting new tie rod ends in California in 2007.