Itinerant Air-Cooled

I am simultaneously crushed and inspired by all that ive read here in the past hour. crushed over what happened and to whom, and inspired by the community that so quickly gathers to best take care of those who take best care of us.

glad your OK Colin. =D>

ive been so deep in the 67 beetle project of late that I have been visiting my bookmarked type1 forum threads directly - and missing out on the rest of the site.

as everyone else has said, I to will do anything I can to assist.

I had a quick look around, but a 72 is the closest in my neck of the woods thats currently up for grabs. (and even without motor and in blue and white - but completely wrong body style.)

I thought 72 and 73 were very much the same. 71 is definitely the older style.

You know, I was thinking of the engine. The engine changed in 72. I'm not as clear on when the body styles changed. So, that would make 72 not right for Colin's swap. Too bad.

Would a 74 work? Probably not, so that's why Colin needs a 73 only.

By looking at the photos here, it appears that the outrigger frame rails and box section behind the front bumper appeared in '73. Based on what happened, I wouldn't want a Bus without them.

Hiya Don,

The Duck has the outriggers. So I can say that at least one 1970 Bus is so equipped.

Ah! Maybe all Bays have them then. Good to know!

vwlover77 wrote:Maybe all Bays have them then.

I don't think so:



I'll do some guessing:
He doesn't want a '71 or earlier because of the Beetle engine.
He doesn't want a '72 or earlier because of the less-rigid frame.
He doesn't want a '74 or later because of the lack of a gas cap door.
He wants a '73 because of that neato one-year-only sliding door.

Link, in case the photo doesn't open for you

Makes me think differently about which bus I'd rather drive, the 71 or the 74

whc03grady wrote: I'll do some guessing:
He doesn't want a '71 or earlier because of the Beetle engine.
He doesn't want a '72 or earlier because of the less-rigid frame.
He doesn't want a '74 or later because of the lack of a gas cap door.
He wants a '73 because of that neato one-year-only sliding door.

Here's my guess Mr. Grady: He wants a '73 because that is what the Road Warrior is and what he's driven his whole life.
Continuity and Familiarity if at all possible

Change is also good. He can have my 82 Vanagon Westy ~ after all, he seems to be the only one who can make it run right !

he told me he thinks VW started cheaping out on construction starting 1974, though I forget which details he mentioned besides the gas filler door, mostly because of mandated safety and emissions equipment. I expect he wants a 73 so he can reuse much of the old bus, simple as that. He already has known parts known to be good on the Road Warrior and spare '73 parts already in stock, so staying with 73 makes good sense.

Heehee, I'd like to sell him my 74, but I think I already know the answer to that.

Colin -
Remember Ms Cruz's '74 Westy?
I can look into that for you. With a sufficiently heart-rending story like this, she might be convinced to part with it. You do really need a Westy, for all your traveling. It really would suit you much better than the passenger bus. Maybe not a '74, but a Westy for sure. Think about it.

Breaks yer heart dont it??

jtauxe wrote:Colin -
Remember Ms Cruz's '74 Westy?
I can look into that for you. With a sufficiently heart-rending story like this, she might be convinced to part with it. You do really need a Westy, for all your traveling. It really would suit you much better than the passenger bus. Maybe not a '74, but a Westy for sure. Think about it.

Thanks John. I am specifically looking for a '73 so I may utilize all '73 parts as necessary. I ain't giving up no fuel filler door nor super sliding door technology that was deleted in '74. I am also sticking to 7-passenger but will consider a sunroof model . . . as if beggars can be choosy.
Colin

whc03grady wrote:

vwlover77 wrote:Maybe all Bays have them then.

I don't think so:



I'll do some guessing:
He doesn't want a '71 or earlier because of insufficient highway stamina.
He doesn't want a '72 or earlier because of the lack of frame rail-tying "deformation element".
He doesn't want a '74 or later because of the lack of a gas cap door and the desperate cheapening going on through-out the car.
He wants a '73 because of that neato '68-'73 sliding door.

You nailed it, Birdibus! This is not just familiarity and continuity, Z, it is a conscious and knowing choice that '73 had the best damn brakes of the bunch, all the safety engineering available in the bays, and the last of the decent earlier craftsmanship, like solid seat construction with the basketweave seating surfaces. The ONLY way to fully utilize the carcass of the Road Warrior is to get a same-model year.