By Jay Hirsch
The Vollswagen Bus— also called Barndoor, Transporter, Kombii, Samba, Splittie and Microbus — made its debut in March 1950. The split-window version was made until 1967. In 1968 the “Splittie” would become a one-piece front bay window. The body was slightly bigger, a larger engine was used and the Bus now had a 12-volt electrical system. The overall shape was more rounded, and the barn doors on the passenger side were replaced with one big sliding door. It was a much improved design, but the bus also lost its some of its character. That character is reflected in the price of what a good pre-1968 Bus now commands. At the top of that Bus list is the 21-window version with sunroof seen here.
The Volkswagen Sun Roof Deluxe, named the Samba in the United States, was the most luxurious version of the Bus.
Originally Volkswagen Vans/Buses were classified according to the number of windows they had. This particular model has 21 windows, including eight panoramic windows in the roof. To distinguish it from the normal 23-window van, the name Samba was coined. The 23-window had two side corner windows on either side of the rear top gate opening. In 1964, when the rear doors were made wider, the two windows in the roof were eliminated
The Samba had a fabric sunroof which slid backwards, opening the sky to its passengers. In Europe Volkswagen advertised the Samba for tourist trips through the Alps.
Sambas were painted in two-tone schemes, the upper part usually painted white. The two colored sections were separated by a decorative chrome strip, with black paint in the center of the strip. The bus had a so-called “hat”: at the front of the roof that over hung the front windshield a few inches to block the sun for the driver.
The 21-window was also called a Kombi, also spelled Combi by some. The Kombi was the original mini-van. At 168 inches, it was shorter by at least 15 inches than the smallest American station wagon. Its gas mileage was at least 50 percent better, and it was easy to service. The Kombi had the same simple but durable OHV 4 cyl., air-cooled engine as the Beetle. It could carry eight adults very comfortably with room left behind the third seat for cargo. Entry to the rear was through two-passenger-side, center-opening doors. The second and third row of seats could be taken out, which then converted the Kombi to one big-on-the-inside cargo hauler. With a height of 75 inches, there was ample cargo capacity with enough headroom to stand up.
The VW Bus was an engineering marvel. Most people do not realize it is only eight inches longer than the standard 1967 Volkswagen Beetle. The Bus is all “interior space” from bumper to bumper, with no excessive overhang.
There ware some flaws with the first Combis/mini-buses. One was the OHV 4 cyl 1.1 liter/72.74 cid engine, with acceleration of 0-60 mph in 32 seconds. Combine this first generation VW engine with a good old American hill, and you could not only smell the roses but count them also. But on a flat out open space of highway, the bus could cruise at 65 mph for hours on end.
Then there was the heater, or lack of heat. If you were cruising at 50 mph the little air-cooled engine put some warmth into the cabin. But in every day stop and go city driving, the old English auxiliary heater was needed: plaid woolen lap blanket.
On the plus side, when it came time to overhaul or replace the engine after more miles than most American cars saw in their life span, you would drive to either an official VW repair station or any of a number of independent repair specialists. In about 30 minutes the old engine can be taken out, and in another 40 minutes a replacement dropped into place. That air-cooled, rear engine also made for some excellent traction in snow, when speed was not important. That traction was on 195/75 x 15 inch tires.
The 21-window seen here was restored by Bob Cropsey, who is well known by Volkswagen aficinonados. Bob came to be a VW guy by “love.” When he dated his then to be future wife, Bob was a “muscle car guy.” His future wife, Lu, was a VW gal and had a beetle convertible.
Bob not only fell in love with Lu but also Volkswagens, air cooled VWs. Over the years Bob has rebuilt and restored several VWs, with the 21-window Samba being his crown jewel. In his two-car garage Bob rebuilt the engine and all mechanical components, stripped the body to bare metal and painted the body himself. Bob re-upholstered the seats, installed new weather stripping, etc. When Bob says “I restored” the car, he means just that.
This 21-window was in overall good shape as it was a southern car, and not ravished by northern winters and salty roads.
There was some rust on lower body panels due to accumulation of moisture and condensation over the years. Wherever there were signs of rust, Bob cut out the piece and welded in new metal.
In 1967 a dual master cylinder braking system became standard, and the 21-window received a slight boost in power. The horizontally-opposed, overhead-valve four-cylinder engine was enlarged to 91.1 cid/1.5 liter offering 53 hp with a price of $2,695. •
