Jalopnik
All right, we're forced to admit that Volkswagen didn't actually offer a Ketchup-und-Mustard paint option on the Type 2. But if they had, we're sure it would have been issued with window blinds just like this one, which resides in Alameda's West End.
Photographs really don't convey the incredible eyeball-searing brightness of these colors. You can see this bus coming for blocks. Hell, you can practically see it coming when it's still over the horizon!
It's a very nicely executed paint job; even the bumpers are painted. This bus in in excellent shape, not a spot of rust, and it parks on one of the busiest streets in town.
I'm not enough of a VW expert to pin an exact year on this Type II, but I'm pretty sure it's from the 1963-67 period. Type 2 zealots, feel free to chime in with your favorite minutiae about this vehicle.
The wooden window blinds really work well on this vehicle. I couldn't see inside so well, as my retinas had been seared into near-total nonfunctionality by the paint job, but I'm hoping the red/yellow theme is carried over to the interior, preferably with shag carpeting raked into a VW insignia after each drive.
Auughhh! It hurts! But in a good way. The best part is that we see neither hippie nor surfer influence to the theme here. The hippie connotation with these vehicles is unfortunate; hippies just liked the Type 2 because it would still run (after a fashion) even if you skipped all maintenance in favor of scratching scabies lesions. As for the surfer thing, real surfers stopped driving Type 2s the moment they were no longer dirt cheap.
Maybe Volkswagen needs to take some inspiration from this fine vehicle and issue a Golf in this color scheme. With huge red emblems, of course.
Related:
1957 Volkswagen Transporter [internal]
Comments
I'd go with Hulk Hogan themed.
Jesus H, it's the "Sweet Pickles" Bus.
@Rob P: I'll take ketchup with that Brothaaar!
Is this yet another one of John Kerry & Thereza Heinz's (Kerry's) foreign property?
Or perhaps the new injury cart for the Pittsburgh Steelers' Heinz Field...
@HeeeeyJake: "Or perhaps the new injury cart for the Pittsburgh Steelers' Heinz Field..." LOL!!!
Perfect! especially once they caminoize it for the stretcher out back.
Owned by Ronald McDonald, stolen, joy ridden, then ditched by the Hamburglar.
Somehow...i feel another episode of "Un-Pimp Zee Auto" coming up
The neighbors should be pleased to see a bus like that on their street....that is a fine example of a VW mini bus. It's almost a museum piece.
@danio3834: Nice. Do you think he was aided and abetted by the Burger King? I say yes.
By the way, what is it about Alameda? I'm thinking I need to make a little pilgrimage to this mecca of interesting cars seemingly at every single street corner.
@evoCS: Alameda has the perfect surviving-old-car combo of mild weather, dense urban-grid-style street layout (with little off-street parking), and a deeply-ingrained hot-rod/gearhead culture that's little changed since the 40s. On top of all that it's an island, with weird ghosts right out of a David Lynch movie and a powerful sense of conscious disconnect from the rest of the world (particularly Oakland and San Francisco, the cities on either side of Alameda and the ones its residents love/hate most strongly). You find a lot of old cars still being driven by original owners, who also watch TV in black-and-white and wear fedoras.
My first thought when I saw this beauty was "The Simpsons." Maybe Comic Book Guy would be driving it.
I owned one of these, back in the day. Mine was an orange and black '65 complete with the "Brick" cruise control option and massive sidescoops for cooling the mighty 40HP beast..
I'm surprised no one's made a Winnie the Pooh connection yet...
[www.muralsforkids.com]
@evoCS:
Yeah, thats something he would do.
He always looks like hes up to something with that persistant smirk...
@MurileeMartin: That settles it. I must come and see this strange and wonderful land.
@danio3834: Him and Robert Goulet, they gives me the willies.
This is why you should NEVER use catsup and mustard to color in your cocktail napkin designs…
@evoCS: I'm with you,I've got to go cruise the streets of Alameda,something tells me my '79 Lincoln would be right at home,besides,the old girl deserves a three and a half hour road trip.....
I am finding this column extremely amusing, especially at work! I've been scoping old rides around where I live in Canada while cursing myself for not having my camera with me. Anyway, this one is by far my favorite!
Thanks!
Well, it looks better than a harlequin Golf, which was indeed a factory paint option. The red, yellow, blue are okay but why the turquoise!?! I feel sick!
Since no one has said it yet, its a 67. Note the two clear backup lights.
Start a discussion:
Login with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?