My turquoise eleven window bus

[joshroom]

i moved onto the rear of the bus for a change of scenery. Someone had upgraded the original taillights to some pretty sweet trailer lights but I'm gonna take it back to stock.I got some laser cut sections in 1mm zinc anneal from Kutchster (on here, good to deal with). I took some measurements from a mates bus that has original, uncut taillights and never been out of rego since the sixties, pretty cool. Measured them up on the bus and cut them out. Someone had previously started to repair the left hand side but their taillight placement was a bit off.







before I got too far I discovered the RH side has had a good few whacks so I had a bit of straightening to do first. I dug out a fair bit of bog and ended up cutting this section out so I could straighten it and the pillar behind it.

[joshroom]

As you can probaby see the battery tray was next to come out, it too was pretty banged up and twisted. It also had a couple of rust holes but still cleaned up alright.






There wasn't much left holding the back section of the wheel arch on and it too was knocked around so cleaned it up and hammered it flat.

[joshroom]

I spent a good few hours just metal finishing the RH corner, trying to take out the wrinkles. I got the battery tray and wheel arch section both welded back in.







the back outer skin needed to be extended and flange welded back on to finish it up but i didn't get a photo yet.

[splitbus]

Nice work that's one job down

[MID WEST DUBBER]

Great work mate, really nice skills

[splitthis]

Firstly I have to say I love this build, one of the best I've seen on DSK. What year is this bus? Don't forget the dollar taillights moved in early 59, the higher position (like what you have just done) was pre 59, after that they dropped to about where the previous repair was. There is some info on the samba
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=104091

Keep up the good work.

[mozzie]

Nice work shit tits

[joshroom]

Cheers fellas, sorry the updates aren't more consistent and frequent. Thanks for the link splitthis, but unfortunately my bus is a little too late for single taillights. mine is 1960-61 Aussie bus with twins. I had contemplated running singles like a 59 but the twins have grown on me and now think they are cool because they are unique to only a couple of countries (i think, John IN2VWs would know?).



you might notice above and below the taillights I've also been welding up a lot of extra holes that have been bogged up where extra lighting use to be mounted. I think the bus was used at the airport back in the day but I haven't got that on good authority yet.




Trial fitted my repro tailies, just need to find some amber coloured lenses.Just been priming as i go but i'll go back and bog up once I've got most of the welding finished.

[StevieVW]

Great quality work. Something to aspire to!

[Leroy]

Love updates on this thing. Quality work as always mate

[rabidkombi]

Ditto

[Shaven]

very cool bro... great updates & skills

[joshroom]

Very kind words thanks fellas, I'll try do some more on the weekend. Cheers.

[Zimblewinder]

nice neat work Josh. Keep it up

Dale

[gaz]

Well done mate, good to see it coming along. Might have to come and have a sticky in the new year