57 Microbus - Moss, but not as bad as Moss Monster!

hjsimpson01 · Post by **hjsimpson01** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:01 pm

Introducing Otto...

Sorry took so long to get photos up, but to be honest I only just got him home on the weekend... (I felt like an imposter on this forum up until the weekend)

I'm assuming Otto here is Palm Green/Sand Green.
Scored him off a fellow VW guy (some know who he is!), was supposedly a 58... Numbers say otherwise. Happy with him all the same.

John (IN2VWS) has provided date and origin info on him already (Thanks John!)

The horrible lemon paint has undercoat, but then it is palm green under that. The even worse olive green paint on top (for want of a better name) has no undercoat. I am gently rubbing back... Although a lot of him will need a touch up! The Original Paint is quite thin, it looks like they made attemps to rough it up before the new paint went on...

From what I can tell he has had a nasty shunt in the front, similar to a few others I have seen on here. A pitty, as his nose metal is still really solid (I might try beating him right!) Sills are gone on both sides, and the cargo floor is half OK (possibly a replacement one for the price), front floor is not real good either. The rest of him is either full of bog or reasonably good. Maybe he had a part resto in the past?

Chassis, etc seems quite sound, although I think first thing I will do is have a good poke around underneath, after the spider smoke bomb of course!

Looks to have gotten quite wet inside as the floors are the worst bit. The interior trim looks to have gotten wet at some point too. Curling boards etc. There is a disgusting makeshift seat in the back which is now half out. I am chasing other original seats to go back in...

If anyone has parts they can see are obviously missing I am happy to look at exchanging for cash... Favours are available too, but you have to live in Tasmania! I have some doors, although they are to suit a late 58 onward until the hinge change (they have the callout behind the handle, mine isn't meant to have)
One is twisted, however both need a lower skin anyhow, so may just work with them.

If anyone can also provide history information on my Otto that would be great. It is believed to have been a school bus operating the North East of Tasmania. Possibly under "Fry's Buses". The person I purchased him off could only provide info as to where he was found and that it may have been a school bus, so more I can find out the better...

I'll post progress pics as I find the money to buy things and do the work...

Regards,
Rudolph

warb · Post by **warb** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:57 pm

nice early project.

Kuchster · Post by **Kuchster** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:56 pm

greenbus · Post by **greenbus** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:11 pm

Top score there!!

Can't beat the early micro's!

whatnow · Post by **whatnow** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 5:23 pm

hmmmm pgsg. lurvly

hjsimpson01 · Post by **hjsimpson01** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:08 pm

Thanks all for the positive comments, hope to have more progress shots this weekend, no fund for panel sections right now, so just stuffing about with what is OK on the bus... getting ready for new bits, prep work for sandblasting etc...

frenzix · Post by **frenzix** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:18 pm

such a nice looking bus.. be good to see it rolling.. whats the plans OG?

nicko · Post by **nicko** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:29 pm

Awesome bus- Makes sure you bag and tag everything when you pull it off and dont through anything. Even broken bits can be useful when you are looking for replacements
Cheers
Nicko

splitbus07 · Post by **splitbus07** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:33 pm

i was thinking the same thing. og would look tops on this beast.

morts · Post by **morts** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:44 pm

Nice pick up. If it was a school bus there may be some logos under there somewhere....

hjsimpson01 · Post by **hjsimpson01** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:20 am

I am currently rubbing back the horrible paint on top (very flakey) and trying to preserve the original paint as much as I can. I will see how that goes, obviously where there is surface rust, panel creases, dents etc I will have to blend. Hoping I don't have to add too much extra paint... So far the paint under appears quite good, although they did give it a light rubbing on some section before applying the current pain, so some section are rubbing through as soon as the top coat goes...

Yes Nicko, keeping everything even the broken bits

Morts, I hope to find something... But knowing my boss he may not have bothered with logos.... we'll see...

Frenzix (Tim), it rolls...

Just I don't think in the terms you mean! LOL

I just brought home the 1200 for him, running motor, so i guess I better pull the rims off and do the brake work and engine bay next, that way I can fit the engine and move him about a bit... (I should stop fussing over the paint for a bit perhaps? But it's soooooo tempting to have him looking better....)

More progress shots soon

hjsimpson01 · Post by **hjsimpson01** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:13 pm

OK, so I didn't get as much done as I would have liked to...

Here are some photos of what the paint looks like underneath...

aussietanker · Post by **aussietanker** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:56 pm

absolutely beeeeutiful - nice bus - with paint like that just rat it ... looks great

Leroy · Post by **Leroy** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:23 pm

Sweet!.... Rat for sure

Shaven · Post by **Shaven** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 9:03 pm

i love that paint combo... beautiful.

57 Microbus - Moss, but not as bad as Moss Monster!

57 Microbus - Moss, but not as bad as Moss Monster!

Plans

rubbing back Photos