My morning smile . Some things never change

[fastfredracing]

Ive been concentrating on getting my name out there for towing . So, far, Im not getting rich, but really enjoying getting out of the shop, seeing different places, and getting to play with big trucks . Ill share some pics of my new to me Peterbilt project pretty soon.
I signed up for the Honk app. Just this morning, I completed my first tow for them . That went smooth. They pay for crap, but its a good way to put a few bucks in the pocket, and get my truck running up and down the road, to get some visibility . Up till this point, Ive just been towing for exisiting clients, and word of mouth stuff .
Anyhow, Ill get to my point.
Phish was in town last night . I didnt go , but friends did
My Honk app went off 2 times in the last 45 minutes.
Both times, it was for broken down VW busses . One a 70 camper van, and the other a 74 vanagon.
This brought back fond memories . More than once, when I was a young lad, I repaired a vw bus for someone in the parking lot of a dead show, or at the campground.
Right when I first started my biz, the morning after the Grateful Dead show here in Pittsburgh in the early 90's, I came to work to find 2 broken down vw busses in my parking lot .
I couldnt pay my electric bill that week, but had enough grilled cheeses, weed, and even a dream catcher to show for my hard work .
I did not take any of the tows this am, as they were all on the other side of town, but I did , for a second consider it just for old times sake .
An old bus is still on my radar for an up and coming project . They are bringing silly money currently . I think I paid 300 for mine when I bought it in 92. Put a 2.0 from a 914 in it , that I paid 150 for, and I was off to the races. Drove that thing all over the east coast

[Evans, Marv]

I had three over time back in the day - '64 camper, '67 bus, & '71 camper. Though I enjoyed them, I'd never own one now days. Under powered, poor brakes, poor safety features, poor performance, etc. I did travel all over in them and enjoyed life with them at the time, including countless "afternoon delights" in them.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

An old bus is still on my radar for an up and coming project . They are bringing silly money currently . I think I paid 300 for mine when I bought it in 92. Put a 2.0 from a 914 in it , that I paid 150 for, and I was off to the races. Drove that thing all over the east coast

I'd like to have an old bus for old time's sake but yeah, they are stupid expensive. I had a '62 that somehow ended up with the early 40hp "Bas***d Engine." I didn't know anything about it at that time, of course, so I drove it until the crankshaft broke and then built up a fresh air 40hp.
My friends and I had a blast with it. We were driving around partying one night, and they had the side doors open. I took a left turn - and two friends and a case of beer slid out the doors into the ditch. Like you, I drove it all over the east coast and upstate New York. I don't remember what happened to it.

[wdfifteen]

Thanks for the smile! Ya made me look up old photos from 1969.





I got my first bug, the light blue one, in 1966. It's a 1960 with a 336hp engine. A friend sold me the black '63 with a blown engine in '67 or '68. Then the bus came along, and I recall the circumstances.



This was my clean room for engine assembly. I rebuilt a couple of engines on that old workbench in the barn.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I got my first bug, the light blue one, in 1966. It's a 1960 with a 336hp engine. A friend sold me the black '63 with a blown engine in '67 or '68. Then the bus came along, and I recall the circumstances.

You should proofread your captions, ha ha! Unless.....

Did both of your bugs had 'blown' engines?

[wdfifteen]

Not my job. I’m an author. Our job is to yell at editors and proffers when they don’t “get” our creative spellings and punctuation.

Both the black beetle and the bus had blown engines. I bought the black beetle that way. The bus had that first generation 36/40 hp abomination and it didn’t last long in my hands.

[Dantilla]

I'd love the chance to drive a bug with 336 horsepower!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

I'd love the chance to drive a bug with 336 horsepower!

That was done for effect. I thought someone here might need a goal, an aspiration, to dream about.
You’re welcome.

[gacook]

My brother-in-law is a huge VW guy (was even on the cover of VW Magazine with a bug he and his dad restored). He's got 2 vans and I couldn't believe it when he told me they were stupid money. I know next to nothing about them...but recall something about one of them being a certain type of window, making it more valuable. He's also got an old VW pickup truck that he loves and, of course, several bugs and Karmen Ghias (probably spelled wrong). His daughter is even named Karmen

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Thanks for the smile! Ya made me look up old photos from 1969.





I got my first bug, the light blue one, in 1966. It's a 1960 with a 336hp engine. A friend sold me the black '63 with a blown engine in '67 or '68. Then the bus came along, and I recall the circumstances.



This was my clean room for engine assembly. I rebuilt a couple of engines on that old workbench in the barn.

I cant look at an old oil can without thinking about Nathan R Johnson

[masraum]

Where's old "widebody911" Thom Fitzpatrick when you need him. This would be a thread for him. He used to own the "vintagebus" website and was a regular (mostly in the 911 tech forum, I think, but also here). I think he got married and busy. No idea if he ever shows up on the board these days or not. It would be a shame if he didn't, but things change.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by gacook

I know next to nothing about them...but recall something about one of them being a certain type of window, making it more valuable.

23 window Samba. Yes, crazy $$$$ for one.

[911boost]

Awesome Fred.

I had to have someone help me fix my 1966 Mustang in the RFK parking lot after the Grateful Dead in the summer of '92. Good times.

I miss my buses, have had two '78's. The most recent one a Westy that I sold back in 2023 as my kids had gotten older and I just wasn't driving it like I used too. We did multiple Dead & Co shows and Further, or whatever it was before Dead & CO. Years of Phish shows with it sleeping in parking lots, you name it.

These are from 2018, my daughter has just graduated from college and my son just finished his freshman year in college. I miss those days....



This year I am driving from CO to Saratoga Springs NY for the 3 night run at SPAC at the end of July in the Super C to see Phish. I am pretty excited.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by masraum

Where's old "widebody911" Thom Fitzpatrick when you need him. This would be a thread for him. He used to own the "vintagebus" website and was a regular (mostly in the 911 tech forum, I think, but also here). I think he got married and busy. No idea if he ever shows up on the board these days or not. It would be a shame if he didn't, but things change.

Thom is one of the funniest guys to ever tie on a pair of shoes, he's a symbol of what this place used to be.

I've also owned a couple of VW campers back in the day, they are the best vehicle ever invented when they are standing still. I really mean it. There is no reason to even have an engine in one, they are not road worthy. They should just be towed around to Dead shows, (or Phish shows), like a trailer.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by 911boost

-snip-
This year I am driving from CO to Saratoga Springs NY for the 3 night run at SPAC at the end of July in the Super C to see Phish. I am pretty excited.

^^^ So cool........enjoy!!!

Recorded at The Jones Beach Theater Wantagh NY 7-24-1992

[Baz]

Our Microbus in 1961. I was 6......

[fastfredracing]

Here is a photo of the last hurrah for my bus . 1974 , with 2.0 pulled from a 914.
It got along pretty good down the highway , but still a game of momentum in the mountains .

We pulled the drivetrain, fuel tank and glass, banded 55 gallon plastic drums down both sides, and floated it down the river for the anything that floats contest at the Pittsgurgh regatta .
I should have kept it !!

[Baz]

In case you're wondering that's Fred.....in the red........

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by Baz

In case you're wondering that's Fred.....in the red........

I think that was my favorite tye dye at that time. I was just starting to get into german cars .
. It was orange and red , looked like fire, and had this logo on it .

[greglepore]

Nuthin left to do but smile, smile, smile.