Cabin : Economy Location : Auckland, New Zealand Posts : 4 Join date : 2012-11-07
Subject: Newbie in NZ with '81 Brazilian Bus Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:10 am
Hi everyone. Along with my mate Dan, I'm about to start into a 1981 T2 that's among the last remaining of a few thousand Brazilian kombis imported into NZ. Ours has 70,000 original kms on it and we feel lucky to have it. Bought it 3 years ago when we were both moneyed up - had it towed to a body shop in the South Island where we thought we'd get a good deal on the panel and paint. The guy was pretty useless at fabbing anything from scratch and just kept carping on for new panels which we got sick of. Finally we have her home in Auckland and she's in pretty OK shape, overall, compared to what I'm used to seeing in the UK back in the day - underneath is solid as a rock but the body panels suffer from the lighter grade steel used in the South American VW plants.
Ours is a bus, originally, from what i can make out (she's been home-converted to a camper) - windows all around - corner windows at rear, side cargo doors are hinged, with bay-style cab up front.
My main question is: re: body panels - is it a simple matter of these Brasil-made models being standard bay-era front coupled to a splitty-era rear? What I mean is, I suppose, finding panels for them - should I be able to slip on split-bus panels at the arse end and bay-era up front? It seems too simple to me! We have access to the Klassic Fab 'Green' panels here in NZ - anyone got any info on them? I know you guys in the UK are spoilt for choice as far as VW parts goes but down here, it's a bit more spartan and you've to make do or pay heavily for freight.
Mainly we need - C-pillar from the bottom to above the top hinge and I'm wondering if there's any chance of getting the wrong part! - 'apron' bit above the rear door (top) seems to have rusted away and I'm wondering what that part actually looks like and if it can be bought. The C-channel that the hinge bolts onto is all ok, as is the door and the hinge itself, but is there a third part that fits across the door opening? This seems a stupid question but I don't have another bus like this for reference!
Glad to find a community for Brazilian fans (ooh er missus!) online and hope to check in with some shots of our project eventually. Cheers
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TimV Admin
Cabin : Flight 001 Location : Brighton, East Sussex U.K. Posts : 14334 Join date : 2009-09-27
Subject: Re: Newbie in NZ with '81 Brazilian Bus Wed Nov 07, 2012 3:55 pm
Hey, welcome. With regard to the panels ie Bay up front, Split out the back, I believe the answer is yes. Your model of Kombi was simply put together by VW using up outgoing body parts mated to the next generation. It's the mechanics that will be tricky. More likely to have Split parts than Bay. Our 'new' Kombis here still run on late Split suspension upfront.
Include the word Fleetline in your searches for parts as much of your Kombi was shared in that model, which ran until the mid 1970s.
Have a look at the body panel sections of our advertiser's websites. You should be able to cross reference a lot of parts.
________________________________________________________________________________ Max SportsKombi - The Bay Racer @brazilianvwbay
stoneyuk
Cabin : Club Location : Aldershot, Hampshire Posts : 323 Join date : 2010-07-11
Subject: Re: Newbie in NZ with '81 Brazilian Bus Fri Nov 09, 2012 8:25 pm
Welcome!
Will be out your way in Jan/Feb next year - starting Auckland and heading on down to Christchurch via lots of places - unfortunately, not with the van though.
Delboy3867
Cabin : Economy Location : Auckland, New Zealand Posts : 4 Join date : 2012-11-07
Subject: Re: Newbie in NZ with '81 Brazilian Bus Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:42 am
stoneyuk wrote:
Welcome!
Will be out your way in Jan/Feb next year - starting Auckland and heading on down to Christchurch via lots of places - unfortunately, not with the van though.
Thanks mate, and if you DO feel like you might miss your kombi (and this is a stunning country to enjoy them in) you might want to check out these guys: http://www.kiwikombis.com/ - some mouthwatering examples from various eras for hire here in Auckland! They also do lower priced relocation deals now and then so it's worth checking in with them! I imagine you'll probably have a great time VW spotting on the roads at that time of year also as the climate here is very kind to old Germans and there are tons of minters about. The local version of Ebay is called Trademe (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/CategoryAttributeSearchResults.aspx?search=1&cid=268&rptpath=0001-0268-&sidebar=0&5=&14=&18=0&18=0&24=0&24=0&searchregion=100&15=kombi&searchbar=1&generalSearch_keypresses=7&generalSearch_suggested=0) and some sweet deals come up on there at times too - maybe you'll come away with a souvenir!
dazdub
Cabin : Exec 012 Location : wales Posts : 3114 Join date : 2009-10-16
Subject: Re: Newbie in NZ with '81 Brazilian Bus Sat Nov 10, 2012 7:41 am