1971 SO-72/4 "Houston"

[Kirk]

So my buddy called me, knowing I had a bus or two (or three?) hanging out around my house wanting me to come save a bus from impound that was being shipped off to parts unknown. So I ask him about it, but All he could tell me was that it was a 71, it had been sitting there for a long long time, and it had no motor. I wasnt really expecting much.

Okee doke.

Well, yes it does look like a bus from here....

Sorta beat up tho.

I rolled it back, and the nose is a little rough. Lots of bondo. Hmm. Somehow I would have probably just rather had the beat up ass nose, but I guess people want to "sculpt" the front of their buses after nosing them into shit. Dunno.

Bondo spots all over covered in primer too. However, I did notice one thing...

Solid glass on the drivers side. Hmm. Thats an odd one for the USA. And only that side. Jalousie on the other. I assumed it was because of that tall cabinet, but what do I know? I buy cars out of impound. However, I was interested, so I opened the slider (with some effort) and found the motor. OR most of it. Either way. And the apron, mustache bar and most of the tin apparently. Score one for the home team!

Wait. Full width bed? What? Also a tall cabinet behind the drivers seat, a jumpseat on the wall. How odd! Well now I'm interested and I gotta have it. Time to hook up and roll out. Nice little collection of lichen and moss too. Not sure how it got all that growing on it in the middle of impound, but who am I to judge? They didnt charge me more for my mossy friends, however I plan to not take any moss home, so I stopped by the car wash first. Its amazing what high pressure water will do.

Well, on the way home, I stop for an energy drink and chilli cheese fritos. Once back on the highway, everything starts shaking violently, nearly throwing the bus off the tow bar. Pulling over, I check the tires. WHOOPS. Good thing I roll prepared.

Needless to say, I did finally manage to get it home, and take alook. The MCODE shows it was delivered to Germany, not the USA, and that its a Westfalia Houston. Pretty damn neat. Tomorrow I'll clean and inventory what I have. Dunno what I'll do with it, but I had to save it. Thoughts?

 

[aogrady]

Hi,

Interesting find. You gobnna keep it and fit it up? According the the Westfalia section on here, the SO 72/4 Houston (US-Version of Helsinki). and is probably part of the Tourist Programme, it was made for someone ordering it from overseas, flew to germany,drove it around a bit then shipped it to the states..

Looks like a early model, as it has the light wood that we have in pre 72 Ii think) SO70's which are the usual stock westy you have over there, and what most of us have here too, as a lot of the buses are shipped over here. Occasionally you will see a German westy in the UK, but not common to see a Tourist Programme spec in the States ( would have thought.

We see the Euro spec Helsinki over here, though tends to be the late bay as this is much more common. It's nice with the drop down cooker and the full width bed, a nice combo., and the colour is nice, wonder what that is, again a unusual colour for this year bus, but perhaps standard to a tourist spec version? Looks like a late bay colour, so yours looks like a 76 Helsinki we would see in the uk as a euro spec, but yours with early colour wood and a 71, guess yours is a Feb/April build. The m codes will say a lot i would guess of the options. Interestingly about the side window, wonder when the jalousie has been deleted, maybe never had it from factory, maybe the m codes will shine some more light on this?

Nice find, looking forward to see more pictures as you go.

Cheers,

Alistair

 

[71dormy]

8) sweet find.yeh agreed i think it was just the u.s version of helsinki 8)
uber cool though dude.you going to keep it?

 

[gninnam]

Glad you saved it 8)

Looks fairly solid from the pictures so hope it can eaisly be transformed - looking forward to seeing what plans you have for it

 

[Kirk]

MCODE:

Model Type 2 (T2) mod. 231(0) :
- Kombi
- Sliding door right
- LHD
Chassis number 2312221019
Serial number 221 019
Modelyear 1971
Planned production date
Tuesday, 18 May 1971
Number for production planning
(temporary serial number) 7689
Type of engine Type 1 (AE) - 1584cc, 37 kw (50 bhp DIN)
Type of transmission Manual 4-speed gearbox
Paint color L11H - Sierra Yellow
Remark : Westfalia
Interior color (doorpanels and seats) - Westfalia Campmobile
Destination Germany, Hamburg (Raffay)




097 Car radio model "Emden" (MW, LW, FM and tapedeck connection) -
195 Exclusive use of Blaupunkt radio (with M095,M097 & M098 only) -
518 Campmobile : Opening in roof with reinforcement for westfalia pop-up roof 231
234
2x4 2 057 729
793 Trumatic SB2000 heater 231, Campmobiles
2x6 2 000 001
A19 Collection of M-codes: M 020/026/089/102/181/206/506/507/511/517/524/525 (1971) - 2x1 2 000 001 2x1 2 300 000
020 Speedometer and odometer in Miles 211-274

026 With activated carbon container for absorbing fuel vapour 211-274, California
2x2 2 300 000
026 With activated carbon container for absorbing fuel vapour 211-234, Japan
2x6 2 120 000
026 With activated carbon container for absorbing fuel vapour 211-234, Autralia
2x6 2 120 000
089 Laminated windscreen (1969-1979) - 2x9 000 001 2x9 2 300 000
102 Rear-window defogger 211-268

181 Chrome hubcaps and rear view mirror outer 211-216
231-235
261-268
2x4 2 000 001
206 Inner rear-view mirror, anti-dazzle -
506 With brake servo and dual circuit brake warning light (LHD) 211-271

507 Vent wings in cab doors 211-235
261-274

511 Padded instrument panel (LHD only) 211-271

517 Factory prepared for campmobile interior - 2x4 2 057 729
524 Sealed beam headlamps, dual circuit brake control, back-up light and side marker reflectors (LHD) without emergency light system 211, USA, Canada
241, USA, Canada
265, USA, Canada
2x9 000 001 2x9 999 999
524 Sealed beam headlamps, dual circuit brake control, back-up light and side marker reflectors (LHD) with buzzer for ignition-starter switch 211, USA, Canada
241, USA, Canada
265, USA, Canada
2x0 2 000 001 2x2 2 000 000
524 Sealed beam headlamps, dual circuit brake control, back-up light and side marker reflectors (LHD) 211, USA, Canada
241, USA, Canada
265, USA, Canada
2x2 2 000 001
525 Three-point safety belts front, left and right and lap belts in passenger compartment 211-265, USA, Canada

 

[Kirk]

I dont know what I'm going to do with it. I have a late bay westy, and an early bay deluxe already. But I'm gonna play with it for a while. :mrgreen:

 

[dubscum]

cool as fuck

 

[creationblue]

Nice interesting bus fella, not seen an Early with this interior or colour before 8)

Just

 

[ibérico]

If it is really taking too much space just send it over to my place :lol: I will look after it, no worries!
I will even pay for the shipping.... :lol: :lol:

 

[Airtime]

Very cool, congrats! 8)

I have a SO72/3 Helsinki, with the same interior set up: http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29147

I only have fabric on the seats.

 

[Kirk]

Very cool, congrats! 8)

I have a SO72/3 Helsinki, with the same interior set up: http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29147

I only have fabric on the seats.

Whoa! Thats SERIOUSLY nice. :shock:

 

[Kirk]

So I got a little bored today. After a grinder mishap on the exhaust on my late bay, I'm under doctors orders not to "drive" or "operate heavy machinery" so I figured I'd play with this while "regaining my vision". Did I mention I hate the cold? Just curious.

So the first thing I did was mount some new/used tires up front, and paint all the wheels white. Why? CAuse I got all this damn white paint, thats why. And I'm bored. Neener Neener.

Next, I drug all the parts and motor out of the interior, and even after wiping the grease out, the floor is beat. Sucks really. Guess I'll try some o this heavy duty degreaser on it. And take pics.

BE-FO:

Yeah, okay, no real after pic. But you can kinda see it here, in my interior photos. You know, more and more, this things growing on me in a super odd way.

Okay, now that I scrambled what cells I had left not affected by copious amounts of pain medication on bleach cleaner, its time to figure out why the rear hatch wont open. Hmm. PB Blaster and a big ole hammer later:

Big ole hammer is not to be denied, btw.

Some rear deck rust through. Only one or two pin holes. Guess that rear seal must be leaking and caused that rear hatch lock to freeze up. Say dammit. Dammit. Thank ya. Next, break out the wax and hit that rear corner. Just for see-sies, ya know? Hmm. Not really that bad I'd say.

This is a respray over the OG paint, and its thin in some places. Makes me wonder if I could get it back down to OG, but with the numerous "body work" attempts on the body, I dont think I will. Waxing continues.

Not bad honestly. Solid ten(ish) footer. My arms tired tho. Where the hell did I put that orbital buffer?! Oh yeah. Doc said no "power tools". Remind me to have an apple and keep his ass away next time. Or use safety goggles. Either way. More waxing? Yes please.

I would say the difference is startling. I mean look at it. I'm startled just sitting here.

Lastly I removed, sanded and painted the bumpers white, for effect. Not a bad effect either. And it was about this time that it began to rain. And not like normal "ahhh its so nice its raining lets have some cocco and snuggle" type rain it was that "when you die and go to hell your hell is 33 degrees and raining watch freezing raindrops slide down your ass crack while you clean up" type shit.

However, I did make progress. Ah to have a heated and powered shop. I might have tried fitting the motor tonight if so. (but not with power tools doc. dont worry.)

 

[Chris_P]

Great find!

 

[Airtime]

Whoa! Thats SERIOUSLY nice. :shock:

Thanks! 8)

Your bus is coming along nicely. Amazing what a 'little' buffing and freshly painted wheels and bumpers can do! 8)

 

[Grazy]

You gotta keep this dude its well cool 8) 8)

Good work on the paint too , the interior is a really good layout , Nice find

 

[Bjarne]

Hallo, I just bought a Dec. 1972 SO-72/4. It was also delivered to Germany - was driving here until 1974 (most likely by someone from the US Army) and then exported to the US by him. Bus looks quite similar to yours inside (yet outside it is a T2B). The bed inside is even wider as there was no spare tire for my car so full width there. The upper bed is a rare 2 Person bed like in the Continental westy delivered to the UK. I have fabric bed and seets in yellow (not These fake Skin ones). Rest is identical.