Sunday, February 9, 2014

Clementine, The '74 "Westy" part 1



Another Air-cooled VW has come to roost at Stray Cat. "Clementine" is an orange 1974 Campmobile Deluxe. To explain that a bit further, it is a VW Transporter, or Bus, that was converted by Westfalia into a camper. An extremely short history of VW busses is that the earlier busses, built before 1968, had 2-piece windshields that were split down the middle. Thus they are referred to a split-windows, or "Splittys". The later busses built from 1968 on, had one big piece of glass for a windshield, and because of that, they have come to be known as "Bay-window" busses. On top of that, Busses that were converted to campers are often referred to by the name of the company they were modified by. Some of the best known were: Riviara, Safarie, and Westfalia. Now the last one there gets shortened by the VW guys to "Westy". One more thing. Busses that retained their factory top were usually labeled "Weekenders" or are often called "Tin-tops". The ones like mine, that got a fiberglass top that raised up with a tent attached to make an upper bunk, are known as "Pop-tops"
Why have I rambled on about all this trivia? Because I have spent so much time on VW forums that I tend to speak the lingo without thought of other people not having a clue what I'm talking about. That out of the way, let me tell you about Clementine.
Unlike the Type 3, that was a chance-grab from my friend, I have been looking for a camper-bus for most of my life. I've loved how different they are, how they are an icon that even non- gearheads recognize. At first I wanted any camper I could find, but as the years rolled by and the search for one became closer to reality, I knew I needed to do some research to narrow down my goal.
The first decision was split window, or bay window. That was easy, because, even though I love the look of the old Split windows, so do collectors, and because of that they are simply out of my price range. So I was looking for a Bay. That gives me the years 68-79 to pick from.  Within that range there were a few major changes made. Mostly in 1972. That year saw extra reinforcement added to the cab floor to improve your chances in a wreck, and a move to a new engine. So I figured I'd shoot for '72 or newer, with a goal of a '76  so it'd share my age.  As for the camper equipment, it had to be a pop-top. That part has always been my favorite  part. I like the ones that pivot at the back of the bus, and open like a wedge. No problem there as that is how the ones in my year range  work.
Great. That's settled. Now I keep an eye out for the right one.......

Let a few more years roll by. Every one I come across just doesn't fit the bill. Too rusty, too beat up, seen sitting too long, wayyyyyy too much money, too far away.. and so on.  Then, on a day off after Christmas, I was doing my usual trolling of Craiglist, and spotted an ad for a 74 camper. It was a simple ad with no picture and only a brief description that did not exactly flatter the bus, but the price was reasonable, and it was nearby, so I thought it was worth a look.
I expected to find a rolling rust bucket. What I actually found was a running driving bus, with very little rust, that was in need of a lot of lovin'. This was it. Everything lined up. The seller drove it to my house, I had cash, and the deed was done.
So now I have a growing list of stuff I need and want. Before we hit the road, the tires need to be replaced, the fuel system needs to be re-built, and one of the CV joints needs to be replaced. Then it's on to making the camper parts work.  First up will be replacing the canvas for the pop-top, along with all the seals for the top, then on to making things work inside.

So here I am, sitting inside watching the snow fall, thinking that the worst thing someone like me can do is buy a summer toy at the onset of winter. Here's hoping that when the sun comes out, Clementine will be ready to go on some adventures, and that we get to share them with you.