Post by hawthorne on Mar 4, 2023 10:43:09 GMT -8
Although few in the VW scene have ever seen this bus, it’s pretty cool, and has some mid island history. I have had this bus for 14 years (next week) tucked away in the back of my shop. And only really look at it much in the last year or so.
It’s a mid January 1955 built bus, which makes it a ‘Barndoor’, with some differences from the later split buses. It was delivered to VW Canada, and I am not sure of the dealer it was originally sold at, although it was re-sold at a Duncan dealership - Meguire Motors before 1964/65.
It’s sporting some very faded logos reading;
VAN DEN BERG
ELECTRIC
CHEMAINUS 2foursix-9221
I have talked to Jac Vandenberg’s daughter and have a photo of the van with jack’s son infront of it in 1964/65
I am stripping it back to the original dove blue paint, and will have the logos touched up. I am taking care of the necessary metalwork with care being given to maintaining as much of the original paint and patina where I can. The plan is to drive it (with a 36horse and tall skinny bias plys) to the orange country transports organization (OCTO) meet in Long Beach California for June 3rd (yea this year)
As found in lilloett BC circa 2009
Storing it in my old hanger along with a ‘53 we cut up, and johns 54 when I owned it in the middle
Finally getting out into the front of the line
Found some old (local!!) logos
Although in tough shape, I haven’t seen another Meguire Motors dealer sticker to date… there has to be a few out there?
An early company advertisement - from the chemainus year book
This to me is such an amazing photo, this is Jac’s (the old owner) son infront of the van circa 1964/65, you can see the logos on the side!
This is a bit more recent what it is looking like. Only need another few hundred hours of metalwork, build a trans, engine, wire/assemble everything before I attempt to drive the thing to California in less than 3 months 🤦♂️
It’s a mid January 1955 built bus, which makes it a ‘Barndoor’, with some differences from the later split buses. It was delivered to VW Canada, and I am not sure of the dealer it was originally sold at, although it was re-sold at a Duncan dealership - Meguire Motors before 1964/65.
It’s sporting some very faded logos reading;
VAN DEN BERG
ELECTRIC
CHEMAINUS 2foursix-9221
I have talked to Jac Vandenberg’s daughter and have a photo of the van with jack’s son infront of it in 1964/65
I am stripping it back to the original dove blue paint, and will have the logos touched up. I am taking care of the necessary metalwork with care being given to maintaining as much of the original paint and patina where I can. The plan is to drive it (with a 36horse and tall skinny bias plys) to the orange country transports organization (OCTO) meet in Long Beach California for June 3rd (yea this year)
As found in lilloett BC circa 2009
Storing it in my old hanger along with a ‘53 we cut up, and johns 54 when I owned it in the middle
Finally getting out into the front of the line
Found some old (local!!) logos
Although in tough shape, I haven’t seen another Meguire Motors dealer sticker to date… there has to be a few out there?
An early company advertisement - from the chemainus year book
This to me is such an amazing photo, this is Jac’s (the old owner) son infront of the van circa 1964/65, you can see the logos on the side!
This is a bit more recent what it is looking like. Only need another few hundred hours of metalwork, build a trans, engine, wire/assemble everything before I attempt to drive the thing to California in less than 3 months 🤦♂️
