"Cherry" picking: the recovery of a 1955 Volkswagen kombi

Built in March 1955, we re(dis)covered this dove blue VW splitscreen kombi almost 60 years later. A good friend of mine told me about seeing this van in the woods 20 years ago. Used as a shooting target, but pretty rust free, it survived many decades of waiting to be found again; which wasn't too easy. A big surprise and smile when we suddenly stood right in front of it.
For more stories and adventures, check out "kombisrus" on instagram and facebook.

[@josepena4029]

Love it !!!!

[@maol_nuelmaos]

Así es como se hace!!! Excelente! Gran Rescate! La Kombi parece tener gran potencial para ser restaurada!!! Algunos paneles y pisos muy sólidos... 😉👍

[@kombisrus3532]

Muchas gracias. ¡Estoy totalmente de acuerdo!

[@Sokrates66]

I never get tired of this type of rescues. thanks for posting.

[@kombisrus3532]

Totally agree, it's an addiction with harmless side effects. :)

[@Dirt_cowboy30]

Awesome video! Love seeing busses being saved from rotting away!

[@kombisrus3532]

Thanks Kyler! Yes, since they became more desirable, more people seem to save them, even total wrecks that would have been left behind 10 or 20 years ago. I think any reasonable condition classic is worth saving, if or if not fetching big bucks.

[@franciscomontesdeoca5316]

Pure love,beautifull.

[@kombisrus3532]

And maybe a pinch of obsession as well. :D

[@franciscomontesdeoca5316]

@@kombisrus3532 of course.

[@arniesantacruz4513]

Wow thank you so much fo this video and for the rescue of this beautiful vw when you put the wheels it looks like it was getting ready to drive out from woods thlks all ur friends wish you the best restoring this car .

[@kombisrus3532]

Making this clip was not as much fun as digging her out, but it brought back lots of good memories. With some more effort and time she would have maybe left that spot under her own power. I do look forward to her preservation.

[@jeanchristopheblondeau2761]

Good job ! Bravo !

[@chrisrawlings6738]

So cool!

[@kombisrus3532]

Thanks Chris!

[@glenngamst61]

Good job with this rescue.

[@kombisrus3532]

Thanks Glenn!

[@TateReggie]

It's amazing how rust-free that bus is. Thanks for sharing.

[@kombisrus3532]

Totally agree. I dug out vans way worse then Cherry.

[@1edsel1]

Im insanely jealous LOL very cool save !!!

[@kombisrus3532]

No reason to be jealous Mike, keep your eyes and ears open, there are still so many more out there that are waiting to be found. :)

[@bigjohn4574]

Great find. That is a nice bus.

[@kombisrus3532]

Thanks, I think the same!

[@Vwrescue]

We also saved a 1955 VW Bus this year! 23 window. it even had the same ambulance step as yours and also had the decklid destroyed.

[@kombisrus3532]

Oh wow! Sounds like a dream coming true! Brothers from different mothers. :)

[@Thomas63r2]

I owned a couple Busses, a 1962 and a 1965 way back when. They made millions of these things - amazing that so many have rusted into nothing that makes it worthwhile to rescue derelicts like this one!

[@kombisrus3532]

Yes, luckily there are enough crazy nutters out there that save relicts of the past without using their heads, instead they let pure passion take over. :)

[@Thomas63r2]

@@kombisrus3532 No doubt. Certainly the economics of almost any car restoration has the restoration cost to value upside down unless they count their labor at $0 per hour.

[@kombisrus3532]

@@Thomas63r2 Exactly! Fortunately those cars make most of their owners decide with their heart. If just economically restorations would go ahead, the big variety of classic cars we see, would hardly exist. I am lucky enough to be able to do most of the work myself, otherwise I would most likely have to drive a boring, modern car.

[@garage2cv]

Awesome !!

[@kombisrus3532]

It was. Felt like walking into a lolly shop as a kid.

[@erivaldodias7256]

Que bacana esse achado, uma verdadeira raridade! Parabéns e boa sorte na restauração.

[@kombisrus3532]

Muito obrigado Erivaldo.

[@anthonysinclair5721]

That was very cool! I would love to have a VW adventure like that. 😎👍

[@kombisrus3532]

Thank you Anthony! Yeah, they are highly addictive.

[@davehyde6207]

Very best wishes with the old girl, new adventures await

[@kombisrus3532]

Thank you Dave. Just a matter of time.

[@davehyde6207]

@@kombisrus3532 your absolutely right.🙂

[@newvintage1554]

Oh wow man! That's where I parked man.

[@kombisrus3532]

:D And then forgot where?

[@marcijunebug]

omg! finding that hand crank and all the other parts...and seeing that nose come out of the trees, and those semaphores❤....too much...would love to find one like this! wow, just wow

[@kombisrus3532]

Believe me, we haven't been short on endorphins either when we found and recovered it. Just keep your eyes and ears open. As you might have heard many times before; they are still out there. :)

[@marcijunebug]

@@kombisrus3532 I have a 67 double cab and a 58 panel that I saved from the junkyard...but to find on in the wild! Wow! Hope you share more of it with us soon! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@kombisrus3532]

@@marcijunebug Yeah, I get that. Saved some from the junkyard myself, but finding something in the middle of nowhere is again a totally different experience. Keep looking, I am convinced there are still heaps of them, Just harder to find those needles in the haystack.

[@kombisrus3532]

@@marcijunebug It won't be soon, but I will share the progress.

[@marcvanderpoelen5210]

hey where are you at with the bus? progress? more videos? what a nice rust free one !!!

[@kombisrus3532]

I wish. But there are things like life happening which includes more things to work on and making living plus my location currently doesn't match the one of the bus.

[@woscowoscoscos4458]

You are my idol..!!!!

[@kombisrus3532]

:D

[@rudolfschlopker3661]

Gratulation for the rare Bulli. Only 17 700 T1 build in 1955. You need a 30PS, 1100ccm Motor. Good luke, infom use. Rudi, Germany

[@kombisrus3532]

Vielen Dank Rudi! Weißt du wieviele von den 17700 noch existieren? Ja, und noch ein paar andere Dinge. Bin froh gewesen das zumindest das Getriebe noch vorhanden ist.

[@rudolfschlopker3661]

I thing, for any question, write here in that "Bulli Forum" www.bulliforum.com/viewforum.php?f=17 They help you in any question. Greeting Rudi.

[@rudolfschlopker3661]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4GkfX2uo6mthMU

[@kombisrus3532]

@@rudolfschlopker3661 Yes, I know the bulliforum. Once I get to this stage, I am sure there are lots of good sources for informations around.

[@kombisrus3532]

@@rudolfschlopker3661 I haven't been yet. Some day.

[@kevinvincent4323]

Where is this place that a vw can set so long and so little rust?

[@sonny8455]

Ya know all that time cherry sat there it's incredible she never got burnt out no scrub fire's at all,ment to be..

[@kombisrus3532]

Hi Brett, just before reading the end of your comment I thought "I guess it was meant to be". :D

[@S3MMY345]

That driver side rocker view is the pot at the end of the rainbow

[@kombisrus3532]

Yes! I am also still amazed by the condition of the doglegs and front wheel arches.

[@haskyb9184]

Cool video. Will there be any more updates on the resto of this? Where was it found? Looks remarkably rust free for a bus sat outside without windows in it !!!

[@kombisrus3532]

Cheers Ben! Some day there will be. "Unfortunately" Cherry isn't the only recovered project (if you have a look on my fb and instagram page). It was found in the US. ;)

[@e-curb]

@@kombisrus3532 . where?

[@kombisrus3532]

@@e-curb Sorry for being a party pooper, but that's an info that I would like to keep for myself.

[@e-curb]

@@kombisrus3532 state?

[@TheKommercial]

Where's the build thread for this bus?

[@IAm1InTheIAm]

Happy Spring y'all . Checking in to see how your project's going. Did you get'er going yet? ✌️

[@kombisrus3532]

Cheers, winter started over here though. :) No updates yet, unfortunately. Cherry and I aren't in the same country and the current travel restrictions don't make it any easier. She isn't the only project either, as you might have seen on instagram.

[@IAm1InTheIAm]

@@kombisrus3532 oh, goodness, winter's last hurrah- I'm the guy living up near the Arctic circle and the snow's melting fast, so you can't be far behind! Best with all your projects.

[@kombisrus3532]

@@IAm1InTheIAm Thank you! Do you have a facebook or instagram account?

[@IAm1InTheIAm]

@@kombisrus3532 believe it or not, I'm one of the dinosaurs who don't do FB or IG; I do have some of my forest find pics of my bus on the samba under akdude, though. Sometime this summer I'll do a road trip around Alaska and put it on KZbin, that'll be fun✌️

[@kombisrus3532]

@@IAm1InTheIAm Not blaming you at all! That will be a great trip! Since all this what's going on atm those simple pleasures of "local" travelling get way more appreciated.

[@craigbutler6243]

Automotive archeology.

[@kombisrus3532]

:)

[@kbangfpv6226]

See people only see the money and how much they can make from these old buses but if that’s all you see you are missing a journey and a way of life and Vw family that words can’t explain what you end up with, especially with these buses

[@steveread8348]

a few of those people look like they have experience working for the Government

[@kombisrus3532]

?? :)

[@wizzard5442]

@@kombisrus3532 He's saying that some of your crew - "govt employees" - were just standing there doing nothing whilst the other guys are doing all the work. An uncalled-for comment.

[@kombisrus3532]

@@wizzard5442 They are the ones carrying the responsibility for... something. :D

[@Northisbest]

Anu update for Cherry ?

[@kombisrus3532]

No, unfortunately it will still take a while. But I will post updates on here, facebook and instagram.

[@SUP-2101]

Обидно за людей - одни стреляют в последние кусочки нашей истории, вторые по крупинкам собирают то, что осталось от деятельности первых.

[@TairnKA]

Hm, I feel safe saying that VW's (of all types) get "recovered" and made road worthy the most of any auto, truck brand. ;-) Ok, some are recovered so others can live on.

[@kombisrus3532]

Yes, very true! Because they became trendy and therefore valuable (and maybe never really have been out of fashion), everything gets reproduced these days, that makes it affordable and possible to restore even the ones in poor condition.

[@notchboy]

Where is it today?

[@kombisrus3532]

Still waiting in line for it’s comeback. Unfortunately it’s not yet in the same country I am in.

[@wizzard5442]

I think (from memory) this is going to be the first time ever, I'll be complementing the inclusion of music in a KZbin video. Just simple easy listening uncomplicated non-hitech music. Oh btw great video. Just wondering why you were so "desperate" with this van given its sunken roof. Obviously it wont be much of a problem.

[@kombisrus3532]

Thank you! I am getting turned off myself quite often by the music that gets added to some clips. It can destroy an otherwise nicely done video very quickly.

[@kombisrus3532]

Everything is fixable, especially if you do it with your heart and not your head.

[@scottcates]

CARchaeology😉

[@dyer2cycle]

..where is this located?..Europe?...U.S. ?...Australia?..elsewhere?...

[@myovalsplit]

please show more of the bus?! what has become of him?

[@kombisrus3532]

Would love to, but Cherry is still waiting in line. There will be updates of her and others once my normal daily routine gives me a break. This is so far just a hobby that has to come second, unfortunately :)

[@myovalsplit]

@@kombisrus3532 Yes I know that . There are more important things but you don't want to miss them. I try to make a video once a month. I want to hold on to it anyway and you'll forget it otherwise. Yesterday I actually got my first bus. Year of construction 62 also with patina. I'm really excited about it. He was also in the forest in Finland. The condition and the price make me happy. now he has come back to Germany 🥰

[@kombisrus3532]

@@myovalsplit Congratulations to your bus!! Very cool! Another one getting saved from disappearing forever. I am looking forward to see some footage on your channel. Btw, I am very impressed by your videos, they look like as if they involve lots of time in the making. I would like to make and publish more videos, but simply can't find the time to do so atm.

[@myovalsplit]

@@kombisrus3532 Thank you for your positive feedback, I don't think I can do anything other than capture everything with my camera. Time flies so quickly, memories fade and SD cards disappear. I often only make very short clips and add them immediately. Always small steps and at the end of the month or when there is time it comes together. The bus will definitely show up in the canal. I love it myself, these stories about the old buses and now I can tell one myself. Unfortunately I couldn't save it myself and there is only 1 photo of the forest. But for me it's worth it. I hope you can continue to film it when you have time. Warm greetings from Germany.

[@kombisrus3532]

@@myovalsplit It's definitely nice to look back to those old memories some day. Good to capture them somehow. Looking forward to see your new treasure! Vielen Dank für die warmen Grüße! :)

[@fff-cf4fx]

Sooo...probably the 2nd time this bus was stolen.

[@kombisrus3532]

That's one version. Or it got dumped and then recovered. Surely the DMV would have told me if it's stolen before I got the title for Cherry.

[@dyer2cycle]

..o.k...after hearing the bearded guy briefly speak, I'm assuming U.S. or Canada(based on accent)?...

[@luxurygold6305]

Il est devenu quoi? Restauré ?

[@kombisrus3532]

Elle attend d'être préservée. Elle n'est pas le seul projet enregistré et le temps est rare.

[@luxurygold6305]

@@kombisrus3532 d'accord. C'est un achat ou vous l'avez trouvé et récupérer dans l'état ?

[@kombisrus3532]

@@luxurygold6305 Je l'ai trouvée telle quelle sur une propriété publique.

[@luxurygold6305]

@@kombisrus3532 et du coup sa ce passe comment pour les papiers ? Vous pouvez faire une carte grise a votre nom ?

[@kombisrus3532]

@@luxurygold6305 J'ai déjà des documents pour la camionnette à mon nom. C'est relativement facile aux USA.

[@tragoverdades.4088]

Fake, so clean.

[@kombisrus3532]

Fake? :D I wouldn't have the time and wouldn't want to spend the time to make something like this up.