1957 VW Bus

In 1957 VW exported 2,000 of these panel vans to America. We take a tour of one of the very few who survived to this day. VW had some very clever innovations that were not adopted by other manufactures for almost 50 years.
If you want a sticker or t-shirt click here: www.guacfarm.com

[@SeraphimCherubim]

Tom, you need another one.

[@SleepyLizard]

you always need another one. 🤣

[@crujones4046]

Everyone loves more windows but that one looks so clean and streamline without any. Keeping a classic alive that’s what it’s all about.

[@SleepyLizard]

I totally agree. The 21/23 window get the $$$ but the panels look so sweet

[@EduardoOliveira-ho3ll]

Thanks for the video, great looking split panel! In Brazil, splits were produced until 1975.

[@SleepyLizard]

Yes, there's some beautiful buses in Brazil. thanks for the comment.

[@vermontjeff2535]

This was a really awesome video. I learned a lot. Thank you .

[@SleepyLizard]

thank you. I'm glad you found it entertaining.

[@Running_with_Faith]

Your bus is so beautiful!! I love that it is plain jane with all its smoothness. I would love to have a little VW bug.

[@Matildo_]

Awesome attitude and a lot of knowledge, thanks for sharing!

[@SleepyLizard]

Thanks Kique. I'll be doing one on my '76 Westy next...too much rain here right now though, ha!

[@franciscomontesdeoca5316]

Amazing bus sir.

[@SleepyLizard]

thank you

[@jayzee3143]

Awsome Bus you did a great job with it .....love the color 😍

[@SleepyLizard]

thanks, I think I'll take it out for a spin today. starting to cool down here in South Florida

[@jayzee3143]

@@SleepyLizard still Hot out here in California ✌️

[@OOOTUBES]

Wow that is beautiful. You put some time in on that. Impressive.

[@SleepyLizard]

tons of time, yes.

[@harrycooper5231]

Damn, like your taste in vehicles. I had a '67 Westphalia in my 20s, had a great time with it.

[@SleepyLizard]

More common ground 😁

[@kevintruax5130]

Really Cool! I have its brother, late 57 single cab. same color, later tail lights. nice work... kt

[@SleepyLizard]

I love them early single cabs. Thanks for the compliment on the bus. I bet yours is just as nice.

[@petermainka2279]

Dei Bus ist super toll ! Was du sagt ist 100 Richtig alle Lieben alte Volkswagen ! Keine Einkauf ohne Foto oder ein kleines Schwätzchen auf dem Parkplatz !

[@SleepyLizard]

I don't speak German but I'm gonna go ahead and say thanks for the compliment anyhow!

[@TheDasbull]

Looks great! Love early panels - safaris look great on it 😊

[@SleepyLizard]

thank you

[@SoCalKevin]

Amazing job! That dub looks stunning!

[@SleepyLizard]

thank you. I appreciate the compliment.

[@jamie-r2034]

I own a bay & know all the yearly changes they made but only know the basic things when it comes to the splits, so thank you for the good info! Hopefully can add a split to my garage one day!

[@SleepyLizard]

They are both such beautiful vehicles. Both so simple but the split is really simple. Such a great vehicle to own and drive. What bus do you have?

[@jamie-r2034]

@@SleepyLizard i couldn't agree more! I love them! You should do a break down video like this one but with your other bus!! 😃 Here's a pic of my 79' : imgur.com/gallery/yUDAgqU Took my 3 years, triple my budget and endless curse words to get her on the road! Haha

[@owenphillips9166]

The memories come flooding back - mine was a UK 1967 Bay , so one of the first of those, with the moon-shaped air-intakes. You've done a fantastic job on yours, I hope you have many more years of happy driving in her. ps one thing (probably not a recommended thing) I discovered my VDub could do if needed - when the engine wouldn't start, I could leave her in 1st with the no foot on the clutch as I turned the key in the ignition. The bus would bunny-hop and bump start itself!

[@SleepyLizard]

thanks for the tip

[@andreasdahl717]

The best Guac commercial ever :D :D I went to you page to get two stickers, but no shipping to Norway :(

[@SleepyLizard]

send me an email [e-mail]...we'll figure something out.

[@WillyPark]

Very Good! I learned quite a lot!

[@SleepyLizard]

thanks wpark65

[@stevelozano9523]

Brings me back when I use to have a pgsg 57 kombi deluxe. Mine had a fan blower underneath for the vents and rear view on the top vent (like where an ambulance fan knob would be).

[@SleepyLizard]

Steve, my buddy was doing a 58 pgsg same time I was restoring this one...such a great color. I'd love it in a Kombi. This bus didn't come with a rearview mirror stock. I put one but not on the vent, just up between the windows

[@geoffviscount2857]

VW did not start building the type 2 until March 8 of 1950. Not 1949.

[@donaldprater5099]

Great video. You have a gorgeous bus. I to am a vw lover and have quite a few of them. A couple being a 1966 camper bus and a 69 westfalia camper bus. I also have beetle similar to your bus. It's a 1964 beetle that was built in October of 63 before they started putting on the newer 64 parts so it looks identical to a 63.

[@SleepyLizard]

I bet the '64 is sweet!

[@spenskate104]

nice van ,very very nice

[@SleepyLizard]

Thx

[@isabellanakahara]

What a fun video! Back in my hippy chick days I had a 57 bus (back in the mid 70's- in Santa Cruz, CA, no less). I LOVED it and used to do my own tune ups with the help of the book, "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive...for the Complete Idiot" (I just saw it on Amazon for $596.00!). I wish I still had it.

[@SleepyLizard]

i've got two copies of that book and use it frequently. thanks for the comment.

[@manderson147]

There’s several things that are wrong with the years you give. Rubbed/pressed bumpers went until august (at least) of 58 USA and Feb of 59 for euro. You said this twice incorrectly. 3rd brake lights went all the way to November of 58 Volkswagen never bent their antennas. This is aftermarket recently (post 2000) Cool ride though!

[@SleepyLizard]

You must be a lot of fun to sit next to at a party

[@JogGer-fy6vw]

Great Video, Thank you. I have the same setup, Split Window with a Type 4 engine 2.0L How did you solve the cooling especially the engine tins? Custom made?

[@SleepyLizard]

The engine is a rebuilt 1800 upright. It's got stock tins (German not Chinese). also: external oil cooler and filter which not only cools the oil but adds about a quart and a half more oil to the system. enough to keep cool but not too much to pump.

[@JogGer-fy6vw]

Hi@@SleepyLizard . Thank you very much for the prompt reply. I also have an upright conversion from CSP to have the Type 4 engine look stock. Also an additional oil cooler/flat radiador with an electric fan to kick in when it gets hot. It's mounted underneath the bus in a bay. Have not driven much yet to see if it keeps it cool on long hot rides. Pura Vida🙂

[@SleepyLizard]

@@JogGer-fy6vw my oil cooler came with the fan but I never installed it. I just screwed underneath and the wind going over the fins has proven to be enough....but I'm not sure I even need it.

[@JogGer-fy6vw]

@SleepyLizard Wonderful, this is great news. I hope it will be the same with mine without the tins. I love your panel bus, very well done. Congratulations.

[@SleepyLizard]

@@JogGer-fy6vw you could add a sump, if you need it but you should be fine with the oil cooler

[@cheapsk8boardmuseum259]

Great video . I'm a couple hours north from you . Restoring a 64 bug. Also I subscribed

[@SleepyLizard]

thanks for the sub and best of luck with the bug!

[@thomassiddons2117]

Great ending to your video, bus sounds boss...

[@leeenfield3404]

_If the van is a rockin' don't come a knockin'_

[@breizizel3256]

Thanks doctor Ferdinand PORSCHE ! the WERHMACHT to ! ( the same engine vw for africa korps +50 ° and -50 ° ! No problèmes ! Because not radiator ! Kübel wagen and sximmwagen ) Thanks Mr PORSCHE !😅

[@SleepyLizard]

yep

[@DanTheManIOM]

Once you drive a split, you will see why you NEED safari's. Once was in traffic, and it was only 80F, I was roasting. On that same trip, I said, damn this is a good running bus, and right then, it stopped running ! the ignition wire at the coil came loose....either that or my bus is haunted by the last owner, Eddy Altdorfer.

[@SleepyLizard]

yes, it it sooooo hot in them busses. and yeah something always breaking...that's the fun part.

[@AshrafAlamEldin1396]

This is porshe but in van shape ⭐⭐⭐

[@SleepyLizard]

there's a great documentary called The Bus that talks about it's evolution.

[@AshrafAlamEldin1396]

@@SleepyLizard 👍👍👍

[@DemopVWgarage]

ANNNND in Australia we have a totally different brake light lens for the 56 :) And the bullets here went to 63. Our 57's didn't have any front indicators but side semaphores only.

[@SleepyLizard]

It's like studying archeology. I saw a post one time where a guy posted a pic of something, a panel or something on a specific year bus. And everybody was like no man that's not original, somebody put that in there. Then little by little a few others with the same year bus had the same exact panel but nobody could explain why some had it and others didn't. You guys have some great busses over there.

[@DemopVWgarage]

SleepyLizard haha yes theres so many different quirks on these things. I have the muffin top single cab which was an Aussie only ute. Its a funny looking gal 🤣

[@spenskate104]

wow ,,i need that panel divider,,i have a 59 ,all the nuts are still there ,,can i ask did you fabricate that part yourself ,,fantastic job,

[@SleepyLizard]

The panel divider is original to the bus and I love it. Makes things so much quieter up in the cabin. Only thing I did was paint it to try my best to match the door panels. Sometimes I take it out if I'm gonna cruise around with 4 people so they're not back there in the dark...but it is so much louder that way, ha!

[@TheStickyBusiness]

Found them! Is you Wife Brazilian? A saw her in another video.

[@SleepyLizard]

She is Venezuelan but most people guess Brazilian

[@TheStickyBusiness]

@@SleepyLizard Ok. Great. I love Brazil, the last Land of VW.

[@Koloherides]

few vw owners know the church key hole holds the center hole holds your gas cap inside it while filling up

[@SleepyLizard]

i didn't know that but i will try it now for sure. thanks

[@hg-cv8vk]

you didn't talk about the spare-tire !?

[@SleepyLizard]

oh yeah tucked in behind the front seat.

[@bilalmoly9017]

👉yes... i like and heppi with volkwagen. 🤘😎

[@SleepyLizard]

thank you

[@greggbrown0]

I want to buy your bus, any chance you would sell ?

[@SleepyLizard]

Gregg, thank you for the compliment. I suppose everything is for sale if the price is right but I do love the bus.

[@pauldudakadanielthomson8890]

Is it okay if we put it in a crusher ? Just kidding. In 1971 , I bought a 1958 work panel bus. Mine was the same color and had a window on each side door. At age 17 , I bought it to protest the Vietnam war. Your video makes me miss mine. Back then the simple VW bus was a statement on wheels. I never got around to taking it to a war protest. I spent lots of time fixing it up and had to clean every engine part ,, paid $75 bucks for it ,, it had been under water due to a flood.

[@SleepyLizard]

I had one back in the 80s and I miss mine too.

[@BAMFSQUAD]

Sickkkkkkkkk

[@SleepyLizard]

thank you.

[@FJ80Coop]

You get that from JC by any chance ?

[@SleepyLizard]

no

[@edgardosantos2443]

Sir Tom como esta, le saluda Edgardo Santos

[@SleepyLizard]

Tiooooooo! Como Estas?

[@edgardosantos2443]

Todavía trabajando en VWs

[@SleepyLizard]

@@edgardosantos2443 me imagino. quieres acompañarme a pescar?

[@edgardosantos2443]

Claro que si, sólo dígame cuando y con gusto lo acompañó. Gracias.

[@johnferris764]

Know what you mean. Have 59 panel same color white roof.

[@FJ80Coop]

Interstate driving in the old splits back in the lte 70s and 80s was so loud at 55mph that converstions were yelled hand signals or non existent...

[@SleepyLizard]

still the same

[@notenoughram3312]

My dad has a '66 westfalia in the same color

[@SleepyLizard]

dove blue!

[@IAm1InTheIAm]

Huh. Pressed bumper. My May of '58 bus has an original one just like it. Go figure. Right up until 8/29/58 was the Ribbed bumper. Huh.

[@SleepyLizard]

that's awesome

[@tecate9408]

Big titted Columbian in the bus...... Sweet ride you have. I have a clean rust free 62 bug that is slammed but have always wanted a bus, one day hopefully!

[@SleepyLizard]

I bet the bug looks sweet.

[@tecate9408]

@@SleepyLizard Its pretty good looking. maybe 7/10 small imperfections here there, but price was inline for it is. I kinda like em that way, not overly worried about a nick here or small scrape there. I love to just rip around. made the grocery store run just now without a drop of rain back in garage now good times my friend

[@jeffsegui3280]

Love the panel I have a 62 panel camper. Jeff with the 62 VW bus from Niagara falls Ontario Canada. If u want to see my bus go to chrome's channel Vancity van life playlist year 6 video #7

[@SleepyLizard]

what a coincidence! I also have a '62 so23...but I've had it 13 years and I never work on it. I gotta make it a priority.

[@jeffsegui3280]

@@SleepyLizard bought mine November 11th 2021 from original owner been living in it since. It has 95 thousand miles on the bus and just Loving touring around in it

[@SleepyLizard]

@@jeffsegui3280 the dream

[@michaelengel3407]

A very fine car and in best shape, indeed. But why is it lowered ? Ugly look and bad style. Such a van should be in original condition.

[@SleepyLizard]

Yeah, i'm not 100% pleased with it low like that. I'm working on a '62 that I'm leaving stock height.

[@Cordershizen]

Looks great lowered

[@antoniiocaluso1071]

COOL COOL COOL.... Had 2 (3 bugs and a sand rail, too), and cool, sure. Thing is...NEVER hit something from the front*. Yeah, yeah....cute little buggers, sure. And their engines are nuthin' to tear apart (man, do I EVER know about that :-))) *Nothing between driver's knees and oncoming CRASH except SHEET METAL!!!?? nUtZ, man, especially drivin' in S. FL !! haaaaa Nutz to rely on Air Temperature for engine cooling in FL's Summer. Whewwww.... Why I always added external oil coolers. Looked...cool :-) Naaaaa.....you didn't want the original engines. Cool low-rider ya got there! Why VW never added a marine-model, I'll never know. Heck, their light enough to float, don't ya know?! Handy when FL gets flooded, right? Just paddle them along !! haaaaaaa btw...LOTS of old VW-parts in NC junkyards. Lots of FL VWs, back in the day, would drive up (to Festivals, for instance))) and would break-down in the mountains there. One of mine ended there, shucks! Who knew an engine need ALL its oil to operate? HuH? )))

[@SleepyLizard]

Yeah. I never leave home without some extra quarts of oil.

[@johneastman1905]

So most of the views know most of this information.... but enjoy yourself presenting... And then came the chicken tax that squashed sales of the working transporter vehicles