Why this vehicle matters
The VW Bus transcended transportation to become a cultural icon. It was the vehicle of the counterculture, the road trip, the alternative lifestyle. The split-window 'Splitties' and later bay-window 'Baywindows' carried surfers, hippies, travelers, and dreamers to wherever they wanted to go, slowly. The Bus proved that a vehicle could be more than transportation — it could be a statement, a home, a lifestyle. Every modern camper van owes something to the Type 2.
Patina notes
A VW Bus with history is better than a perfect one. The paint fades to beautiful pastels. The windows fog with age. The engine develops that particular air-cooled smell. Split-window buses have become too valuable for patina; bay-windows are still accessible enough to use. Let the rust show (within reason). These vehicles were meant to be lived in, not preserved.
Ownership reality
Air-cooled VW ownership is a lifestyle. The engine is simple but needs understanding. Highway speeds are an adventure (merge planning is critical). Rust is the constant enemy. But the community support is exceptional — you can build a Bus from aftermarket parts, and help is always available. The reward is ownership of a rolling piece of cultural history.
The verdict
Buy if
You want a vehicle that transcends transportation. You're comfortable with air-cooled VW maintenance. You accept that the journey matters more than the arrival time.
Skip if
You need reliable highway cruising. You can't tolerate 55 mph being optimistic. You want something everyone else doesn't want.
What to look for
- → Roof rust (hidden under layers of paint and filler)
- → Floor pan rust (water pools under mats)
- → Cargo door hinge areas
- → Heater channel rust (structural)
- → Engine condition (compression test)
- → Cargo doors and windows operation
Common problems
- ⚠ Rust everywhere (especially roof, floors, cargo doors)
- ⚠ Engine cooling (air-cooled in a box)
- ⚠ Fuel system issues (carbs and fuel pumps)
- ⚠ Generator/alternator failures
- ⚠ Brake system simplicity (single circuit)
- ⚠ Window seals leak with age
Parts & community
Parts sources
- Bus Depot
- West Coast Metric
- JBugs
- MOFOCO
- TheSamba.com classifieds
Forums & communities
- TheSamba.com (Bay window and Bus subforums)
- VWVortex.com
- BusTopia
- Facebook VW Bus groups
Sources
- Hagerty Valuation Tools · 2026-02-02
Specifications
| Engine | 1.5L air-cooled flat-4 / 1.6L / 2.0L (later) |
| Power | 40-70 hp depending on year and engine |
| Torque | 65-98 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| Weight | 2,500-3,000 lbs |
| Wheelbase | 94.5 inches |
| Production | Split-window (1950-67), Bay window (1968-79) |
Notable Features
- • Split windshield iconic on early models
- • Beetle-based air-cooled drivetrain
- • Camper, panel van, pickup variants
- • Symbol of counterculture
About Volkswagen
The people's car. From Nazi-era origins to counterculture icon, VW became synonymous with simple, honest transportation.
View all Volkswagen vehicles →Find one
Looking to buy? Search current and past listings on Bring a Trailer.
Search on Bring a Trailer →More from Volkswagen
1967 Volkswagen Beetle
The Beetle is the most successful car design in history. Over 21 million produced. It democratized car ownership in post-war Europe, then became the counterculture icon in America. The air-cooled flat-four is mechanically simple to the point of being educational — generations of enthusiasts learned to wrench on Beetles. The 1967 is the collector sweet spot: the last year before US-mandated safety changes brought larger bumpers and sealed-beam headlights. But any classic Beetle captures the magic. This is where the entire air-cooled VW community starts.
1969 Volkswagen Baja Bug
The Baja Bug proved that the humble Volkswagen Beetle — designed for German roads in the 1930s — could conquer the harshest desert terrain in the Americas. When the Baja 1000 started in 1967, people showed up with Beetles because they were cheap, air-cooled (no radiator to puncture), rear-engined (weight over the drive wheels), and nearly indestructible. Cut the fenders for bigger tires, add a skid plate, raise the suspension, and suddenly you had a legitimate off-road racer. The Baja Bug became the everyman's entry into desert racing — you didn't need a factory team or a purpose-built vehicle. You needed a beater Beetle, a welder, and more courage than sense.
1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
The Karmann Ghia is a sports car that isn't really a sports car — and that's exactly why people love it. Italian styling by Ghia, German construction by Karmann, built on Beetle running gear. It's gorgeous but slow. Romantic but practical. A car for people who understand that driving pleasure isn't always about speed. Every Karmann Ghia on the road is a statement that beauty matters, even if you can't outrun a Civic.
1974 Volkswagen Thing (Type 181)
The Thing is what happens when you take a military utility vehicle and sell it to beach towns. Based on the WWII Kubelwagen design, VW updated it for the '60s and '70s as a recreational vehicle. In America, it became a cult item for exactly two years before failing new safety standards. That brief window and the quirky design created instant collector appeal. The Thing is the ultimate beach cruiser — doors off, top down, completely impractical, and absolutely joyful.