1963 UK Samba

Its a 1963 RHD 23 window. It runs a 1600cc with twin carbs with a straight axle conversion and dropped spindles. Its got Porsche discs up front with type three rear drums at the back to help with stopping power. Best of all it is more or less complete and has a middle seat which is for a Rhd bus. It has got a scarce history, but judging by the amount of underseal and the hole cut out for an ebersparcher heater I've been told it is a Swedish import. It was first registered in this country in 1999, and has had 5 owners since then.

63 UK RHD 23 window Kevin is the second owner from new . It comes from Lea-on-Solent now lives in his garage in Kent . Needs quite a bit of work up top but Kevin has all the metal now to weld back so chocks away.

I bought the van from the guy called Dave (very nice chap) about a year ago now. Dave imported the van from the west coast of USA and as a result the van is about as rust free as they come. After importing the van and getting it respayed, lowered and a 68 front beam fitted Dave ran out of time for the van and it stayed in his garage for about 2 years. I bought the van and used it last summer whilst going through the mechanics a step at a time. I've since fitted a dual circuit master cylinder and replaced all the brakes inc copper lines. Engines been out and checked through (1641cc with twin webber 36s, fingers crossed the barrels don't warp). Also fitted a set of Autometer gauges, inc oil temp.

At present I'm converting the van to IRS with one of Creative Eng's kits, using 68 rear hubs to keep the wide 5. All the hard work's done now (i.e. cutting off the rear chassis legs) and its just a case of painting and bolting everything back up, aiming to be back on the road in a couple of weeks, looking forward to cruising this summer at plus 55mph!!!

	Its a 1963 RHD 23 window. It runs a 1600cc with twin carbs with a straight axle conversion and dropped spindles. Its got Porsche discs up front with type three rear drums at the back to help with stopping power. Best of all it is more or less complete and has a middle seat which is for a Rhd bus. It has got a scarce history, but judging by the amount of underseal and the hole cut out for an ebersparcher heater I've been told it is a Swedish import. It was first registered in this country in 1999, and has had 5 owners since then.
	63 UK RHD 23 window Kevin is the second owner from new . It comes from Lea-on-Solent now lives in his garage in Kent . Needs quite a bit of work up top but Kevin has all the metal now to weld back so chocks away.
	1964 13 window deluxe, I have no info on this bus.
	John Flood's 1963 23 window. Swedish import samba. Chassis no 1084249 reg no DGN 293 a 1776 engine with Engle 110 cam Weber 40 carb Jeff Denham 40 x 35.5 head deep sump etc
	AJM 616A 1963 rhd 23 window deluxe, owned by Paul Wisk. Formally lhd this bus has been irs'ed, with upgraded engine to a 1600 twin carb motor, it has also been lowered by over 3" and Paul has lost count of how many panels he has had to replaced! The interior is from a 68 Devon which works well, also the chassis number is 1136344. As you can see this bus look's the business! Update 30 Mar 03 The van Is a 63 and the M plate reads 28th of june, and the chassis number Is 1136344. Mods, 68 bay front axle, IRS using 68 bay drums and some parts from creative engineering, 1302s gearbox, 1600 engine with Kadrons, and the van was LHD, getting fed up with people saying the cargo doors are on the wrong side!!. History, I bought the samba from a good friend Thomas Gahl, big van collector from frankfurt, you probably know of him, on the 16th December 2000. the van cost me £1750, And the samba came from Munich. The van has had a new front and a lot of new panels, It has been a lot more work than I had anticipated but I think Its been worth It!!.
	480 KPX - 1963 RHD deluxe, Devon interior, photo taken at Stanford hall 1996, belongs to Matt Keen, It is totally original, even down to the crockery in the camping interior, and the cross ply tires.
	KSL728 - 1962 15 window (no sunroof or roof lights) deluxe, LHD imported from the US I believe, photo taken at Stanford Hall 2000, always a good show if you want to see plenty of splits screen vans. Check out the alloy sprint stars wheels it's running on. Update from previous owner about this bus:- Thought to drop you a line after checking through the fantastic gallery to see my old 62 samba ! It's good to hear that someone's got new intentions to renew the old girls health, This van and me went through a great deal to arrive this side of the water but well worth the effort, still quite attached to the old girl as I'm sure any ex-samba owner is ?! Your welcome to forward my telephone number to the new owner that way it's much easier to ramble the story about the Cuban drugs cartel and the vans involvement in heavy herbal transportation !!! Realistically the van originated from the French borders of Germany ordered for a US officer based in Europe. It is believed that this first owner had ideas to export it back home when he finished his duty and hence the American specification. Out of about five historic owners (the original log book should still be with the van ?) the last - a - farmer a perfect stereo type.... "farmers do it in red-oxide" sold the van to a guy called Thomas from Frankfurt (you may know of this great friend). Who eventually sold and helped transport the vehicle back to Bedfordshire. Where I stripped and probably did most of the work as it stands today. It will be good to hear of its restoration. Update 30 May 02 from new owner John James This Bus is on your 1962 page, but is actually a 1963 and now runs on number plate BAS 219. The guy who wrote in as the last owner seems to be a bit confused. The bus was brought back from America By Steve Walker in 1999. As you know it runs on Hydraulic suspension and can be seen at most shows sitting in the weeds. This year I've fitted front & rear chrome surfari's and a full set of chrome pop out windows with green tinted glass "cool". At the moment it only runs a standard 1600cc single port but I have dreams err! I mean plans. The wheels are not alloy empi's but 5 lug steels taken apart, chromed & put back together, sorry I don't have an up to date photo!
	1963 RHD Samba, chassis number 1076432, owned by Ronald (Jim) Rawlings, new roof put on about two years ago by Splits and Pieces. front beam is adjustable and rear has been irs'ed. Bus should be completed some time the summer (2002)
	1963 rhd Samba, (picture taken by Julian Robinson Harts VW Club) at the Volksworld Show 2002, Is this your bus? Do you recognize the guys sitting in it? I think the registration is CAS 422?
	1963 RHD deluxe owned by Rupert Forthsythe, well I say 63 but it's been put together with panels etc. it has a space frame chassis and irs on full air suspension, it was LHD but has been converted. The samba was built to this stage by Dave Palmer at Creative Engineering, should be interesting when it's completed. Apparently the bus is going to be a company vehicle driven by various employees, I think I'll ring them and see if I can get a job!
	VFO958 - 1963 LHD deluxe, even though this bus looks like a barn door, has a peak less front and a large rear engine lid, don't be mistaken, its not! the work that has been carried out on this van to the stage that it is in this photo was done by Mark Maskery. The van was then sold to a guy galled Al (he's the guy who built that red oxide, denim interior'ed, now orange tarmac scraper). I know that when this bus hits the scene it will be mind blowing!!! Watch this space.
	1963 LHD American import, the bus has been around the US for a while but now resides in the UK, it has no registration yet and I know very little about it but it looks in pretty good shape, it is owned by a guy called mark from Bridgwater, Somerset.
	683 AMW - 1963 RHD samba registration . photo taken at the RTTS Cornwall. The first time I saw this bus was at one of the early open days at Karmann Konnection. don't know who has this bus now, do you?
	XWV 982A - 1963 15 window deluxe, I bought the van from the guy called Dave (very nice chap) about a year ago now. Dave imported the van from the west coast of USA and as a result the van is about as rust free as they come. After importing the van and getting it respayed, lowered and a 68 front beam fitted Dave ran out of time for the van and it stayed in his garage for about 2 years. I bought the van and used it last summer whilst going through the mechanics a step at a time. I've since fitted a dual circuit master cylinder and replaced all the brakes inc copper lines. Engines been out and checked through (1641cc with twin webber 36s, fingers crossed the barrels don't warp). Also fitted a set of Autometer gauges, inc oil temp. At present I'm converting the van to IRS with one of Creative Eng's kits, using 68 rear hubs to keep the wide 5. All the hard work's done now (i.e. cutting off the rear chassis legs) and its just a case of painting and bolting everything back up, aiming to be back on the road in a couple of weeks, looking forward to cruising this summer at plus 55mph!!!