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Written by independent automotive journalist Tom Jensen
This 1961 VW bus headed to the 2021 Las Vegas Auction with No Reserve underwent a meticulous 4-year restoration.
If you like classic and collector vehicles of any and all ilk ‒ muscle cars, Resto-Mods, sports cars, pickup trucks, customs and more – there will be something for you to savor at the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction, June 17-19 at the all-new West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
That’s a core corporate philosophy at Barrett-Jackson: “Something for everyone.” Whatever you love, if it rolls on four wheels, chances are good you’ll find it at a Barrett-Jackson auction.
One interesting vehicle crossing the auction block in Las Vegas will combine nostalgia, a bit of whimsy and a high-end restoration to create a very special 1961 Volkswagen 23-Window Custom Microbus selling with No Reserve.
Volkswagen buses from the 1960s instantly evoke memories of folk and rock music, along with other hippie relics like patchouli oil, beaded curtains and 8-track tapes. The microbus was a countercultural icon in an era when gas-guzzling muscle cars were being churned out of Detroit.
While the mid-to-late 1960s were the heyday of the microbus, the history of 23-window VW buses actually predates the Summer of Love, Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead.
According to Volkswagen, the third-generation microbus was produced between 1951 and 1967. The company name for the 23-window bus was “Deluxe Microbus with Samba Package” and it was originally produced to tour the Swiss Alps with up to nine passengers.
The four roof windows on each side, along with the giant retractable skylight, two curved rear windows and a split retractable windshield gave passengers clear sight lines to view the Alps. The Deluxe Microbus with Samba Package did great at the job for which it was originally designed.
Given the success of the VW bus, it wasn’t long before musicians, surfers and campers discovered the fundamental virtues of these versatile vehicles.
And it took even less time for them to discover this roomy hauler was a wonderful canvas for customization, which brings us to this 1961 Volkswagen 23-Window Custom Microbus.
According to the consignor, this 1961 VW bus underwent a meticulous 4-year restoration with $211,000 spent to create what you see here. The restoration is fully documented with more than 250 photographs.
On the exterior, this bus is finished in a two-tone paint scheme of Palm Green over Sand Green. This is a custom scheme; the Deluxe Microbus with Samba Package was originally
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By: Barrett-Jackson
Title: HOP ON THE BUS: This No Reserve Custom 23-Window is a Restored Version of a ’60s Icon
Sourced From: www.barrett-jackson.com/Media/Home/Reader/1961-volkswagen-23-window-custom-bus-for-sale-no-reserve-2021-las-vegas-auction/
Published Date: Tue, 18 May 2021 21:34:58 +0000
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