1971 Clipper Bay Window VW Bus

1971 VW Clipper Bus

It’s a long read but the story is worth it !!

Very cool and a little unique UNRESTORED 1971 VW BUS (with air conditioning and 74,681 original miles) that is very rare. This bus is not only the best year for the Bay window bus; it also has a German only trim package. VW buses with this trim package are referred to as a Clipper/Clipper L here in the states.

The 1971 model is undoubtedly the best year for the bay window because it’s the first year with disk breaks up front, and the last year for the upright air-cooled engine, giving it that iconic VW sound we have all come to love.

This 1971 is unique first because it has what is known as a Clipper. In the states the VW could be obtained in either the standard or the deluxe model. However, over seas there was a deluxe model of the deluxe.

What made the Clipper L the “deluxe of the deluxe” were the added luggage rack and jail bars in the rear of the bus (like the deluxe splittys). All the interior panels were noted with two chrome strips, one on the top half and one on the bottom half of each panel. The dash cluster was equipped with a clock in the far right slot next to the speedometer. Both the front and back of the bus was equipped with bumpers that matched the style of the older deluxe split window buses with horizontal overrides. Most of the Clippers were equipped with a large metal sunroof. However, this one does not have the sunroof making it an even more rare model. Most Clipper buses that are in the states were brought here by military personal as they transferred back to the states.

I bought this bus from a guy that flips cars for a living and he had no information to pass on except its rust free and it did not run. However, after buying the bus off Samba I drove to California to pick it up and bring it home to go in my collection of cars. After getting home I started cleaning the bus out and found a small black book along with some other papers in the glove box. One of the papers was a receipt for some work that was done and had the owners name and number on it. I called the number and this is the story I got.

The man told me he worked at a VW dealership there in California in 1977. The bus came into the dealership as a trade in from a military man just returning to the states. He continued to tell me he bought the bus before it was even cleaned and put on the lot, making him the second owner of the bus. I asked him for all the information he could give me on the buses past. He said the bus was all original and had never been in an accident but has had a couple of paint touché ups one on the drivers rear corner (he backed into a truck bumper and put a small dent) and the other on the passenger side of the front nose where a small tree branch fell on it. The rest of this bus is OG paint, engine, transmission, glass, wheels, and interior. The dual carbs are factory and the A/C was added at the dealership when new. He said he stopped driving the bus in 1999 when it failed to start one morning so he left it in the garage until 2015 when he sold it the guy I bought it from. He said the A/C worked when he removed the pump for more power and he never used the A/C anyways. And he removed the back of the back seat so he one that would lay flat.

This is an amazing and very complete bus. It’s also the best running/driving bus I have ever driven. All the little trim pieces are there, the interior lights work, radio works, even the door buzzer works. Everything works on this bus except the clock! The only rust is a little on the battery tray, the rest is rust free. With a fuel pump, a good tune-up, resealing the engine, and cleaning out the gas tank, the bus fired right up. When I bought the bus the luggage rack was not with it nor was the rear armrest and it still hade the flip down seat. I bought the missing parts from the PO and have reinstalled them. However, he could not find the back of the rear seat.

I still have the black book of notes and the service papers I found with his contact information. I also still have the box he sent me the additional part in.

If you have further question or more pictures please feel free to contact me on my cell at

256-426-7817