1979 Volkswagen Transporter - 7 passenger bus - The Original Minivan

Snickers • A 1979 Transporter

General notes on condition

• Snickers is a 95% complete and original Volkswagen Station Wagon (aka Transporter). This is what collectors call a "survivor". The Panama Brown over Agate Brown paint is original and in good condition for the most part. I really like the color combinations that VW used in 1978 and 1979, oing for earth tones instead of gaudy oranges and greens, nd this paint has cleaned up nicely. The interior is mostly original, n Canyon Brown, ut the original vinyl panels had to be replaced with new (matching brown). The original Canyon Brown seat upholstery is in good condition save worn edges on one of the front seats. The original seat belts are all there, long with all other original parts.
• The GE 2.0-L engine was rebuilt in 2013 by a reputable builder in Albuquerque (General Parts), nd runs well for a carbureted system. This engine LEAKS NO OIL. It could be reverted to the original fuel injection system, as all the mounting parts are there. However, have decided to leave it as a carbureted engine since there are those who prefer carburetors, nd working fuel injection systems are increasingly hard to find.
• I have made a few upgrades that improve the bus in my opinion, ut are completely reversible. For example, ew retractable seat belts for the front seats are a safety issue as well as a convenience and comfort issue. Don't worry, 've saved all the original parts so that it can be returned to its original state by some future owner who wants it bone stock. :)
• A matching brown pair of more comfortable front bucket seats from a Vanagon come with the bus. These fit without modification.
• The body is quite good, ith original paint and only spotty blemishes, a faded strip across the nose, nd some surface rust spots on the roof. This is to be expected in a bus that has lived in the dry southwest climate. There is absolutely no body filler or repair, nd only a couple of minor dents. (Both shown in the photos below.) Well, he nose has suffered from a spare tire mount installation, but that has been fixed with a better mount that keeps the tire from rubbing on the nose. And the battery tray has a couple of holes, s is typical in these vehicles, ut the rust has been arrested (Ospho and POR-15 and paint) and is stable and sound. The main thing that has suffered from the New Mexico climate was the fixed window seals, all of which have been replaced. I did have to do some minor repainting under the window seals, ut the color match is good. I have repainted only what was absolutely necessary and left as much as possible in the original paint.
• The rear seat was mounted on a Z-bed at one time, hough I have returned to the stock rear seating. The Z-bed parts are available for the asking. The Z-bed mounting hardware allows the rear seat to fold down into a bed, at the level of the back floor over the engine compartment. With this addition, nd the jalousie windows (which were not factory, ut are a nice modification) this would make a serviceable "weekender". I believe that the previous owner used it as such, s it even had curtains installed. I removed the curtains since they are not original and were falling apart.

Work I have done to rehabilitate this bus:

• Replaced windshield.
• Replaced all fixed window rubber (all windows except the front doors).
• Replaced broken glass in (otherwise original) side mirrors.
• Replaced faulty alternator and starter.
• Replaced faulty ignition switch.
• Replaced missing engine tin and engine compartment seal.
• Replaced missing engine thermostat.
• Serviced the heating system, ith new heater control cables, replacement heater valves, nd tightened connections. Heat works great!
• Replaced missing heat exchanger air flaps at the bottom of the engine air shroud.
• Replaced missing heater dump tubes and hoses to heater valves.
• Replaced tires with properly rated ones: Hankook RA08 185R14C.
• Installed retractable seat belts for front seats (saved old ones if you want it stock).
• Sourced and installed missing middle seat and seat belts.
• Sourced and installed missing middle seat heat diffuser (a rather rare item).
• Sourced and installed all proper rear and middle seat hold-down clamps to floor.
• Removed the Z-bed hardware and returned the rear seat to stock height.
• Added carpet to protect the original rubber mats.
• Repaired interior lights.
• Replaced shredded glove box with an indestructible one.
• Serviced (cleaned and lubricated) all locks. This bus includes the rare engine compartment lock.
• Made new keys cut to code (one key fits everything like is should).
• Replaced stripped windshield wiper arms with original German ones that work.
• Serviced all exterior lights, nd repaired and resealed front turn signals.
• Replaced missing tail light inside covers (engine compartment side) with NOS VW ones.
• Performed general deferred maintenance: front end lubrication, epacking of CV joints, opped up gear oil in transaxle and steering box, replaced rear wheel cylinders and brake drum shoes.
• Replaced cheapo electric fuel pump with a nice rotary one, nd relocated it outside the engine bay to the undercarriage, here the FI rotary fuel pump mounts. This electric fuel pump also now has its own fuel pump relay for safety.
• Replaced all fuel lines, ncluding the filler neck.
• Replaced vinyl interior panels with new set from TMI in brown. The kick panels were replaced with excellent ABS ones from Werksberg.
• Replaced vinyl on interior panels around the rear storage deck (the "very way back").
• Polished the paint.

Visit vw.tauxe.net/snickers for more photographs and information!

On Jun-29-15 at 07:15:28 PDT, eller added the following information:

Final note: I made an error in posting the mileage, ot that it makes much difference. The odometer reading should be more like ?39800. Note that the first digit (for 100,000 miles) rolls over on these vehicles, o my best guess as to the actual mileage is 139,800 miles, hough this cannot be verified.