When I came across this vintage VW Bus when we were cleaning out my parent's house, I knew I had to have it.
I picked it up on one of the last days before we took everything to donate or to the dump. Everyone else had passed it over, but I just couldn't let it slip away.
You see, I have many fond memories of VW Microbuses, or the Deluxe Microbus as this particular model was called. It was also called a Samba bus when it was first released, and the real buses had a canvas sunroof and mini skylight windows all along the roof because it was designed for sightseeing in the Alps...how cool is that?!
But my memories are not of seeing the Alps via a VW bus, though that would totally be cool, nope one of my best friends in high school drove one of these babies! We owned a convertible VW beetle which my brother totaled, but we never owned a VW bus, which to me was the height of coolness back in the day.
Oh the things we did in that bus, singing at the top of our lungs, changing clothes on the grounds of the Naval Academy (sheesh, no modesty), and cruising to the beach or to tennis practice with my two besties! Those were the days when life's possibilities seemed infinite, and being over 40 seemed impossible!
Today I still feel like the possibilities are infinite, but being over 40 is not only possible but 50 is edging closer with every passing year!
My friend now lives in California, where she and her family run an almond ranch, so we don't get to see each other as much as we would like. I'm hoping that I can get out there to see her this year though, and we've promised one another that when we both turn 50 we will be doing a girl's trip to the UK. When I do visit her, I hope she will take me for a little ride down memory lane because that old bus is still running, and they use it on the ranch!
I wonder what songs we will blast on the radio now that we are so much older?! Or maybe we'll just do a little reminiscing.
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My husband's dream is to own a VW Camper Van as we call them here. He found one online a few years ago in great condition and her name was Maud!! Love the fact that someone had named their van. I tell the kids when we win the lottery we're going to buy Daddy one of these. I think I'd drive him nuts if we got one though as I'd want to make pretty curtains and cushions!
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Ahhhh, I love these and want one! I hope you get to go cruisin' again with your bestie. Your photos are great and I was just listening to The Little River Band today. :) Love this song.
ReplyDeletexoxoxo
That is too cool that she still has that bus. What fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm head over heels in-love with your memories.
ReplyDeleteYour Friend, m.
I love when things take me back to that invincible feeling of youth and adolescence. Now I cringe a bit when I see my teen head off with his friends all full of youthful invincibility and shamelessness. Great pics and story! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you saved the little bus. My mama drove a mint green VW car and I can see her right now getting out of it with her big hair, slamming the door, and yelling at us kids.
ReplyDeleteOne of my sons bought one of these when he was in college...red and white! I think he lived in it for awhile! ♥
ReplyDeletelove the picture!!!!! we have a restored 62 bug.....we bought for my son when he was 15 lord it was pitiful but the day he turned 16 it was to die for....he now (for yrs) wants a vw bus......he actually bought the lego set that came out of the vw bus and put together said it is as close as he will get to owning 1 for awhile.....anyways aren't the memories fun!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this photo!
ReplyDeleteTHAT is my all time favorite song and hold the sweetest of memories for me, in fact I have the CD. I could listen to that song a million times over and probably have.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of the bus - and what great memories it brought back. We owned several VW vans when I was young (and even traveled through Europe in one, although we never had the sightseeing windows up top) - my parents don't look it, but are really hippies at heart.
ReplyDeleteAh....the VW Bus! I saw one just the other day in the parking lot of a local grocery store & get this...it was PINK! I fell in love on the spot! Most definitely one of the cutest & coolest cars I've ever seen!
ReplyDeleteWhat a hoot! How fun that your friend still has it! My aunt had one when we were kids and we thought it was the best thing eva! Have a great weekend :o)
ReplyDelete~Des
We've had two VW 'buses' over the years. We had a Westfalia when our son was a baby, and then bought another when Lillypad came along. We had so much fun with those vehicles - one of them we purchased off the street in Amsterdam from some kids heading back home after a summer of adventure. Those were the days!
ReplyDeleteI just told my husband the other day I wanted a VW bus. He thought I had lost my mind! Love the pic of this one. <3
ReplyDeleteHow cute!! I'm so glad you rescued that VW Kat.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have found my 50's to be the very best time of my life....really!.....smiles
ReplyDeleteKathy, Of course I know exactly who you are talking about in your post. What is funny, is that whenever I see an old VW Bus on the roads, I ALWAYS think back to her, too. How funny is that? It's so cool when an innocent glance at an old vehicle can bring back such nice memories of such a wonderful person and fun times. XOXO
ReplyDeleteOh my! I had a VW bug...it was orange. We would take it to the K-Mart parking lot and do donuts on the ice. It was a riot! We played Rod Stewart as loud as the speakers could handle without blowing.
ReplyDeleteSuch fun memories. Thanks Kat!
xxoo
Brilliant!!!
ReplyDeleteEvery single bit of it!!!
xoxo
Gypsea
Fun memories Kat! And that picture is very cool. xo ~Lili
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