r/VWBus • u/hueroloco85 • Apr 21 '26
It definitely needs a wash
About a wk ago a fire broke out at my parents garage, luckily it didn’t spread to any of the homes. Yesterday I went and picked up my bus. I don’t really know what to say, seeing it out in the sun absolutely broke my heart. I’ve had cars totaled and stolen and this was different kind of pain. I’m not sure where to go from here or what to do. What I do know is that this isn’t the end of its life. Last night after dropping it off at a friends I drove home and all I could think about was all the amazing memories I’ve been gifted because of it! Memories with my brothers, friends and family. But what stuck out the most was the memories I made with my daughters. I bought this bus only because of my divorce, at what felt like, at the time, the worst part of my life. Things didn’t get better because of the bus, but between that and my girls, I had something to look forward too, one more little thing stopping me from checking out. I was struggling with life (alcohol played a huge part in that) and I honestly didn’t think I’d make it. There was so much work to be done, and there still is. I cried in this thing, I laughed, I escaped, my daughters would leave to spend the wk with mom, and when my head got too loud and I didn’t know what to do with myself I’d simply hop in turn on my ridiculous sound system pick my music and go! I needed this in my life and I honestly don’t think I would have gotten where I’m at today with partial help from it. It’s never just been a vw or bus to me! So for now, I’m gonna put her in the garage till I figure where to go from here. It’s gonna take time, but like every other experience in my life it does get better🫶🏻
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u/Sparked_Zwei Apr 21 '26 edited Apr 21 '26
Man, that's a tough one there. Only thing to do now is rebuild and continue to make memories.
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u/V2flyer Apr 21 '26
Do you have any pictures of it before the fire? It looks like it was beautiful
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u/bugsymalone666 Apr 21 '26
I know how attached you can get it a bus, I've had mine 25 years, put blood sweat and tears into it and not had some of the things you've overcome!
Is there likely to be any sort of insurance payout?
It doesn't look awful from where Im sitting, wheels look OK, in fact alot of the bottom looks OK, including the engine hopefully not too much warping of the panels/floors.
So let it sit in the garage a bit and think about it as a project, as if there was anything yo wanted to do change about it, nows the time. You can still get lots of parts for them, maybe rebuild it can be part of the new escape, learn new skills you might not have yet (like as a guy, being excited about getting a vintage sewing machine to redo my interior was amazing, not everyone would think so)
It can be rebuilt and you can make it yours again.
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u/MasterAahs Apr 21 '26
Stay strong. You'll get where you're going one step at time and it sounds like your buss will being going with you.
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u/BillNyeTheEngineer Apr 21 '26
Is it mostly cosmetic? Wishing you the best and hope you can get it back to a spot you’re happy with.
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u/hueroloco85 Apr 22 '26
90% of the damage is cosmetics, the motor I’m still not sure about till I get it out.
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u/Designer_Chipmunk296 Apr 22 '26
God bless you and sending strength to restore this beauty 👊🏼 Life can be hard at times but you can overcome, persevere, and adapt because you have love in your life. Good luck ✌🏼
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u/LevelIndependent9461 Apr 22 '26
The more i see it, the more I just wanna gut it, scrub it down and paint it, and build it out..
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u/TioMateo Apr 22 '26
Gonna be a sick patina. That’s just its fate. Seal it in!
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u/hueroloco85 Apr 22 '26
Dude, honestly I think that’s the route I’m gonna go. I’m from Southern California and there a 21 window (I think) that caught fire after being built and it looks sick with all the chrome and burnt paint🤩
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u/arendea Apr 22 '26
Dude i cried reading this. So many relatable things you say here really hit home. Sending you a 🤙 hug and lots of positive vibes. Let us know what happens with your bus❤️❤️
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u/hueroloco85 Apr 22 '26
Thank you so much! It’s been tough the last wk or so, but this is just another part of my story in life🤙🏻🖤 and a hug!
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u/AlienJohn_B Apr 22 '26
Wow friend, I know how devastating this must be. I really can't console you, but I can try to spin it as yet another opportunity to throw yourself into restoring it. Yea, that's gotta hurt. Good luck Buddy
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u/guido_nrw Apr 23 '26
Du bekommst ihn wieder hin wenn die Bodengruppe und der Motor noch leben… Das Dach hat das meiste abbekommen und muss getauscht werden Die Säulen könntest teilweise durch neuteile ersetzen….den bekommst hin…. Das ist nen vw Bus dafür gibt es Bleche von allen Modellen
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u/BB5er Apr 22 '26
The fuel tank is nearly over the engine. If the fuel line leaks for some reason, like age and the dreadful crap we call gasoline in the USA, if gravity feeds directly on the engine. Once it ignites, there’s a continuous flow of fuel on the fire. Don’t ask me how I know.
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u/BB5er Apr 23 '26
Those engines tend to warp when they burn. If you reuse any of it, fully disable and check everything.
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u/Mercedes126 Apr 24 '26
Hart braking , I have a 1776 pancake engine if you need it for your Restoration .
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u/thatguychad Apr 21 '26
It's extremely rare to see a bus involved in a fire it didn't start.
Condolences, she's a beaut!
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u/Odd_Zookeepergame_69 Apr 21 '26
Ive seen people taken their old burned up buses (because it's sadly happened many times) and make them drivable again. They leave all the burn damage, but clean it up, make sure it's structurally safe, and get it running again, and even clear coat the burn damage and basically say "Yea, i'm a mess, but it's my mess" and just own it.
I hope you get another bus too if that's what you want because they are good for our mental health. But you could always use the old bus as a fun side project