Faults:

Engine required a top overhaul approximately every 60,000 miles, but that's not really a big problem since the engine is removed so easily, and overhaul kits were fairly inexpensive.

I had to replace the engine case once due to an oil leak caused by a crack, but I believe this was due to impact damage from road debris.

The original carb. was changed out for a two barrel Ford unit, which dramatically improved the way it ran and responded.

The exhaust system was changed to a Purple Snake header unit with a single outlet. It performed much better and was still hidden under the vehicle, unlike todays ugly systems.

General Comments:

The vehicle is very comfortable and has excellent driving characteristics, especially with sway bars and Bilstein shocks. Mine will handle better than most sedans.

It's very dependable.

Most people don't know how to drive an aircooled vehicle. The trick it to keep it revved up so the cooling fan can do its job. It doesn't make any difference whether you do mostly town driving or highway driving. Just keep the fan turning and you will not have any problems.

Most of my driving has been in a desert environment with 100 degree + summer heat without any overheating problems, but I did add an oil cooler to help out. I mounted it directly over the fan intake on the back of the doghouse.

It has excellent off road and snow capabilities. More than once I've had to pull 4X4's out of the snow (I did have chains on). I drove mine to Alaska from New Mexico and back pulling a single axle full size trailer. Engine did just fine.

I lost this vehicle in an accident with a Ford dually a few years ago. Boy do I miss my Bus. It had been in the family since new.

Faults:

I bought this Bus on Ebay in '05, crazy I know, and drove it from Detroit all the way down to Tennessee, keeping it around 60mph, and took 12 hours; kept a eye on the oil just to be safe and no problems at all.

The guy who had it before had recently restored everything, except most of the finishing touches on the interior.

I replaced the carpet with some nice shag LOL, and upholstered the seat and bed. It is red and had a pop top with a black cover that is now white along with the front emblem, which was golden yellow before.

The engine was replaced 12k ago according the guy I got it from. And to date the only major repair needed is to replace a burnt out tail light.

I know there are all different kinds of camper styles (i.e. Westfalia), but mine has a closet first on the left and the standard bench that folds down to a bed, a fold up table from the wall, a reverse seat behind the driver, behind the passenger is a sink atop of a refrigerator, which works only when the bus is plugged to a camper power jack. The sinks drains; the manual pump is not working, but a new one is being shipped.

Overall the bus is my most reliable vehicle, it always starts, takes it a couple tries in cold weather, but always turns. The key is to always, ALWAYS let the motor warm up before driving; these old school air-cooled engines will always take care of you if you give just the minimum, so why not take real good care of it...

General Comments:

Before I bought my '69, we had a '72. Which had a fiberglass top that was solid and could be raised of lowered, and was high enough for my 6'1" frame. But it needed some serious TLC, so we sold for the '69.

Faults:

Everything was replaced at one point or another.

General Comments:

I owned a 1978, 1979, 1980, 1972, 1970 Volkswagen camper of each over several years. The 1969 design was the best for Volkswagen's camper busses. It was light enough to support the smaller 1.6 liter engine. It was practical in all ways, and ideal for road trips. The most ideal of all the busses. The air-cooled busses are ONLY good and dependable on long road trips, and will surely fail if you drive it around town. Most common thing? Valve adjustment. Most annoying thing? Generator brush replacements in the Yukon. Best thing? Insta-metal-tent wherever you are.

Faults:

Bought engine-less. Built one from scratch and watched it rot in a few months. Not so easy. Well, now her motor is dismantled for the Beetle.

Rust.

General Comments:

Patience a requisite.

A Type 4 Upright would be nice.