1963 Volkswagen Transporter Microbus 23-window Split-Window
- Engine
- 1.6L air-cooled horizontally opposed four-cylinder OHV, 50 bhp
- Colour
- Two-tone turquoise and blue-white
A 1963 Volkswagen Type 2 'split-window' Microbus in its original two-tone Turquoise and Blue White livery, built at Wolfsburg on 13 March 1963 and first sold new in San Francisco. Among the most sought-after variants, it features a 23-window configuration, full-length sunroof, walk-through cabin, and opening safari windshields. It comes with a matching 1967 Eriba Puck camping trailer, believed to be one of five surviving examples of the model designed to pair with a Microbus, and has undergone two successive restoration campaigns.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$159,500
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownPrivate girls' school in Kansas Citypartial documentation
School acquired the bus for passenger transport, taking advantage of its nine-seat capacity.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownDavid Yostpartial documentation
San Francisco-based Microbus enthusiast who undertook a full bare-metal restoration over roughly 12 years, reportedly spending around $11,000 on the trailer alone, including renewed paint, roof, appliances, and fixtures.
- Date unknownPrivate saleRyan Gardnerpartial documentation
St. George, Utah owner who accumulated only approximately 1,000 miles over about nine years, primarily in parade use.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent Microbus enthusiast ownerpartial documentation
Experienced collector with ownership of six similar vehicles; oversaw a further mechanical and cosmetic restoration including a rebuilt engine fitted by a Denver marque specialist and a renewed interior with coordinated luggage.
Competition
- —People's Choice show awardPeople's Choice award winner
The Microbus took the People's Choice honour at its first show appearance under current ownership, reportedly winning by a wide margin. Exact event name and venue not specified; occurred the previous September.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Restoration
Bare-metal restoration of both the Microbus and the Eriba Puck trailer carried out during David Yost's twelve-year ownership in San Francisco. Trailer work alone was estimated at around $11,000 and included renewed paintwork, roof, cooking appliances, and sink.
Work reportedly performed by Yost himself over his ownership period in the 1990s and into the mid-2000s.
- —Restoration
A further mechanical and cosmetic restoration of the bus and trailer was carried out under the most recent owner's supervision, encompassing a fully renewed interior with coordinating luggage.
Commissioned by the current owner following acquisition from Ryan Gardner.
- —Engine rebuildMarque expert in Denver
The original engine was replaced with a rebuilt 50 bhp 1,585 cc unit fitted by a Volkswagen marque specialist based in Denver.
Work performed during the current owner's tenure.
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