1980 Volkswagen Transporter
Authentic German Red Cross Ambulance from Koblenz
Built in Wolfsburg as an Ambulance, not converted or fake
2-liter AIRCOOLED with DUAL SOLEX CARBS - 4-speed MANUAL transmission
With just over 111,000 km from brand-new, this
VW Type 2 T3 Transporter (known here as the Vanagon) was built in January
of 1980 at the Wolfsburg works and delivered to Dr. Anton Miesen, the Emergency
Doctor in a small Burg called Waldesch in Landkreis Mayen-Koblenz, Rheinland-Palatinate,
West Germany. Attached to the little Waldesch volunteer fire department
there, medical emergencies in the surrounding area were attended to by Dr.
Miesen and his Rettungshelfern until about 1987, when this VW was retired
from active service. Herr Dr. Miesen is still active in the Land Government
and is the chair of a health department within that government.
You'll note that all lights - the H4 headlamps,
fogs, signals, ambulance in transit (Red Cross on roof) all work. The Blue
lamp on the roof is a VW/Audi Hella part and it works as do the very loud
Hella dual-tone sirens on the bumper. Doo-wee-doo-wee-doo-wee! Oh - almost
forgot - yes, it has a clear Virginia title in my name.
It is believed that thereafter, this Rettungswagen
was part of one or more German collections of emergency vehicles. It is
believed to have only been refinished once while in service during the 1980s
and still bears original graphics. The finish quality is very good throughout
with only very minor indications of rust. Until recently, it even had its
original windshield that had a sticker indicating that its lighting systems
passed a German inspection in 1986. Unfortunately, a transporter truck ramp
went through it during loading a few months ago. It was pitted anyway, no
great loss - a new Pilkington and seal were installed.
In 2006, this VW was sold and shipped to the
USA and until very recently was part of a midwestern collection of professional
rescue and funeral vehicles. Its only prior American owner sold it during
a partial liquidation of his stock. Fascinated by how well it drove (nice
and tight!), how authentic it was and how well-documented its history (original
owners manual set is complete, photocopy of original Fahrzeugbrief, all
importation documents) - and best of all, its fully-operational European
siren, I couldn't pass up the chance to be its caretaker - if only for a
short while.
On receiving it, I called a German company to
make me a set of authentic tags to match those on its Fahrzeugbrief. Even
its German registration is accurate! I also changed the oil, the hatch struts
and performed other minor adjustments. Having not been driven 20,000 kilometers
in 20 years or more, it is still a bit quirky but it does run and drive
quite well for a mostly-original bus.
As a European specification Vanagon, it sports
a Westfalia rear bumper with hitch and trailer wiring as well as a rear
fog lamp (lit to left).
Note the sliding step beneath the side door.
Note also all the way around the frosted privacy
glass for the rear compartment. There is a wall between the driver's compartment
and the rear, even a pull-down blind for doctor-patient privacy.
Immediately inside the side door, the doctor
and assistant chairs. All of these were VW parts and fittings, many of them
even carry VW/Audi part numbers and logos stamped into the metal.
Another folding doctor's chair sits opposite
the previous photo and the fixed stretcher position. Cabinets are built
in beneath. One of these contains a period set of snow chains in their original
German box! Note fire extinguisher and heater vent (there is a second heater
control on the roof in the rear).
Here's the total picture, looking in from the
back. There is also a sizeable fold-down tray to camera rear for on-site
treatment and triage (see above photo). The folded stretcher is more for
looks than anything; it is in need of repair and does not fold out properly
unless some webbing is untied. The metal tray beneath it allows a second
stretcher to be fully tracked and locked in place of the folding chair in
front of it (above photo).
The 2 liter aircooled engine sits beneath the
panel in foreground for easy access.
The spartan front compartment sports all its
original finishes and upholstery. Both seats are rip-free, the rubber mat
is also intact. The push-button beneath the nearest dash vent is to turn
on the rear flourescent lamp.
Like any emergency vehicle here, even this speedometer
is 'certified' for actual speed. Or it was, long ago, anyway. KM-stand is
another 25 or 30 more as of this writing and may increase slightly during
the sale. I have put about 200 km on this during my time with it.
Another shot of the seats, seatbelts, and a
place for a fire axe behind the seat. There is a spare tyre tool and jack
compartment beneath the driver's seat, the battery opposite. A tray for
a large emergency radio straddles the seats and is affixed to the rear firewall.
While lights and sirens are present, this was obviously kept by the DRK
or the local Feuerwehr.
The instrument cluster, complete. The green
lamp indicates that the rear roof flashers are on.
The switches for the gas-fired Webasto heater
(works in timer mode only, probably a bad switch; this is good as it sucks
fuel so you don't forget that it's on!), an unknown push-pull, probably
for the absent dashboard spotlamp that was affixed to the windshield, the
blue light and/or siren and the little Rotkreuz lamp on the roof, respectively.
The dashboard top has a normal speaker grille,
probably used for the emergency radio, as well as one older Blaupunkt speaker
for the in-dash MW/FM radio. The one in here currently is likely authentic
but has an 'OPEL' faceplate and is missing a knob (the knob with it is also
missing its insert). This radio - the picture of which did not come out
or has been lost - has a mute button instead of presets, so was probably
intended for emergency vehicles where regular 2-way radio communication
was the norm.
Underneath the front, the spare wheel and tire.
Front suspension bushings and ball joints are all very tight. This is VERY
impressive, particularly when driving. Steering box and joints are likewise.
Tires are old and lightly checked but are in very good condition, hold air
and have no flat spots or bulges.
Beneath the sliding door, looking forward. This
is a very solid 31-year-old Transporter! The fuel tank is in the middle.
To right, center, the tray under the gas-fired
Webasto heater. The bottom of the 4-speed manual transaxle (great shift
joints, I lubed the "mousetrap" where the shifter linkage is up
front) and the 2 liter, twin-carburetor flat-four air-cooled engine behind
it.
Underneath the left side, the rocker panel,
gas tank and gas heater cover again.
who am I/why am I selling?
I'm Chip
Lamb, professional collector automobile auction analyst for a variety
of publications including Keith
Martin's Sports Car Market and color announcer to a number of smaller
collector car auctions throughout the eastern seaboard. I like to buy and
sell unusual stuff I see in my travels, and this is one of those pieces
that might have gone home to its consignor due to a serious absence of bidders
one day last fall. I also provide parts
for very old SAAB automobiles, so I'm never averse to a challenge. Yep,
part of the 'I wear a lot of hats' club.
Let me say this once - I love this Bus. Like
the guy on American Pickers who wanted 60 or 160 outhouses, I want 10 more.
Maybe I want 1,980 more. Yep. It's a disease. However, as of this morning
(Tuesday 18 Jan) I'm officially out of room in my big garage, having just
bought a very significant collector car that I need to keep here for a long
duration. Something's got to give. It is with a heavy heart that I do this,
for I don't want to simply bury the Ambulance in one of my storage holes.
That's already been its fate for the better part of its life. Not my style.
Whether you're into emergency vehicles, Volkswagens
or just like to be a hit at any car show you enter, this is for you. More
distinctive and noticeable than a giant Superior Cadillac Ambulance or a
glistening red Ferrari, depending on your venue, this is a family-friendly
Bus that's fun to drive and show. The two local car shows I've rattled up
to in this have made it the absolute hit and centerpiece from arrival to
departure.
What is included apart from what you see - a
can of touch-up paint I had mixed. The entire file with complete owner's
manuals and photocopies of the original documentation from 1980 documenting
its build, order, registration, Dr. Miesen's name et.c. A trickle-charging
adapter to go into the DIN power plug in the dash (for Battery Tender).
Some small assorted spare parts, nothing extensive.
Let me also say this - I have done some servicing
to this quirky little Notarzt Krankenwagen; I cleaned the engine bay, checked
plugs and wires, adjusted the throttle, changed the oil, all to satisfy
curiosities or complaints I had - but it has not been restored or rebuilt
in any way or do I certify it with any guarantee as ready for a long trip.
I have batted around town in it without major issue. It starts, runs, drives
and stops more than adequately for the purposes I've subjected it to. Given
the quick nature of its present sale, I likely will not have cause or need
to poke and prod any further than I already have. If in doubt, to quote
my friend Randy's website - 'Bring a
Trailer'.
Please note that the starting bid without reserve
above reflects a financial loss to me. It is also HALF of its price back
in 2006 paid by its original American owner. This is probably the only one
in America and the twin-carb 2 liter engine was never imported here; it
probably equals the output of the US fuel injected version with much more
simple serviceability. It's aircooled, so you don't have time-bomb cylinder
heads and gaskets like the 'waterboxers'.
You may rest assured that you may buy with confidence,
I have been on eBay since 1998 and have sold some very expensive collector
vehicles along the way. I give the same level of detail to my presentation
of all big ticket items as you see here.
I love smart e-mails with questions addressing
things or concerns that I have not mentioned above. I hate stupid e-mails
with information addressed above. Please read everything before asking a
question. Sorry if this seems very blunt and forward but I've gone to some
trouble to make this ad as comprehensive as it is.
payment/shipping
Payment is due within seven days of auction
close. No exceptions. Your bid is a binding contract to buy, caveat emptor.
Ask your wife, your bank, your mom, your boss, and/or anyone else I left
out prior to bidding. Please - don't play with me. Accepted forms of payment
are cash on pickup, wire transfer, Bank of America account to account transfer
or a cleared certified bank cheque received and cleared within seven days
of auction close in my bank account. Again, no exceptions, trades et.c.
Call or e-mail with questions - see beneath.
Shipping/pickup must occur within fourteen days
of auction close. Period. I'm trying to free up garage space. International
buyers must take note that they must - must - must - comply with these terms
prior to placing any successful bid.
If you've read all of the above, you know you
want it. I assure you, it will make you smile, if not laugh out loud. You're
going to love it. Good luck.
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS?
E-MAIL
ME OR CALL 804-357-4926