Mercedes Microbus

[fintail]

The other day, I came across this old bus languishing in an alley. I think it is pretty cool, and should be saved. It certainly looks to need everything, and it's a million times more work than I would want to do, but maybe someone would do it. Just thought I'd share this "find". Here are some pics:

[cth350]

very cool bus. Impossibly hard to find parts for it. You'll find a thread or two about it here from about a year ago, if not more.

-CTH

[fintail]

Now that know it's a 319, I searched and did find some discussion. It would be pretty cool with a cosmetic restoration and mechanical renovation. Good write off as a delivery vehicle maybe, too.

[300SDog]

Standard shift 4 cyl diesel engine is my guess..... say early 240, 220, 200D from mid '60's through early '70s oughta work...... truly a slug for acceleration with that kinda bulk.

With "cab-over" design the only restriction to an engine swap is what will fit the center console. Position of oil filter prohibits mounting of newer post '78 240D engine.

And if it's anything like the smaller unimog vans you can look for traverse mounted single leaf-spring front suspension.

Parts???? Hell, if broken side and rear windows are flat glass they should be no problem. Everything else such as twist door handles and fiddly bits might be pirated and made-to-fit from boneyard VW's of comparable vintage. Calipres, drums, hydralics and suspension knuckles are what I'd be wondering about...... everything else is probably easy.

It's probably a refugee Canadian imported euro-style economy van, i dunno.... so parts might be found North of the Border. With soaring fuel prices its got alot of potential and would probably fetch top-dollar among the SoCal surfboard set, eh?? .......err, assuming performance characteristics of an underpowered van prove roadworthy under current driving conditions.

[fintail]

I bet it can't perform any worse than a period VW bus. Certainly a car for California. Imagine it all shined up, in nice period colors, next to a nice looking fintail or something. It would be quite a sight.

Maybe it could be retrofitted with other suspension etc parts if the ones on the old thing are shot. I really don't need to become involved with an old beast like this, but I can picture it all fixed up, and it's pretty cool.

[Benzcrusher]

Here is a restored one for only 38,000 Kroner
What is that $5,300??
http://no.kelkoo.com/shopbot/go.jsp?catId=9513&from=browse&JServSessionIdno=b74c36vs61.HA7no&merchantId=3232601&pkey=0&orw=true

[Benzcrusher]

well $5,900 plus shipping from Norway....