Only ever seen 1 or 2 others at shows apart from mine,

How many members have got Aussie buses (distinctive by either 1 or 2 rows of grilles above the swage line - although I believe there are some Aussie buses with grilles in usual place below swage line)

Must be other members of this very exclusive club

Not all of them have the extra vents, so you'll be missing lots if that's all you're looking for.

vwJim wrote:Not all of them have the extra vents, so you'll be missing lots if that's all you're looking for.

I didn't know that! Why did some have and others not? anyone know?

There's absolutely shed loads of Aussie buses in the UK! But as Jim says, if you are only looking for the upper vents you are not going to spot most of them. I'd say as far from exclusive as you can get, I think 'common' is a better description!

A lot are CKD's - 'Complete Knock Downs'. These were exported to Australia in parts from Germany, when VW Australia was setting up. They then assembled them in Australia. They had to use a certain percentage of Australian made parts, so you'd know it was an Aussie bus from the small details, like VDO Australia written on the Speedo. CKD's are from '55 to '59 I think. (CKD's are the same spec as UK buses of the period - so have semaphores not bullet indicators. Also, as well as VW colours like Dove Blue, they also use several Australia Only colours )

VW got it's factory up and running in Clayton, Melbourne, and they began pressing their own panels to make their own Australian Made buses and beetles. The higher vents don't come in until quite late in production, about '63 I think.

kilgore wrote:

vwJim wrote:Not all of them have the extra vents, so you'll be missing lots if that's all you're looking for.

I didn't know that! Why did some have and others not? anyone know?

Australia introduced the high vents on all their buses from '63. They were introduced as the low vents didn't suit Australian conditions and let too much dust into the engine.

Some links for you to brush up on your Aussie bus history

http://www.clubvw.org.au/history/refere ... ry001.html

http://www.clubvw.org.au/history/refere ... ry002.html

And another good site

http://www.in2vws.com/

I bow in the presence of a true van buffer...

Lets start the list then

Mike1973 '59 CKD Kombi viewtopic.php?t=8369
Deano '58 CKD Standard viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3381
Pete Royall '55 CKD Kombi
John Keat Standard
Shawn '63 13 window viewtopic.php?t=6907
Julie Copley '56 CKD Panelvan Jack's Supermarket logos

Mike1973 '59 CKD Kombi viewtopic.php?t=8369
Deano '58 CKD Standard viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3381
Pete Royall '55 CKD Kombi
John Keat Standard
Shawn '63 13 window viewtopic.php?t=6907
Julie Copley '56 CKD Panelvan Jack's Supermarket logos
g.suggy '6? 11 Window (he never logs on so posting it for him )

Mike1973 '59 CKD Kombi viewtopic.php?t=8369
Deano '58 CKD Standard viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3381
Pete Royall '55 CKD Kombi
John Keat Standard
Shawn '63 13 window viewtopic.php?t=6907
Julie Copley '56 CKD Panelvan Jack's Supermarket logos
g.suggy '6? 11 Window (he never logs on so posting it for him )
readyboy61 march 27 1961 CKD 11 window

custom commercial have got a oz bus as wanted to buy it before they painted it (years ago before i bought mine ) and such a shame as lovely patina and a nice dark blue colour , now it look like a modern clean boring bus

I used to have an Aussie '57 11 Window. I sold it in around 2002? ish? and i believe it is now white?


DVLA say it is still around, although it iseems it is now Sorn?

Date of Liability 01 04 2012
Date of First Registration 10 03 1998
Year of Manufacture 1957
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1600CC
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status SORN Not Due
Vehicle Colour WHITE
Vehicle Type Approval

Some Pics:


(camera date is US, so reads wrong way round!)

with my wifes old bug, and friend Chris' awesome rebuilt early bay, truly amazing condition. Still got it i think in Chesire

(some little Sh*t stole my OG badge)

Anyone know where she is now? I would be keen to know what shape she is in, maybe interested in buying her back too!

Tom

readyboy61 wrote:Mike1973 '59 CKD Kombi viewtopic.php?t=8369
Deano '58 CKD Standard viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3381
Pete Royall '55 CKD Kombi
John Keat Standard
Shawn '63 13 window viewtopic.php?t=6907
Julie Copley '56 CKD Panelvan Jack's Supermarket logos
g.suggy '6? 11 Window (he never logs on so posting it for him )
readyboy61 march 27 1961 CKD 11 window

Phil Hughes. 64 11 window

Seems my post got a little hi-jacked !!

I put this up cos I got an Aussie bus "Madge" 1967 Ex RTN Channel 8 TV/Radio bus & wanted to know how many others were out there.

Mike 1973 - If I remember rightly (& I'm sure I will have a book on this !) the vents above the swage line were introduced in 1966 (with 1 continuous vent) & in 1967 with 2 rows of the vents (as per my bus)

In terms of the CKD vans they went right through to 67. My birth certificate shows this (also has a couple of M codes which are not recognised - assumed to be specific to the Aussie market but no-one knows what they were). You are correct Sir with regard to little details - my speedo has Australia on it & all the glass is stamped with VWA on it (VW Australia)

I have tried to get a full history on my bus but it seems the Aussie laid back approach is present in their equivalent of the DVLA ! Has anyone out there with an Aussie bus managed to get history on theirs & if so please shed some light.

Well mines a ckd Melbourne feb 63 ,no high grills and as it's og signs it's not been buggered as mike 1973 knows,as for Aussie busses,mines top build as a kit built in Germany and assembled in Australia !48 years old and still in 1 piece .