This custom BUDDY L Single Cab VW Bus Restor-Version project was originally started by Bob LaPorte, who is also known in the Vintage VW Bus world as “BusNutBoB”. Bob took a basic BUDDY L Deluxe VW Micro Bus and did a conversion to make it into a Single Cab VW Bus. The top and lower body sections were sandblasted to remove all the paint and rust. Then the original top section was cut up into several pieces and then welded back together to form the smaller top section. The cab top was precision welded into place on the body section. A sheet metal section was welded into place on the lower body section where the opening for the double doors use to be. Some holes had to be filled here and there from where the original top section fit onto the lower body section.
After Bob had finished the metal Single Cab VW section, he gathered up the chassis with wheels, seat, window pieces and an addition plastic section for the pickup bed.
Bob then graciously decided to give to me, BoB Gilmore, as a gift project to complete and finish. So the metal body section needed to have the weld seams and gaps filled in with modelers putty to achieve an overall smooth and clean look. I decided to give this Single Cab VW a two tone blue color with an ivory colored top.
Next the wheels were removed from the chassis and then the chassis section needed a little work securing the addition plastic bed section in place. The chassis, seat and bumpers were then painted. The wheels were taken apart, hub caps wire brushed to remove the rust and then painted blue.
Now with the chassis and body basically completed, I created a decal set to represent this VW Single Cab Bus as a utility vehicle in my Restor-Version Shop. The plastic window pieces were cut and trimmed to be placed into the cab and then secured with some epoxy resin. The headlights were attached to the body and then the body and chassis sections were put together and secured with three plastic rivets.
So please have a look at the photos to see the different phases of the work in progress from start to finish !! Thanks again Bob for the custom BUDDY L Single Cab VW Bus !!
