West Coast Samba
westcoastsamba@gmail.com
About West Coast Samba
I have been into Volkswagens for many years and I have owned numerous bugs and buses.
I have decided to turn my passion into a service specializing in locating, restoring, preserving Volkswagens and helping other VW lovers finding their dream vehicle. I travel all over the U.S. looking for anything from a totally restored Volkswagen or well preserved vehicles and the forgotten VW that has been sitting in the barn for many years. My team has over 50 combined years experience in Volkswagens. I also do consignments, locating services and complete interiors. We specialize in preserving rare buses.
West Coast Samba is based in the Pacific Northwest at the base of Mt. St. Helens.
Below; San Diego Trip October 2011 Picking up my 67 westfalia tintop.
Mt. St. Helens Trip 2010 in my 64 21 window.
My 1967 Baja. The build was started in the mid eighties by the original owner and I completed in 2011. Custom built 1835, custom heads, Weber carbs, built bus transmission, MSD ignition, K&N filter, K&N sand filter, custom oil cooler, complete custom cage, link pin suspension, adjustable Fox gas shocks up front, custom built tubular front suspension, custom wiring, four adustable gas Fox shocks in rear, all shocks have remote reserivores, Sway Away axles, custom modified. Custom axles. Sand Blaster tires, 5 point harness. Way too many modifications to list. This baja is set up for racing or baja competition. It is currently being used as my grocery getter. Hundreds of hours went into this build. This baja is a throw back to the eighties with all period correct parts. With under 300 miles on this baja, I guess you can say its a bit of a time capsule as well.
65 21 window, 64 21 window, 67 tin top westfalia walk thru
Above; my early 64 walk-thru 21 window
1965 21 window I bought in San Jose California
One of my faveroits, a restored 70 westfalia
My 1964 21 window, restoration completed March 2012
My personal VW collection
1964 21 window walk thru, 1966 13 window walk thru, 1967 Baja
21 window I shipped to Germany
Diamond Mill near Browns Camp in Tillimook Oregon on a mountain top up a very steep off road trail.
Browns camp off road trail in Tillimook Oregon
Sand Lake Oregon
Cool gas old gas station in Raymond Washington
Winter camping trip Mt. St Helens Christmas eve
Above and below are pictures of Christmas camping trip on base of Mt St Helens
Christmas morning blizzard on Mt St Helens
Syncro Transporter I Picked up in Jan 2013
My new ride picked up Jan 2013 - 1967 double door camper fully restored 1641 dual carbs strait axle transmission. Think this ones a keeper!
Some Of My Past Restorations
1987 Westfalia Syncro,1972 Westfalia, 1973 Riviera, 1974 Tin Top Camper
Picture taken for fun spring 2014.
Before
After
Thanksgiving in the mountains of Tilliamook Oregon on Diamond Mill mountain top. No turkey for me, but the bean soup and candy bar was good....
Zack and Brandy, this is a couple that flew in from the east coast to pick up the 68 they purchased. This is a picture they sent me on the way to California to the Red Wood forest. Best of luck to both of you.
Below; Christmas trip 2013 to Mt St Helens.
Picture with my Syncro on Caming trip in NW Washington
trip to a small island in Hawaii called Molokai. Next time Im bringing the Syncro. Seen some pretty nice VW's on the big Island.
Nice 67 Westy I picked up in southern California
76 Westfalia I just finished
Nice 91 Westfalia I picked up less than 3 miles from my house.
All original 100% original paint 71 Westfalia. I decided to preserve this bus and not restore it. I picked this van up from a friend who wanted it to go to a good home. Thanks Sid.
73 Westfalia . The previous owner did a amazing job restoring this van. This van has a rebuilt 78 2 liter that has been converted to fuel injected. One of the nicest Westfalia's I have owned.
Three rare barn finds. 1967 EZ camper tin top walk thru, 1967 double cab, 1964 standard 100% OG paint.
78 Riviera I just picked up from the 2nd owner. Near mint 100% original 1978 Riviera. 95k OG Miles. This bus is completely original and still look new.
Fully Restored 1979 Riviera I just picked up. Show quality paint job, rebuilt motor and transmission. Completely restored interior. Thinking of keeping this one. One of the nicest I have owned...
Christmas trip Dec 2014 to Mt St Helens. Not as much snow as last year, but found some killer trails and a nice camping site. Planning my cross country expedition for 2015, cant wait to get on the road and put some miles on this beast.
I will be posting pictures along the way...
1978 Riviera I just picked up (March 2015) in Hood River Oregon. Had some good Hawaiian BBQ at Lilo's in Hood River (I definitely recommended). Very nice bus. Im looking forward to fixing this one up.
Road trip June & July 2015. Picked up one camper in Canada, the other in Idaho. It was a awesome road trip to say the least. I look forward to my next trip this summer. Picture was taken in the beautiful Columbia Gorge on my way home.
Updated pictures of the 1978 Riviera camper I picked up a few months ago in Hood River. Turned out awesome. This ones going to Texas.
1974 Dorper Euro model camper I just finished a preservation restoration. This van has 54k og miles. Completely original. Parked in 1982 and not driven in till 2012. Near mint original condition. I picked this van up in Canada near Port Hill Idaho. The van looks much different than the day I got it.
Picture sent to me buy a couple who purchased a bus from me several months ago. They are enjoying there new bus in there home state of California.
Just picked this one up in Rio Linda California Nov 2015. Restored 1971 Westfalia I owned 4 years ago and bought it back. Nice to see this one come back home..........
Near mint survivor I picked up in Washington. OG window sticker, tent, paint, interior. Note picture is of the van finished after preservation Dec 2015.
1978 Sunroof bus I just picked up Oct 2015. 100% Original Survivor. Preservation finished Nov 2015. Turned out pretty awesome....
Finished picture of the 71 Westfalia I picked up in Rio Lina California. Finished November 2015.
Christmas trip December 2015 to Mount Rainier. The picture of the train car was taken on my way back down the mountain. The mountains were beautiful this year.Had a awesome time....
I took this picture in the spring 2016 for fun. This is a few of my collection. I thought it would be cool to post this picture as it shows the evolution of the Vanagon from the 1.9 liter early models to the later 2.1 liter version, then finally the Syncro four wheel drive model.
First pictured- 1985 Wesftalia 65k original miles.
Second pictured- 1986 Wesftalia Weekender near mint survivor.
Third pictured- 1987 Westfalia Syncro mint show winner 2.5 liter Subaru Impreza motor.
1967 Road Runner California Camper
Nice original camper I picked up. The van was sitting in a garage for over 25 years before I brought it back to life in August of 2016.
1967 Bench Seat & 1966 Walk Thru 13 Window Deluxe Micro Buses
A pair of Deluxe vans I picked up in Eugene Oregon in September of 2016. I bought both of these out of collection. I'm currently doing a light restoration to the blue van and may keep it when its done. Both are cool vans....
1979 Transporter Near Mint Survivior
1979 Transporter I picked up in Vancouver Wa in the summer of 2016. All though this was a gem when I bought it, It took alot of work to bring it to the next level. One of the nicest transporters I have ever seen or owned. This bus has a happy new life in Hawaii.
1965 21 window deluxe I just picked up November 4th 2016. The van has just 300 miles on a full rotisserie restoration. Im excited to finish up the restoration. I plan on driving this van all over the country after its done.
1971 Deluxe I am almost done doing a major preservation restoration too. This is a original paint bus with 55k original miles. Trick built 2 liter Ford Pinto motor by Esslinger engineering. I am very proud of how this one turned out. Needless to say I have put alot of work into this one. This thing will do 80 mph up hill...
*** UPDATE *** Preservation finished May 2017
.1987 Westfalia Syncro. Low mile one owner, original paint, near show room condition survivor. Factory A/C and rear locker. I picked this van up from the original elderly owner who purchased it new. This van has lived its inter life in North West Washington. This van has been in the same family since new. The original owner had never taken the Syncro off road. The van has been garaged from the day it was purchased in 1987. The van is in mint near showroom condition. The van was always meticulously maintained and babied. (All records included) by the original owner, and myself. The original paint is absolutely stunning and 100% original as is the mint interior. Of all of the Vanagons I have seen or owned this is by far the best of the best. Because this van was garaged and very rarely driven in the rain there is no absolutely no rust. The van only had 148k original miles on it when I purchased it. The van now has 153,500 miles. The van was completely stock when I bought it. I had Small Car performance install a 2011 Subaru Impreza motor with 19k miles. The motor was pulled out of a wrecked car, I did save the Subaru emblem of the donor car and install it on the rear hatch of the Vanagon for good luck.
Updated pictures of my 1965 21 window. Restoration finally completed April 2017! You can see over 60 additional pictures by clicking the link below.
