By Jim Brennan
Welcome to another Weekend Edition of Quick Hits, in which I uncover hidden treasures (or forgettable trash… whatever…) for your viewing and commenting pleasure. So, let’s start with this thing found on the virtual pages of Craigslist Seattle, and according to the very limited research I found, this was a vehicle designed in the late 70’s and early 80’s, with plans that originally carried the Popular Mechanics logo. So, what do you think about owning this thing?
Believe it or not, the plans for building this particular vehicle are still available today, and you can take a look at the web page by clicking here. But, let’s get back to this particular van for sale, and according to the listing:
This is a very rare and unusual 1973 VW camper. Built from plans (not actually a kit) the Phoenix was designed in 1979. This one is built on a 1973 very solid Bus chassis. It has a 2.0 litre hydraulic valve engine with dual Weber Idf carbs. It runs and drives excellent. It has gull wing doors, nice Porsche seats, huge pop out tent camper with two beds. Digital dash plus more unique features. Extremely original vehicle. Comes with clean title and Is currently licensed. Also comes with original build plans, instructions and magazines.
Asking price for this somewhat unfinished project is $6,750, which sounds like a lot for a project like this. See the listing here, and tell me what you think.
In the meantime, here are some additional images courtesy of the website RQRiley.com.
Jeff Glucker
I have no idea why, but I like the one on the magazine cover a lot. I guess it is not everyday you can own a full-sized Hot-Wheel.
Yeah, full-sized Hot Wheels was my first though as well. The primered one from the ad looks like it could have driven off of the set of an early '80s post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie, with a load of studded jackets and hair gel, because if there's one thing that movies of that era have taught us, it's that the future is going to be spikey.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/K8T2MhW.jpg">
Exactly the look of the raiders in Fallout.
Very cool, has the Mars colony look.
But…the details! Just having the exhaust muffler as a rear bumper is…interesting.
That'll teach those wimpy plastic-bumpered modern cars to not park too close… melted bumpers!
This car contains a Dinette…real estate broker euphemism, brilliant!
Bob Ross?
I'm also a little curious about the white van / wagon in the background at the green house. Can anyone identify that?
At a glance, I think it's a Subaru 360.
I actually like the old Popular Mechanics camper conversion plans. The old bay window bus that this was based on in non-cut up condition would probably be worth twice as much as the asking price. Here's another PM DYI VW camper plan.
<img src="http://www.motornomadics.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/MiniLilBuggerTriPicMN-460×280.jpg" width="500">
A friend of mine once owned a Corvair-powered Phoenix. This was years before I met him, so I've only seen his old snapshots of it.
Finally, a vehicle that those turbine wheels actually belong on. It's a creative, ambitious project. Clever way to get more space out of some tight width. But it looks ridiculously flimsy. Especially over rough terrain on the way to your campground, and I don't recall the VW van platform being all that robust.
Why on earth would you want only two cylinders?
Because those old VWs just have too much power! 😉