Monday, March 24, 2008

Vintage Volkswagen Easter

As a break on a Holiday weekend mostly spent working on the "beloved bungalow", we took the 1959 Volkswagon Kombie, a former TV repair bus, on its maiden voyage. LondonHIM extracted this bus from a local salvage yard. It was a shell with no drive train. A huge project completely reworking the 50 year old bus but leaving the original handpainted logos by the 1st owner as a testament to the American dream. The former owner purchased it in August of 1959 and drove it until 1985. This bus was instrumental in a small business owner putting his sons though college and providing for his family in a time when people still fixed things. Those sons now are bank VIP's. When contacted they were excited to hear the bus was heading back to the roads. They thought it had been crushed long ago.

I consider LondonHIM my personal Renaissance man. At home in an Antique store (he worked in them during college years), a museum (former assistant curator) or on a quest for vintage Volkswagens or Vespas (real junking) to fix. Aside: He can easily understand a decor obsession as a guy with a few of his own.

So for our holiday dinner, LondonHIM's brother and girlfriend trekked down to the Liberty Bar in his 1961 Volkswagen Westfalia and we took the TV repair bus. Needless to say the buses garnered a lot of attention. I had no idea it would be such fun to ride in the rusty old box on wheels!


Picture from the
Liberty Bar website.

The Liberty Bar has been described as an engineering marvel. While structurally sound the restaurant leans drastically and has crooked floors. It also serves some of the best food in San Antonio. Their motto is "Liberty Bar: Serious Food." Check out the menu. Some great dining is done here. It's a favorite for us.

The leaning Liberty Bar.


First full gas tank in the bus in 20 years!

LondonBrother and his girlfriend.

LondonHIM and I. It's too cold to be outside! (And camera phone's stink.)

Happy Easter!

16 comments:

LondonHIM said...

Great Fun!! I Promise, the next Transporter will be SHINY Velvet Green with Mahogany- Ebonized Birdseye Maple Wood Veneer, distressed Double-Stitched Cordovan Leather Seats and , YES, a functioning climate control system.
L, L'Him

My Notting Hill said...

I'll not have a leg to stand on if I show this post to my husband - he's wanted a VW bus for such a long time. His friend has 4!- seriously. Looks like a terrific weekend.

London Calling said...

MyNottingHill- 4 Wow I think he still has that many. He used to have MORE! I didn't "get it" completely until yesterday. It really was fun. Now I can't wait for the chic version I was promised.;)

pve design said...

Just saw an article on the VW bus and the man who buys and restores them, think he is in California, now I will be searching all day for that article for you and Mr.London. Looks like such a fun time!
Show us the interior!

Liz Harrell said...

Now that looks like fun!

LondonHIM said...

Hello, PVE. Let's just say it's scantly utilitarian and interesting. Devoid of any creature comforts, but excellently suited to hauling anything Me Lady desires!!

LondonHIM said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
C+SK said...

How fabulously cool is that??!!!
:-)

Kwana said...

How fun. What a wonderful holiday! Thanks for sharing.

kari and kijsa said...

Love the bus!

blessings,
kari & kijsa

Elizabeth said...

Adorable! What a fun excursion to read about.

Mrs. Blandings said...

A couple of years ago I had a full-on obsession about getting a Kombi. Scoured ads, talked to dealers. When I finally found one in town, restored, reasonable price, I set up the appointment to go see it. The day of my darling husband slammed on the brakes. No way was I taking "his children" out in that death trap. (He's not normally this way, so you kind of sit up and pay attention when he is.) So I quietly pushed my obsession to the back of my brain. But when that youngest one leaves the nest, nothing will stop me.

Alkemie said...

The Liberty Bar looks quite interesting. I really liked the photos with the VW bus vans LOL. Looks like some great photos of a fun weekend!

Karen

Felicia said...

Love those buses! :)

Jennifer Owens said...

I've lived here in SA my ENTIRE life and have never gone to the Liberty Bar - sure that I would be the one to make it fall over. I didn't know it was an actual place to go! I am so uncultured....but your post has made me decide my hubby and I must go eat there soon! What a fun outing!

London Calling said...

jennifer- try it! Everything is great there.