VW Collectible Bus Models

[Red Baron]

I'll bet there isn't a VW Bus or Van owner that doesn't have at least one model of a Volkswagen Bus, whether it's a die cast metal, plastic or wooden one. Now there's a new guy on the block and that's the LEGO line of construction toys by the LEGO group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark.

These consist of colorful, interlocking plastic bricks and an array of other parts that are molded to an exacting degree of precision, so that when two or more pieces are engaged, they must fit firmly, yet be easily disassembled. LEGO bricks, plates and accessories can be assembled and connected in a variety of ways to construct such objects as buildings, figures, trains, boats and vehicles. Anything constructed can be taken apart and the pieces used to make other objects.

Many VW Bus owners and toy model collectors have over the years constructed their versions of the famous VW Buses and Vans from LEGO parts. These are most likely not from LEGO kits, but built from scratch using the builder's imagination and creativity.









Now LEGO will be introducing this fall a complete kit to build the famous VW T-1 Camper Van, so you don't have to spend time rummaging thru hundreds of bricks and pieces left over by children and grand-children to build your own VW Bus. The kit will consist of 1332 individual parts to-put-together this classic VW Bus. Included are parts to complete the interior and exterior details, even down to the dash board, engine, camper equipment and pop-top. The kit will cost around $120.00 USD.







Remember, that LEGO is the acronym from the Danish phrase "leg godt", which translates to "play well", so "PLAY WELL WITH YOUR NEW VW MODEL"

Now here's a bit of LEGO Triva: LEGO could be considered the world's Number 1 tire manufacturer as their world wide factories produce about 306 million tiny rubber tires each year for their vehicle kits. (Business Week 2006)

You can get more information on this LEGO kit at:
http://http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=10220-1
and also watch the video here:
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lesvZCsUG1U

[Red Baron]

Check out this Stop Action Video and then go buy one!
http://http://gizmodo.com/5849425/this-timelapse-video-of-the-lego-volkswagen-t1-camper-van-is-so-neat-that-it-made-me-buy-it

[Red Baron]

The LEGO VW T-1 Camper Van kit is now available online for $119.95 and with Free Shipping. Order online at http://http://www.shop.lego.com and enter item # 10220. This kit will blast you back to 1962 and let you cruise in psychedelic style!

[vanagonne]

Cool-la-la :lol:

[rmace]

Very nice oh Great Gnome of the Luxs. Now I want too see the video of you putting yours together!!!!!!!!!! I know Sue-Jane will not let you open it till after Christmas!!! So this gives you some time to come up with a video? You may have to ask Frank to come too the Luxs to video the event?? This could make you tube history, so what say you??? You go oh Great Gnome of the Luxs, or should I say surviores of Reed Av. later The Con Kid

[Bradleyvw]

There is also a cool Hotwheels car out now.  Its a release of an old model of a Vanagon called the Sunagon!

[phil]

A friend of mine who has a guiness record for his hot wheels collection told me hot wheels is coming out with a new sunagon. I didn't want to say anything until I saw one, so I guess it is true. This is a new release from hot wheels.

[Red Baron]

Yes, this Hot Wheels Diecast 1/64th model is available but scarce and you'll have to search for a source. The puke green color ain't the best, but if you're clever enough you can alter the stupid Sunagon Pop Top, get rid of Condelli's Kawa 250 Sherpa on the rear end, change the color and you've got yourself a neat little Westfalia Camper model. One thing that doesn't match a Westy Camper is the grill work on the rear hatch window.





I have two of Hot Wheels new issue of the Sunagon and one that I altered several years ago from the  original issue to look like my '87 Westfalia.
You will see a pic of that later.

See more about Hot Wheels Sunagon Models
http://http://hotwheels.wikia.com/wiki/Sunagon

[Red Baron]

Here's my conversion of a 1981 Mattel Hot Wheels Sunagon ( Malaysia ) to a 1987 Westfalia.









If you undertake the conversion of any of the Mattel Hot Wheels Sunagon models to a Vanagon Westfalia Camper, here's what you have to do.
First: Carefully drill out the pot metal stud at the rear of the chassis and remove the Kawa 250 Sherpa from rear body.
Second: Separate the chassis from the body and remove the clear inner window liner. Next, with a Razor Saw cut the legs/struts off the PopTop.
Third: Out of heavy card stock form the canvas to fit between the body and the top.
Fourth: Paint and Top and body to your desire. Paint formed canvas tent section to suit.
Fifth: Fit top and formed canvas to body with suitable glue.
Sixth: Assemble body and clear inner liner to chassis and fill rear stud with quick set epoxy to secure body and chassis.

It's really not a bad replica of our own '87 Westy with the exception of the Monkey Bar grill on the rear hatch!

[Red Baron]

If there's an age limit on playing with Legos, we don't want to know about it. The plastic blocks are the perfect time waster and while we're sad to say that we've let our maniac skills waste away over the past two decades or so, we're still glad that there are people out there keeping the magic alive. People like Marshall Matlock recently decided to whip up the VW T-1 Camper Van Set in his spare time and was kind enough to shoot a time-lapse video of his endeavor.

The feat required over 1,800 photographs all compressed into 24 frames per second and the result is a video that soaks up a little over a minute and a half of your day. Watching the van assemble itself and then ride off frame is well worth your time, though be warned, you'll probably want to pick up the kit for yourself after you're done watching the clip. ( Credit: Zach Bowman RSS feed )

http://http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/11/lego-vw-van-time-lapse-build-is-the-best-advertisement/

[Bradleyvw]

Good soundtrack!  That bus looks harder to build than I thought.  The Legos are a little more specialized than they were when I was young.

[peet15]

The latest lego models are really cool. I'm considering buying the lego VW Bus. I've noticed that there are many corresponding VW Packages that you can buy.

Here is an overview about all corresponding packages: https://aircooledcommunity.com/blog/volkswagen-lego-best-deals-lego-vw-bus-vw-beetle-set/