tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253123432012-01-26T13:19:41.683-07:00The more or less interesting lives & times of our 1974 VW Campmobile, Ludwig and our 1971 VW Squareback, Gertrudewhc03gradyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304236390575971087noreply@blogger.comBlogger3301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-30631336248167159992012-01-25T07:14:00.000-07:002012-01-25T07:22:54.459-07:00

For reasons not entirely clear, Esmé has it in her head that Ludwig and Gertie are a couple of my primary interests. So she (with help from Melissa) made this appliqué artwork as a birthday present.  That's us (l to r: E, Melissa, me) at lower right. We're all camping, hence the greenery and partly cloudy skies. A: Gertie's steering wheel B: a fictional divider between Gertie's front

whc03gradyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304236390575971087noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-63319343828127613992012-01-22T06:32:00.000-07:002012-01-25T12:25:23.226-07:00

Maybe the florescent ones technically aren't trouble lights. Anyway, I don't remember exactly where or when I got this Bayco worklight, but since it's yellow I think it must've been 1996. "Huhn?" you say. Because in 1996 01melcher and I were painting Frieda yellow, and everything I bought around that time was yellow. That's the best I can explain it. It's taken a surprising amount of abuse

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-19596346168508915072012-01-19T20:52:00.002-07:002012-01-21T09:52:40.744-07:00

I was trying to capture how the snow was peeling away from the corner in a sheet.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-53452616863843218562012-01-15T15:14:00.000-07:002012-01-25T12:25:14.030-07:00

It probably goes without saying, but I tend to anthropomorphize inanimate objects. Maybe "anthropomorphize" is too strong a word (except when it comes to vehicles in which case it is exactly the right word); I definitely get attached to certain familiar things and have since very early childhood, let's put it that way. The tools I use to work (and "work") on our VWs are no different. For lack of

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-14441617779178206132012-01-05T06:43:00.000-07:002012-01-05T07:22:17.174-07:00

'69 VW bus collects '96 Dodge Ram; bus driver sustains "non-life-threatening" injuries.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-22354686161169870182012-01-04T07:09:00.000-07:002012-01-04T07:09:00.479-07:00

 Tater Tot said this one "is so smooth, it must be new".

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-56745489760839871672012-01-02T06:24:00.000-07:002012-01-02T17:49:06.366-07:00

I promise these reruns won't become more of a habit than they already are. Additions in [bracketed] italics. ***   ***  *** Before 2008 was even twelve hours old (Mountain Time) we fired up Ludwig and headed East on MT Hwy 200 to Brown's Lake to take part in what they say is some good ice fishing. It was clear and cold. Ludwig loves running in cold weather, once he gets warmed up, anyway. (I

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-17837919214062612272011-12-27T06:44:00.000-07:002011-12-30T16:09:18.339-07:00

 49=Park County (Livingston)

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-83075921214752378592011-12-26T06:20:00.000-07:002011-12-26T06:20:01.351-07:00

 Seen not too far outside of town a few days ago, right about here. Unlike deer, Bighorn Sheep don't seem to care too much about cars and aren't particularly enthusiastic about getting out of the way.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-69667539996954131122011-12-21T07:50:00.000-07:002011-12-22T17:46:15.062-07:00

Myth: Yeah, I used to have one of those VW buses with the Porsche engine in it. Rant: Probably every bus owner has heard this line at least once, typically from some stooge who comes strolling up to them in the parking lot at KMart. But sadly, it just ain't so. this one's a fuelie Variations on the 1700/1800/2000 cc engine--commonly though somewhat mistakenly often referred to (

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-59271701529886310552011-12-17T08:33:00.000-07:002011-12-17T08:44:04.958-07:00

"It's Ludwig!" she exclaimed.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-82705391601602016472011-12-14T06:46:00.000-07:002011-12-14T06:46:01.567-07:00

The Type III turned fifty this year. I have no idea what any of these people are saying, other than I'm sure they're talking about how Type IIIs are easily the best Volkswagens ever made for civilian use.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-66594855706588457252011-12-13T08:35:00.000-07:002011-12-13T14:51:35.244-07:00

Myth: They're cold!  Rant: Yes, they sure can be. But it wasn't always so. Being air-cooled, old VWs don't have a reservoir of very hot water to draw from when it comes time to warm up the cabin. So what die Ingenieure did was built a box around a big chunk of the exhaust system. That box's purpose is to get the air it held really hot (courtesy of the exhaust) and send it into the

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-61861541399283593882011-12-07T07:15:00.000-07:002011-12-07T10:22:23.913-07:00

Another rerun. Augggh! ****************** The Winter camping season extends well into Spring in Montana, so we thought we'd try some camping up on Flathead Lake, the largest natural body of fresh water in the US West of the Mississippi. The Mission Mountains pop into view along US 93 Northbound. The snow was pretty fresh. Melissa liked the way the snow filled the crack in this mountain near

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-17416414789584180492011-11-30T15:59:00.001-07:002011-11-30T16:39:20.827-07:00

Busy busy busy. Original posting should resume before long. Mea maxima culpa.  **** I (Mitch) have every other weekend off, and I'm trying to get us in the habit of taking a little trip on these weekends whenever we can. The inaugural trip was a jaunt down Rock Creek, a blue-ribbon trout stream less than an hour east of Missoula. And who doesn't love driving on a one-and-a-half lane icy road

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-82214985973462260292011-11-04T08:37:00.000-06:002011-11-09T13:48:25.390-07:00

We spotted this Baja while trick-or-treating. Assuming it's local, that makes for 13 in the ADLC.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-87090841593186587382011-10-30T06:56:00.000-06:002011-10-30T06:56:00.717-06:00

Smurfette (formerly and briefly known as 'New Blue') came from Missoula and visited us for a trip to Lost Creek. We looked at the waterfall and took a short hike. I like it when plants grow straight out of rocks. That ridgeline waaaaaaaaaaay back there is the Great Divide. Smurfette's trip here was her first of any distance under her new ownership. Congratulations,

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-35858556657839139242011-10-27T07:00:00.000-06:002011-10-27T13:52:14.569-06:00

(taken the day before--that's our first snow of the season)

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-1465620723781416042011-10-26T08:59:00.000-06:002011-10-26T09:35:11.544-06:00

Oh, this is rich. The rainbow guy is representative of about a quarter of the people in the scene by my reckoning. More than three-quarters if you include 'hippie' wannabes, who are similarly motivated. The van/bus distinction is hair splitting though.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-72981962373662497052011-10-24T11:42:00.002-06:002011-10-24T11:42:27.240-06:00

Good grief, I almost forgot that today is Ludwig's birthday! I kind of don't like that Ludwig and I have birthdays ninety days apart because it just reminds me that I'm not far from becoming whatever age he is turning. Oh well. Happy birthday, old guy. (And to EP.)

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-77376580852514932402011-10-17T17:44:00.001-06:002011-10-17T17:45:18.297-06:00

...minus about six miles. Incredibly, Ludwig's engine has been installed for 100 days and we've only put 494 miles on him since. Fewer than 5 miles a day. With gas being so pricey maybe it's a blessing in disguise, but it still would be nice to trust him again. Issues: Stalling when coming to a stop (likely a fuel-air mixture issue) Backfiring at idle (ibid.) No thermostat (we late bay

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-53719313385068630272011-10-06T06:47:00.000-06:002011-10-06T06:47:00.507-06:00

Sorry that the posts've been a little thin lately...it's a very busy time of year. We'll do our best to pick up some slack when things slow down.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-19222356204379436682011-09-30T06:50:00.000-06:002011-09-30T06:50:00.114-06:00

whc03gradyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304236390575971087noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-53293235798530311062011-09-27T23:13:00.000-06:002011-09-28T08:06:12.046-06:00

It's not obvious from the picture, but this Fastback has amber-top taillights. I left my screwdriver at home instead of my morals, unfortunately. An example of the Citroen 2CV, the second most-produced European automobile design of all time (after you-know-who). This one's from the 1980s. One of Montana's many Syncro Westies.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-89798651804029021762011-09-22T06:39:00.000-06:002011-09-22T06:39:00.040-06:00

Okay, unless we either find a bunch more photos (not likely) or take a trip to Southern California (even less likely; I mean, who would?), these are the last of our pictures of air-cooled Volkswagens from our time spent on the Left Coast. This same Beetle has shown up on one of Big Blue's Driver's posts too. Small world. And that's that. Good riddance, SoCal.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-62302727290147914562011-09-18T07:21:00.000-06:002011-09-20T21:02:51.176-06:00

Free camping with Montana plates. If Google maps can be trusted, Lost Creek State Park, nestled in lodgepole pine and quaking aspen between 2,000 foot canyon walls, is 12.4 miles from our house (6.01 miles as the crow flies). Levitate Me This has been sitting in our fridge for some time, held hostage by the promise I made to myself, that I wouldn't drink it until I

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-78403804836104217152011-09-15T07:32:00.000-06:002011-09-15T07:32:01.055-06:00

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-82228806223620215422011-09-09T05:48:00.000-06:002011-09-12T12:38:04.648-06:00

Congratulations to our friends SW, JL, and A (A is E's BFF) for adding this sharp '89 Westy named "Trudelle" (sic?) to the household! Mitch looked it over and declared it rust-free. And then he got jealous at how easy it is to get at the alternator.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-58907650129173939982011-09-08T06:06:00.000-06:002011-09-08T06:06:00.176-06:00

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-65204456221402611132011-09-05T20:57:00.000-06:002011-09-05T20:58:44.489-06:00

We let E take photos whenever she wants. These are some she took during our camping trip (!) to Lost Creek State Park on Memorial Day weekend. She keeps asking what's supposed to go there. This one'll be entered in the 2012 GoWesty calendar contest, though beat up door+bay window bus=no chance of winning. An ancient abandoned car in a brook.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-27476683192944614942011-09-04T05:26:00.000-06:002011-09-04T07:52:20.178-06:00

With some unsolicited cross-continental phone help from Colin (unsolicited, but much appreciated), I got Ludwig running last week. It was a wiring problem that felled him--putting Ludwig's refurbished old carbs back into the mix involved some new wiring, and I must not've done that great a job with my crimping and all. A new set of wires, complete with connections soldered by yours truly, was

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-39700925244825082102011-09-01T06:41:00.001-06:002011-09-01T15:41:04.972-06:00

We entered Ludwig in Anaconda's last car show of the season downtown last week. They have one every Friday during the Summer. Ludwig had to sit between a 1969 Plymouth Satellite... ...and this pair of GTOs. The Satellite had the rare Mod Top option. This unrestored Olds 88 comes every week and Tater Tot always says it's her favorite.  This one is my favorite--the

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-69555089096888789412011-08-25T07:04:00.002-06:002011-08-25T07:04:00.126-06:00

A '72, the odd duck of Bay Windows.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-72337368337730493802011-08-22T05:46:00.000-06:002011-08-22T07:04:25.687-06:00

Warning: The only VW content in this post is in the photo below. The trusty ol' Kelty and a rental car stood in for Ludwig on our trip to Denver and back. Day one: Anaconda to Yellowstone (Madison Campground). Here're the ladies admiring the Artists Paintpots. Esmé's assessment of the park: "It smells." Day two: Yellowstone to Sinks Canyon State Park (near Lander Wyoming). The

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-40528434930617812342011-08-18T06:54:00.009-06:002011-08-18T06:54:00.408-06:00

Two Beetles found lounging in a couple different Goleta parking lots.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-79568190181871293932011-08-16T06:17:00.062-06:002011-08-18T18:33:56.385-06:00

Another bus blogger gave a rundown of the stickers on his ride and I liked the idea well enough to crib it. Thanks, Jeremy. Death Valley Nat'l Park: I had this one made years after the fact because I wanted something to match the Going-to-the-Sun Road sticker. We had things on our minds other than perusing the gift shop when we passed through Stovepipe Wells. Going-to-the-Sun Road: Bus owners,

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-90871101749906927312011-08-15T06:20:00.001-06:002011-08-15T09:48:59.752-06:00

We thought we'd do another highway drive, out to the rest area and back, to see if we could induce the stumbling again and perhaps pinpoint the problem. It happened again alright. With a vengeance.  My feelings exactly, E.  Around these parts they let you steer the rig off the flatbed your own self. Later, an attempt to jump the vehicle by spanning the bolts on the starter ended up

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-68820799159352400542011-08-13T09:34:00.000-06:002011-08-13T09:34:02.519-06:00

whc03gradyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304236390575971087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-3330047750472569482011-08-11T06:43:00.007-06:002011-08-11T06:43:00.977-06:00

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-22785009913317132662011-08-06T19:01:00.004-06:002011-08-06T19:01:26.653-06:00

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-45601539257395108902011-07-29T07:25:00.000-06:002011-07-29T07:25:00.332-06:00

Ugly wheels, cool tires.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-32504042610986356962011-07-27T06:30:00.020-06:002011-07-27T12:37:31.711-06:00

Oil leak fixed, we gassed up to take Ludwig on another shortish highway run and met another ACVW. This guy had just pulled his"wife's" (you guys with your justifications for driving chick cars) Ghia out of his garage after it'd sat there all Winter. We chatted briefly and I was reminded just how ludicrously small KGs are, inside and out. Ludwig powered over Georgetown Pass (aka Flint

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-77828354255464177122011-07-24T05:54:00.003-06:002011-07-24T20:00:03.436-06:00

Contrary to one of the more idiotic articles of received 'wisdom' about them, it's not just a matter of course that old V-dubs leak oil. So the English language's considerable body of profanity came up short when I tried to express my feelings toward the 20W-50 dripping from Ludwig's hours-old engine. After much cleaning and driving to determine the source of the offense, it was

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-83059287844356527692011-07-21T06:54:00.000-06:002011-07-21T06:54:00.042-06:00

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-15581378634607767242011-07-17T06:12:00.002-06:002011-07-17T06:12:00.270-06:00

Tater Tot and I are doing the best we can to help get this new engine ready for big road trips. The other day we took Ludwig to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and Spring Hill.  Fairmont has a pretty cool playground, even if the depiction of our solar system is disappointing. Here's their wildlife zoo (that's what they call it), there's goats, ponies, ducks and a llama. Tater likes it alright.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-26791799389059256712011-07-15T06:58:00.001-06:002011-07-15T06:58:00.168-06:00

Esmé, upon exiting Ludwig and contemplating his "nose" for some time at close range:  "There sure are a lot of dead animals on there."

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-33732000842730301892011-07-14T06:46:00.014-06:002011-10-11T17:39:58.844-06:00

This was taken in the parking garage of the outdoor mall where I discovered that $600 pairs of sweat pants existed. Sweat pants. Six hundred dollars. Welcome to Southern California. Dear air-cooled Volkswagen owner, Don't affix scoops or any other louvreishness to your air-cooled Volkswagen, please.  Signed,  Your air-cooled Volkswagen.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-77645630101764074792011-07-12T14:57:00.000-06:002011-07-12T14:57:06.234-06:00

The other day Melissa and Tater Tot had a surprise waiting for me when I got home from work. A real Westfalia child's cot! We actually got some time ago. It didn't quite fit, and we were thinking about how to deal with it when the crankshaft snapped and suddenly it didn't seem very important.  The crossbars' length varied through the years and this one is (apparently) incorrect for a '74.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-72466885445499382612011-07-10T21:17:00.010-06:002011-07-12T17:27:20.789-06:00

A couple days ago, we took Ludwig on a more normal highway run to get a feel for what's going on aft. The only real town you can get to from Anaconda on a flat road is Deer Lodge, so off we went. We promised E a surprise at the end, a different playground. We also went to the William K. Kohrs Memorial Library, which was really nice. Esmé read ten books (I mean, had them read to her). Both

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-21802435329964877072011-07-08T23:37:00.001-06:002011-07-10T20:25:28.960-06:00

After a morning and early afternoon of adjustments rendered him truly drivable, we took Ludwig out for the new engine's break-in. Oil? Check. Central idling circuit? Check. Clutch pedal play? Check. Accelerator pedal play? Still kind of screwy. Tater Tot? Check. Me looking like a hunched-up freak? Check. Success, I suppose. Predictably, I felt as though several things were more or less

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-70991461719479232342011-07-06T09:38:00.015-06:002011-07-06T17:49:44.113-06:00

Still tired from our visit and mentally lacking the ability to write anything coherent about it, I thought maybe we should just unabashedly crib Colin's own post over at the IAC forum. What follows are his unedited words and pictures, with any remarks in italicized color. What a delightfully beautifully bizarre day it was, everything was off in some glorious way. Such a peaceful start, too: I

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-36568477213913326142011-07-03T21:56:00.000-06:002011-07-03T21:56:12.952-06:00

Only ten hours left until Colin comes and shows me everything I'm missing and/or did wrong.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-76470973236316642922011-07-01T06:22:00.004-06:002011-07-03T19:49:21.005-06:00

...and we're happy to be a part of it. We'll let Big Blue's Driver do the explaining, here.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-57943237384121828172011-06-30T06:42:00.000-06:002011-06-30T08:20:05.479-06:00

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-5578915349355664252011-06-26T22:17:00.005-06:002011-06-26T23:04:11.362-06:00

My mind nearly imploded when I read about this bus. No, not because it's so extra-specially nice (it is), but because of how much it just sold for. Unbelievable. As more and more enthusiasts (and "enthusiasts") get pushed away from Splitty ownership because of this kind of lunacy, it's a foregone conclusion that we'll see values for the bay window--the Splitty's ugly (uglier?) step-sister--

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-23684412908186597442011-06-23T06:47:00.000-06:002011-06-23T08:47:50.634-06:00

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-28888413216085034112011-06-19T06:17:00.006-06:002011-06-23T08:52:15.257-06:00

Odd as it may seem, this simple (?) spring proved the most difficult to procure of any part necessary for Ludwig's conversion from Weber progressive to stock dual Solexes. It wasn't very expensive (well, maybe it was for a spring), but it was elusive. Every ACVW wrecker I called had to be convinced of its existence, and tried to talk me into buying a generic spring at a hardware store, but (1)

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-30904612512276901112011-06-17T06:37:00.016-06:002011-06-23T08:51:59.315-06:00

The coil (left) arrived today and the engine yoke (right; Esmé calls it the "half fan") got those holes drilled in it today. The yoke means once the case studs come from German Supply I can put Ludwig's engine on a stand and flip it uʍop ǝpısdn to install the heat exchangers. I don't even remember how I did that last time, but I know I didn't use an engine stand. Ah, youth. The coil means that

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-63408245104209183942011-06-16T07:12:00.003-06:002011-06-16T07:12:00.501-06:00

Nota bene: if you're a Single Cab driver, please don't drive with the sides down. Hey, that's Fang Fang back there!

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-11232180804132401512011-06-15T00:01:00.003-06:002011-06-15T13:26:39.233-06:00

As I sd to my friend, because I am always talking,—John, I sd, which was not his name, the darkness sur- rounds us, what can we do against it, or else, shall we & why not, buy a goddamn big car, drive, he sd, for christ’s sake, look out where yr going. I Know a Man, Robert Creeley

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-7953991736103513362011-06-09T05:55:00.003-06:002011-06-09T05:55:00.142-06:00

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-87045536471589755242011-06-06T22:39:00.002-06:002011-06-07T22:26:38.547-06:00

The close range flash from this photo actually caused Mitch to shriek. The photographer thought it was hilarious. A pretty good shot of Mitch and me working together to get the new battery tray screwed in. Mitch labels wires. I like that. Mitch labels wires much in the same way that he crosses his fingers for good luck, and likely with a similar level of effectiveness. I'm not sure how much

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-89068134563228891442011-06-02T05:59:00.008-06:002011-06-02T09:32:05.801-06:00

Two for the price of one in the last shot. Did I mention that Melissa took many if not most of the photos in this series? Oh. Melissa took many if not most of the photos in this series.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-70798869817379514212011-05-31T06:39:00.001-06:002011-05-31T09:40:16.274-06:00

This weekend was supposed to mark, according to my overly ambitious schedule of a month ago, Ludwig's return to the roads and campgrounds of the Pacific Northwest. But there is still just too much to be done, too many more discontinued parts to round up, and too much cold rain. Progress on dressing the engine came to a halt after I admitted to myself after half an hour of trying that it's

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-58714349570022888402011-05-28T05:38:00.023-06:002011-06-24T09:22:22.648-06:00

You wouldn't know it by looking at the town of Divide that it's home to a major ACVW parts operation. (Just by looking, you wouldn't know it was a town at all.) But it is. About 40 miles from us, just off I-15 at its junction with MT 43 is Brax Euro Parts.  We went there the other day to get some stuff for Ludwig. Maybe I'll post some pictures of it later, or not. Does anyone really want to see

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-82856082089027950262011-05-26T06:58:00.005-06:002011-05-26T12:54:29.945-06:00

More and more and more VWs, mostly from Santa Barbara County. There may be some repeats (repeats of cars, not of pictures) as I dole these out over the coming weeks. Anyone with late bay bumper overriders taking up space in their garage, I'll relieve you of them, no charge. Date stamp?

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-52624288083409043152011-05-23T07:42:00.004-06:002011-05-23T11:09:04.844-06:00

Esmé was a big helper this weekend. A little later she donned shoes and was set loose in the garage with the camera.While carrying the camera and framing her shots, Esmé was often heard saying, "Back up Mommy! Back up!", reminding me to get my legs out of the pictures. She ONLY wanted to get photos of the engine and her daddy because, as she keeps reminding me, "Daddy is my favorite guy."

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-37950553983411405362011-05-19T05:55:00.001-06:002011-05-19T05:55:00.256-06:00

We may never run out of these. More SoCal ACVWs from our brief time in the Golden State.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-15450371331698992972011-05-18T13:46:00.004-06:002011-05-18T15:44:48.503-06:00

Displaying a degree of moxie I can only hope to emulate, world-famous VW travellers Team Rehm today traversed Bolivia's infamous North Yugas Road, aka La Ruta de Muerte, the Death Road. Plenty of testimony indicates that this is one of the (if not The) most dangerous roads on the planet. My hat is enthusiastically off to them.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-77836815506871060922011-05-16T06:02:00.007-06:002011-05-16T08:29:51.408-06:00

More taking out, some putting in. The passenger-side heater cable came out like greased lightning. The driver's-side less so. I pulled out a million feet of it as it unwound from the core. On the million and first foot, it snapped right at the tube. This project will have to wait. My disappointment at Ludwig's alternator boot being wrecked was followed by joy when I found I'd stashed another.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-60226824967778808992011-05-13T06:34:00.000-06:002011-05-13T15:20:14.919-06:00

Helena Montana, near the library Missoula Montana, near nothing in particular

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-25624000728090144802011-05-10T07:19:00.008-06:002011-05-14T17:42:24.523-06:00

I've begun working on Ludwig for his big reveal. The first task was cleaning up the gas tank compartment, hopefully for the last time. That is some beautiful paint! I suppose because the sun has never shined directly upon it. Also, I didn't take any pictures of VW's sloppy work where coverage is spotty.  I stopped short of waxing it, though I may still.  Two hacks are visible in this picture,

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-77152495625582065852011-05-03T02:14:00.000-06:002011-05-03T02:14:00.147-06:00

I found these shots of the Lincoln band 13 Nightmares (ca. 1986-1991) on facebook.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-78706898901544032902011-04-30T07:40:00.003-06:002011-04-30T07:42:39.283-06:00

At this late date I'm embarrassed to declare myself the winner of the 2011 Garage Challenge. Now just to finish a couple school assignments and I can get to work on re-engining Ludwig. Cross your fingers for me.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-88599664820326806732011-04-27T19:40:00.001-06:002011-04-27T19:42:41.781-06:00

In the final minutes they surpassed the $25,000 they needed, so I guess we'll be taking a trip down the road to The Wilma when this thing is finished. "The Bus" Trailer from Damon Ristau on Vimeo.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-73151799749017607522011-04-25T05:07:00.032-06:002011-04-25T05:07:00.121-06:00

Twenty years ago today I bought my first VW, a 1973 Type III Fastback I dubbed "Gretchen", at a used car dealership in Valley Nebraska for $995 (about $1600 today). I smashed her into the back of a 1990 Chrysler LeBaron not seven months later, on November 5th. (Thanks to Mom Grady for verifying these dates.) This is the only picture of Gretchen of which I'm aware.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-62278636598888127162011-04-20T05:25:00.000-06:002011-04-20T05:25:00.300-06:00

This pair is doing time in what I think is Anaconda-Deer Lodge County's impound lot.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-89016775871768338452011-04-18T06:35:00.006-06:002011-04-18T13:25:57.682-06:00

Shantung Yellow, 1971. Just like Gertrude.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-81872176424772846092011-04-07T05:01:00.001-06:002011-04-12T15:30:15.214-06:00

For whatever reason, Anaconda seems to have more than its share of oddball and/or interesting cars. Admittedly, many of them are in this one lot downtown.... The only way I know how to tell if a Jeep is old is if it says "Willys" on it and/or has flat fenders. A Fiat (from a distance I thought it might be a Trabant) and a Corvair, which I don't hate. What? Srsly? It is: an Avanti II, though

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-62650791841280324522011-04-04T05:55:00.001-06:002011-04-04T05:55:00.257-06:00

I'm told that this wallet is made out of material recovered from Big Blue's recovered seats. A custom-made product from Platinum Dirt. Thanks, Big Blue's Drivers!

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-19267800507884447292011-03-25T04:56:00.003-06:002011-04-03T17:20:04.147-06:00

We happened across these two old fellows in the Southwest part of town on a stroll the other day. It looks like I'll have to up my Anaconda ACVW count to twelve. It made me wonder how many little treasures like this (I'm thinking more of the Splitty) remain hidden in small towns across the country.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-89177447628854018102011-03-20T01:21:00.017-06:002011-03-20T01:21:00.111-06:00

I didn't know it, but Life Magazine was apparently a kind of rip-off of a propaganda magazine published in Germany a few years earlier under the Nazis called "Signal". It was available on this side of the Atlantic until US/German relations went sour after Pearl Harbor. This was the only VW I could find in the whole thing.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-58149119121893771292011-03-15T03:18:00.006-06:002011-03-15T03:18:00.627-06:00

This was taken sometime in 1975 from a little beyond where the PT Cruiser is in the picture below. This was taken in 2011 from my office window, the lower left window in the picture at top.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-26538769507939078042011-03-13T05:50:00.031-06:002011-03-17T10:20:29.928-06:00

Frieda was my third VW. This is the best of the only four (!) pre-paint pictures I have of her. (It used to cost money to take pictures, you see.) Yeah, yeah, the stripe's on the wrong side. Where were you to tell me that in 1996?Funny, the way I remember it, you told me that the stripe was for the navigator in a real rally car because, as you said, if the navigator is good then driver doesn't

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-9282814240418073472011-03-10T05:37:00.012-07:002011-03-10T08:09:19.514-07:00

Summer 1992, Nebraska City. Two cousins and an uncle at left.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-36249272826363854602011-03-06T06:59:00.002-07:002011-03-06T07:24:29.967-07:00

Ancient history, unearthed recently on our external hard drive. The Santa Barbara Channel off port with Melissa at the helm, along US 101. A map of the trip is here. The Gaviota Tunnel which, it seemed to me, delimited the spiritual Northern border of the LA malignancy metropolis, and of SoCal in general. Crewcab Vanagon>cool. The cast is an artifact of a bike wreck in Isla Vista a few

whc03gradyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304236390575971087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-66021887912503806702011-03-05T11:03:00.005-07:002011-03-09T16:57:16.570-07:00

Sorry for the delay in blogging. We (or rather I) were tapped out in more ways than one. An unexpected f.i. problem with Gertie has rendered us carless (though I suppose we could still be driving her, just "takin' it slow", which will cure, like magic, any ACVW problem lalalalalala I can't hear you lalalalalalala) right at the time of that last post, in the middle of some really cold weather and

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-4188749158435562392011-02-07T10:24:00.000-07:002011-02-07T10:24:35.398-07:00

Google tells us that we've used up our 1 GB of free photo space with them, so please excuse our absence of posts until we decide if we wanna pay for more storage, or figure out a way to keep it free.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-66262617813228643552011-01-31T09:07:00.000-07:002011-01-31T09:07:12.847-07:00

 Dear Ludwig,We haven't forgotten you.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-78224150964295679372011-01-24T05:10:00.005-07:002011-04-16T18:21:07.806-06:00

These are the only three ACVWs I saw on my Billings trip a couple weeks ago. Out walking before class one day, I saw this pair of '67s behind Metric Wrench in Billings. I talked to someone here on the phone a couple days later, and he was a jerk for no good reason. I realize it's primarily a BMW and Mercedes place, but Metric Wrench in Billings=FAIL. This Super was in Bozeman and I have no idea

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-26553768255706305002011-01-20T22:44:00.004-07:002011-04-16T18:20:48.209-06:00

I took a solo roadtrip last week to Billings and back for library/school purposes. These photos were the best I could do. Near Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, outside of Three Forks. The Absaroka Mountains, outside Livingston. With a bunch of peaks topping 12,000 feet, these are Montana's highest mountains. Well, not these ones right there, but back in there. The following pictures are from the

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-43810357626246434672011-01-18T07:08:00.000-07:002011-01-18T07:08:00.263-07:00

A friend in Alaska sent us these photos of this Riviera that was (is?) for sale up there, in Fairbanks. Awful, awful hubcaps (what are those off of, a Buick?) but otherwise it looks to be a respectable bus.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-66533020862991704162011-01-10T05:19:00.000-07:002011-01-10T09:30:21.046-07:00

An old lady was at the helm.A typical case of bay window saggy butt syndrome.And I think that just might do it for our unpublished pictures of ACVWs in the Garden City.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-65004634439560948922011-01-04T04:01:00.002-07:002011-01-04T08:23:50.154-07:00

 Vintage Tuesday: A friend sent us this picture of her family's Fau Weh on holiday when she was young. That's her Winnie the Pooh stuffed up against the window.

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-45123813444050920942011-01-01T03:11:00.019-07:002011-01-01T23:11:27.398-07:00

"The workshop has become the landing ground for anything and everything."--Big Blue's Driver Big Blue's Driver and I have entered into an informal challenge to see who can get their garage fit for wrenching first. As I see it, his handicap is a two-month old, and mine is sub-zero temperatures. Whoever posts pictures of a presentable garage first to their blog first, wins.  Game on! Anyone want

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-11428393615919636512010-12-31T16:46:00.000-07:002010-12-31T16:46:26.057-07:00

January - We took Gertie on the first of many trips along the Pintler Scenic Byway (MT Hwy 1). February - Replaced her manifold pressure sensor. March - New tires and powdered-coated wheels for Gertrude, broken engine for Ludwig. April - Installed "new" seats in Gertie. May - Overhauled Ludwig's gas tank. June - Colin stopped by and we modeled the season's fashions. July - We moved from Missoula

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-81850757051339211112010-12-30T07:19:00.006-07:002010-12-30T07:26:28.053-07:00

This attractive little gal was waiting at the entrance to Three Bears in Butte so you know we had to take a look. That's a Empi four-tip exhaust lurking under there, which isn't a good sign. Cheap Chinese crap. So it's a '65, has a "recently rebuilt" engine (also a bad sign), and an asking price of three grand. Unfortunately, the interior was kind of shot, and whoever sprayed that nice shiny

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-53120758269387764152010-12-27T21:32:00.000-07:002010-12-27T21:32:48.854-07:00

I'm not sure I've had a Christmas or birthday since the early 1990s where I escaped getting some sort of VW stuff. Xmas 2010 was no exception. Melissa found these awesome manuals on Ravelry and got them for the price of postage. The Clymer manual is worth it for the cover if nothing else--you and your gal towing a racer with your Squareback, and the only other car on the road is a Fastback?

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-79248892823361821492010-12-22T20:30:00.001-07:002010-12-22T20:32:46.897-07:00

Gertie obliged to take us to the woods to saw down a tree so we could put it in our house and hang a bunch of stuff on it for some reason. I was just guessing that this location would have decent trees. It wasn't snowing when we left home but it sure was by the time I was dragging the tree back to Gertrude. I absentmindedly tied the tree to the car in such a way that it rendered the driver's

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25312343.post-57705110157466511152010-12-18T15:25:00.005-07:002010-12-23T20:22:06.851-07:00

We went to Butte the other day and had to climb and descend this decently steep hill on West Park Street. Denizens of the City by the Bay (home, incidentally, to only the ninth and tenth steepest of this country's ten steepest streets (stretches of 22nd and Filbert, for the interested)) aren't likely to find this street very impressive but keep in mind that at this time of year it's a sheet of

Ludwig's Drivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446131615368744363noreply@blogger.com4