While in the Air Force in Texas in the early �70s I
bought for $800 a �63 hatchroof Westy with a roof
rack.  It was white over orange with orange curtains
and that is THE color scheme to have in Austin, home
of the University of Texas, if you do anything stupid
and hope to get away with it.  I imagine it does not
work as well out of state, but I never got that far in
the bus.

I only owned it for a few months.  The thing was
miserably slow getting up to speed, so I developed
anticipation and dodging skills that amazed some of my
friends.  Amazement was not the goal; preservation of
momentum was the goal.

While I was home on leave the bus was in the care of a
semi-trusted buddy who managed to get the side doors
severely creased while partying at Lake Travis.  When
the brakes went out shortly thereafter, I initiated a
repair but only got as far as trying to jack it up.
What appeared to be a fairly decent body crumpled as
the jack, instead of lifting the vehicle, simply
pushed up through the
rusted-out-but-nicely-filled-with-Bondo-and-then-painted-over
rocker panel.  Sold it for $300 and never missed the
vehicle itself, only the idea of a camper.

About five years ago a friend finally quit Bay buses
after owning two of them over 30 years.  I was never
much interested in Bays (or microbuses after my
experience with the '63), but was suddenly seized with
the need for a Vanagon Westy.  I may have waited too
long to get another camper, but this is a good one and
we�re enjoying it.

Stephen

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