I have a '78 bus painted "Panama Brown" (orangish) and "Dakota Beige" up 
top.  For a while after buying it in 1980, I called it "Pumpkin" or 
"Butternut," but neither name really stuck.

I had the bus in Mexico for several months in 1983-84, and my Mexican 
friends referred to my van as a Kombi -- the first time I'd heard that 
designation.  Soon, we started calling it "Kombita," which, of course, is 
the affectionate Spanish diminutive form.  That's been her (?) name and 
license plate number ever since.  She answers to it, and starts purring 
if you say a few other nice words in Spanish.

Rob