1957 VW 23 Window Deluxe Samba

Hotter than lava lamps and cooler than colour TV, for 63 years the Volkswagen Kombi has been the elementary choice for families to escape suburbia, the long-haired to circumnavigate the globe spreading love, surfers in search of the perfect swell and as a commercial workhorse across countless industries in countless countries delivering parcels, bread, flowers or frozen fish.

If someone living under a rock needs proof that anyone from teenagers to 70-something’s are still awe-struck with the design, concept and capability of the Kombi, tape their eye lids to their eye brows, sit them down and show them the current crop of pop magazine, web and TV adverts enlisting these timeless classics universal appeal to hit the reality home.

Companies from soft drink makers to holiday creators and even information providers (that was a” Splitty" in the Telstra Big Pond ad) want to be associated with the brand that is “Kombi” and it’s links with freedom, youth and the 1960’s slogan “it’s not just a vehicle ... more a way of life”.

Considered to be the most collectible Kombi of all, the well-appointed Deluxe Microbus or “Samba” was designed with comfortable Alpine touring in mind.

It was marketed with the slogan, “Every seat is a window seat!” and features 8 famous tinted panoramic windows with a “Safari” style windscreen and 23 windows in total.

The Samba also offers a retractable cloth sunroof, double chromium-plated ornamental band, chrome bumper, sill and rear-engine vent trim, two pivoting “barn” doors in place of a sliding door, bullet indicator lenses, handsome two-tone paint, rear internal luggage rack, removable rear and middle seats, dash clock, handy passenger foot-rest for grand touring and seating for 8. It was the pinnacle of luxury for VW in the 60’s and today delivers the ultimate character filled Kombi experience. If you can find one…

Uniquely available here is an incredibly rare and early 1957 23 Window VW Deluxe Microbus (Samba) that according to its accompanying birth certificate was sold new to the U.S on the 14th of May optioned with a Maroon Brown roof over Sealing Wax Red body and light brown interior, exactly as it presents today.

Painstakingly and professionally restored by a renowned Kombi specialist over a period of 12 months and completed in June 2012, this multiple concours award winning Samba is something truly special.

A back to bare metal 100-point restoration, works included the total stripping and sand-blasting of the body with a re-paint in factory original colors, conversion to RHD and the rarely seen addition of double barn doors.

Using a combination of original and OEM parts sourced from West Coast Classics in the U.S. the entire interior was re-trimmed to exacting standards with small details like the acrylic coated steering wheel and VDO gauges artfully re-fitted.

Suspension, brakes and steering were also re-built, 15” chrome Fuchs wheels were added and a turnkey 2.4 litre, 165hp CB performance engine was sourced and installed ideal for grand touring and more than enough to send a breeze through the retractable roof.

Second to none, this exceedingly rare and stunning Samba carries all the hallmarks of a very original car with small details including the correct semaphore indicators, chrome trims, Wolfsburg steering wheel center cap, two-tone door-cards, expertly fitted carpets and even the correct Hella headlamps and Bakelite switch- gear telltale signs of an eagle eye to produce such original detail.

To suit the most discerning collector and/or someone after arguably the best restored Kombi in the country, this 23-Window Samba is accompanied by receipts for its entire restoration, an original Birth Certificate from Volkswagen, magazines in which the actual car is featured and VW Nationals concours trophies as well.

Freedom represented in 3 dimensions bundled with nostalgic trips to the beach, flavors of your favorite ice cream and warm yellow tinged holiday adventure memories this turn-key and penultimate VW Kombi is a must have and must experience.

It’s Summer and time to get into a Kombi state of mind, escape monotony and set off on your next adventure all the while sinking your teeth into VW’s virtues of simplicity, functionality and reliability. Genius.