The original VW bus is undeniably cool in stock form, but it can really shine with a few modifications. A great example is the pictured 1965 VW T1 Samba, featuring a Porsche engine swap, chassis upgrades, Fuchs wheels, and a leather-wrapped interior as part of a complete restoration project.
The vehicle was built by Creative Coachworks and is currently listed for sale by DD Classics in London. It is based on a rare 21-window Samba bus from 1965, imported to the UK from Japan. According to the listing, the brief was to create a VW T1 that could travel at 100 mph (160 km/h) on the Autobahn, with the necessary powertrain, handling, and braking upgrades.
Read: Don’t Let The Badges Fool You, This T3 B32 Is One Of The Rarest Porsches Ever Made
The most important modification hides under the rear end. A 3.2-liter flat-six was sourced from a Porsche 911 Carrera from the ’80s, sending power to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. The listing doesn’t mention the power and torque figures, but you can safely expect more than triple the figures of the original Bus. It also got uprated disc brakes with red calipers, a lowered coilover suspension, and a full roll cage for added rigidity.
The exterior received a duo-tone treatment with a black and white bodywork (Peugeot Mica Black / Nissan Pearl White), alongside black-painted bumpers and headlight surrounds. The genuine 16-inch Fuchs wheels give away the Porsche connection, while the dual chrome tailpipes show that this is not your typical VW. The restoration included lots of work on the bodywork before applying the new paint, plus new glass and seals for all of the 21 windows.
The interior has also been overhauled, with black leather upholstery with cream accents covering all of the areas, including the dashboard, doors, seats, and roll-cage. At the front, there is an Alcantara-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel with the Porsche badge, extra VDO badges, three seats, and a roof-mounted LCD screen. The rear part of the cabin has been converted into a lounge room with opposite-facing bench seats, a round table, and storage compartments. For entertainment, there is a gaming console, an upgraded audio system, and a DVD player. Finally, the roof is wrapped in suede, with a very large and manually operated Webasto sunroof.
The listing doesn’t mention pricing for the Porsche-powered VW Samba Bus, but interested parties can contact DD Classics. Do you prefer this old-school conversion or would you go for an electromod?
