Midwest Volkswagen Buster 75

I grew up during the time when Volkswagen buses were commonplace in America. It was wonderful to see them nearly every day. It didn’t matter if they were the panel van, Kombi, pickup or Westfalia camper. They were all beautiful and magical. At that time, there was not the extreme value differential that we see today. A VW bus was simply special. And those taillights. You couldn’t stop looking at them. The shape and size of them.

The huge VW logo on the nose of each bus, proudly declaring their identity. To own a VW bus during the 1960’s and 1970’s was special. You loved them and respected these buses. You didn’t care that they had between 40-70 horsepower from the factory. They were about function and form. They were different. Today, decades later, there is a following of people that love and adore this creation from long ago. Matthew Minor is one such individual. Located in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago, he has been an avid and devoted VW collector since a young age when he learned to take apart an air-cooled VW and put it back together after a full rebuild. This amazing skill and passion brings us Buster 75, Matthew’s beautiful yellow and white 1975 Volkswagen Transporter.

Matthew's two-tone, yellow and white 1975 VW bus has had an interesting life over a fifty year lifespan. Born in Wolfsburg Germany in 1975, she took the long journey across the Atlantic and through the Panama Canal to reach Hawaii. She was delivered to Honolulu, the surfing crown jewel. “he’e nalu” means surfing in Hawaiian. Surfing has been a part of Hawaiian culture for hundreds of years beginning with the long board. In Honolulu the bus was used as an airport transport vehicle. Years later she traveled across the Pacific and arrived in California. Another surfing capital of the world. Again, she moved and lived in Denver Colorado where she became a Deadhead bus for many years. If she could talk and tell stories about Hawaii, California and Denver, imagine the tales she would tell.

Matthew found her in rough shape in 2003 on eBay and had her shipped to Illinois at that point. Another life began as she became a part of his family of Volkswagens. Matthew has been working on Volkswagen’s for a large part of his life and rebuilding them, both mechanically as well as aesthetically. Though his brothers had a passion for muscle cars, Matthew preferred the challenge of air-cooled Volkswagens, learning to rebuild complete motors and transmissions. His skill at interior work was also honed during these years as you will see in the photos.

The unique and special touches Matthew has created on this bus stand out and catch your eye. From the seats and ceiling panels to the added conveniences like the solar panel on the roof, that powers the electrical outlets which include standard plugs and a USB port so

that he can use a laptop, television and record player to the two-burner gas stove top, in the back of this fun bus. Open up the rear motor bonnet and see the beautiful 1914cc  air-cooled VW motor that Matthew built himself as well as the transmission. Dual Dellorto carburetors sit atop the motor. The inside of the motor compartment as well as the interior of the bus has been sound proofed and is much quieter than an original bus. Sway bars both front and back help the handling and the front end has been dropped by two inches. The rear end gear ratio is a 4.21 along with the stock four speed transmission. Discs brakes up front make for shorter braking distances. Simply put, this torquey motor is tons of fun both in town and on the highway.

Matthew has driven this beloved VW bus for over 22 years now and has plans to drive her across the country to see the National Parks in America. This is a special and much-loved VW bus that leaves us smiling as he drives by. This bus is very representative of Don’t Fear The Curl and the VW bus culture, and that means surfing. Although we don’t have a photo to show you, Matthew has a surfboard and puts it on top in the custom roof rack. A big thank you to Matthew Minor for sharing his vehicle and we hope to see his other cars in the near future.