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2026 Honda Ridgeline ReviewCool Car Find: 1958 VW Samba Microbus
This 23-window Samba Microbus is the ultimate in vintage Volkswagen vans. Here’s what makes it so special.
Volkswagen Type 2
1958 Volkswagen Microbus – carsforsale.com | Shop 1958 Volkswagen Microbus on Carsforsale.com
The Volkswagen Type 2 aka the VW Microbus is one of those few vehicles that has transcended the automotive world and lodged itself deep within the broader cultural firmament. Though most associated with the flower children of the 1960s and 70s and today’s #vanlifers, the Volkswagen Type 2 predates both our modern moment of social media and the “turn on, tune in, and drop out” ethos of the Summer of Love.
Today’s Cool Car Find is a fantastic 1958 Volkswagen Type 2 23-Window Samba Microbus. If 23-window Samba does not mean anything to you, allow us to explain what makes this VW so special.
Origins
The Type 2 has its beginnings in the late 1940s. In 1947, Volkswagen was just beginning to produce the new Type 1 Beetle in earnest after WWII. A Dutch businessman, Ben Pon was looking to be the first Volkswagen dealer in the Netherlands and visited the Volkswagen plant. There he ran across what workers there called the Plattenwagen, a little truck based off the Beetle’s chassis used to ferry parts around the plant. From this Pon came up the idea of using the Beetle platform for a panel van and by 1949 Volkswagen had put the Type 2 into production.
Samba and Microbus Variants
It did not take long for the Type 2 to gain multiple variants. These included panel vans, both those with sliding doors and split doors, flatbed trucks, taxi versions with seating for up to 12 passengers, and of course camper conversions done by companies like Westfalia. The microbus was first introduced in 1950 with more windows and seating for up to nine passengers. The following year, Volkswagen came out with an updated version of the microbus, the Samba, that added more windows, 21 or 23, and an optional sliding canvas roof.
The Type 2’s basic design was simple, like that of the Beetle. Even though the two looked dissimilar, underneath they shared the same basic structure, a rear-mounted air-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine driving the rear wheels. The Type 2 was a cab-over design, meaning the front passengers sit above the front axle, allowing for great visibility. The Samba, with up to 23 windows, was first marketed for touring the Alps since it allowed passengers unparalleled views of the mountains.
A major redesign for the Type 2 arrived in 1955 that implemented a new dashboard, a new engine compartment design, and an overhang above the windshield that both shaded occupants and featured air intakes that helped cool the cabin. The Samba only lasted through the first generation of Type 2s, ceasing production in 1967.
This Cool Car Find
Our Cool Car Find today is a 1958 Volkswagen Type 2 23-Window Samba Microbus finished in grey and white. The Samba made up roughly one-fourth of microbus production, so while first-generation Type 2s have risen in price, the Samba has appreciated much more, with good condition examples running well into six figures.
Our example is listed at $125,000 and its impeccable condition is a major reason. This 23-window Type 2 was optioned with the canvas roof for maximum sunshine. Like the exterior, the interior comes in a two-tone scheme, this time brown and tan. The four-cylinder boxer engine was rebuilt just 4,000 miles ago and pairs with a four-speed manual transmission. If pulling back the canvas roof was not enough open-air enjoyment, you can always prop open the windshield panes for even more air flow.
1958 Volkswagen Microbus – carsforsale.com | Shop 1958 Volkswagen Microbus on Carsforsale.com
The Samba microbus has cachet as both a rare vintage auto and as a highly sought after totem of the #vanlife, making it a get option for car collectors looking for a safe bet.
