I have long wanted a late Westy in Sage Green. I have watched, and wanted, drooled and dreamed but could never pull the trigger on one because they were usually too far out of my price range or the affordable ones were too far away for me to go look at. Well last week me and my wife were doing our normal after the kid goes to bed routine, sit on the couch and watch TV and surf around. Well I surfed around and found something I thought I had to have.

1977 Sage Green Westy.

Not too far, not too expensive, and looks great! So I show it to my wife. Normally, she frowns, asks if we need more VWs, etc, but she knows how bad I want to take her and my daughter out camping in one of these before my daughter is to the "parents suck" phase that is rapidly approaching. So fearing the worst, I start to beg. Thats right Dear Reader, I aint ashamed, I turned into a 16 year old boy pestering his father for the keys to the family car for a date. Please please please. Made promises and pleas.

Now you have to understand. My wife is very understanding in all regards. She understands my love of all things VW, and for the most part is agreeable. There have been times when the backyard VW count reached an all time high of five that I could see the limit being reached, but she never looses it. Much. Even left our wedding in a VW. Still feels bad about me selling my first bus to buy her ring. I used all these things to my advantage.

And she said yes.

I had to sell my 78, and promise to tile the floor in the laundry room but I could have it. (Insert joyus dance here.) I emailed the ad that night, and again the next day and finally talked to her about it, and she sent me about 7 pictures. It was love at first sight. Rust free 1977 Westfalia Deluxe (does that mean stove?) rebuilt motor, still FI, currently in possession by the fourth owner, and had service records since 1984.

Was I interested? Why, yes, yes I was. So I went by and took a look with my wife to see what it was all about.

When we got there, we met a super nice lady, (who refused to have her picture taken), who told us about "Doodle" her '77. She bought it in Colorado in late 1999 and drove it around camping in the mountains  before driving it back to Texas. Under her care, Doodle traveled to Colorado again, Canada, and various places in Texas. He had recently been retired to the garage in favor of a two wheeled toy, and she was looking for a good home. Other than a dead battery, and a mostly deteriorated engine seal, he looked complete, and super nice. Inside was just as nice. Still complete with the stool, dash table and childs cot, amazing. She handed me the keys, and I slid them in the ignition. It took me a second to realize the noise I was hearing was the buzzer letting you know you forgot your keys. Wow. Even has bus rated tires already (even though they are dated, and getting replaced with my new Vanco2s.)

After a little (very little) persuasion and a new battery, he fired right up and idled fine. We made the deal on the spot. I and was happy. Title signed, money changed hands, tearful goodbyes were said, and inside the bus I found:

"Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance". So far its a pretty good read. I'll have to thank her when I see her again.  She also has lots of pics from campsites with the bus, and I really hope she sends me some like she said. Anywhoo, I didn't want to drive the 90 miles back to my house without going over the bus first, so I hooked it up to my Jeremyrockjock towbar, and went to the house. A little manuvering, and I got him into the garage. Been garage kept his whole life, and I plan to continue that. More pictures when the rain stops and I can get him outside. I called up a buddy who was looking for a camper project, and promptly sold my other Sage Green Westy to him, recouping half my costs on this one. I can't stop grinning.

Service records, dating all the way back to 1984. And both original manuals. This thing is the most beautiful thing I have ever owned. Its everything I have ever wanted in a camper. I plan to keep it in the garage, keep it maintained, and continue keeping the records. Otherwise I plan to drive it, love it, and camp in it with my family. More as it develops.