Just musing here, and one of my old (older than me) hippie buddies just bought a well used Volkswagen Van circa early 1970’s. He is going into a detailed restoration in hopes we can strike out on a coast to coast trip just chillin’, camping and sampling/sharing some bud along the way.
We were talking over the paint scheme and of course the scheme should include at least one peace symbol, a few flowers of course, and maybe a graphic rendering of Bob Marley…or Jimi Hendrix. I suggested we use our call handles like fighter jet pilots use on the fuselage under the canopy. Bill would use “Flower Power” and I would use “Bud Stud” under the passenger window. We were stoned when we decided all of this.
I suddenly realized who is going to tend to my plants and tent when I go west on this excursion? Darn, its almost like having a baby to think about when you want an adult vacation. Humm, makes me realize how much effort goes into maintaining a good grow room.
Anyway, I may check in with some forum friends and make our way thru their towns to share a bowl as a love and peace offering. If only there was a Woodstock to visit on the way.
These vans are in high demand as I found out from my buddy. He had to go out of state to find this one. He has restored a Beetle Bug and a Karman Ghia so he loves these vehicles. I say “he” has restored them, but he takes them to various folks who do things like engine specialists. Seems more of a passion than a money maker. I doubt it will be ready until next fall based on his previous projects.
I’ve got a 70 camper van that needs a lot of restoration. The mechanical stuff is still excellent: Big custom engine I built for it back in the day with very few miles. I probably should take it apart to clean everything and rebuild the carb, it’s been sitting in the yard for so long. Mostly I need to put the interior and pop top back together. My wife took it all apart because mice were colonizing it. Then it needs a nice exterior paint job.
I wouldn’t paint your’s up as a hippy van and then drive cross country with weed. There are still some states that will bust pot smokers and take your bus.
I totally agree that painting it as a hippie bus will draw unwanted attention. That’s all we need is for some local yokel cop to drag us to jail. Even with medical MJ cards, if that particular state wont allow weed, we are as good as busted. We joked about the hippie paint scheme and his traditional color scheme idea is some sort of mint green on the bottom and white on the top half. I don’t remember that particular color, but liked a similar color on the Chev Belaire back in the 50’s. Long story short, flying under the radar is always best and a traditional paint scheme will add value rather than a hippie paint scheme which may negatively impact the resale value. Not that he plans to sell it - just want the value to hold steady regardless.