T2 Syncro- The Holy Bayle

Discussion in 'Type 2 History' started by BayWatcher, Sep 12, 2011.

  1. Four Prototypes were produced from 1975-79. One is in a museum, another is in a private collection and the other two are lost.
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    Although they ran circles around the Audi Iltis in test races, VW had too much of it's budget wrapped up in the new T25 to fund Syncro production until 1983.
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    It has been suggested that a Bay could be mated to a Syncro drive train. Besides the obvious suspension lift and custom front mounts, it would probably need the T25 steering and front suspension, raised engine, custom drive shafts to accommodate the T25 wheelbase's added 5', and God knows what else.
    The T2 Syncro had 16' rims and the exhaust was raised and routed through a hole in the bumper for added ground clearance.
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    Take this information with a grain of salt. I just skimmed it quickly and carelessly from other sites and forums while most of my attention was on fervently dreaming of owning one of these bad-asses.
     
  2. I seen the one in the museum. I'd love one too. ;)
     
    oxiderenegade likes this.
  3. Nice, but no real point, as 'normal' 2 wheel drive Bays are more suited to rough terrain than usual 2 wheel drive vehicles. Once I drove a 'normal' Bay over 200km of 4x4 only tracks in Australia. The sign at the start of the road said something like '4 wheel drive only for 200km'. I thought what the hell, let's go for it. Made it with ease, even through a rain storm which turned the tracks into over foot-deep thick mud in places. Just conked out going through a river (water in some electrical part or something - fortunately one of my 2 mates on board was an ex-AA man). We still refer to the trip as 'Rally Cross Australia 2000 Sideways'. With the weight over the rear wheels, buses are simply superb in mud and tough terrain.
     
    FastTurtle likes this.
  4. This video shows you don't need a syncro to go off road:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBXRlmnSdL0&feature=player_embedded#!

    More info here:
    http://www.syncro.com.au/kombis-to-the-kape-preview-T3-Syncros-to-Cape-York

    I'd love to find a late bay double cab shell and a rotten (or rolled) T25 syncro and marry the two together to make a syncro bay.
    Something like this:
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    Its one of my planned post lottery win projects (and i have loads) which i'd love to build.
    Just need all those presky numbers to come up now.
     
  5. Heres some piccies of the running gear of the 4x4 bays:
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  6. Wheelie. ;D
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    One of the syncro bays tailpipe position:
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    Soggz likes this.
  7. the problem is you can't drift a synchro. What is the point of having a car you can't drift? Where is the fun in that? I love to drift my bay, its great fun. I like to switch off the traction control on my car and drift that too - great fun considering its fwd
    8)
     
    FastTurtle likes this.
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  9. Thought i'd repost these here as it's more appropriate. I took thess at the Kafertreffen at Wolfsburg 2008.
    This is the museum prototype in action on the beach.
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    Me having a nosey and going through th controls with the guy from VW R&D

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    I think 5 prototypes were made although one may not have been fully functional IIRC. Also not sure about the other one being in a private collection...can that be verified? Has it ever been seen? Any pics? The VW engineer said the others were all dismantled at the factory... :( Let's hope another does sit somewhere waiting to be discovered!
     
  10. As I mentioned, I was so excited about the discovery of a pre-80 Syncro, I just zipped around the internet quickly gobbling up random quotes about them from articles and blogs.
    At this point I can't even remember where I saw any of it, much less verify author sources.
    Maybe it was all hooey, but I rather like the idea of an unverifiable legend of a long lost lone 79 Syncro, tucked away in the climate controlled barn of an eccentric, perhaps agoraphobic, millionaire living deep within the Black Forest or some such.
    It makes a good fireside tale, along with Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster.
     
    Lord Congi and Datsolow like this.
  11. Hello to all.

    I do know that aircooled unites and especially baywindow owners care for other baywindow owners even more,don't really know why but that's how I feel.

    Please forgive me if there is any grammar or misspelling issues with my writing, English is not my native language.

    I was also so excited and so fascinated from the existence of those beauties,I have read many posts in here and on other forums for the T2B 4WDer and spent many hours of searching documents and pictures through out the internet.(Haven't we most?) :)

    I wish there were more made, just to see them at shows, but then again there wouldn't have been such an exciting feeling about them.

    Indeed it's a nice idea as its mentioned above from Baywatcher of that legendary long lost, hidden syncro.

    I also wish there was a way of getting one as a daily driver,is this possible?

    Am I daydreaming?

    I think that if we all contribute at this topic and share our ideas and knowledge great things may happen and resolve mystery issues that exist.

    Who knows, one day we might see one on the road or even drive one.

    I know it wont be the real think, however it may be as close as it can be to a factory specs.

    Some pictures that I found and I can tell my story of are :

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    One day I was searching through the internet for a front bumper issue that I have and I came up to this unusual Latebay.

    I thought to my self is this for real or it's an African/South American model.

    Early bolt pattern on a Latebay?

    So after a long search there are some Latebays with 5X205,those are the 4X4 Baywindows.

    But why is that?Does anyone know the specific reason of not sticking at standard bolt pattern?

    Another unusual piece is the front bumper,its raised a bit and do to some research other models had this modification, some fire truck Bays for example were like that.The bumper is not bolted at the front deformation panel but on a totally different way.

    Here is a picture

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    Please if anyone has more information or pictures don't hesitate of posting them.

    I will try once in a while of posting some pictures of what I got so far,hopefully this way we can all share are thoughts.
     
    oxiderenegade likes this.
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  13. Hello once again.

    I've got a bit of time to upload some more pictures and write my questionable thoughts and point of view to this matter.

    Wheels of the prototype as I mentioned at my previous post are different from most common Latebays.

    Except the bolt pattern, I read that the size of the rim was 16".

    I had to search if those wheels where ever installed at any other type of VW or those rims were custom made like many other parts for the particular Bay.

    At first I needed a closeup photo of those rims so I spent some time in to it.

    Here is whats under the hubcap:

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    As you may see the hubcap holders are way off time.At least this is my opinion,please correct me if I am wrong.

    When I saw the way those wheels were made,the first think that came in to my mind was (those are from an early bus or maybe a kubelwagen).

    I searched through the internet and I didn't find an identical one.

    The only close match that came up was from a VW enthusiast from Arizona,he helped me out on some details too of the following rim.

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    It looks similar, however there is no bump where the hubcap ends.

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    This one came from east-german tractor called Framo 901.(Thanks GTV for the link).

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    I don't really know how wide the prototype rims are...

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    ..they really do match though,don't they?

    Who knows maybe prototypes craftsmen took the wheels from the Framo,made a correct offset by making thicker disc and Tiging it at the actual tractor wheel. ?

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    The four space gaps on the original wheel and the Framos match.

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    The tyres are radial typeL 7.00R 16

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    And max load rating

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    Thats all for now,if you have more info of those wheels please do post it in here.

    Thank you for your time. :)

    To be continued...
     
  14. I suppose the VW engineers could have adapted some other wheels to fit but they may have just built the set specifically for the syncro bay. Not very neat looking wheels though.

    A 7.00R16 tyre should fit a 5.5" - 6" rim. The Framo rims look narrower than that from the picture.
     
  15. It has been awhile since the last time.

    I really had no time to write.

    Zebedee you are right the rims look wider.

    I did search a bit more on this subject however no luck so far,time will tell.

    Guess the wheels are custom made special for this babe,as you mentioned.

    Those wheels did or I should say do interfere with the arches so one modification that I can see on the body at first sight is that.

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    Also that round seal is a cap from a scheduled waxoil spray.Some certain spots and internal frames had to be sprayed periodically per VW.

    Since we are at the body and before I go deeper in to technical modifications of transmission,drivetrain,etc,lets see what other changes the team accomplish.

    Other than the trimmed arches the front had to be raised as I stated at a previous post.

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    Here you may see the raised bumper and a close look of the brackets,fire truck style.


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    I know it might not be safe on a crash do to a vanished internal deformation panel but it's a good idea of having just a bit more ground clearance,after all it was an offroad beast.

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    I am sure the team wanted to keep the look of the bus as close to the usual look and not make huge alternations, like raising the bus more to archive greater gap.

    I think it looks just great.

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    I cant be certained if the rear is raised or not,maybe this combo of rims and wheels is a perfect setup after all.

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    They managed to increase the clearance at the back by giving a different route to the tail pipe.

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    As you may see its curved this way so it's closer to the body and as high as possible.

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    It passes through the modified rear corner and out through the bumper,nicely done.

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    I just love this setup of the exhaust it looks perfect.

    If I ever make my own style it will definitely be this way, a double version though,one on each side,also the rubber bumper guard will be in place.

    Those are the alternations of the surrounding.

    Please if you see something else do post it.

    Thank you for your time. :)
     
    Merlin Cat likes this.
  16. I love the look of the exhaust exiting through the bumper.
    That rear bumper mount looks different than the one on my 73.

    I think it could be stock height with just the tyres giving the lift. Mines got more gap between the arch and tyre.
     
  17. "That rear bumper mount looks different than the one on my 73."

    This is a Westfalia towbar with bumper mounts included # 321125 for the 2L.

    Jon a VW enthusiast from N Carolina has a nice write up.
     
  18. Ahh, that makes sense then.
     
  19. That is really interesting, thanks for the photos Zebedee. :)

    The front differential is not the same as the baywindow's.

    Do you have any more info for the front unit?
     

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