1953 Kindig-It VW Barn Door 23 Window Bus
No Reserve. Among the most coveted Volkswagen buses ever produced, the early 23-window Barndoor Deluxe represents the pinnacle of the first-generation Type 2, combining the model's immense rear engine door and early peaked-roof architecture with a panoramic arrangement of side glass, rear corner windows, eight skylights and an expansive folding sunroof. Published production records indicate that only 1,289 Samba/Deluxe buses were produced for 1953, and this example's chassis, 20-053611, is independently recorded in the specialist Barndoor Register as a genuine Type 241, Volkswagen's designation for the left-hand-drive nine-passenger Deluxe/Samba. Commissioned for Tracey Maxwell as the companion to her Kindig-built Hebmuller Cabriolet, this exceptionally rare Volkswagen was entrusted to Dave Kindig and Kindig-It Design, the acclaimed American custom shop founded in 1999 whose accolades include SEMA design awards, America's Most Beautiful Street Rod, Goodguys honors, Dave Kindig's 2020 Grand National Roadster Show Builder of the Year recognition and, most famously, the 2024 Ridler Award captured by the Maxwell family's TwelveAir.
Kindig-It extensively restored and reimagined the genuine Barndoor while carefully preserving the instantly recognizable character that makes an early Deluxe so desirable. Finished in Dave Kindig's Modern Classikk Bad Blood Red and Black Hole Black, its remarkably clean exterior incorporates custom brightwork hand-formed from solid aluminum and triple chrome plated, while one-off Kindig-designed EVOD wheels give the Bus its distinctive lowered stance. Beneath the body is a thoroughly modernized chassis featuring an OEM Pro-built Barndoor front beam with RideTech adjustable shocks, custom rear trailing arms with Penske coilovers, and Airkewld four-wheel disc brakes with Wilwood front calipers. Power comes from a 2,276cc air-cooled flat-four built by Eric Allred of Red-E Motorsports, utilizing an aluminum Super Case, CB Performance 82mm forged crankshaft, H-beam rods, 94mm pistons, an Engle FK-8 camshaft, CB Performance Wedge Port heads and dual Weber 48 carburetors to produce approximately 176 horsepower-several times the output of an original 1953 Volkswagen Bus. A specially adapted 1987 Vanagon automatic transaxle provides the driving ease requested for the build while retaining an all-Volkswagen, air-cooled character.
Inside, Fog leather upholstery, rich gray German wool carpeting and a custom headliner complement genuine early-Bus details including the distinctive chrome "jail bar" luggage containment, while discreet Dakota Digital instrumentation brings modern functionality to the landmark Volkswagen design. The project received extensive national exposure, with its construction documented across two episodes of MotorTrend's Bitchin' Rides-"It's a Barn Door Deluxe, Of Course" and "The Big Brother"-before appearing as one of Kindig's featured vehicles at the 2021 SEMA Show and receiving a dedicated "Bitchin' Barndoor" feature in the April 2022 issue of Hot VWs. Its show history continued with a documented Pittsburgh World of Wheels appearance and culminated in 1st Place in the Mild Van class at the 2024 Detroit Autorama, the same landmark event at which Kindig-It and the Maxwell family captured the Ridler Award with TwelveAir. Combining the intrinsic rarity of a registry-recognized Type 241 Barndoor Deluxe with the craftsmanship, television provenance and national show history of one of America's foremost custom builders, this Kindig-built Volkswagen represents an extraordinary union of German automotive history and contemporary American coachbuilding. VIN: 20053611.
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Memorabilia purchases are eligible for free delivery to shows attended by Richmond Auctions. Memorabilia purchases can also be picked up in Greenville, SC or the McCandless Collection in Burlington, NC. Winning bidders of memorabilia items can contact us following the sale to arrange freight and shipping options. Please contact Reliable Carriers to arrange vehicle shipping.
Condition
BUYER'S PREMIUM:Vehicles: 15% on LiveAuctioneers.Automobilia & Tether Cars: 20% on LiveAuctioneersIMPORTANT STEPS TO COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION:1. A Letter of Guaranty from your financial institution is required to bid in The Fall Spectacular Auction at the Savoy Automobile Museum since automobiles are selling in conjunction with advertising and memorabilia. 2. Message us to request a sample format of the Letter of Guarantee required to register about the pre-set bid limit of $25,000.3. Your bid limit will be capped at the amount set in the Letter of Guaranty by your financial institution.4. Send your completed Letter of Guaranty and a copy of your driver's license (front and back) to finance (at) richmondauctions (dot) com in order to complete the registration process.5. Once a completed Letter of Guaranty is received and verified by Richmond Auctions, you will receive an email with approval notification. Completed approval will allow you to bid on Day 1 and Day 2. If you have any questions, please call our office at 864-991-5949 and ask for Accounting.
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No Reserve. Among the most coveted Volkswagen buses ever produced, the early 23-window Barndoor Deluxe represents the pinnacle of the first-generation Type 2, combining the model's immense rear engine door and early peaked-roof architecture with a panoramic arrangement of side glass, rear corner windows, eight skylights and an expansive folding sunroof. Published production records indicate that only 1,289 Samba/Deluxe buses were produced for 1953, and this example's chassis, 20-053611, is independently recorded in the specialist Barndoor Register as a genuine Type 241, Volkswagen's designation for the left-hand-drive nine-passenger Deluxe/Samba. Commissioned for Tracey Maxwell as the companion to her Kindig-built Hebmuller Cabriolet, this exceptionally rare Volkswagen was entrusted to Dave Kindig and Kindig-It Design, the acclaimed American custom shop founded in 1999 whose accolades include SEMA design awards, America's Most Beautiful Street Rod, Goodguys honors, Dave Kindig's 2020 Grand National Roadster Show Builder of the Year recognition and, most famously, the 2024 Ridler Award captured by the Maxwell family's TwelveAir.
Kindig-It extensively restored and reimagined the genuine Barndoor while carefully preserving the instantly recognizable character that makes an early Deluxe so desirable. Finished in Dave Kindig's Modern Classikk Bad Blood Red and Black Hole Black, its remarkably clean exterior incorporates custom brightwork hand-formed from solid aluminum and triple chrome plated, while one-off Kindig-designed EVOD wheels give the Bus its distinctive lowered stance. Beneath the body is a thoroughly modernized chassis featuring an OEM Pro-built Barndoor front beam with RideTech adjustable shocks, custom rear trailing arms with Penske coilovers, and Airkewld four-wheel disc brakes with Wilwood front calipers. Power comes from a 2,276cc air-cooled flat-four built by Eric Allred of Red-E Motorsports, utilizing an aluminum Super Case, CB Performance 82mm forged crankshaft, H-beam rods, 94mm pistons, an Engle FK-8 camshaft, CB Performance Wedge Port heads and dual Weber 48 carburetors to produce approximately 176 horsepower-several times the output of an original 1953 Volkswagen Bus. A specially adapted 1987 Vanagon automatic transaxle provides the driving ease requested for the build while retaining an all-Volkswagen, air-cooled character.
Inside, Fog leather upholstery, rich gray German wool carpeting and a custom headliner complement genuine early-Bus details including the distinctive chrome "jail bar" luggage containment, while discreet Dakota Digital instrumentation brings modern functionality to the landmark Volkswagen design. The project received extensive national exposure, with its construction documented across two episodes of MotorTrend's Bitchin' Rides-"It's a Barn Door Deluxe, Of Course" and "The Big Brother"-before appearing as one of Kindig's featured vehicles at the 2021 SEMA Show and receiving a dedicated "Bitchin' Barndoor" feature in the April 2022 issue of Hot VWs. Its show history continued with a documented Pittsburgh World of Wheels appearance and culminated in 1st Place in the Mild Van class at the 2024 Detroit Autorama, the same landmark event at which Kindig-It and the Maxwell family captured the Ridler Award with TwelveAir. Combining the intrinsic rarity of a registry-recognized Type 241 Barndoor Deluxe with the craftsmanship, television provenance and national show history of one of America's foremost custom builders, this Kindig-built Volkswagen represents an extraordinary union of German automotive history and contemporary American coachbuilding. VIN: 20053611.
Please send us a message if you would like to see additional images of any vehicle.
Memorabilia purchases are eligible for free delivery to shows attended by Richmond Auctions. Memorabilia purchases can also be picked up in Greenville, SC or the McCandless Collection in Burlington, NC. Winning bidders of memorabilia items can contact us following the sale to arrange freight and shipping options. Please contact Reliable Carriers to arrange vehicle shipping.
Condition
BUYER'S PREMIUM:Vehicles: 15% on LiveAuctioneers.Automobilia & Tether Cars: 20% on LiveAuctioneersIMPORTANT STEPS TO COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION:1. A Letter of Guaranty from your financial institution is required to bid in The Fall Spectacular Auction at the Savoy Automobile Museum since automobiles are selling in conjunction with advertising and memorabilia. 2. Message us to request a sample format of the Letter of Guarantee required to register about the pre-set bid limit of $25,000.3. Your bid limit will be capped at the amount set in the Letter of Guaranty by your financial institution.4. Send your completed Letter of Guaranty and a copy of your driver's license (front and back) to finance (at) richmondauctions (dot) com in order to complete the registration process.5. Once a completed Letter of Guaranty is received and verified by Richmond Auctions, you will receive an email with approval notification. Completed approval will allow you to bid on Day 1 and Day 2. If you have any questions, please call our office at 864-991-5949 and ask for Accounting.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
