Long, Strange Trip Ends for VW "Hippiemobile"
This classic campervan keeps truckin'
By JONATHAN LLOYD
Updated 1:45 PM PST, Thu, Nov 5, 2009
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It's been a long, strange trip.
A classic "hippiemobile" reported stolen more than three decades ago was found in a shipping container at the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex. The 1965 Volkswagen microbus was bound for the Netherlands when customs officials ran its vehicle identification number.
And, it still runs.
The vehicle's magical mystery tour began 35 years ago in Washington state. Customs inspectors ran its VIN on a law enforcement database and discovered that the Spokane Police Department had listed it stolen on July 12, 1974, said Jaime Ruiz of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
"CBP officers contacted state authorities, who confirmed that the 1965 Volkswagen bus case was still open and that the current owner ... was an insurance company," Ruiz said in a statement. "The vehicle was released to the local authorities who notified the current owner about the seizure."
The bus was in "pristine condition and still running," Ruiz said.
One of the first minivans, the VW microbus was the vehicle of choice for many counter-culture types during the 1960s. Despite poor aerodynamics, the bus was great for long, mind-blowing journeys.
Copyright City News Service / NBC Los Angeles
First Published: Nov 5, 2009 1:16 PM PST
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