The 1957 Samba, one of the most iconic and valuable VW Campers, was pushed into fjord lake by a local hotelier when its gearbox failed in 1974. This Bus is an iconic 23 window version with eight roof-light windows. That makes it one of the most prized and valuable variants.

Thirty years later enthusiast s Norwegian Volkswagen fanatic Morten Lund learned of the drowned Volkswagen and hired a remote-controlled submersible to search for it, discovering the Microbus lying face down at a depth of 50 feet (15 metres).


Undeterred, Morten Lund hired divers and a mobile crane and lifted out this bus on earlier summer 2009. This mega project for restoring the Volkswagen to back on the road.

The determined and hugely optimistic enthusiast excitedly told Practical Classics magazine: "It took me less than 30 minutes to get both front wheels rolling, and the steering works perfectly... The cargo floor and cab are nearly rust free – just some minor holes around the edges."

In 2008 a completely original 1958 Samba made £56,000 at a UK auction. The year before, TV chef Jamie Oliver's much-pimped 23-window Samba sold for £48,000.

Wonderful story.... 



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