Buster the bus
Born: February 13, 1973
Birthplace: Wolfsburg, Germany
Model: Volkswagen Kombi
Current Status: Living his best life on the open road
Buster isn’t just a bus—he’s a certified world traveler with more stamps on his metaphorical passport than most humans. This handsome devil rolled off the assembly line in Germany on a chilly February day in 1973, dressed to impress in a rare shade called Sumatra Green (yes, it’s a real color, and yes, it’s as cool as it sounds).
His first owners had big dreams: they brought him all the way from Germany to North America and showed him the continent. From sun-soaked beaches in Mexico to winding mountain roads up north, Buster’s early years were filled with adventure, questionable road snacks, and probably a few breakdowns that are now family legend.
Then came owner number two—whose name is Buster (yes, it’s confusing, but we didn’t make the rules). He transformed our green machine into the ultimate grandkid-mobile, creating memories one ice cream run and camping trip at a time. We like to imagine him teaching tiny humans how to pop the top while telling stories about “back in my day.”
Now? Buster’s with us—the third caretakers of this rolling piece of history. We’re taking him on his next chapter: a cross-country book tour and yoga adventure that his German engineers definitely didn’t anticipate but would probably approve of.
Miles Traveled
Campgrounds Stayed
Mechanical Milestones
Wildlife Spotted
Help Us Trace Buster’s Roots
Here’s where it gets interesting: we want to uncover Buster’s full story. Where exactly did he go in Mexico? Do his original owners still have photos of his early adventures?
We need your help! If you know anything about tracing a VW Kombi’s history, have tips on finding previous owners, or know someone who might have crossed paths with a Sumatra Green Westfalia over the past 51 years, we’d love to hear from you. Vehicle genealogy experts, VW historians, and amateur sleuths—we’re looking at you.
Think of it as 23andMe, but for buses. AncestryDotKombi, if you will.
My Book: Shelter in Motion
In Shelter in Motion: Essays from a Bohemian Life, Heather Jacks chronicles a life lived along the edges—from a white childhood on an Indian Reservation to van life during a pandemic, from selling condoms in Times Square to taking a six-day Greyhound ride to mend a broken heart.
This collection of 22 award-winning essays explores the resilience it takes to reinvent yourself again and again. With wit, vulnerability, and hard-earned wisdom, Jacks offers a roadmap for anyone who has chosen the bohemian path over the beaten one—part confession, part celebration, wholly honest.
Raw, funny, and deeply human, Shelter in Motion reminds us that home isn’t always a place—it’s a journey. And sometimes, the only way to find it is to stay in motion.
A Special Thanks to Our Wall of Wanders
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