Spotlight #2

From a rust-riddled wreck to a show-stopping Westfalia, this 1969 Lowlight has been on one incredible journey! Owned for nearly 20 years, Mats has poured his heart into this build—right down to a full bare-metal restoration and an authentic Westfalia interior, gifted by his wife for Christmas. 

 

With Volksfest Australia 2025 just around the corner, let’s get to know Mats and his pride and joy, Dubbus!

 

Owner: Mats Jacobson

 

Q. What model and year is your VW?

A. 1969 Lowlight Westfalia Camper

 

Q. How long have you owned it?

A. Nearly 20 years

 

Q. Does your VW have a name? If so, what is it and how did it earn it?

A. Dubbus

 

Q. What’s your favourite thing about your VW?

A. I really like the stance and the interior

 

Q. What condition was it in when you got it?

A. Rustbucket

 

Q. How did you first get into the VW scene?

A. With a 1978 Kombi in the early ’90s

 

Q. Do you own more than one VW?

A. Not anymore, but I’ve owned many over the years—all Kombis, bar one Beetle

 

Q. What’s the best memory you’ve made with your VW so far?

A. Travelling and camping in it after the resto

 

Q. Have you ever broken down in a hilarious or inconvenient place?

A. Not in this bus, but my first Kombi (Zombi Kombi) had a damaged worm gear for the distributor. Every hour or so, I had to pull the dizzy out and re-align it 180° so it would run again!

 

Q. Have you made any modifications or restorations? What’s your proudest upgrade?

A. Bare metal restoration—got rid of all the rust! Also, fitting a full Westfalia interior that my wife bought me for Christmas

 

Q. Do you daily drive it, take it to shows, or is it a weekend cruiser?

A. Weekend cruiser & event goer

 

Q. What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever transported in your VW?

A. A vintage dirt bike

 

Q. Have you ever gone on a road trip in your VW?

A. Yes! Port Macquarie for a long weekend, Volksfest 2023 (first VW camping trip), Old Bar Beach Festival, and countless weekend trips to Kiama and beyond

 

Q. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone buying their first VW?

A. Have a lot of spare change for rust repairs, haha! And get yourself a copy of The Idiot’s Guide to VW’s

 

Q. If your VW could talk, what would it say to you?

A. “I’m too low, lift me out of the weeds!”

 

Q. What’s the most “VW thing” about your car?

A. Starting it can be a bit annoying if you don’t get it right the first time!

 

Q. Do you have a favourite VW event or meetup?

A. Volksfest! It’s so laid back, there’s always something to do, and even in the rain last year, we had an awesome day watching Matt Hall’s airshow at the airfield

 

Q. What’s your dream VW to own?

A. This one! Or an early Karmann Ghia

 

Q. Is there anything else you’d love to share about your VW journey?

A. Even with all the hard work restoring the bus—and having a massive stroke halfway through the resto—it was all worth it.