The story of One Eleven Web Design’s 1960 VW Bus
Every good VW story starts with a little rust and a whole lot of character.
Long before it became the face of One Eleven Web Design, our 1960 Volkswagen Panel Bus had already lived a life most vehicles could only dream about. It worked hard, changed hands, survived impossible odds, and somehow kept finding people willing to give it another chance.
In many ways, that’s exactly what our company believes in.
Built to work.
In 1960, our VW Panel Bus rolled off the assembly line in classic Dove Blue and began its first chapter in Tucson, Arizona.
Its first owner, Bob Brickman of Brickman Dry Cleaners, put the little bus to work as part of his commercial fleet. Before relocating west, Bob had built quite a reputation in Cleveland as a sports promoter, most notably organizing the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Jimmy Doyle boxing match.
Once in Arizona, the bus became fleet vehicle #7—repainted white, carrying the Brickman name, and doing exactly what Volkswagen designed it to do: work.
For years, it faithfully served its owner before eventually being retired.
A second chance.
Like many old work vehicles, retirement wasn’t glamorous.
At some point, the front nose was removed, and the bus was converted into a children’s playhouse. Most people would have considered its story finished.
Fortunately, someone else saw potential.
John Ghia of California BusBoyz rescued the forgotten bus and brought it back to East Los Angeles. After drilling out thousands of factory spot welds, he grafted on the front end from a 1958 Volkswagen Single Cab, giving the bus a second chance at life.
Sometimes the best stories don’t begin—they’re rebuilt.
Living the surf life.
The next chapter took the bus somewhere it seemed destined to be.
It found a home with legendary surfboard designer Dale Walker in Orange County, California.
For years, it cruised Highway 1 with surfboards hanging out the back, becoming part of Southern California’s surf culture.
Years later, we couldn’t help but laugh when we realized something remarkable.
Our original company tagline had always been:
“Go out and surf the web…”
We had no idea our future VW bus had already been living that philosophy long before we found it.
Finding its forever home.
In 2019, one year after One Eleven Web Design was born, Eric traveled to Huntington Beach to bring the bus home.
It wasn’t purchased because it was perfect.
It wasn’t.
It had decades of stories written into every dent, weld, and repair.
That’s exactly what made it special.
Today, it’s proudly known as Bus #1 in the One Eleven fleet—not because it’s the newest vehicle we own, but because it reminds us where we came from and what we believe.
Still a work in progress.
Just like our business, the bus is constantly evolving.
Over the years, we’ve continued restoring and modernizing it with thoughtful upgrades while preserving the character that made us fall in love with it in the first place.
It’s received suspension upgrades, Porsche 944 spindles and brakes, Fuchs wheels, Safari windows, electrical improvements, and countless hours of fabrication, restoration, and craftsmanship from talented friends and local businesses who share our appreciation for doing things the right way.
Every improvement prepares it for another chapter—not because something was broken, but because great things deserve ongoing care.
More than a logo.
People often assume our VW bus is simply part of our branding.
The truth is, it’s become something much bigger.
It reminds us that the things worth keeping aren’t the ones that stay the same—they’re the ones that continue improving.
That’s the philosophy behind our company.
It’s why we created the Pipeline™ Framework—a continuous process for building, maintaining, measuring, optimizing, protecting, and growing websites long after launch.
The best websites aren’t finished the day they’re published.
They’re cared for.
They’re refined.
They evolve.
Just like this bus.
The road ahead.
The restoration isn’t finished.
Honestly, we hope it never really is.
There will always be another road trip to take, another improvement to make, another story to collect, and another memory waiting around the next bend.
That’s part of the fun.
And just like the websites we manage, the journey matters every bit as much as the destination.
The best websites are never finished. They’re always catching the next wave.
Ready to ride the wave?
Whether you’re launching a new website or looking for a better way to manage the one you already have, let’s talk about where your business is headed next.
The best websites are never finished.
They’re always catching the next wave.
