When I bought the bus, I was told by the owner that Lucy wasn't a single bus but a conglomerate of more than one vehicle–two in particular. My vehicle registration states the bus is a 1977. Indeed, the engine and transmission are from '77. I think we now have enough clues to confirm the year of the bus that makes up Lucy's other half.
First, Sean at Glenn's called today to let me know the brake job was going to take a little longer than expected because upon further inspection, they discovered that Lucy's front brakes are actually from 1972. They don't stock '72 calipers since they were unique that one year. He suggested that I keep a journal to distinguish between the '77 parts and everything else.
Next, I received an email from the author of Viva Westfalia! that suggested that the front parking/signal lights looked pre '73. I have to agree. Compare for yourself: 1977 | 1972 | Lucy
Piecing together the puzzles of Lucy's "checkered" history is part of the fun of having a v-dub!