TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Nov 21, 2008 3:56 pm

Hello to all,

great site, I am in that initial search for "my" bus, I am an avid collector of other names "Fiat", "Bmw's" and the vw bug has bit me hard, have had beetles in the past but never a bus, at any rate my Newbie question is the following, I am looking at Bay window busses, but there seems to be a lot of configurations, which one is a better for lack of a better word as far as a collectable? panels seems to be in shortage, but not sure if they are as attractive for re-sale. not sure if my question is clear enough so feel free to drill the newb. I would be doing local traveling with it, and can customize myself so the inside configuration is not as important as I can do most of the work, and thats part of the fun.

thanks for the informative site

Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:43 pm

Welcome.
Trucks are definitely the rarest, followed closely by panels, the VW truck was so useful it got literally driven into the ground so there's not many survivors. Panels suffer the same fate as well as succumbing to the hands of backyard modifiers with saws, "damn, I should put a window in that". It's hard to say what's rarest among stationwagons, kombis and Westfalias, stationwagons get camperized as do kombis and campers get their interiors ripped out to make them kombis. Early (68-72 campers seem to be harder to find in good condition).

Any bus is far more valuable with original paint and no rust, interior parts can be found and changed but a body is only original once.

You speak of customizing, anything you do to an original bus will decrease it's value, be careful, sometimes it's better to begin with a project.
Bottom line is pick the model you like, all of them hold their value and a favorite model is entirely what the potential buyer desires at the time.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 5:20 pm

Busdaddy thanks!

yes I missed used the word customizing, I meant I can do the interior work, benches, wood work and the like, would like to keep the bus as original as posible as I have with my other cars, my english is ok, but at times I pick the wrong words, sometimes I do not feel I speak 2 languages, I feel iliterate at both! :)

thanks for the info, I have not seen any trucks here at least not since I started the search, some campers, passengers, and some panel, the reason I asked was I see many restoration of panels on the net, so I got curious as to why, wether it was simply a fad or are they more desirable. I am leaning towards the look of the panel.

best!

Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:40 pm

No worries, Poeple who dig panels really dig them (myself included), there are others who couldn't waste their time to look at them, it's going to limit your market if you decide to bail out but those who can appreciate a good panel will know what they are seeing.

As for the custom thing, anything you can undo with basic hand tools is tolerable, but things that require torches etc. to undo remove value. Look at the classifieds, a crazy interior can be peeled out, but a tubbed, bagged, badass slam job bus is usually advertised for the price of the modifications alone and remains for sale forever. In 20 years those buses are going to be starring in some previous owner hack job thread somewhere, whereas nice original buses will still have the same appeal nomatter what the trend of the day is.

Sat Nov 22, 2008 2:08 pm

For a bus such as this... 1972 Westy

99% Original with the exception of added HORSES (2056cc) expect to PAY.

Sat Nov 22, 2008 2:13 pm

Nice bus! Could use a few less reflectors :wink:

Sat Nov 22, 2008 2:16 pm

1303 sb wrote: Nice bus! Could use a few less reflectors :wink:

No one can say they didn't see me. :lol:

Sat Nov 22, 2008 2:44 pm

udidwht wrote: 1303 sb wrote: Nice bus! Could use a few less reflectors :wink:

No one can see they didn't see me. :lol:

I know where he got that user name from. People see the reflectors and say "you did what?". JK with you. Nice bus. And to the OP, I like the panel buses myself. Even tho' they're meant for cargo and not people. Try to find one with business logo's and keep it OG. Peace!

Sat Nov 22, 2008 7:58 pm

udidwht wrote: For a bus such as this... 1972 Westy

99% Original with the exception of added HORSES (2056cc) expect to PAY.

this is very nice! I like!

Sat Nov 22, 2008 8:01 pm

1977_L63H_P27 wrote: udidwht wrote: 1303 sb wrote: Nice bus! Could use a few less reflectors :wink:

No one can see they didn't see me. :lol:

I know where he got that user name from. People see the reflectors and say "you did what?". JK with you. Nice bus. And to the OP, I like the panel buses myself. Even tho' they're meant for cargo and not people. Try to find one with business logo's and keep it OG. Peace!

Yes, I have seen them in the pics in the gallery and look great! i agree Panel are not naturally meant for people, but they can be set up nicely but then you walk away from the originality of it, i met the Bums (bumfuzzle) while they were here in Puerto Rico and love what they did to their 58 panel!

thanks!

Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:29 pm

Hey man.. What part of PR are you in? I'm coming down there in a couple of weeks.

I spend about 6 to 8 weeks in Ponce every year. I'm going to Arecibo this trip though...
I've got some good friends in Ponce...

-Brad

Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:34 pm

tnpanscraper wrote: Hey man.. What part of PR are you in? I'm coming down there in a couple of weeks.

I spend about 6 to 8 weeks in Ponce every year. I'm going to Arecibo this trip though...
I've got some good friends in Ponce...

-Brad

I am in Dorado, have a sister in law in Arecibo and many friends in Ponce, are you coming to PR on vacation?

Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:37 pm

Not this time. I'm working at a battery recycling plant this trip.

I usually work at Cemento De Ponce(Cemex of Ponce)(Puerto Rican Cement Company)...

-Brad

Sun Nov 23, 2008 5:18 pm

tnpanscraper wrote: Not this time. I'm working at a battery recycling plant this trip.

I usually work at Cemento De Ponce(Cemex of Ponce)(Puerto Rican Cement Company)...

-Brad

cool, I have visited the cemex plant in Ponce, impressive! well let me know when your down and I will invite some coffee :)

there is a big vw show in ciales I believe Dec 3 to the 5th.

Regards,

Sun Nov 23, 2008 5:45 pm

Awesome.... I'll PM you when I come down...

Or you can PM me with a phone # and your email address...

-Brad

Sun Nov 23, 2008 10:58 pm

tnpanscraper wrote: Awesome.... I'll PM you when I come down...

Or you can PM me with a phone # and your email address...

-Brad

done :)