TheSamba.com :: View topic - Buying a Bay

Wed Jul 29, 2009 1:08 am

OK guys, I've never been in this forum before, but am no newbie to VW's. I've owned perhaps a dozen different VW's over the last 25 years, including Bugs, Bajas, Type 3's and Ghias. I'm pretty darned good with VW's and generally know what I'm doing. However, I've never had a bus. It's a bit weird coming into this forum as a "newbie". Here goes, though:

My 17 year old kid wants a bus as his first car. I have a line on one that seems to be a decent deal to me, but I'm clueless as far as Bays go. This is a 1970 Westy. I can have it delivered or go pick it up, but it's about 500 miles away, so I'm looking for help from you guys that really know these.

The story goes like this:

The guy who owned it bought it to restore. The first thing he did to it is get the engine and trans rebuilt. Then he suddenly died. It has been stored for about a year and a half since then. I am buying it from his son, a friend of mine. He says that he was told that the upholstery and curtains are original, and it had been stored indoors for years while not in use.

So...

Does this look like a decent deal? Is this truly original stuff? What is this thing really worth?

Thanks in advance for your help....

Here are some photos:

[img]http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/57baja/DSC_0025.jpg[/img

Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:55 am

Get it. Looks to be about as nice a one as you would find for an unrestored bus. What's he want for it? If in fact the engine and trans are a new quality rebuild that's probably a $2,000 gain. Truthfully though I wouldn't get it for him. Get it for yourself. It is too original and valuable. He will want to do his thing to it and basically ruin it. At least the originality of the interior. It needs an owner that has the full appreciation for what it is. That would be very rare for a 17 year old.

Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:05 am

It's hard to say what a bus is worth. West coast prices seem to be quite different from east coast. The bus looks decent enough, you need to go through the motor though. I'd do a compression test if possible. Just because it was rebuilt does not say much. Search through The Samba classifieds to get an idea what people are asking. If the drive train is good, 2Gs would not be bad IMO.

Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:10 am

Westy interior looks very complete. Body seems solid, with a very fixable rear damage. If it runs good, steers OK and has good brakes, I'd say 3K would still be a good price. Of course if you get it for less, good on you...

Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:27 am

In it's original good interior condition if there are no rust issues it's worth 2G even without an engine. Have him get the paper work on the engine and trans. Find out who did it and check them out. If it is a quality name shop you're talking about a 4 or 5G bus. With the experience you have you would know engines and drive trains. Only thing obvious is the steering column. Not sure what might be up there. Check under the front floor mat and in the wheel wells for rust. But find another bus for your son. This one is not a learner experiment bus.

Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:51 am

i have a camper value rule. any good camper on the road, running and driving, is a an $8K vehicle. if the purchase is $5K, it's usually going to take 3 more to make it a reliable driver. this rule assumes that the bus is not a rust bucket, has a complete interior, is basically a done job, not a project. i use this rule when customers or prospective bus owners ask what a vw camper is worth.

the rule has flexibility, for instance a '70 is worth less than a '76-'79 in the same condition. but it works on the whole and if you get the bus running and driving for anything under 8K you're ahead.

i am canadian so you can turn the $8K rule into a $7K rule. but the rule works in principle. as long as you inspect the vehicle and there are no huge surprises, a good condition '70's camper on the road is worth $7K all day long. as the vehicle becomes more of a project the value descends. as the condition rises the value goes up.

to me the bus above looks excellent. it has everything i would be looking for in a used camper. it's original, seems to have most of the original paint and the interior is great. it looks dry. i would not hesitate to buy that bus. desertbusman makes a good point, the first thing a 17-year-old is going to want to do is rip out the interior, respray it and make it "custom". it would be a pity to do these things to such an original bus. that bus does not need to be restored, it needs to be cared for. it's nearly perfect the way it is.

Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:57 am

Whats the story with the dynamo and air filter between the front seats? spares?

Anyway, looks like a dream ticket, If that was for sale over here there'd be line of people 15 deep happy to hand over $10k for it. Should be preserved 'as is', in my view, rather than 'slammed 'n' narrowed'

Ant

Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:30 am

i'd say it's worth whatever he's asking for it. that bus is SWEET!

as for letting a 17 year old drive it... :?

it'd almost be worth it to install a ratty interior and save the OG for him for about 10 years. at least cover all that westy vinyl to protect it.
if you let a 17 year old drive that car it's going to take it's share of dings--inside and out.
i am speeking from experience.

Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:56 am

borninabus wrote: i'd say it's worth whatever he's asking for it. that bus is SWEET!

as for letting a 17 year old drive it... :?

it'd almost be worth it to install a ratty interior and save the OG for him for about 10 years. at least cover all that westy vinyl to protect it.
if you let a 17 year old drive that car it's going to take it's share of dings--inside and out.
i am speeking from experience.

I'm 17 my yellow bus is the first car I'v owned. if his son is like me the car will be fine and it will stay nice and clean.

Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:07 am

Just because he is 17 doesn't mean he will ruin the bus imo. It depends on what type of person he is. Since you appreciate vw's then chances are he does too and will take your advice into consideration. Nobody has mentioned that that bus needs bodywork and at least a partial paint job plus some interior work. That being said, it is a very nice bus and I would buy it in a heartbeat.

Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:26 am

I was 17 when I got my bus and you should see the dumb shit I did to it. :roll:

That was over 10 years ago and it will take me another 10 years to undo my mess!

who knows though. everyone is individual, maybe he's not like that.

ps. looks very nice, but I might wager to say you have a rust under the windshield issue, the 7th pic looks like alot of silicone....

Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:41 am

Wow guys. Thanks for all of the responses. It sounds like this is a good deal, huh? As far as the 17 year old goes, he's kind of a different animal. I think he's of the personality that he may enjoy trying to keep it all original, rather than customizing it all out. So you guys think that the upholstery and stuff is all truly the original stuff? Sounds like it might be a good find. I'll buy it and get it home to inspect it more.

I may see more of you guys in this forum shortly.

Thanks!

Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:49 am

Hey man, That is a nice ride and if you want your friend to stay a friend pay a fair price for it. Something is only worth what someone will pay for it. As far as the debate about your son driving that thing and customizing it. Let him. If he does you should worry about being called Grampa too soon. With a a ride like that... too cool. Not all buses are show buses .You are a swell Dad and he has a lot of lawns to mow and trash take outs coming up. It has been my experience that when I give something away I reduce the value of that item

Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:08 am

57baja wrote: So you guys think that the upholstery and stuff is all truly the original stuff? Sounds like it might be a good find. I'll buy it and get it home to inspect it more.
Thanks!

yup all the stuff in there is OG the floor doesn't look it but it could just be the lighting. even has the stool.

I seen that glove box with no button on it. is it a nos part or somthing?

Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:09 am

buy it buy it buy it. then show your son my bus and make him thank you every day for the next ten years:

www.campermobile.blogspot.com

Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:39 am

That Bus is a taker IMO. The original unmolested camper interior is a huge bonus, inclusive of the nice pop-top tent and seals still intact. Cosmetically, it is a great looking Bus, body-wise the only prob I see is the driver's side damage in the rear end. The engine hatch needs to close/ seal correctly, elsewise you won't be cooling properly, and when you go to put the heat on you'll have exhaust entering the bus. A carbon monoxide buzz can be a real downer. It's also a good thing that you have the right muffler on there. The steering column definately needs work, and they aren't that easy to fiddle with, including getting the horn, turn signals, and high beams to function. The rear end has some sag IMO. Different issues can be the cause of this. It is really a nice bus and won't take much to get it safely on the road. Whoever decides to be the owner/operator/mechanic will enjoy it. Why not make it a father-son project and you get to share????

Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:49 am

this is how u buy a old car. look at all the areas. interior, seats, tires, engine, paint and outher. now look at the areas that need repair. is it interior, seats, tires, engine, paint and other. or it only has a good engine.than u need to decide . do u have more time....or money... if u have more money than time get one in good condition that only need 1 area or 2 areas of work. if u have more time than money get the one u want as cheep as possible that is the most complete with the least hacks

Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:32 am

How much does he want? Ive been looking at them for the last two months. That looks like a 3 to 4.5k car. Atleast as far as what others have been asking. It looks like a great canidate to restore to original as alot of its original stuff is there and in good shape. If the body wasnt dented he could get more, alot more. The cleanest, most original bay westys are fetching the most. So if you can get it cheap-get it!

Oh and if you pass-give me the info!!!!

Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:45 am

$3500-$4000.

Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:52 am

Go for it.
but keep it for yourself to nice for your son. Get one for him that he has to rebuild.