TheSamba.com :: View topic - 69' Bay, buy or not? Input/tips needed, Newbie!

Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:58 am

Whats happening everybody? I've been a longtime lurker on this board and have had a few old VW's through the years. I've been into hotrods all my life. It's a family thing. Anyway I have had the urge to get a bus for the last few years and have finally started to look seriously. I finally got a tip from a friend of a friend about a 1969 bay that was looking for a new home. I am told that it has a very strong engine, rebuilt front end, new battery, new windshield and seal. Everything works. Was told that it has rust in the usual spots, battery tray, lower corners etc, but solid overall. What should I walk away from? What are serious things to look at versus no big deals. I know how to weld and have spent many hours patching panels on my 40' ford and 51' chevy. I'm just looking for any tips of things not to overlook. He is asking less than 2000$ for it. I don't want low ball him or get robbed. Any insight would be great from you bus vets. Thanks.

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Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:12 pm

It looks really good, and for less than $2k it sounds like a decent deal. Make sure you check the jack points for rust-through.

As long as it runs, shifts properly, and stops well, I'd say go for it.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:18 pm

I want it!

As long as it runs I would go for it if you can. If it doesn't work for you, pass it on to me! That is what I have been looking for 8)

Edit: I would do some checking around that nose a bit. They are usually crumpled there a bit and it looks like this one was fixed (different shade of blue). Hopefully not a ton of bondo.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:19 pm

Man, I just pait $4500 for a 69 Westy, and probably has more rush issues than that bus. It does, however have an interior with functions etc.

I'd say under $2k is a pretty good deal if it runs, shifts, isn't leaking badly and everything works!

Door and window seals are an issue. Check in the Bay Forum tip area, there is a buyers guide (which I ignored), but hey,,,,we only live once...

Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:42 pm

Looks like a good buy!

Wed Feb 03, 2010 1:49 pm

Do it! If you want to go back to an original Transporter, I have a rear seat I will gladly sell you, cheaply! Good price for a runner and the body is good, the interior, well that is to the eye of the owner. :wink:

Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:16 pm

Buy it. Looks like a good deal.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:30 pm

Looks pretty nice. But any pics of the rust? The pic show the bus nicely but hide the bad stuff.
Still, good deal if there are no surprises.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:57 pm

Thanks for all the input everyone! When I received the pictures I was suspect because I was told their was rust, but no pics. After calling the seller he did inform me that it had rust in the lower rear corners and a little in the rockers on both sides. Nothing terrible he said, but that is in the eye of the beholder. The bus isn't too far from house and I'm going too see it in person on Saturday. We shall see. I am told that he is very motivated to find it a new home to be enjoyed. He has owned it for last 14 years.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:16 pm

ASPARKOFLIFE75 wrote: Thanks for all the input everyone! When I received the pictures I was suspect because I was told their was rust, but no pics. After calling the seller he did inform me that it had rust in the lower rear corners and a little in the rockers on both sides. Nothing terrible he said, but that is in the eye of the beholder. The bus isn't too far from house and I'm going too see it in person on Saturday. We shall see. I am told that he is very motivated to find it a new home to be enjoyed. He has owned it for last 14 years.

yeah sounds like a honest guy to me, man, usually the ones trying to pull crap will say a little rust nothing major and you can totally tell it's a rust bucket, some people out there still have honor man, lol
i wouldn't buy it sight unseen but sounds and looks good enough, i would get on that if i was you, there's guys like caleb lurking about and will take it from under your nose, lol (not that caleb is like that at all, just dudes who want a bus really bad)
i just robbed a bus from a good friend by mistake last week he was on his way to pick it up when i called the seller and offered him $50 more and got the bus, only a few hours later i get a call from a friend telling me i stole his bus lol..... if i would have know who was after it i wouldn't have done that, point is the market for good buses is crap right now and good ones at good prices aren't going to hang around long.

that said man when you get your bus hit up wetwesties.org it's the onw camping crew a bunch of great people and kind of the vw bus scene in washington. we do a bunch of camp out and and have a good mix of people from 16-76 in age mostly the older generations though.
we have alot of good people here in the WA so if you need help don't be afraid to post up a thread for us seattle guys.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:23 pm

theizzardking wrote: i would get on that if i was you, there's guys like caleb lurking about and will take it from under your nose, lol (not that caleb is like that at all, just dudes who want a bus really bad)

Good friend you are :P haha

I would only be interested in something like this if he passed over it first. Karma comes back to bite you if you start trying to snake buses out from under others...

I would get to it quick and determine if it is something you want. People change minds, get bigger offers, etc all the time so you have to try and act fast on the better deals.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:31 pm

calebmelvin wrote: theizzardking wrote: i would get on that if i was you, there's guys like caleb lurking about and will take it from under your nose, lol (not that caleb is like that at all, just dudes who want a bus really bad)

Good friend you are :P haha

I would only be interested in something like this if he passed over it first. Karma comes back to bite you if you start trying to snake deals out from under others...

I would get to it quick and determine if it is something you want. People change minds, get bigger offers, etc all the time so you have to try and act fast on the better deals.

lol, yeah i know you would never do that dude, just saying other may not be so kind, lol
if he wasn't on here and i called this seller from the craigslist or whatever
i would swoop it from him, offer asking price and get it today, you know what i'm saying?

don't worry (OP) we have a code of honor here on the samba between the regulars about that sort of thing here, i'm just saying that outside of this forum it's all fair game and that it has also been known to happen people will see your thread and try and rob it from you, again the regulars on here don't do that crap as it's just a jack a$$ thing to do,
but your safe from caleb,me, and the other pnw regulars on here, lol
on that same note there are plenty of vw bus people that are not on the samba that maybe calling on this.

that said man looks good i like that it still has all of the deluxe trim on it and looks to be well taken care of, i really hope this works for you and it turns out to be everything you want in a bus, if it's not though offer it up to caleb or one of the other samba members currently trying to find a bus, look around in the threads it's a tough time for good buses right now.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:31 pm

calebmelvin wrote:

I would get to it quick and determine if it is something you want. People change minds, get bigger offers, etc all the time so you have to try and act fast on the better deals.

i ramble alot this is basically what i was trying to say, lol

Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:37 pm

This bus isn't currently listed/advertised anywhere. The seller's friend who took the pics responded to a wanted ad that I posted. Stating his good friend and neighbor had one looking for a home. Seller is an older guy located in a pretty rural area and doesn't own a computer. Told me that I have first crack at it before they list it anywhere. That would suck if it got snaked though. Been bus dreaming for a long time.

Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:45 pm

Looks like a nice bus from here. 8)

Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:47 pm

It looks like that it is a really good bus. Though my thoughts about it are as follows:

1)It looks like there may have been some repairs done to the windshield frame metal-wise due to the color difference around the top of the nose and the front windshield pillars. Not necessarily a bad thing, but just ask the seller about it when you go to see the bus this weekend.
2)When you go to see the the bus, make sure you take along a flashlight and creeper. That way you can be sure of the condition of the bus's chassis. Go over, under, all around the bus, noting any quirks or interesting things you spot and ask the seller about them. This not only can give you more insight into the history of the bus, but the integrity of the seller, both of which can be a factor of deciding if you want to buy this bus from this person.
3)Does the seller have a service history? If so, then take a look at it and see what this bus has had done to it in the last year or so. This will give you a heads up on if you will need to buy anything else for the bus in the near future. If there's no history, well, I'd ask why.
4)TAKE A TEST DRIVE! Sure that bus sits pretty in those photos, but how does it feel out on the road? Test drive it with the seller. See how it goes, how it stops, how it turns. Take it out in stop and go traffic, on the highway, and maybe a road with a lot of curves if you can. Listen to the engine, the brakes, the suspension, and the steering wheel. Watch the gauges and dash lights. I would be very suspicious about someone who is unwilling to let a car that "runs, stops, and drives" out on a test drive. If they say no, ask them why.

Once you do all of the above, go over all that you have experienced in your head. Once you feel confident one way or the other, make your choice. Hopefully you pick to buy it, because that's a damn good price for that bus! Good luck this Saturday and remember to inspect the bus so thoroughly the seller thinks your paranoid!

Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:59 pm

So how did it look?

Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:28 pm

I agree with the general sentiment. It seems like a good deal at under $2k, even if there are some things to fix.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:31 am

I am officially a new Bay owner! Of course there were things not shown in his pics. Some shotty body work here and there from po's will put me to work. Passenger side rear corner needs to be replaced, some sill rust, but none rusted through. Needs window seals in the rear. Freshly rebuilt engine with all documentation. Drives, stops and shifts great. Got it for 700$. Now the fun begins!

Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:38 am

ASPARKOFLIFE75 wrote: I am officially a new Bay owner! Of course there were things not shown in his pics. Some shotty body work here and there from po's will put me to work. Passenger side rear corner needs to be replaced, some sill rust, but none rusted through. Needs window seals in the rear. Freshly rebuilt engine with all documentation. Drives, stops and shifts great. Got it for 700$. Now the fun begins!

naw the fun begins we we see you at the shows this summer and at a few of the camp outs, till then get to work! :lol:

congrats man, if you need anything we're here ;-)