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Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:45 am

I intend tu buy this camper whith 6k euro.It's worth?Severeal years ago it was repainted not very nice.(You can see waves on the left side).Now it has a little rust on front and slide door.
Engine is B series and it's look all to be original except mirror,tail lights and rear brakes cylinders.
Interrior SO 60 (EU) and it is made in 1967.Can be that bus fabricate in '67?Official is 1968 the first year of production,right?
I will try to take some pics with VIN plate to see what the 3-rd number say.
I don't want another big project because i already have a '67dlx 21 win in proces and i hope to get it finish in this life.

Thanks for advice.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:04 am

The car buying season starts in the fall for most manufacturers so that a car made late in the year is the next years model. Best guess is that this bus is one of the earliest 1968 sold, that or someone put westy items in made in 1967.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:02 am

Like SGKent said, Most likely a '68. It has practically the same interior as my old '72 tin top Westy.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:10 am

68 for sure, just super early (notice the serial # of the conversion?), as for value? hard to say from the other side of the world, I'm guessing there aren't many busses in Romania and I don't know how much trouble importing one from elsewhere is.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:19 am

Sure does look pretty nice and original inside. Hard to say what the new paint is hiding... a magnet might reveal heavy bondo. As mentioned, tough to value a Romanian bus without knowing the market. If it runs well and the body isn't filled with bondo it might fetch $5000 or so in the US, but that also depends on which part of the country it's being sold. There is a Samba member TravelingWriter that spends quite a bit of time in that part of the world... he might be a good source for estimating worth.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:52 am

Didn't they start production on bays in 67 for the European market?

Fri Mar 19, 2010 1:32 pm

krautwaggen wrote: Didn't they start production on bays in 67 for the European market?

My 68 was originally purchased from a German dealership by the original owners who then shipped it to California. According to the m-code, it was manufactured in Feb. of 67, which I thought was weird because it seemed too early for a 68. If you're right, then that explains it!

Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:36 pm

djdh68dlux wrote: krautwaggen wrote: Didn't they start production on bays in 67 for the European market?

My 68 was originally purchased from a German dealership by the original owners who then shipped it to California. According to the m-code, it was manufactured in Feb. of 67, which I thought was weird because it seemed too early for a 68. If you're right, then that explains it!

Sure you're reading the M plate right? Because the parts book and VW's production records start with 2X80000001 in August of 67.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 3:11 pm

busdaddy wrote: Sure you're reading the M plate right? Because the parts book and VW's production records start with 2X80000001 in August of 67.

Totally, 67 is when VW commenced volume production of the bay in the summer and by the end of the year had completed 162,741 units (source: VW Transporter and Microbus specification guide 1967-1979 http://www.t2-specification-guide.com/ ).

I don't know about the Romanian economy and market, but elsewhere in Europe, particularly here in the UK where there seems to be some sort of Westfalia craze reminiscent of a stock market bubble going on (see eBay.co.uk for what I mean) you could command some serious money for that bus! whether Left Hand Drive or not, they don't care. Also check out the UK based early bay forums at http://www.earlybay.com and ask the guys there.

I wouldn't worry much about the state of the Type 1 engine, the body is the factor, don't get carried away until you check it out for how much rust there might be and then budget accordingly, climb underneath and have a good look round.

If I bought it, one of the first things I would do is get a birth certificate from VW Wolfsburg and then get it back to original colour, nose emblem etc, etc.

Please let us know how you get on, it would be great to see how this bus progresses, I think you may have stumbled upon one of the first Westfalia bay windows.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:22 pm

chimneyfish wrote: busdaddy wrote: Sure you're reading the M plate right? Because the parts book and VW's production records start with 2X80000001 in August of 67.

Totally, 67 is when VW commenced volume production of the bay in the summer and by the end of the year had completed 162,741 units (source: VW Transporter and Microbus specification guide 1967-1979 http://www.t2-specification-guide.com/ ).

Exactly, all the more reason to be sceptical about djdh68dlux's claim of a Feb 67 Mfg date.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:39 pm

busdaddy wrote: Exactly, all the more reason to be sceptical about djdh68dlux's claim of a Feb 67 Mfg date.

The Feb 67 could be a prototype (what a find!). In 66 VW tested bay protoypes in Sweden in cold weather, then in South Africa in hot weather. Maybe a German dealership then drove them onto SoCal and left them there! :wink:

Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:49 pm

Ady6119 wrote:
Thanks for advice.

Seriously, this bus rings right, the pop top roof is from the T1 Westfalia design, then Westfalia carried it over to the bay right through into the 70s alongside the classic Westy full length roofs and Dormobile roofs. The interior looks immaculate for the age of the vehicle. This could be a real gem of a find, although no doubt will require some sympathetic restoration (please don't slam it).

Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:53 pm

I reckon that bus would fetch £10k in a heartbeat in the UK

Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:11 pm

mook wrote: I reckon that bus would fetch £10k in a heartbeat in the UK

Totally agree Mook, £10k easily, and if brought back to original spec, the sky is potentially the limit at the moment.

There seem to a be a lot of Westfalias about at the £15k plus mark in the UK at the moment (ludicrous in my opinion, I sold my Devon 6 years ago for a grand :cry: ), and have even seen well over £20k (but I cant beleive they sell quickly, unless the seller plays the waiting game and is lucky enough to attract some 'Chelsea-on-sea' type who has read in the Sunday Times or Observer that 'VW campers are cool' and decides to buy one as a new toy regardless of price!

Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:31 pm

Quote: (please don't slam it).

It's refreshing to hear that statement coming from that side of the pond :D

Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:26 pm

patayres wrote: Quote: (please don't slam it).

It's refreshing to hear that statement coming from that side of the pond :D

I was in an air cooled VW parts supplier last week, the guy looked at me blankly when I asked about getting a German part which is still made over the Mexican crap he was waving in my face, However, I knew that if I had engaged him in a discussion on "drop spindles" or "narrowed beams" (how the hell could you do that to a split!) his eyes would have litten up with enthusiasm and expertise. It's big business over here (for the moment anyway) Sorry. Rant over.

Sun Mar 21, 2010 3:19 pm

Pics from febr.2010

This Eberspacher BN4 it is correct for T2a?

Sun Mar 21, 2010 3:48 pm

Yes, the heater is correct for a 68.

Hmmm.... no jackpoints and some odd looking seams on the rockers, no seams in the back of the front wheelwell either, I'd be very concerned about halfassed rust repairs and lots of bondo :?

Sun Mar 21, 2010 4:50 pm

There appears to be red oxide under the cab floor mat as well, OK if it was just put on to inhibit rust, but requires closer inspection to make sure it isn't hiding anything bad. As Busdaddy says, the jacking points (or lack of) are cause for concern.

It would probably still be a suitable candidate for restoration, as long as you get it at the right price, as a few thousand would no doubt end up being spent to get it back to original, have you actually bought it yet?

Sun Mar 21, 2010 6:12 pm

No,i did not bought yet.I want to see picture with VIN plates before i drive 700km to check that bus live.
Thx. for jackpoints,i didn't seen :-k