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Wed Oct 24, 2012 9:38 am

Back in May my family and I were driving home through our neighborhood and we saw this 77 bay backing out of the garage and the rear wheels were in the sidewalk curb. We were surprised at the condition so we drove past and circled the block and came back around... but it was in the same spot. I pulled off to the side of the road and he waved me past, so I told him I just wanted to tell him I like his bus to which he replied 'do you know how to put this thing in reverse?' Long story short, he was getting the bus ready to sell for his grandfather who lives about 50 miles from Boise.

We went back and forth on price but I drove it home last night!

Here's the mplate info

zero rust on this thing...

The only thing that isn't original is the floor, middle and rear seats but it looks to be a pretty simple fix. Under the windshield sun shade is one of those metal bases for a table and I'm hoping the floor wasn't hacked to put that in.

There's also a ton of documentation of maintenance, repair....oil changes... the whole nine yards.

Wed Oct 24, 2012 9:40 am

engine

several more pics in my gallery.

comments? suggestions?

Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:12 am

Comments?

DAMN

Suggestions?

Change the fuel lines and roll it. Its awesome!

Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:14 am

Beautiful. Nicely done. Some people have all the luck! Advice? Please keep it original and preserve it as the excellent specimen that it is. As for the interior, it looks like it might be a legitimate post production conversion by Riviera, so I would not rush to change that. Instead, I would try and find some indication or paperwork to support this being a Riv conversion. It is also possible that the PO installed the camping interior from another Riv, but it is hard to tell from the limited interior photos. Great bus, keep us posted. Is the paint original?

Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:21 am

lucky-
get some more pics of that bad boy goin'!

Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:00 am

Kirk wrote: Comments?
Change the fuel lines and roll it. Its awesome!

Good idea. Will do, thanks!

Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:06 am

Westfabulous wrote: Beautiful. Nicely done. Some people have all the luck! Advice? Please keep it original and preserve it as the excellent specimen that it is. As for the interior, it looks like it might be a legitimate post production conversion by Riviera, so I would not rush to change that. Instead, I would try and find some indication or paperwork to support this being a Riv conversion. It is also possible that the PO installed the camping interior from another Riv, but it is hard to tell from the limited interior photos. Great bus, keep us posted. Is the paint original?

I never thought about it being a post production conversion. I will look through the paperwork. I'll get a bunch more pics of the interior and post them later tonight. Any areas you'd suggest getting that could help identify it? I'm the third owner. The first owner was a couple in Caldwell who moved to Mountain Home (he was in the military). He's passed away but from what I understand the wife is still alive. The second owner firmly believes that the interior is original and last week wrote a letter to her asking if she had old pictures or info on the bus.

Yes, the paint is original. It has a few spots I'll need to buff out. Someone took some touch up paint to a couple spots...and naturally they used a darker blue than what's on the bus, so I'll have to figure out what to do with those spots.

Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:30 am

Nice find!

Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:36 am

dirtsandwich wrote: Westfabulous wrote: Beautiful. Nicely done. Some people have all the luck! Advice? Please keep it original and preserve it as the excellent specimen that it is. As for the interior, it looks like it might be a legitimate post production conversion by Riviera, so I would not rush to change that. Instead, I would try and find some indication or paperwork to support this being a Riv conversion. It is also possible that the PO installed the camping interior from another Riv, but it is hard to tell from the limited interior photos. Great bus, keep us posted. Is the paint original?

I never thought about it being a post production conversion. I will look through the paperwork. I'll get a bunch more pics of the interior and post them later tonight. Any areas you'd suggest getting that could help identify it? I'm the third owner. The first owner was a couple in Caldwell who moved to Mountain Home (he was in the military). He's passed away but from what I understand the wife is still alive. The second owner firmly believes that the interior is original and last week wrote a letter to her asking if she had old pictures or info on the bus.

Yes, the paint is original. It has a few spots I'll need to buff out. Someone took some touch up paint to a couple spots...and naturally they used a darker blue than what's on the bus, so I'll have to figure out what to do with those spots.

Something to get you started from a search of Riviera:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search..._chars=200

Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:38 am

nice bus, hope a nice deal and definately a ASI Riviera conversion.

change the fuel lines as mentioned and flush the brake fluid as well.

Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:39 am

Awesome indeed! WOW. I love the cabinet and seats

Wed Oct 24, 2012 12:11 pm

Forgot to mention... I owe a huge thanks to EZ Gruv for his help in figuring out a price!

Westfabulous wrote:
Something to get you started from a search of Riviera:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search..._chars=200

Thanks! Looks like some reading material tonight for sure!

danfromsyr wrote: nice bus, hope a nice deal and definately a ASI Riviera conversion.

change the fuel lines as mentioned and flush the brake fluid as well.
Will do, thanks!

Now I'm torn... if it's a legit conversion, I understand the value in keeping it as is... but I'd really like a 7 passenger.

Thanks for the comments everyone. It's a great bus for sure!

Wed Oct 24, 2012 12:23 pm

there's little harm in going back to a 7 pass configuration
you are the one who ones this bus (now) afterall.
you could keep the ASI bits in the basement for resale. if they really matter. the rear facing seat is likely held in with a couple sheet metal screws anyways.
or you can offer them in the classifieds to off set costs.. your call.

what i would do is keep the rear bench a full width fold out bed/bench as it's more handy for hauling gear & lumber than the oem flip down nonbed bench. (this is assuming your ASI rear bench is a convertible one)

Wed Oct 24, 2012 12:44 pm

Yeah it does fold out to a bed.

Wed Oct 24, 2012 2:09 pm

That's a beautiful bus. I'd like to know how much you paid for it. Please send me a PM if you don't want to post it here. Thanks.

Wed Oct 24, 2012 2:50 pm

aeromech wrote: That's a beautiful bus. I'd like to know how much you paid for it. Please send me a PM if you don't want to post it here. Thanks.
No problem. I paid $8,000.

edit: now I want to know if you think I got a decent deal lol

Wed Oct 24, 2012 3:01 pm

dirtsandwich wrote: aeromech wrote: That's a beautiful bus. I'd like to know how much you paid for it. Please send me a PM if you don't want to post it here. Thanks.
No problem. I paid $8,000.

edit: now I want to know if you think I got a decent deal lol

Well, put it this way: if you bought a rust bucket with engine issues, you would spend just as much or more getting it to the condition of your bus, so I think it was not an unreasonable buy at all for a clean and seemingly very original bus.

Wed Oct 24, 2012 3:14 pm

I thought 8 was a bit :shock: , then I went back and looked at the gallery pics. That thing is super solid, if the engine is in as good shape you did well and paid a fair price. damn desert buses alway look so good, f#$king rust buckets out here.

Wed Oct 24, 2012 3:15 pm

I think you got a great deal. Not a smokin deal but a great deal. To buy a bus that is very original, has almost all the interior and exterior parts, and hasn't been hacked, wrecked, lowered, or burnt is a very good thing. I'm pretty sure the sellers were pleased and I think you should be too.

Wed Oct 24, 2012 3:33 pm

Cool thanks all.

I thought it was a decent deal considering the shape. It's only original once, right?