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mikemike690
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2015
Posts: 19
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 Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 1:42 am Post subject: 1975 South African Split Window |
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| Hello I've got the opportunity to purchase a RHD 1975 Brazillian made South African assembled spilt window, it's currently in the process of being repainted and the owner has guaranteed that it will be completely rust free and he wants $50,000 NZD for it along with ALL the necessary parts to complete it. Would that be a fair price or too expensive? Thanks. |
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KombiMadness
Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2011
Posts: 388
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 2:58 am Post subject: Re: 1975 South African Spilt Window |
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So it's a South African Fleetline Kombi built in 1975 and early '76 with a mix of old and new parts from the Brasilian factory, as you said. They are RHD 15 window 'Kombis' with DP1600 motor, 12v alternator electrics, high hinge cargo doors, small rear window, '58 engine lid but with the later push button, big nut tranny, fried egg front indicator and oval tail lights.
If the 50K NZ dollars (US$34,600) includes shipping to New Zealand, for a freshly restored and painted example, it's a good price.
The owner guarantees "it will be completely rust free and re-painted" - this is the problematic part! It may well be full of bog with an ordinary paint job. This will come back to haunt you in years to come. A friend bought a 13 window deluxe with shiny new paint; a few years later the paint was bubbling badly. When he started digging deeper (no pun intended) he found bog (bondo) everywhere covering up serious holes and rust all over the bus.
He has just spent a bomb, cutting out a quarter of the panels, floor, etc and welding in new Funky Green.....
Buying a recently painted Kombi, sight unseen from a foreign country is a big risk. You may well be getting a nicely restored Fleetline for a fair price. Or not..... definitely Buyer Beware, mate.
My mate in Australia has imported quite a few Fleetlines from South Africa but his are original paint, clean examples - 'what you see is what you get'. He also imported them quite a few years ago when they were as cheap as chips....
Good luck with it but be wary.
_________________
My brother & I on the roof of Dad's Splitty circa 1967 - I'm the half pint with the skinny legs! |
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mikemike690
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2015
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 3:36 am Post subject: Re: 1975 South African Spilt Window |
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| KombiMadness wrote: |
So it's a South African Fleetline Kombi built in 1975 and early '76 with a mix of old and new parts from the Brasilian factory, as you said. They are RHD 15 window 'Kombis' with DP1600 motor, 12v alternator electrics, high hinge cargo doors, small rear window, '58 engine lid but with the later push button, big nut tranny, fried egg front indicator and oval tail lights.
If the 50K NZ dollars (US$34,600) includes shipping to New Zealand, for a freshly restored and painted example, it's a good price.
The owner guarantees "it will be completely rust free and re-painted" - this is the problematic part! It may well be full of bog with an ordinary paint job. This will come back to haunt you in years to come. A friend bought a 13 window deluxe with shiny new paint; a few years later the paint was bubbling badly. When he started digging deeper (no pun intended) he found bog (bondo) everywhere covering up serious holes and rust all over the bus.
He has just spent a bomb, cutting out a quarter of the panels, floor, etc and welding in new Funky Green.....
Buying a recently painted Kombi, sight unseen from a foreign country is a big risk. You may well be getting a nicely restored Fleetline for a fair price. Or not..... definitely Buyer Beware, mate.
My mate in Australia has imported quite a few Fleetlines from South Africa but his are original paint, clean examples - 'what you see is what you get'. He also imported them quite a few years ago when they were as cheap as chips....
Good luck with it but be wary. |
Hello thanks for your reply, it doesn't include shipping as its in my area and the paint is basically perfect and I've personally inspected it, only the basics though such as poking around under the chassis, wheel arches and the roof etc. What's the difference between a fleet line and non fleet line? And it's not restored all the parts are there but I'm guessing they are original and not newish, would I regret buying this and when driving it around will it feel like it's a fake butchered kinda thing? Thanks. |
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mikemike690
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2015
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 3:39 am Post subject: Re: 1975 South African Spilt Window |
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| Also would this model have the chrome that starts at the front of the vehicle? Also I forgot to mention that this has two front safari Windows and two side pop outs. |
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novetti
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2004
Posts: 469
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 4:07 am Post subject: Re: 1975 South African Spilt Window |
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Mike, do you have any photos? Post them here so we can have a look and chime in accordingly.
Shipping from SA to NZ shouldn't be more than 3K (in a dedicated 20' container). I don't have a clue in the customs in NZ and fees.
Did you researched what is required from NZ end to receive a foreign car? In AUS we need to apply for an import approval from the gov before shipping.
cheers
jules |
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mikemike690
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2015
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 4:10 am Post subject: Re: 1975 South African Spilt Window |
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| novetti wrote: |
Mike, do you have any photos? Post them here so we can have a look and chime in accordingly.
Shipping from SA to NZ shouldn't be more than 3K (in a dedicated 20' container). I don't have a clue in the customs in NZ and fees.
Did you researched what is required from NZ end to receive a foreign car? In AUS we need to apply for an import approval from the gov before shipping.
cheers
jules |
Hi Jules thanks for your reply, I'll post the pics tomorrow if that's alright, it's actually here in my city so no problem with rego as it's just on hold. Thanks. |
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KombiMadness
Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2011
Posts: 388
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 6:13 am Post subject: Re: 1975 South African Spilt Window |
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| mikemike690 wrote: |
What's the difference between a fleet line and non fleet line? And it's not restored all the parts are there but I'm guessing they are original and not newish, would I regret buying this and when driving it around will it feel like it's a fake butchered kinda thing? Thanks. |
If you've inspected it in person that's great. Sounds all good then.
You won't be a faker owning and driving a Fleetline - they're made from authentic VW factory parts by VWSA and they are still VW splitties. Years ago some people used to disparage Fleetline's and also Brazillian splitties, probably because they were produced in years after the 'official' end of split window bus production in 1967.
The difference with Fleetlines compared to German and Australasia VW factory splits, I outlined in my 1st post. They were built only in 75 (and early 76). Only about 5000 were built. They were a unique amalgam of different year model parts (some quite early, like the high hinge cargo doors and engine lid) and later model parts. All Fleetline window busses were 15 windows. The 'official' 15 window microbus deluxe was a top of the range 'deluxe' bus. The Fleetline busses were a more basic Kombi or Standard type bus with 15 windows.
Anyway, do a google search on Fleetline Kombis and suss it out.
With current VW splitty prices around the world, if yours is straight and rust free then own it and drive it proudly. It's a piece of VW transporter history.
_________________
My brother & I on the roof of Dad's Splitty circa 1967 - I'm the half pint with the skinny legs! |
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mikemike690
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2015
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: 1975 South African Spilt Window |
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| KombiMadness wrote: |
| mikemike690 wrote: |
What's the difference between a fleet line and non fleet line? And it's not restored all the parts are there but I'm guessing they are original and not newish, would I regret buying this and when driving it around will it feel like it's a fake butchered kinda thing? Thanks. |
If you've inspected it in person that's great. Sounds all good then.
You won't be a faker owning and driving a Fleetline - they're made from authentic VW factory parts by VWSA and they are still VW splitties. Years ago some people used to disparage Fleetline's and also Brazillian splitties, probably because they were produced in years after the 'official' end of split window bus production in 1967.
The difference with Fleetlines compared to German and Australasia VW factory splits, I outlined in my 1st post. They were built only in 75 (and early 76). Only about 5000 were built. They were a unique amalgam of different year model parts (some quite early, like the high hinge cargo doors and engine lid) and later model parts. All Fleetline window busses were 15 windows. The 'official' 15 window microbus deluxe was a top of the range 'deluxe' bus. The Fleetline busses were a more basic Kombi or Standard type bus with 15 windows.
Anyway, do a google search on Fleetline Kombis and suss it out.
With current VW splitty prices around the world, if yours is straight and rust free then own it and drive it proudly. It's a piece of VW transporter history. |
Thanks for that! If it's going for 50k NZD should I go snap it up? And also will be a semi investment? Thanks. |
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mikemike690
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2015
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: 1975 South African Spilt Window |
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Here's some photos, note that it is half way through being painted when we saw it.
https://imgur.com/a/JcJKA |
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KombiMadness
Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2011
Posts: 388
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 4:48 pm Post subject: Re: 1975 South African Spilt Window |
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From what I can see in those 2 photos it looks very solid. As far as paying 50k NZ dollars and having it increase in value??!! Well, nobody can say. I think going on current market values around the world but especially in Australia, 50k NZ is a fair price. When you add freight charges and import duties to New Zealand however, (another 10k?), then you may be tipping the balance.
Prices for splitties around the world have sharply risen during the last 4 years. But will they continue to rise or will they plateau or will there be a market correction, nobody can say. You need to buy it because you really want it for yourself and can afford that price, imo.
Ive imported 2 splitties from the USA. I got good deals and was happy with the total costs in getting them to Australia. They are worth more now than that but I don't really care, I just love old original split busses. With the recent price spike, there are plenty of non split bus enthusiasts who are flippers, wheeler dealers and in it only for the money. Busses that not many people wanted before are now being sold for good money; you only need to look on the Samba classifieds to see how many Brasilian 15 window Kombis are now for sale.
IMO, I think your Fleetline bus will increase in value becsuse only 5000 were made, they are RHD, they hold a peculiar place in VW split bus history, they are genuine VWSA busses.......but that is only an opinion.
Again, good luck. Only you can know that you did your due diligence and you are buying it for the right reasons 
_________________
My brother & I on the roof of Dad's Splitty circa 1967 - I'm the half pint with the skinny legs! |
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Malokin Martin
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2007
Posts: 3263
Location: E-burg
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: 1975 South African Spilt Window |
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I feel like for 30k you could get a decent actual splitty.
Either way, happy cruising |
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mikemike690
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2015
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 6:13 pm Post subject: Re: 1975 South African Spilt Window |
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| Malokin Martin wrote: |
I feel like for 30k you could get a decent actual splitty.
Either way, happy cruising |
I don't think you can in NZ, all of a sudden the prices have jumped after a basic all original Kombi going for $47,500 NZD |
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KombiMadness
Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2011
Posts: 388
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 9:14 pm Post subject: Re: 1975 South African Spilt Window |
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| Malokin Martin wrote: |
I feel like for 30k you could get a decent actual splitty.
Either way, happy cruising |
Not in Australia or NZ. Even SC trucks are going for $35K plus. A window bus in good condition (i.e. registered and driving) are now $50K plus. This is Aussie dollars. Deluxe bus? Well, we all know the mad prices everywhere ATM. But even if you buy a good USA splitty for US$30K, that is Aust$40K. Then add on shipping and GST and you're back at Aust$50K for a LHD splitty. LHD splits are worth less here and the market demand for them is small (just like the market demand for a RHD split in the USA would be).
_________________
My brother & I on the roof of Dad's Splitty circa 1967 - I'm the half pint with the skinny legs! |
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