Fun or money... are you an enthusiast?

[Dusty1]

Been into VWs forever after missing bein' born in one by just a tiny bit. I gotta admit after well over half a century I'm more pragmatic, less passionate than I used to be.

I feel like somewhat of a dumb- ass for passing up a 356 Carrera in a junkyard half a century ago as well as a pretty $8500 India red 356C Speedster in Jersey City.

I gotta admit, I'm picky about what I bring home these days.

There's a joke there somewhere.

I'm gonna quote a few comments that got me thinkin'...

[oprn]

Fun… until I run out of money… but yes the focus has to be fun. If it’s money then these old VWs will frustrate you all the way into a padded cell! Forget the money, just have fun!
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[Abscate]

That thing thread was an epic Charlie Foxtrot of poor buying decisions and faith in eBay and after the fact claims that was just painful to read. At least his 23k was cheap tuition in the School of Life
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🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🍊 🍊 🍊

[pondoras box]

I have lost so much money buying and selling hoards of parts. I do it because I don’t want to see OG parts crushed or just forgotten about in a dusty barn. I enjoy swap meets and getting parts where they need to go. Plus the look of excitement on someone’s face when they got the part they want and they’re trying to play it cool because it’s cheap.

I have walked swap meets after selling for a while and found my parts sold earlier marked up significantly, at least wait until another meet to try to flip them.

But I enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Keep what I need and sell or in some cases give away the rest. My business moto is buy high sell low.

Don’t get me wrong every once in a while I come across a very rare part that I will not sell cheap. The people that need or want those parts are serious restorers and those sells help keep me afloat. Currently have an early gas tank with a Dehne sending unit in great shape that everyone wants at my normal give away prices.
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Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.

1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda). https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563183
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1960 hardtop
1964 hardtop
1965 hardtop
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion
Plus a lot of other rusty junk

[Dusty1]

[hobthebob]

I assume you're talking to folks who do the selling. Nothing necessarily wrong with trying to make a little money, if you can, but don't screw the rest of the community while you're trying to make a buck. If money makers don't get greedy, fun-havers will often keep coming back. Money-makers get greedy, and fun-havers get a bad taste in their mouths, leading people to the "thing" thread above.

I'm lucky, because when I got my beetle the local money-maker shops gave me free parts, advice, and even some service. If I ever have the chance, I'll do the same for the next guy. That's how you keep customers, and keep the community alive.

[Shonandb]

All fun! Nothing better than driving/piloting what you've built with your own hands.
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76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image

[Dusty1]

[kingkarmann]

Definitely an enthusiast.
I'm passionate about Karmann Ghia's, period. I have owned several over the decades, hence my username.
I've never owned or driven any other air-cooled VW.

[Heiferman]

[pondoras box]

If you find yourself justifying your latest purchase to friends and family you’re probably an enthusiast, if you constantly utter the phrase “ yeah but it’s got potential” you’re probably an enthusiast.

If you take the picture for the samba ad when it’s still on the trailer, well you’re in it for the money.
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Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.

1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda). https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563183
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1960 hardtop
1964 hardtop
1965 hardtop
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion
Plus a lot of other rusty junk

[VWporscheGT3]

My parents said i was born making car noises. that i would hum along with the car when i was in the childs seat. Hot wheels , rc cars, all i ever wanted to do was drive and wanted to see how everything worked in cars.

raised by a muscle car guy so i have a healthy appreciation for American cars. but when highschool came around i made a friend that had a 67 bug.. and i fell in love with how much fun they are. yes , i still curse Heinz or Fredrick or whoever designed this or that sometimes... but there is nothing like driving a ACVW.
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If you have any questions about Forged ICON 4032 VW pistons just shoot me a line.

[Xevin]

[clockworkbox]

I'm definitely on the negative side when it comes to what I've bought compared to what I've sold. I list stuff on Facebook Market but nobody wants to drive out in the sticks where I live for parts usually. I sell enough at the swap meets to not quite break even but a lot of people offer me $40 for something I paid $75 for. That's fine if I'm selling something used, but new in the package that's no sale for me. Also, it's weird how something on the Samba classifieds is listed for $75 plus shipping and at the swap people are selling the same thing for $10. Swap meets are fun for me but I wouldn't try to do it for money.
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'69 Beetle (pieces)
Learning the hard way is still learning...

[ALLWAGONS]

Both, funded many projects buying and selling parts.
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I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.

I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.

Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.

Everything sounds good on paper!

[VWporscheGT3]

[Heiferman]

I am also into Toyota Landcruisers. If I had hung on to the two FJ40s I sold before I had to move overseas for work I would have made a bundle but I had well more in them then I sold them for. (Both later sold for 10k and 20k more than what I sold them for as the old truck bubble grew to a ridiculous size). But a friend who is also in that game has taken losses on several Landcruises. His wife says, "Buy high and sell low. That's how we do it here!"

I really enjoy working on them when stuff goes right. Almost more than driving them. But that first drive after finishing a major project is so rewarding.
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- 1973 Thing, 1970 Ghia, some LandCruisers and an old Ambulance

[skills@eurocarsplus]

As a bus owner I have gotten more "do you know what that's worth" comments in the past 10-15 years than I can count....so much so I've answered with "yep, give me the $$ and I'll walk home"

I got into these when they were worthless... back when an original sunroof deluxe was in the 3-5k range with a blown engine and I was buying 15 window buses (my first bus) for 150.00 TOWED to my house

That said, it was never an investment to me. Still isn't. Even if I don't drive them as much as I'd like to it's like art to me.

I cashed out once, came back in about 2006-7 and was appalled that a decent 71 westy was 3,500

I have to laugh at the fools who sit on this shit thinking that they are on a goldmine, as the days pass, fewer and fewer can even afford a home, let alone a hobby car. We...like it or not...are on the way out like the model T guys were 25-30 years ago.
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[oprn]

I sold my Bus 2 years ago for much less than I was told it should be worth. The point is that yes mechanically it was pretty good and the whole thing was 99% original and complete but the sheet metal worms were having their way with it and it was not getting better sitting. I detest rust repair, done too much in the past so it was better off in someone else's hands.
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[hobthebob]

Many "experts" in the youtube scene are claiming that due to rising costs of new cars, as well as unreliability and complexity of working on them (computers and dealer-only software stuff), older cars are going to rise in value. I believe it's 80's and 90's cars, but I wonder if 60's cars will begin to look appealing to the younger generation again? I hope not, because I want a split window bus in the next ten years and i can't afford the prices atm!