Value of the 72-79 busses

[babysnakes]

[60vwnewengland]

[notchboy]

[alman72]

if you found a cheap westy interior, it would pass for a tintop. (a camper with the original metal top, no poptop)

[SGKent]

Condition, rarity, demand, and karma have to do with the value of a bus. The seller also has to do something with the value of a bus. Someone for example who has been here a long time on theSamba, has a reputation for being fair and honest is usually someone you can trust. Someone who appears out of the blue with a freshly painted bus that magnets won't stick to is likely to not get the kind of offer someone known for being thorough will.

What I mean by Karma. I managed a staff appraiser once who was upside down in his townhome because the market had crashed somewhat. He decided he wanted out of it and told me so about 3 pm one afternoon. The next morning he came in and said, well I sold my townhome to some gal last night for my price and since it is a cash deal we close in 3 days. I need a couple days off to move. I laughingly said BS you either had it sold when you told me or you are making up a story. Your price is $20,000 over ones like it that are new in the same complex that are being built right now. He told me what happened the night before. He put a for sale sign up in the back window of the condo facing the freeway with his number. 10 minutes later the phone rang and some elderly gal wanted to see it. She came by, looked at it and said I want it. She had just sold her home in Las Vegas, was moving to the LA area to be near her daughter's family who lived across the street in another complex and she had made a lot of money on the home in Las Vegas having been there many years. She saw the sign coming into town, made the decision instantly, and wanted that place for her reasons. The cash was good and the escrow did close. Karma. It is part of value but it is between the seller and a higher power.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[danfromsyr]

if the 72 was such a great bus, VW wouldn't have made the 79 better.




fwiw, I own a 71 & a 72.

but I'd like a well sorted out 79 automatic
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[wcfvw69]

I think I'm in the camp of least rusty for sure. I think both year buses have pluses and minus. The 72' has the lack of engine hatch issue that most owners dislike. They also have the dual Solex 32 PDSIT carbs that can be finicky to get working correctly after they have been restored. Most need new throttle shaft bushings. The carbs also are matched to a one year only Bosch distributor with a getting hard to find and expensive DVDA vacuum canister. When both the carbs and distributors are restored, the carbs can be dialed/synced and the engine purrs. The sad part is most people don't invest the $ and time to restore these original parts and bolt a craptastic Weber single carb on it or dual webers.

I've sold some restored 72' Bosch distributors to 72-73 owners who took the time to put their engines back in as delivered new, original condition. One customer sent me a video of his completed engine and my gosh did it idle and run beautifully.

The 72' also has many 1 year only parts that can be a real treat to track down in NOS or decent used condition. I do prefer the early bay nose as well.

Again, to me, finding the most rust free, original and complete bus is the biggest thing folks should focus on. Chasing down all the original parts that are usually missing can do quick damage to your savings account.
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Contact me at [email protected]
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Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours**

[SGKent]

Back in 1973 - 1975 I had a friend with a 1972 bus he bought new. It was plagued with issues because it was a changeover year. On the other hand 1979 is the last year and one of a kind of many things.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Yonder1981]

[Abscate]