Ethical question is it ok to camperize a panel now a days

[66 dormi]

Wondering what people’s thoughts are on camperizing
Is it ok nowadays to cut windows in and add a poptop like rivera did back in the day??
Panels take a special kinda person I’m just wondering if I get tired of no windows she’s so beat and dented does it really matter

Discuss!
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DORMOBILE TOP WANTED!!!!
1978 westy daily driver
1960 panel camper project

Mini R53 bob the tomato

[busdaddy]

Welll...., a clean uncut panel is a fairly rare item these days, but there's a very small percentage of the market that appreciates things like that, if it's rough already you might be doing it a favour. (I personally like stock commercials BTW).

It's your bus, do it properly and tastefully and it's likely to appeal to a much larger market if you ever decide to sell. But remember less is more, and don't cheap out on the stuff you do go through with.
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[Tizian]

It’s yours!

Do what ever you want, but do it with love and dignity!
You’ll hear her purr if she likes it...

Show us some pictures please!

[NUTSFORBUSES]

I appreciate all models, and I do appreciate making them
'yours". Unless you are building a museum piece - I think the cost of making a Bus perfectly stock is egregiously expensive then afraid to drive it. My 21 is a "street machine" but can be turned back. I would either look for a trade, or look forward to a lot of work and money. Panels are pretty cool, as are campers, doubles. Still a lot of campers out there in all sorts of condition. Your blank canvas will take years. I would start w a rough one, but not a panel. "OK" is subjective to only you. I would rather be sourcing a spice rack than trying to figure where it actually screws into the door & in front of which type of panel. If you had a camper in your driveway now, think about it, vs what you are talking about.

[Lind]

Panels make great campers with no windows cut into them. One of the problems with campers is that the curtains only block people from seeing inside the bus, the sunlight still bleeds through and makes it hard to sleep in after sunrise. I think that an uncut panel makes a better camper than a bus with windows. (An RV vent in the roof really makes any camper airflow work better, although it looks funny.) You can source a set of window doors, which deals with most of your blind spot on the right side. looks kind of goofy, but no worse than camper windows with rear quarter panel vents.
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[halfassleatherworks]

Does it Identify as a camper? If so, do it it's yours and nobody else's
......
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[busdaddy]

[mandraks]

[sub-hatchtim]

Personally I wouldn't have an issue with it

I also wouldn't cut any holes though
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58' pg/sg silo fridge westy
58 Dove blue singlecab
76 911S

[j.pickens]

As Lind says, swap the doors, put popouts on them for ventilation, call it done.
Save the solid cargo doors if you want to preserve the bus's history.
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[Manfred58sc]

By all means go forth, cut the rear wells out, install massive Jackman's on large meats, funky teardrop windows on each side, super comfy bed, shag and velvet, 8 track up front loaded with Sky Saxon and the Seeds, "Gas,Grass, or Ass bumper sticker. Please,please post pictures!

Of course its OK.
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Fat chick owner/operator

[Clara]

This bus?

Ya, don't hack it. Add a couple kombi doors.

I thought this bus would make a great camper for someone:

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[mandraks]

[Clara]

[Lind]

[mandraks]

[66 dormi]

Wow great replies when I started in the hobby panels were parts vans lol always wanted a panel and since I got a new to me vanagon westy a few years back why not , Yeah it was this bus (white one) even after months of bodywork she’s solid just beyond straight ideally the entire roof would need replacement to be perfect in hindsight it would have made the best rat rod panel I just like shinny paint better tet
right now she’s back to sealing wax red and I’ve put the Kombi doors in still some dents but a solid 10 footer lol
I will Post pics later

[CanStan]

[tasb]

They do grow up, eventually they will sleep longer than you do. Some day you won't even know their in the house unless they get hungry.
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1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse