to part out or not to part out?

[widehatch]

i found this bus 2 weeks ago. its been sitting since 1988. the engine spins over so that a good sign. it will probably need an engine rebuild, complete brake system rebuild and a new gas tank (its been sitting w/ no gas cap). the interior looks decent but there is rust. the front floors are swiss cheese and the dog legs are rusted through. i think it had been sitting w/ the front end in a wet spot. the studs for the lug nuts are in real bad shape due to rust. my question is this. would this bus be considered a parts bus or is it worth saving. the other major problem is there is no title.

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Missouri Micros

[VDubTech]

No title is bad. Check with your local DMV and find out the process for getting one. Using a title service like ITS titles or a similar place, if legal in your state, will run about $400 or so. The body doesn't look bad.....if it was me I would do anything I could to try and save it. If it didn't work out or it was too far gone, I'd part it. Lots of good stuff in there, but obviously saving it would be ideal. Don't assume it needs a rebuild. I pulled a Bus out of a field in Nashville, IN 2.5 years ago, got it running and I've put almost 30K miles on it since. Even the rust has rust, but it just won't quit. I drove it through NY, Canada, MI, WI, IL, IN, MO, OH and PA in a week last year and covered 2,495 miles without a single problem. These Buses aren't as fragile as everyone likes to make them out to be. If the price is good, get it. You won't lose money no matter what you end up doing with it.
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First Trip in the RustyBus:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279077&highlight=

[widehatch]

applying for a lost title in Tennessee is a pain in the rear. it used to be really easy but not anymore.
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Missouri Micros

[Zelten]

I saw a bus at the beach in Oregon this past weekend that you could see through the drivers door and it was still on the road. I'd try to get a deal for it without the title and try to title it in a state that is more lenient and then transfer it. That bus doesn't look that bad to me.

[gisely]

Yes. Worth saving.

[EZ Gruv]

No title = parts bus
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Eric
1977 Deluxe Westfalia - 2.0L FI Type IV, Completely Original
Photographer for HotVWs, VolksWorld, AirMighty, VW Camper & Commercial, Hayburner, and more.
My Photography Page.

[Zelten]

When I bought my bus it didn't have a title but it was registered to the owner. When we went to the DOL they found him in the database and I had a title in less than a month. The trick is if the guy selling it ever had a title for it and registered it. If not it can be tricky but not impossible.

[kevin77westy]

[Joey]

Cut it up and part it out - the front nose looks good and will sell fast.
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Joey

‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle

[Westy Steve]

I once paid my local DMV (in Florida) a whopping $1 to find out who the last owner of record was on a VW based on the VIN number. Then you coax them into getting a duplicate title and transferring it to you. Maybe take them to Applebees for their trouble and learn the buses history. Order the Cowboy Burger, Medium Well. They're good.

Steve
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Have nice 914, want nice Bug

[SGKent]

I think that you won't be able to answer that question until it is safe to go under it and look at the rear torsion tube area for rust. Almost anything else can be replaced if you a patient and have time or money but once that area rusts it is parts only.
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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

[VDubTech]

And just for reference....the torsion tube on this Bus is still solid. Pulled this one out of a field....sat for 10 years. Almost 30K on it in the past two and a half years.

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First Trip in the RustyBus:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279077&highlight=

[SGKent]

yes sir - that door still amazes me each time I see a photo of it.
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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

[Joey]

[SGKent]

I was thinking that with the right prop you could use it to turn right on a flea. Going downwind you could open it and sail.
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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

[widehatch]

[widehatch]

[bignick]

http://www.tn.gov/revenue/forms/titlereg/f1310401Fill-in.pdf

6 steps and no need for the certified letter IF you post an add in the legal notices in the newspaper and wait 10 days for an intereste party to respond.

My stance is that if you can get it for a song and spend a few hours finding a title, you might be able to sell it to someone who will keep it on the road and make you a few $$$ for your effort. I bought my bus for $150 and did the legwork (tracked down owners until I got one) and it has sure paid off (or will if/when I sell it).

Doesn't look like there are any fees associated with this form either!
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'69 bug (Bonnie)
'74 Westy (Penelope)

[jtauxe]

Aww... don't part it out. They don't make these anymore, ya know.

As for title, it seems that some consider this an insurmountable hurdle, but I think it varies a lot fro state to state. I got an untitled bus, and within a few months and a few hundred $ it was titled up just fine. That is in New Mexico, though. Tennessee sounds similar, from the above posts.

You should be able to get it for next to nothing, without a title.
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John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[Finks]

See we don't need titles in Maine, mostly because within 10 years all cars more represent potting soil than an automobile.

Take that California! .................
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'73 Super Beetle
'71 Bus