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aeromech
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16954
Location: San Diego, California
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 Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 12:17 pm Post subject: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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Guys,
I've done this a couple times in the past. Published what I found when unknowing buyers don't do their due diligence when approaching a bus purchase. In this case it worked out well for Jessica in Boston.
I was contacted earlier this week to go look at a 1971 tin top camper that had been advertised on eBay. The "Buy-it-Now" price was $27,900 and it was up to 31 bids and around $17K at the time I did my inspection.
The seller did a great job on the ad but failed to be truthful regarding it's condition.
He only showed what he considered to be the good things and not the bad
At this point it looks like he ended the auction early which I think means he either sold it outside of eBay or he decided to listen to my advice and not be deceptive which would most likely result in a very pissed off buyer.
Okay, now I'll get to the heart of the discussion. The seller is a "flipper". He bought the bus 15 months ago for the purpose of making some money. He threw a real cheap paint job on there and hired a guy to do the mechanical work that isn't very good. In addition, attempts were made to hide body rust by using black spray paint on the undercarriage.
I have about 60 pictures which I'll supply via a photobucket link at the bottom but for now here's a few I thought were worth showing here.
Rusted out area behind front bumper
Wrong engine for a '71 and this one has lots of problems
More rust
Brake lines not secured
Sliding door track rusted out (oh it sounded horrible)
Steering wheel in bad shape, dash lights inop, no horn, etc
Even the spare tire was just a prop
Electrical issues
I could try and list the over 50 things wrong I found on this bus but instead I think I'll just add this link to my pictures. Jessica dodged a huge bullet by hiring me. Just the steering problems alone would have cost her $1000 to have fixed.
Slide show
http://s433.photobucket.com/user/aeromech32254/slideshow/Jessica1971Camper
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16853
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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good job gary....
I fucking hate people....
the door track just needed a good cleaning (from your photos) you haven't seen rusty my friend 
looks like a 5-7K bus as is. useable, but needs work. again, I base that price on my salty New England balls
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my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
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SGKent 
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 12:35 pm Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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Glad you caught it for your buyer Gary. You saved them a ton of money and anguish.
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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 |
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OB Bus
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2003
Posts: 2535
Location: Ocean Beach in Beautiful BLUE California
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 12:42 pm Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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Nice work Gary.
Next on the "what is hiding behind that shiny paint" list is the shiny bus from Mexico if and when it appears.
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Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper. |
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aeromech
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16954
Location: San Diego, California
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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| OB Bus wrote: |
Nice work Gary.
Next on the "what is hiding behind that shiny paint" list is the shiny bus from Mexico if and when it appears. |
Buyer is in town but I haven't heard a thing today
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
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zoobum
Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2015
Posts: 211
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 1:25 pm Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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Great job as always Gary. Looks like you saved them quite the heart ache.
It's amazing that the seller was trying to pass this off the way they did with the many issue that you found. Scary!
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-Zach
1979 CA Riviera 2.0L FI  |
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Globespotter
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2012
Posts: 1770
Location: Newmarket, ON
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aeromech
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16954
Location: San Diego, California
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 1:48 pm Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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The seller was a young German fella who seemed well educated. He told me that he was facing tough times economically and therefore selling his bus but he also admitted to being a flipper.
After about half way through the inspection I hadn't really said much negative but once I slid under the front and saw that rusted out area I just unloaded. I told him that when I sell on eBay I detail the good as well as the bad because the LAST thing I would want would be a pissed off buyer. My guess was that he was going to get his payday and then high tail it for Germany. Now that I see he ending the auction I have to think that maybe he took what I said to heart.
I could list everything I found wrong if someone wants. The pictures tell a lot but not everything, like the two inches of steering slop from a worn out box or the fuel hose used for a vacuum hose to the distributor that just fell off the carburetor port.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
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Angus II
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2016
Posts: 707
Location: Mammoth Lakes Ca. 93546
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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Hello, Job well done on your part....
I love that carpet job up front, what was he trying to hide???? rust drip trails or front end collision...
The young lady is lucky that she posted an inquiery on what to look for and that you could help her out...
Bad bad German boy.... |
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Xevin
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014
Posts: 7622
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 3:50 pm Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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Nicely done Gary.
Link
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Keep on Busin'
| 67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
| Clatter wrote: |
| Damn that Xevin... |
| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
I respect Xevin and he's a turd  |
| SGKent wrote: |
My God! Xevin and I 100% agree  |
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Brian
Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012
Posts: 8340
Location: Oceanside
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 8:41 pm Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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| aeromech wrote: |
He told me that he was facing tough times economically
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So is everyone at the gas station who just needs $5 to get back to their girlfriends house because their mom is going into surgery with 5 starving babies at home.
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51116
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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Wow, I saw the video and read the listing on that one, it rang all the alarm bells for a closer inspection but outwardly it didn't look that bad from what the seller revealed, if I didn't know buses I might have bitten. I pity the poor noob that falls for a turd like that, and sadly there's others who do get suckered in by the flippers every day.
Good job Gary, at least you saved one potential buyer from a life changing bad experience. I doubt you swayed the seller, pricks like that just don't care, maybe he just took an offer from an excited noob who thought they were stealing it, hopefully he's arranging shipment to Nigeria as we speak. 
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Globespotter
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2012
Posts: 1770
Location: Newmarket, ON
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Xevin
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014
Posts: 7622
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| Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 7:45 am Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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I truly hope newbies see this and learn from it. Maybe this thread belongs in the sticky with those talking bears
Link
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Keep on Busin'
| 67rustavenger wrote: |
| GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
| Clatter wrote: |
| Damn that Xevin... |
| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
| I respect Xevin and he's a turd |
| SGKent wrote: |
| My God! Xevin and I 100% agree |
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GGoryl
Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2016
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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Hi Gary. Very enlightening! You offered to list everything you found wrong. If you've already made the list, I'd love to see it (I'm making my own checklist, and I'm sure I'd find lots of stuff to add).
Glenn |
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aeromech
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16954
Location: San Diego, California
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| Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 7:11 pm Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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Glenn, I'm confused. Please send me a pm to explain. I did this inspection months ago.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22633
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2016 4:24 am Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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When did buying and selling stuff on margin become a ' profession ' worthy of making a living?
And for those who monetise time your time with real restoration and repairs, I tip my hat to your profession.
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HelmutofBuffalo
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2005
Posts: 554
Location: West Coast of New York
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| Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2016 6:02 am Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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Yes indeed, Good Job ! If I ever make it to the West Coast, I'm coming to SD just to shake your hand 
It's such a good feeling to save someone from a "douchebag" I had a similar experience in 2009. Looked at a ruff Westy for $1500. at a friends shop, the owner told him to "just get it running" the mechanic told me a whole laundry list of things it needed mechanically. I passed. Three weeks later I see the same Bus on fleabay at 7 grand..."Fully Restored" In this photo alone you can see the sidemarker missing and overspray on the frame !...so I posted a "buyer beware" here in the forum. A lady in West Virginia could not thank me enough
FYI...If anyone in Western New York is thinking of buying a Bus or any ACVW for that matter I am happy to "pay it forward" and go inspect it for them !
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curtp07
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2007
Posts: 874
Location: Mass
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| Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2016 9:16 am Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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Solid work!
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Spike0180
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2015
Posts: 2269
Location: Detroit, Michigan
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| Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2016 9:16 am Post subject: Re: Neptune blue "lipstick on a Pig" Here we go again |
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| HelmutofBuffalo wrote: |
Yes indeed, Good Job ! If I ever make it to the West Coast, I'm coming to SD just to shake your hand
It's such a good feeling to save someone from a "douchebag" I had a similar experience in 2009. Looked at a ruff Westy for $1500. at a friends shop, the owner told him to "just get it running" the mechanic told me a whole laundry list of things it needed mechanically. I passed. Three weeks later I see the same Bus on fleabay at 7 grand..."Fully Restored" In this photo alone you can see the sidemarker missing and overspray on the frame !...so I posted a "buyer beware" here in the forum. A lady in West Virginia could not thank me enough
FYI...If anyone in Western New York is thinking of buying a Bus or any ACVW for that matter I am happy to "pay it forward" and go inspect it for them ! |
I can also tell you there is a lot of bando on the quarter. Looks at those flairs.
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Current State: Projects never truly end...
Location: Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Other cars: 2003 F150, 2003 Jetta GLI vr6-6sp
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