VIN Report on a '87 Vanagon - Does this seem insane?!

[Clinehud]

We are looking at purchasing our first Vanagon, an 1987. I ran a CarProof on the VIN and it has a lot of history of the title being "Salvaged" "Rebuilt" and "Recycled".

Is this crazy, or normal for a Vanagon of this age? I have no idea...!

Report Below:

Good idea/ really bad idea to invest in this? Help!!

2/22/1986 Independent Source Information VEHICLE MANUFACTURED AND SHIPPED TO DEALER
01/18/1995 Appleton, WI, United States Title Brand Exceeds Mechanical Limits
01/18/1995 WI, United States Auto Auction Odometer Problem EXCEEDS MECHANICAL LIMITS 105,585 MI
08/07/1995 WY, United States State Agency Accident Data VEHICLE HAD A COLLISION
09/22/1995 West Chester, OH, United States Title Brand Exceeds Mechanical Limits
09/22/1995 West Chester, OH, United States Auto Auction Title Damage DAMAGED
09/22/1995 West Chester, OH, United States Auto Auction Salvage SALVAGE
09/22/1995 West Chester, OH, United States Motor Vehicle Dept. Salvage SALVAGE
09/22/1995 West Chester, OH, United States Motor Vehicle Dept. Title Damage DAMAGED
09/22/1995 West Chester, OH, United States Title Brand Salvage
02/21/1996 Ft Mitchell, KY, United States Motor Vehicle Dept. Rebuilt/Rebuildable REBUILT/REBUILDABLE
02/21/1996 Fort Mitchell, KY, United States Title Brand Salvage
02/21/1996 Fort Mitchell, KY, United States Title Brand Exceeds Mechanical Limits
02/21/1996 Ft Mitchell, KY, United States Motor Vehicle Dept. Odometer Problem EXCEEDS MECHANICAL LIMITS
02/21/1996 Fort Mitchell, KY, United States Title Brand Rebuilt Reconstructed
07/28/1998 Bethel, OH, United States Title Brand Rebuilt Reconstructed
07/28/1998 Bethel, OH, United States Title Brand Exceeds Mechanical Limits
07/28/1998 Bethel, OH, United States Motor Vehicle Dept. Odometer Problem EXCEEDS MECHANICAL LIMITS
07/28/1998 Bethel, OH, United States Title Brand Salvage
10/29/1999 OH, United States State Agency Emission Inspection PASSED EMISSION INSPECTION 141,938 MI
10/29/1999 OH, United States State Agency Emission Inspection PASSED EMISSION INSPECTION
04/15/2002 Quebec, Canada Motor Vehicle Dept. Odometer Reading ODOMETER READING FROM CANADIAN PROVINCE 241,395 KM
07/25/2002 Quebec, Canada Motor Vehicle Dept. Odometer Reading ODOMETER READING FROM CANADIAN PROVINCE 164,544 KM
06/25/2003 Quebec, Canada Motor Vehicle Dept. Canadian Renewal Registration issued or renewed
06/25/2003 Quebec, Canada Motor Vehicle Dept. Odometer Reading ODOMETER READING FROM CANADIAN PROVINCE 260,707 KM
12/09/2003 Ft Mitchell, KY, United States Recycled LAST SEEN AT RECYCLING FACILITY
05/16/2011 Quebec, Canada Motor Vehicle Dept. Canadian Renewal Registration issued or renewed
01/07/2014 Quebec, Canada Motor Vehicle Dept. Canadian Renewal Registration issued or renewed
01/07/2014 Quebec, Canada Motor Vehicle Dept. Odometer Reading ODOMETER READING FROM CANADIAN PROVINCE 201,077 KM
01/07/2014 Quebec, Canada Motor Vehicle Dept. Canadian Renewal New owner reported
04/13/2015 Quebec, Canada Motor Vehicle Dept. Canadian Renewal Registration issued or renewed
08/20/2015 Quebec, Canada Motor Vehicle Dept. Odometer reading
08/20/2015 Quebec, Canada Motor Vehicle Dept. Canadian Renewal Registration issued or renewed
08/11/2016 Quebec, Canada Independent Source Odometer reading 171,721 KM
10/27/2016 Quebec, Quebec, Canada Independent Source Odometer reading 177,000 KM

[syncrodoka]

I think you know the answer.

[bluebus86]

make sure the title is clear, no liens, no outstanding registration due, then have the vehicle inspected for damage, repairs etc.... if it checks out to your satisfaction, make an offer. Id not be influenced by this report very much, the proof is in the pudding.

good luck
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[?Waldo?]

It'd definitely messed up. It looks like various odometer discrepancies which given the high failure rate of VDO odometers is not exactly surprising. The thing that is most sketchy is that it was in Quebec in '03 and then recycled in Kentucky 6 months later and then revived in Quebec 8 years later.

I'd make darn sure all the vin tags match including the frame.

[BavarianWrench]

That 12/09/03 entry is weird? A van that was labeled salvage in 1995 may not have sustained much damage? Vans were relatively cheap then. Not much of a hit could put it in Salvage territory. It also could be compromised? If you're not skilled at looking over a car, this one is a higher risk then some others out there. On the same token, I have worked in shops where clients spent more repairing a car then it was worth. They paid the bill, no insurance company reporting to carfax. The VIN was never attached to parts invoices and there is no public record of these repairs. Repair bills in the 60 to 80K range. Yes high end, low production vehicles. They will be on the market someday and have clean carfax's. Any used car could have been rebuilt. You want somebody good to review your purchase. If you are not getting a good deal, pass on this one. When you go to sell it, the concerns you're having now, potential buyers will have down the road. I don't put much credit into auto history reports but do use them as a reference. Keep us posted on what you find out. Any repairs from 1995 should show signs of problems by now if the repairs were not done well. Have a qualified set of eyes look it over.

[Clinehud]

It went to a highly rated Westy mechanic in QC and this is what came back needing repairs: (totallying approx. 1,600 CAD but not all urgent). We also have a copy of a receipt from 2010 when the engine was replaced (in Quebec) along with a number of other items. I am not sure if the 12/09 entry is accurate. Thoughts??

replace hose front left + right front (cracked rubber)
replace cylinder rear left brake (brake fluid leak)
replacement pipe section steel brakes rear left + right
replace left inner tie rod wheel alignment +
replace all petrol injection hoses (fire hazard)
replace bellows gimbal outer left
replace stop left rear suspension spring (welding)
clean connectors "grounds" under dashboard
replace large wire "ground" the engine
replace fuel filter
adjust idle switch
replace engine air filter
Replace o-ring motor oil rod tube (oil leak)
replace horn (not functional)
solider rectangular headlights (lousses)
replace heating fan control switch

[Howesight]

In Quebec and in Ontario, the rust issues of a Vanagon are far more important than the mileage. There is no such thing as a low-mileage Vanagon (or Westfalia) that needs no maintenance. Mileage is essentially meaningless on these vehicles since most rebuilds of engines typically last far less than the original factory engines (we can all speculate on why) and virtually everything on a Vanagon that moves is a replaceable wear item.

These vans are so old now that VIN reports are basically meaningless. Consider also that some jurisdictions have mandatory annual inspections at which time odometer readings are typically recorded, and consider also the frailty of the Vanagon speedometer and odometer when the trip re-set button is pressed once too often. Places without emissions inspections (like BC since 2015) will give meaningless VIN reports going forward because no checking is occurring.
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