How to sell an all original 1968 bus in great condition

[NewBoise]

Hi. About 5 years ago I stumbled into a 1968 VW bus that had always been kept indoors and is totally rust free, and doesn't need to be restored. All of the glass, rubber, paint, etc, is original. It could probably be in a museum. It's a WA state bus.

I was selling a motorhome, and he offered it as part trade. He had owned the bus since 1990, kept in garage, and hardly used it, aside from regular start ups and trips around the block.

In the last 5 years I just drove it a few times a year on sunny days. I moved to Boise last year, so in the fall I made the long trip here just putted along and it ran so well the whole way. It's in my garage here.

Pre-1990 the bus was owned by one guy who documented every time he bought a tank of gas, all maintenance, etc, in a log book which I have. He drove it down to Arizona, CA, WY, etc. I don't think it was ever a daily driver. It had 96k mi on it and he had a new motor put in at a VW dealer, I've got all the receipts. Since then it has about 40k more.

This bus has a square pop top in the center, it looks like this one:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6989515

It comes with a big blue tent attachment that I've setup and it's in fantastic shape. Like new. Just like everything on the bus.

It has original studded snow tires and wheels, rubber in great shape after all these years: Made in West Germany on the tires.

I don't want to charge too much for this van, but I'd like to get what it's worth. I think it probably belongs in UK or Germany, as that is what a local VW mechanic said. A guy at a VW show in Washington State who owns a super mint bus, the one with all the windows (I'm sure he posts here) looked it over and said a whopping $50k is what I can get for this bus.

I can provide all kinds of photos, video, and have an independent person verify all of this.

Any tips on where to list this for sale? Does this site reach European audience?

Thanks for any advice.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

hi

don't mean to be an asshole (it just comes naturally) but how do you expect a value on a price with no photos?

and I hate to burst your bubble, but you won't get 50K for a run of the mill bay. a perfect perfect perfect late bay camper...yes, but not your bus.

that said, by your description I would say 8200-10,500 tops. but I would need to see some very clear photos.

if you Barrett Jackson the thing, you may get high teens, low 20's. it's about 1K to put the car in and a 5% sellers premium.

so...lets see some GOOD photos, including rockers and wheel wells, floors engine bay etc.

I would have told the 50K guy he was on some pretty good drugs, or told him "look, I will sell it to you for 40K, you can make 10K on it"
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[Wildthings]

1. Put it on ebay, describe it honestly, and let the market set the price.

2. You can also put it in the classifieds here, setting the price according to what fairly similar vans are listed for.

[scrivyscriv]

Just from my point of view as a mechanic.. a bus with 140k miles and all original everything is not going to be cherry. It may be clean(ish) and mostly dry.. but not cherry. 50k is top of the market for some really, really clean restored BAY WINDOW buses - from what I've seen on facebook groups and here on the classifieds.

Post some good photos. A lot could change based on getting an overseas buyer..
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Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help.

[SGKent]

50K is a like new bus with ALL systems up to original quality (mechanical, electrical, and visual) as it left the factory. You might find some restomods that were done by well known shops in that range also but one is paying for the shop name attached to the vehicle.

IMHO on a 1968 $12K to $19K if you wait around long enough for a buyer, and their inspection doesn't see anything that resembles flipping or lipstick on a pig.
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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

[Tcash]

Welcome to TheSamba!

TheSamba classifieds reaches around the world. Please use it to for any advertisement. Selling in the Forums is not allowed.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/

But you are more than welcome to post some pix and ask what it's worth?

How to post photos / How to post a photo in the Forums
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6

Good luck
Tcash

[NewBoise]

Hi friends,

Thanks a lot for the advice.

I suppose Ebay can be ok but I'm leary of scammers there. Just be careful I suppose.

It's very "run of the mill" bus. The only thing that distinguishes it, is the fact that it's all original. Open up the rear engine compartment and it looks like new, all original. Everything is just like it was in 1968, for the most part. I always see restored bus. What I have is so original, and perhaps I've watched too many episodes of Antique Roadshow, but I've never washed this bus in the 5 years I've had it. Just keeping it original and not driving it in the rain.

If it's worth $12k fine. $20k whatever. I don't use it and now that I'm out here I want to sell it off and get a really nice classic 4WD truck that I just found for sale in a small town in Montana.

Yeah one guy looked it over and said $50k. I was blown away but maybe he wasn't too serious. Seemed legit. He mentioned that I could make the paint shiny by doing some treatment. Will appreciate more feedback here as I post pictures, probably tomorrow.

[busdaddy]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[Abscate]

Just don your asbestos suit before you post pics, tough love is meted outdaily on Samba.....
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.ssS!

[Randy in Maine]

Might try "bringatrailer.com". A lot of people are over there looking for interesting cars.