Want to learn about VW Buses and Prices

[GhiaInSC]

I've wanted a VW Bus since I was in high school and I've come across one that I really like (1975 Westfalia), but it is expensive (37K). It's appears to be about 95% original and has a lot of the original accessories (which is really cool) and about 40K original miles.

What is a good source to learn more about buses, the different variations, what makes one year more desirable than another and general price guidelines. I know there are a lot of factors in determining price and I'm not looking to flip it. I just don't want to overpay and am struggling a little bit in the big price tag. I see other nice ones in the mid-20's but they are restored and don't have some of the cool details.

Just looking to be a little more educated and some guidance on prices.

[alman72]

Here. read read read.

[alman72]

Here. read read read.

[Mispeld]

^^ x2 (pun intended)
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Tom
1977 Westy. 2.0 Fuel Injected.

[dstimm]

Honestly, the prices people want are a bit steep because we are at an all time popularity high. People that know a lot about these buses probably bought their bus(es) a long time ago and the price wasn’t nearly as high. If you were going to completely restore a bus you would spend countless hours tracking down OEM parts, rebuilding the engine, gutting and going through every wire, screw and bolt in the bus, then spending more money doing a detailed paint. You can score each bus on three things, engine, interior and body. Stock is always worth more than custom on vintage vehicles. I would look at the classifieds over and over until you find a trend in pricing. Most of those prices are inflated a bit also so they can neigotiate. Good luck, do your research before buying anything.
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1979 Sage Green California Westy.

[white74westy]

[busdaddy]

The "buying and selling" section of the FAQ's ( https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=165001 ) is a good place to start, whatever you do invest a couple of hundred on a PPI by a recognized bus expert before pulling the trigger, it can save you 10's of thousands. Or post your prospect here for the buzzards to pick apart, if you do that it's usually wise to sensor any seller info so you don't get scooped, but if it's on an auction site or advertised here already it's not like it's some secret deal so don't worry.
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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Слава Україні!

[hazetguy]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

yes, says in the ad that the r/r 1/4 was painted, and the nose was fixed from a p/o spare tire install

you couldn't build a bus to that level for the asking price, period. if you are shocked by prices you won't last long here.
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[timvw7476]

Shop the classifieds here on Samba, be willing to travel to get it or ship it home.
37,000 is way too much, there's a decent Riviera camper on the class. right
now going for $17,000. Low miles really only count on an undriven classic.
40k is a nice used vehicle, but paying 37k is a little nutty if you plan on using
it for it's true purpose of camping. Then you have to be honest with yourself
about up keep. Performing a brake or clutch job is required, today's shop
labor rates are very high & the diagnostic plug on baywindow buses is not
OBD II compliant. Most owners have the proper tools & a network of friends
to remedy most issues that arise. If you do not have that, plan on a few
thousand a year for occasional repair, + finding the right shop to do it.

[GhiaInSC]

I appreciate the great information and advice.

I think I wasn’t very specific in my original post. I am a car guy and understand the undertakings and costs associated with a restoration. I do understand that I would not likely build a car for the cost. I just want to make sure the car is as represented and that the value for a fully restored or survivor is there. Cost of restoration doesn’t always equal the actual value. I just don’t want to be upside down.

My knowledge base is early 60’s mustangs and air cooled 911’s. What is intriguing about this bus is the small details and accessories that seem to be original. That’s where my knowledge is very limited and I could use some help.

I’m not shocked by the price but it does seem higher than what I’ve seen. My primary goal is to understand if this vehicle is good enough to cost more than those mid 20’s buses I seem to see a lot of?

Any opinions on which years and bus types are more desirable and why?



What

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[Wasted youth]

There is nothing more important than reading. This FREE website, sans annoying pop-ups and bullshit blogs filled with horseshit click-bait... is a genuine source of infinite information.

You are in the right place.

But to a point: I have yet to find a comprehensive, organized encyclopedia that could answer your quest... and that is totally acceptable to me. This spicy soup of wisdom is best served piping hot. You will quickly develop a taste for it and wash it all down with the liquid sarcasm, stoopid wit and excellent 1975 orange Westfalia porn.

Welcome aboard! Give yourself plenty of time and let your inquiring nature lead you to your answers. I learn something new here quite frequently, and it's often just some esoteric note that leads to a deeper understanding of a larger concept.

Warning: Some ideas are presented in so damned a confusing way by many voices, when the idea and practice is really quite simple when performed. Case in point: "Dude, you gotta CC the heads!"

Speaking of Click Bait and Things That Just Aren't True...

[Abscate]

If you don’t want to be upside down don’t buy any vintage car.

A good decent Bay Westy can be had for about 20k, taking time and space to look. The rare 40k types are poor investments especially if you want to drive it
Don’t use Samba ads to guide you on pricing.
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.ssS!

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[TDCTDI]

What are your plans for whatever bus that you plan to purchase?


Do you plan to camp in it regularly?
There are much better platforms in terms of space, reliability, comfort, & parts availability, if you plan to drive & camp in a vehicle regularly.

Are you planning to have a collector vehicle to occasionally go to shows and/or ice cream with the kids/grandkids?

Buying the nicest bus you can may limit your willingness to use it as it was intended. And just because this example has such low miles doesn't mean that it's going to be trouble free, dormancy can cause lots of other issues that would not be expected.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[richparker]

[WildIdea]

I would think that if you start out looking you would find the perfect bus for yourself in about one year. No need to be in a hurry but there are enough to let a few pass before you pull the trigger.

The orange bus listed in the thread is nice and I don’t feel it’s overpriced myself. I’m kind of surprised it’s still for sale. In my mind there has been some work on it but would love to see discovery pics to see just truly how much was done. With that said, 37 isn’t crazy IMO.

For me I’d like a bus that’s rust free with some normal use blemishes. I think that prices for buses climb steadily the better the condition but spike right around the no rust and original paint point. If you have ever done rust repair on a bus and prepped and painted one you would soon realize why people want 40k for the work. Everybody should do this at least once, lol

With that said, I think there is value in doing some of the refresh needed on your own bus yourself. There is a cathartic serenity and satisfaction looking after a bus. It’s right up there with owning a pet. You get back what you put in. It’s a relationship and connection that can teach you a lot about mechanics and yourself. I kinda believe that people would naturally cut corners on services if done for money or someone else’s ride or one they are selling. Not always, but I prefer to be the one in the systems and go the extra mile for myself. I just trust and count on myself more, so I’m less likely to buy something called turn key.

So for me with bays, you can have too roached of one that will cost a pile to fix, if ever and actually have too nice of one that you don’t want to use. There is a sweet spot in there. A trifecta of what’s the intent of use, what your capable of doing yourself, and what you can afford.

Just my two cents.

[EverettB]

[curtp07]

Find a nice bus with a solid motor and body, kinda worn paint with chips and dings....maybe even a worn interior.

The engine and the body work (if you can’t weld) will get you.

Restoring one will cost endless time and money (if you want to use it right away).

With worn paint and chips and dings but solid body and motor you can get right on the road tomorrow, drive it, not worry about camping and family scratching it, and leaving it at a campsite for a while.

A worn interior is easy to fix little by little...

IMO the type of Bus described above will be a good price, and not a museum piece...but you’ll never lose money even if you use it.

All the best!
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Subaru