Importing a Vanagon from Europe

[D78Q85V87]

Hello All,

I have been dabbling in overseas vanagons and have been finding some that seem worth the investment to bring over and import. I however have not expirience in doing so and was wondering if someone could piont me in the right direction to the proper resources or had any advice and things to keep in mind as I went through the process if I so end up doing.

Thank you all!

[jimf909]

Busman's name always comes up in regard to this question. I've never used his services but many report good results.

Qiute a few testimonials in reads. Good luck,

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/search.php?q=vanagon%20busman
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- Jim

[owokie]

Busman is adequate, but imperfect in encounters with me and several others.
There are no alternatives I'm aware of that provide similar services, I would use him again if necessary.

Your first order of business it to find the vehicle you want, and contact him about going to look at it. The import process is fairly straightforward especially if you engage someone to file your paperwork for you (I would). Expect to add $3-$8k to the purchase price for the three shipping legs, fees, and duties. Happy to help with more details if you get further in the process.

[D78Q85V87]

[jimf909]

^^^

Ooh, double-slider...a very interesting build thread under-way here...

1991 Double door pop top conversion
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

The double-slider has so many possibilities. I saw one with a kitchen in the usual location but the open slider created an open kitchen and revealed storage spots accessible when the slider was open for outside gear such as boots or recovery gear.
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- Jim

[RainierSyncro]

I went the Busman route and it was very painless. He did everything on the Euro end and then passed me off to the shipping people. I had to find a local shipping broker to handle this side of the transaction.That was in 2014. I did another import of a Fiat Campagnola 4x4 from Italy in 2018 using an Italian business that specializes in locating and shipping cars. That one was a little more tricky dealing with an out of state broker and extra hoops to jump through with customs. If I had to do it again, I would have looked for a better van and paid extra in better condition to avoid all the $$$ I shoveled into my Syncro in the last 6 years. Here's my build thread if you want to take a dive into that:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=601382&highlight=

I noticed you're in WA. The van will end up in Tacoma after a month on a RORO ship. I have a name of a local shipping broker if you need help.

[owokie]

Seriously?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1975-fiat-campagnola/

Add another vehicle to the "someday" list for me. Thanks for nothing.

Agree with the advice to buy the cleanest whip you can source. I bought arguably the nicest/lowest mileage example Flo in existence and paid a premium for it. Still far less than I would have spent stitching together some tin-worm eaten trashbomb. Good luck!

[Wildthings]

If you know someone in the diplomatic corp, see if they can bring the van in for you. IIRC, they can bring in one vehicle a year.

[RainierSyncro]

[D78Q85V87]

Great! this is all very helpful and I may need to hold off on the dream a little longer. I have a lot of unique modifications that I want to do and have been thinking through a full custom interior I would do on the van that would integrate into a lot of what is already in the van, without compromising the integrity. I have seen a lot of poor vanagon mods over the years and so I want to see how I can capitalize on my design eye and creativity and create some really high quality modifications that solve a problem with the vans without hacking and chopping away at stuff. The end goal is a double slider syncro camper. So we will see how it all shakes out.

[RainierSyncro]

Double slider Syncros are hard to find. I would get in contact with Busman before something pops up so you can get a faster jump on one when they appear on mobile.de. He also might run across one on his travels through Europe before they end up for sale. Who knows. Contact him for his opinion on finding one.

[Alaskaberrys]

Here’s a T4 syncro double slider from Busmans site -

https://busmaneurope.com/buy-it-for-you-4x4-vans-for-sale/4x4-vans-for-sale/?car=462

Fire engine red to boot.

I used Busman for importing my Doka from Germany - was listed in his site. I wish I had communicated with the buyer directly then used his services instead of going the route I did - would have been fewer surprises perhaps. He was great on getting it shipped and setup with the shippers - well worth the money there.
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'91 Westfalia, Bordeaux Red Pearl 2.1L 2wd Auto
'91 T3 Syncro Doka, Escorial Green 1.9L TD AAZ “Gremian” (to provoke, irritate, exasperate, vex...)

[Steve M.]

[hans j]

I used Busman to ship my syncro single cab. I had found the truck on Facebook and we went to pick it up in Norway. Then we drove it around Germany, went to Syncro30 near Berlin, and had fun driving around. We left it at a friends house near Frankfurt, and Busman picked it up from there. It worked for us.

I was looking to buy another but leave it over there for us to use, but everything is so expensive or rusty, so I found a great deal on one locally that I'm building out to ship over there.
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1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

[D78Q85V87]

[D78Q85V87]

What do you all think about buying a standard double slider and then getting a donor syncro and doing a conversion? in the end would it be better to just hunt down a double slider syncro and do a pop top conversion?

[owokie]

[MarkWard]

I converted a 90 automatic camper to Syncro using a donor. It’s a lot of work when it’s going on, but eventually it is to the point where it’s my daily driver. I felt more comfortable with swapping drive train vs swapping the camper roof section. I could not have done it with a complete Syncro donor. Buying a Syncro and doing the hole cut method and mounting the camper top is probably easier for someone with less experience or less money to pay someone to do.
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[D78Q85V87]

[D78Q85V87]