What's A VW Bus worth?

[woolleyiain]

It seems that my local craigslist is swimming in VW Vans. What does a non running LHD one go for over in the UK now? Am looking at maybe buying a couple and slapping them on the bay over there. Am looking at stuff like this:

 

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/1792371440.html

 

and possibly this:

 

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/1787064326.html

 

There's loads of mechanically shoddy but rust free examples here. Is it worth a punt, or more hassle that it's worth?

 

What do we reckon?

[garethj]

A quick search on ebay for completed listings will show you what they sell for. I think their value has gone down a bit in the last year or so.

 

The question is, what's the next big thing?

[Pillock]

Either of those would top £4000 without even sweating. More if you do the paperwork, get an MoT etc. Earlier the better so the '70 would make a tad more, but the 72 is still an 'early' bay.

 

Prices haven't dropped much, they've stabilised, but stuff does take a while to sell so don't expect an instant profit.

[Station]

They look in good condition bodywise.

[babydriver]

Mate of mines just bought a LHD bus for £6000 on a K plate (free tax) not too tidy condidtion, hand painted too so they are still making stupid money.

[Pillock]

A quick search on ebay for completed listings will show you what they sell for. I think their value has gone down a bit in the last year or so.

 

The question is, what's the next big thing?

The next thing has already arrived

 

http://www.eastfalia.com/vans.aspx

 

Bog standard imported T3s for £8k plus.

 

I guess following on from that, T4s will be big soon!

[Mr Lobster]

T4s are already relatively expensive for what they are. A tidy one, even with the lowest power lump still goes for more than other comparable vans. You see a fair number advertised as potential campers / surf buses.

[Claypole]

Day Van, Surf Bus, Possible Camper Conversion... got sick to death of reading the same shit when trying to buy one a while back.

 

And so many with a bit of manky carpet and mdf chucked in the back, lowered with Audi alloys while ignoring any rust or broken stuff advertised at stupid prices.

[sporty-shite]

T4s are already relatively expensive for what they are. A tidy one, even with the lowest power lump still goes for more than other comparable vans. You see a fair number advertised as potential campers / surf buses.

'Tis true. I was looking for a T4 last year, and the amount of cleaned up builders vans with "day van, surf bus" in the ebay title, and a jacked up price, was ridiculous.

[shite_meister]

Both of those are desirable being the earlier 'lowlight' versions with the indicators by the bumpers-quite sought after in VW circles and the panels van more so as its even older featuring the older rear air vents and split-screen style rear lamps, also the twin slider option was rare-this one might warrant further research to see how desirable it might be.

 

As mentioned already-the market has calmed a little over the last six months or so but I see no reason for them to carry on gaining in value, people will always want VW campers.

 

Only thing I'd be cautious of is can you buy it, import it and sell it as an imported LHD resto project and still make money on it? Split-screens are easier to make a profit on as people go mad for them more.

[Milford Cubicle]

That's why my friend, who is a fully paid up VW LUVR bought a grey import Toyota luxo-van instead - offered much better value for money and it is a lot less van-like.

[Station]

Camper vans in general (Talbot, Fiat, etc ) do command a lot more money than normal vans anyway. Those prices don't seem unreasonable with the scene tax piled on (for the right person).

[Mr Lobster]

Day Van, Surf Bus, Possible Camper Conversion... got sick to death of reading the same shit when trying to buy one a while back.

 

And so many with a bit of manky carpet and mdf chucked in the back, lowered with Audi alloys while ignoring any rust or broken stuff advertised at stupid prices.

Thats exactly what I found when I was looking at vans last year. Bought a Sprinter in the end which is just as well as a T4 would have been outgrown pretty quickly.

[Slaighty]

a dozen years ago I bought and sold a 69 VW in great condition with original Dormobile interior for £1000.

Not long after I flogged it the prices went ballistic

Same van today work about 8k

[trigger]

About 4 years ago there was a container of VW Campers come into Felixstowe Docks where i work from Adelaide, Australia which turned out to be full of killer Redback Spiders.

 

You wouldn't fancy those buggers climbing out of it would you!.

[woolleyiain]

I might have a crack on the bay over in the UK if I can find one over here for about a grand. There's no end of mechanically awful but rust free shite around here. a whole bunch of Triumphs and Fiat Spiders and such. The only things that seem to get "scened" out here are Landrover 90's....

[Cavcraft]

A quick search on ebay for completed listings will show you what they sell for. I think their value has gone down a bit in the last year or so.

 

The question is, what's the next big thing?

The next thing has already arrived

 

http://www.eastfalia.com/vans.aspx

 

Bog standard imported T3s for £8k plus.

 

I guess following on from that, T4s will be big soon!

'Amazingly original joker....'

'......£8,000....'

 

At least he's honest about himself as a seller.