Is this legit? Advice needed.
 

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2475533

My brother is computer illiterate, and is helpless online except for basics. He recently lost his beloved 1971 Westfallia Camper in a towing accident. It was totaled. He bought it in 1978 for $600 and he really wants to replace it. He lost his son a month later as a real gut punch. I am trying to help him find a nice 1971 VW camper.

He wants a 71 because it has the old school Type 1 engine, the better transmission and it is the perfect van for him.

I have never searched for a vehicle online myself. Heck I have not bought a car since 1995 when I bought my 911 I found in an analog newspaper.

Anyway, any opinions of the Samba listing above? I will have to set up an account with them to try to contact the seller. If one of you guys has an account can you check out the listing please do.

I will sign in and try to contact the seller later today after I get some boring work stuff finished.

Thanks in advance.
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New gas tank and fresh paint. I'd be looking hard at rust issues.

My condolences to your brothers’ son passing. Good luck on the “bread-loaf” search.

I know what you mean... but checking out a car from the comfort of your home is so much easier. You can ask questions, ask for more pictures, and from there you can suss out whether the seller is legit.

Wrong spelling/grammar. Yellow flag. Out of town and can't get the car inspected. Red flag. Offers "Escrow services". Red flag. Tells you someone else will be in contact with you, red flag. etc etc.

It looks like it might have potential.

My concerns: underbody, what's it really like underneath? How well was the engine done? I would prefer an engine with 25,000 miles over 'freshly rebuilt'. Who did the rebuild, what parts did they buy versus recycle.

One thing that is weird, I can click on the link and see that van. Yet if I log into the Samba, and search for 71 Campers and Vans it does not show up. Maybe I am a beginner navigating their site and not seeing it. I sent him an message and I will see if he returns the message.

Just ask for a very specific picture, say the passenger door upper hinge.

If he can't provide, then he doesn't have the car.

Google did not find those images any where else, that's a good thing....

If you want that vehicle, don't dilly dally.

Looks good to me. Too bad the photos are not better.

Reach out to widebody911, pretty sure he is the guy you need to talk to about VW busses.

Should be some local Pelican's who'd love to take a look for you.

You don’t need an account, or have to log in to view classifieds on TheSamba. If you select “Type 2 - Bus - Bay Window - 1968-79” in the “Vehicles” category, you’ll find that van on page 2.

Looks pretty nice in the photos. The ad says the motor’s top end is all new, but what about the bottom end? The main bearing saddles in the case will wear over time. The case can be align-bored to correct this, but only 5 times (.020” oversize each time for a total of .100”). After that, the case is junk and must be replaced.

Ask the seller to take a photo of the invoice for the "top end rebuild" and email it to you.

^^
Good advice. If it was done, there would be a paper trail.
I don't see why anyone would do a top end right down to the case and not spent a couple of hours replacing the bearings. That just seems weird to me.
Its definitely worth checking out.

Come to find out that ad is 15 years old! He leaves it up to get calls. That 71 is long gone, but he has many other years of van or camper.

So a total bait and switch. Not a real scam because he will admit the ad is 15 years old, but a pure bait and switch.

So still looking for a 71 Camper that is not a total project or rust bucket.

sorry for the loss of the son and nephew.

It is too bad your brother doesn't want a '78 I would cut him a sweet deal on mine.

That is just WAY too modern!

He wants the old style upright engine, not a type 4 engine. He says they call it a type 4 because everything is 4 times more expensive. ;)

He has a good stock of old engine parts and never got into the type 4 engines for the cost.

Seems like a scammer to me. I'd report him.

I'd convert that Type 4 to an upright shroud and he will ask himself why he is so in love with the Type 1. Heack a Type 4 bus has hydraulic lifters if I recall.

He has a storeroom full of parts for type 1 engines.