71 VW bus value?

[nostatic]

I have found a 71 VW bus. It is pretty clean, and has 36K original miles (and no, it hasn't turned over...it has been stored most of its life). There is some surface rust here and there, but nothing major. It had a repaint at some point. It is on its second owner who is the father in-law of a friend. Most of the parts are original (like the shocks). It will likely need some going through (although brakes and tires are new), but seems solid, has the two bench seats in back, headliner has a tear or two but that's it.

What's a ballpark figure? Looking at Autotrader gives values all over the map...

[Rot 911]

Look at the classifieds here (the Pelican Parts of the VW world)TheSamba

[juanbenae]

i think widebody is a custom vw guy. try a pm to him maybe? his website is linked in his signature deal here on pelican and its like hotvolks or something of that nature.

Call John Walker. He's deeply into buses.

[john70t]

Coolness factor is a 10 and 1/2 if it's a mint original factory 21 window ragtop, but unlike 15 years ago they are getting harder to find and the people who want them are also diminishing. A lot of industrial history is dissapearing with the leasing mindset.

Buying as an investment may...eventually pay off, but owning and fixing one would be a joy, and the parts don't have a Porsche-tax.

[speeder]

I've owned a couple of '71 VW vans, one full camper and one smooth-top (non pop-up), Westy. 1971 is a desirable year for a few reasons, last year for type I motor, last year for small tail lights, first year for power (boosted) brakes and disc brakes, etc...

The type I motor is the bug type motor w/ gazillions of performance parts available and the huge aftermarket for same, but the type 4 motor is actually a lot stronger. (Structurally/bottom end-wise).

[Bob's Flat-Six]

I had a 63 VW van, Drove it to Lake Tahoe once.
Yeah, Lets take this 50HP? loaf of bread up a giant mountain in the summer Well I made it, and back. Caught some big trout too.

Todd, You going to Lake Tahoe?

[nostatic]

no Bob, but I did watch "battle trout" on Iron Chef America last week. Suddenly it all makes sense...

[SteveStromberg]

That bus is worth $200 not much demand for them any more unless they are Westys.

[john70t]

There was a guy that put a 4.3 Buick V8 in one and made a sweet custom radiator that looked like the front spare tire. Plenty of mountain climbing power and still was a bus.

I cringe at the non-OEM engine thing, but if the bus would have been scrapped anyways, and the parts were kept for future owners....

[DanTheCat]

Originally posted by SteveStromberg
That bus is worth $200 not much demand for them any more unless they are Westys.

You're joking, right?

I miss my '71. Great year. I know I'm not very helpful, as I have no idea what it might be worth, but oh well. I can't see low miles being much of an influence on the price. Not to me, anyway. It would be more of a function of it's condition: how much work and money do you need to put into it to get it safe and reliable?

Dan

[Type911]

You might want to ask Randy Carlson at Old Bug.com
He could probably give you a good estimation. Most of his busses are 67-......he does have a few bay windows for sale at the bottom of this link.
The Bus you describe sounds like a good one !

http://www.oldbug.com/sales.htm

[Bill Douglas]

Have you got somewhere to park it Todd? Is it for moving your band gear around in?

PS I'm getting closer to finding the perfect Karmann Ghia...