Who is the PP member that is...

jrdavid68 · 09-03-2002, 04:02 PM

also in to the VW buses. I know there is someone on this board that is really into the buses, but I can't seem to find his web site.

I am looking at a 1973 VW Bus that has been mostly restored, pretty nice paint job, was originally blue now green, engine has been updated to something a little bigger with dual Webers..... I took it on a about a 10+ mile cruise and it ran and drove great. I did get some little backfires when it was still cold - it also has been sitting for some time with very very occasional use.

It would be purchased for our 16 year old who is in to biking etc. so it would be perfect for him to haul his bike around in addition to all his other ***** (maybe I'll get some garage space back).

The owner is a friend of a friend and a very fair guy. He purchased this van in '96 or so and started the restoration for a particular purpose. Life changed and he no longer needs it. I want to make an offer pending a PPI, but I am having trouble coming up with an offer (he has about $7500 in to it and knows he would never get that out of it) and finding general information about the '73 buses.

I know this is another Off Topic question, but any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
JrDavid68

makaio · 09-03-2002, 04:05 PM

Thom (widebody911) is who you are probably thinking about. I know he restored at least one from the grave.

Also, I think Paul(pbs911) knows about them too. I remeber him saying something about owning one on the board before.

pbs911 · pbs911's Garage

Thom is the resident Bus nut.

I had a 62 Bus for about 2 years in 82-84, and is the one car I wish I still had today. Your son will have a great time with the Bus. I drove mine from the sea to the mountains and never had problems. Very reliable and parts are dirt cheap, easy to work on, and uncomplicated. Great first car and you would not have to worry about him testing out the street racing crowd.

pwd72s · 09-03-2002, 04:16 PM

Ahhh, the VW Bus...Michael could be "on the job", two of them could be having a drag race right in front of him, and he wouldn't have a clue. I'm talking a stock early bus here..a buddy had one back in high school. This tired bus may have been able to reach 50 mph on a flat straight, but we never found a long enough straight...

jrdavid68 · 09-03-2002, 04:23 PM

Thanks for the quick replies. Maybe Thom can join in with some insightful information, otherwise, I will try to e-mail him.

Ideally I would like to know a ball park figure on what to offer this guy without insulting him (assuming all checks out fine).

Also, I too like that the boy wouldn't be out racing the rice with this thing. He just needs something to get him from A to B.

Thanks again!!
JrDavid68

pwd72s · 09-03-2002, 04:30 PM

Well JR, there may be one little problem with the kid having a bus...some night, he may come home announcing that he "needs" to get married...lots of room for conception in those busses. That's what happened to my old buddy...a groom at 18...

island911 · 09-03-2002, 04:47 PM

What about Pillow (Adrian Pillow) ? He's "into" them.

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

For what it's worth, I think the front impact protection on the old bus is pretty thin, i.e. sheetmetal. Having said that, they are very cool and if I were 16 I'd want one.

island911 · 09-03-2002, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Don Plumley
For what it's worth, I think the front impact protection on the old bus is pretty thin, i.e. sheetmetal.

Check out vanagon.com van vs volvo

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

Interesting link. It is of course a relatively modern vanagon, not a 1973 VW Bus. I think I remember something about this frontal impact issue was one of the reasons the old style Bus was taken off the market?

gary-o · 09-03-2002, 05:09 PM

I restored (and still have) a '78 Westy, having done the complete resto (took out the glass, interior and engine for a "same color" paint job, and installed a new "balanced" engine with a high torque cam, high flow heads and high flow oil pump as well as a set of dual 44 Webers, and put in new rubbers all around when completed, my cost was pretty close to $17,000 Canadian.
You never stated what the upgrade engine was, so I can't comment on an "offer" price. But I will say if the vehicle is rust free with a sound engine, it should be worth what your friend of a friend is asking.
Don't worry about the backfiring while cold, mine still does it after balancing the carbs with a snail.
However, now that I've started my days off, I'm planning to re-sync the carbs right after I check for "free" horsepower from my throttle linkage on the "79SC!!

gary-o · 09-03-2002, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pwd72s
Well JR, there may be one little problem with the kid having a bus...some night, he may come home announcing that he "needs" to get married...lots of room for conception in those busses. That's what happened to my old buddy...a groom at 18...

Ha ha,
Don't worry about what you're driving... if you ever new the damage my wife and I did in our "74 Vega hatchback...

billwagnon · 09-03-2002, 05:51 PM

Quote:

I think the front impact protection on the old bus is pretty thin, i.e. sheetmetal.

those old VW buses used the special energy-absorbing "drivers legs" in the event of a collision!

pwd72s · 09-03-2002, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gary-o

Ha ha,
Don't worry about what you're driving... if you ever new the damage my wife and I did in our "74 Vega hatchback...

VEGA??? HOOT! A girlfriend had one of those. Been there, done that. Kinda cool the way the back seat folded down, wasn't it? Gawd, if only the engine was as reliable...

Joeaksa · 09-03-2002, 06:33 PM

Another VW Van guy is:

http://hometown.aol.com/bentbtstr8/myhomepage/index.html

He has over 10 of them the last time I was in touch...

Joe

jrdavid68 · 09-03-2002, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Well JR, there may be one little problem with the kid having a bus...some night, he may come home announcing that he "needs" to get married...lots of room for conception in those busses. That's what happened to my old buddy...a groom at 18...

pwd72s - I hear ya - the wife and I even talked about that. I had a Chevette when I was in high school, the back seat folded down to provide plenty of room - if he's going to do it - he'll find a way!

gary-o - let's say the engine is stock and has been rebuilt - would that help you come up with a ball park offer?

The problem is that the seller does not have an "asking price". He told me to find out what it's worth and give him an offer and he will decide. He was very straight up saying that he knows he will never get what he has in to it - that's approx. $7500.

The only one I found on the 'net was a '73 that looked like it was painted by someone who was on a visit from "uncle cid" at the time and it was offered at $1700 or $1800. I was thinking $3000 might be a good offer given that it has already been repainted, good rubber, rebuilt motor etc.

I certainly don't want to pay too much, but more than that, I don't want to insult him with too low an offer either.

Thanks again,
JrDavid68