advice on keeping original or customize?

[matty34]

Hi all, im currently getting my crossover bay welded and solid i have owned splitty's before and kept them original apart from door cards,is an original devon moonracker likely to be more desirable in its original condition? the mods i want to do are a respray in olive green bottom/off white top(currently red),matching door cards and floor and maybe a slight lowering? would this make the van more sell able in the future or detract a buyer? cheers matt

 

[john the horse]

most people that buy a bus like it to be fairly stock and shiny( living the dream) whether its a rotbox or not, not saying that yours is.

jth

 

[matty34]

cheers its in for welding so it will be solid just unsure to change colour etc or not as big step !

 

[Graham L]

Its a difficult call, some people like to buy stock some like slightly modified but at the end of the day its your bus and your rules. Heavilly modified buses are always harder to sell on as its your personal taste, lightly modified that can be changed back if needed then not so much of an issue.

Depends on whether you plan to keep it and use it or sell it straight on

 

[aogrady]

Hi!

The paint colour and re-trim sounds nice, can't see why light mods would devalue it, if a bus it clean, good paint, interior and presentable it'll always sell I would have thought.

As Graham said, if you were flipping it on, maybe a bit different, but if you intend on keeping it, it sounds like it will be very nice.

As always, "your bus, your rules"

Cheers,

Alistair

 

[matty34]

cheers guys it will be a keeper for a time,but knowing me i will sell at some point,i like the olive green but im in 2 minds thankyou all again

 

[Graham L]

Personally I prefer original colours and they again tend to sell better, Olive Green was not one except in SA where they did what they wanted, as a 71 it should be body coloured to the waist line and white above.

 

[r73]

I'd keep it red - I love red buses tho :lol:

 

[68_early_bay]

I'd keep it red - I love red buses tho :lol:

Whs^^^ red buses rock 8)

 

[thejinx]

Your bus your rules. At the moment lowering and rat look seem to be the fashion but who is to say that will be the same in a couple if years. Fresh paint and stock hight are easier to sell IMO. Look at who can afford these things as well if it's an investment play to the market than go with your personal tastes same as selling a house

 

[matty34]

thanks for the remarks,its got me more worried about changing the colour perhaps with fresh paint it would look better as ive said before i do prefer stock vans,but i fell in love with the olive westie at busfest,if i were to lower it it would be very subtle, and ive never liked the rat looked but each to there own,ive got a bit of time as the welding hasnt started yet,thank you all for you opinion's all apreciated

 

[magoo]

Slight lowering can be a good selling point as you can tell the new buyer that it now fits in a garage.

Green can be a hard colour to sell. I really wanted a mango green split, but my partner didn't like the green. It's a bit like those people who view houses on TV and don't like the colour of the walls...well decorate it yourself!! If you really want an olive bus, go for it, you'll not be happy otherwise.

 

[Lordain Volley]

I agree with all that's been said above, but think about your bus as an investment. If it's kept stock(ish) with quality upgrades, e.g. a Berg locking shifter etc, then this bus will always fetch a good price, as Grahame has said minor changes are easily reversed.

The colour - this is up to you, but again stock will always fetch top dollar, if you choose a non stock colour, it may not be to other's taste. I have only seen a few non stock colours which I like, most I think are dreadful, and cheapen your vintage vehicle. This is just my opinion. I'm keeping my stock colour but if I wanted to change it, I'd go for another stock colour(Mr Brightside is a great example of this).

Originality is always more desirable than a modish one off, if you want to keep a large market interested in your bus.

LV

 

[weeboll]

yes a bus is an investment but its an investment that needs a heap load of money spent on it every year so it aint going to get you rich! better to have it the way you want it

pretty sure there's another post on the forum says dont ever buy a bus thats been resprayed less than three years so you know its not hiding stuff. then again i reckon the average respray is only good for 7-8 years anyway..

 

[bigdaz]

i think as long as its a vw colour you wont go far wrong.
on my 71 tintop i personally went with what the m plate said Niagra blue up to the gutters and a white roof.
however on my 73 single cab in went savannah beige because i liked it on my Dads 1970 Bug.

 

[matty34]

cheers guys,i am now thinking of keeping the original red bottom/white top as ive never had a red bus but may change my mind

 

[Trikky2]

i reckon the average respray is only good for 7-8 years anyway..

Sounds to me like you need to find a better paint shop or use better paint -or both :lol:

 

[K@rlos]

All depends, Like Graham said if your gonna sell it keep it stock because that way it will be a blank canvas which the buyer can start with. Mines slammed, narrowed, notched and soon to be tubbed with the Westy interior altered to suit me which may put buyers off but I don't ever plan on selling it so I can have it how I want it.

 

[lobie]

I kept mine stock but added a few personal touches

 

[RichardAlexander]

Your bus your rules, I think as long as you don't go to far out there it would still appeal to any one but black with a candy flip and gold might make it hard to sell later. I own a 69 Westy and contemplated for ages wether or not to change the colour, then thought the interior is not stock colours so why should the outside be, I will end up with tornado red to the waist then a brilliant white ontop it looks nice so it shouldn't hurt it, might upset the hardcore Westy followers though