Any advice welcome!

[Sky]

Hi. We're thinking of buying a Bay, and we have one in mind that we're going to be looking at this weekend (1968). Not show quality by any stretch of the imagination, but it doesn't seem to need any work - bodywork looks very good, has MOT, respected seller etc.

We have no experience whatsoever with VWs, but some with old cars generally.

Mr Sky is getting cold feet because he's bothered about the work that it might demand, and he doesn't have a great deal of spare time. We know that older vehicles are never going to give hassle-free motoring, but realistically, how often is he likely to have to give up his weekends for a camper that isn't being used for everyday driving?

Is there anything specific that we should be looking at?

Can anyone tell me how high an unlowered early bay is? (Tin top and pop top)

And if anyone can tell me how to persuade him that a Bay would be better than a Mazda Bongo, please let me know!!!!

 

[pete nice]

Take someone with you that knows.

Rust is the biggest killer.

 

[Sky]

Unfortunately there isn't anyone - and we're travelling quite a way to look.

Are there any hidden places we should look for rust?

 

[Araon]

WHS^^^ take someone who knows T2s'/aircooled VWs' and not your dad who has driven and worked on a few old cars..... :lol:

Giving up weekends well that all depends on the above, the budget your working with, once its sorted after the initial purchase it should be a matter of a little tinkering leading to the intended use ( since its not an every day drive i'm assumin its gonna be for camping trips etc...), keeping on top of the anti rust treatment, and how much fun you have playing with your pride and joy, all have input into what time you spend on it.

Bongo, your having a laugh....just look at the early bay front end that alone should shelve any thoughts of a mazda...the simplicity of the vw means you should be able to get yourself out of trouble when away for a weekend. Then just look at the community, you aint gonna get the waves and looks driving a piece of assian trash...

Regarding height well read this site http://www.devonmoonraker.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/devon-moonraker.html
it has the standard height and devon top, the height of the pop top differs massively....I believe the highest being a Viking theres a few in the gallery, the style of pop top is very much a personal preference, I looked for ages for a good tin top, but if I were to settle on a pop top then I'd be going for the devon conversion.

Buy the best quality metal you can afford if your not into a full resto. If theres belly pans fitted then your gonna get into the unknown territory try seing if hell let you put a hole through it and get a torch in there.

MOTs and respected sellers unfortunately dont mean a lot in this game, dont let your heart rule your head, a lot of people on here have gone down that route (in some cases a couple of times ) when viewing jot down everything that you can see needs doing / you want doing go away and do the math, negotiate on a few things and you should be ok. remember also that the cosmetics can come later piece meal like.... you want a solid base to start from....

I'm waffling so Ill throw it over to someone else..

Dont buy a bloody Bongo

 

[Araon]

Where are you traveling too see if someone on here can meet upwith you and have a look over afterall if anybody knows about the pitfalls its this community, whos the seller?

 

[JohnS]

Some buyer's guides here:

http://www.volkswest.co.uk/camper_buying.html

http://www.stevenagevwclub.co.uk/tech/Type2BuyersGuide.pdf

http://www.marksvwcollectibles.co.uk/

Remember, just because you've driven a long way to look at the bus is not a compelling reason to buy it - there will be plenty more out there and it's worth being patient.

 

[Sky]

Thanks - there's some really helpful stuff in there. The seller is Gary at Coolcampers, but we're not sure what day we're going. We'd already booked a weekend in Weymouth, so it seemed sensible to go this weekend, but Friday's traffic will decide whether we get to him on Friday or Saturday.

The simplicity argument is probably a good one - I drove a Morris Minor for 15 years, and we had very little trouble (although Mr Sky remembers using the starting handle in the middle of a busy junction in the snow without any affection at all). You can fix almost anything on a Minor with a rubber mallet and a tin of WD40.

I also suspect he hasn't realised that Bongos are automatic. There's another good argument.

The height is frustrating - we have 80" clearance getting into our garage, and the Moonraker is 77" tin top, or 81" min with a pop top (down), and I think we would really want a pop top (I'm a bit claustrophobic). Still, we could always let the tyres down to get it in!!

Wish me luck! We make a good team - I might fall for a pretty face, but he's going to want to be convinced by what's underneath.

 

[dp]

The height is frustrating - we have 80" clearance getting into our garage, and the Moonraker is 77" tin top, or 81" min with a pop top (down), and I think we would really want a pop top (I'm a bit claustrophobic). Still, we could always let the tyres down to get it in!!

I still have to take my garage door off to get the bus in and out, but I've got it down to a couple of minutes now. This reminds me, I really must get some side openers! A bit of lowering would appear to see you good though :wink:

 

[Sky]

We've got an electric garage door opener, so taking the door off would be a big job, which is really annoying, because the actual space of the opening is a lot more than the current clearance.

I think you're right about the lowering - just enough to get it into the garage and improve cornering. Is it a big job?

 

[Guest]

My Devon with the poptop closed it 6 foot 9 inches and the suspension is standard height.

we had to take of our garage door and fit a roller system that gave more with and 5 inches more height, it just squeezes in.

 

[Sky]

I think that if we did that we'd be OK - I prefer the roller ones anyway. Trouble is it's a large double garage, and I keep thinking that the cost of replacing the garage door could be added to the budget for the van ...

Maybe we could think about changing it at the end of the summer.

 

[Araon]

Drop the suspension probably cheaper...

 

[Guest]

I think that if we did that we'd be OK - I prefer the roller ones anyway. Trouble is it's a large double garage, and I keep thinking that the cost of replacing the garage door could be added to the budget for the van ...

Maybe we could think about changing it at the end of the summer.

I replaced a double garage (two separate doors) and it cost £500 all in. the roller system gave me 4-5 inches more height and about 6 inches more width as the side runners can be removed as well.