Testing the water for an Early Bay

[Photophil]

Hi all.
I'm looking for an early Bay but I've got no idea what ball park figure I'm expecting to pay for my requirements...which are...

Solid underneath, no welding required.
MOT'd, I'd like to drive it home.
Pop top, to shove junior up in.
RHD.
Decent mechanically, I don't want it breaking down on the way home.

Not bothered about the colour or the odd bit of rust or the interior (if any). I want something with a bit of character that I can make my own and put my own stamp on. I'll be 'doing it up' over the winter.

Am I asking a lot?

Anyways.... Any advice/help muchly appreciated as I can't wait to start adding to the conversations on here and making some new friends.

Cheers all.

Phil.

 

[Photophil]

The ones I've seen so far are either £10,000 and perfect or £1000 on bricks.

Cheers.

 

[ryan72bay]

Hi Phil,

I have a bay for sale, it has everything you listed apart from its a lefty..

I can email you pics if needed, pm me your email address and Ill send some pics over

 

[Photophil]

Thanks so much for the reply but I really want a RHD. Not hardcore enough for a left un.

Thanks anyway.

 

[Lee C]

Rhd buses are mostly rustler than LHD ones!!
I'd have to find something spectacular to get me back in a British bus again now !!!!?,

 

[Photophil]

I did look at lefties but its one of the wife's conditions cos she won't drive a lefty.

 

[AndyO]

Hi Phil, and welcome.

I have a RHD devon moonraker, 1972 crossover (you can't have it btw).

18 month resto!

If I had my time again and wanted RHD i may have gone for a Danbury as I like the roof, but recently found out they have bunks like a Devon, rather than a double which would have made sense....

Take advice from here LHD is not a big deal, at line ups ive been in the minority. I would like an old US westy, but grass is always greener.....

When I got mine I knew I preferred the 'low light' so focused on that, but again in hindsight I would have gone later (pre-71)

Cant / won't change what I have now, too may good times! Be warned, literally blood, sweat and tears of the resto (never again...)

 

[RichardAlexander]

You will get a RHD with the spec you want but it will have been restored and hence much more beer tokens required, I searched for two years vowing to buy a RHD, and fell in love with a Californian westy (the best pop top in my opinion and camper conversion ) there easy to drive really as mostly because it's got a bloody great windows and you can see every thing. My bus cost 6k very little rust and solid you won't get a uk bus in the same condition for that money

 

[Photophil]

Aww bugger.

Sounds like I'll be looking for a new wife then.

Am I just being a snob, silly, leftist etc.

What are the cons of a lefty?

 

[RichardAlexander]

Not many, parts are readly available, insurance from some company's may be different overtaking is a pain but you won't be doing a lot of that :lol: some junctions can be awkward and the mirrors never seem to quite give the right hand view you want but thats me being fussy . Takes about 5mins to get used to changing gear with the wrong hand and a little longer to not drive in the centre of the road, keep left LOL

 

[Photophil]

Thanks a lot for the advice.
I'll start looking for LHD as well.

There's no stigma attached to driving a lefty, is there?

 

[RichardAlexander]

Not that I noticed its increasingly the only way to get a rust free bus, California seems to provide good rust free busses, I think everyone just loves VW left or right

 

[Lee C]

Going through the Tyne tunnel when your on your own is a bit of a pain at the kiosks!!! :lol: :lol:

 

[Toad]

I did look at lefties but its one of the wife's conditions cos she won't drive a lefty.

You could always have one converted to Right Hand Drive.

 

[niklee1]

Hold out for a RHD I did and so happy with the fact that I am probably in a minority now :lol:

 

[Photophil]

I think a RHD conversion would be too expensive.

Think I'm going to start a new thread on 'reasons NOT to buy a LHD'.

I'm totally stumped now. It makes sense to bye an import if I don't want a ton of welding to do and I don't want to pay £1000's for an immaculate restored RHD one mainly because I haven't got £1000's to spend.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Lee152]

Worse thing about a LHD westy is the wardrobe placement assuming you end up with 3/4 width bed. Its a bad blind spot that you need to think about when overtaking ( not that that happens often! ).
Found actually driving a LHD a doodle and quite a novelty and a real plus when taking it abroad ( hopefuly next year )
Given your more likely to get a good condition LHD import then a RHD UK rustbucket for the money would always go for the better condition as unless your good with a welder thats the works thats gonna cost.

Or just dont let her drive!

Lee

 

[Photophil]

Good advice from people who obviously know what they're talking about.

No point having a RHD if you can't drive it cos its rusting away and eventually having numerous welds.

Or trade the wife in for a LHDriver!

 

[RichardAlexander]

Worse thing about a LHD westy is the wardrobe placement assuming you end up with 3/4 width bed. Its a bad blind spot that you need to think about when overtaking ( not that that happens often! ).
Found actually driving a LHD a doodle and quite a novelty and a real plus when taking it abroad ( hopefuly next year )
Given your more likely to get a good condition LHD import then a RHD UK rustbucket for the money would always go for the better condition as unless your good with a welder thats the works thats gonna cost.

Or just dont let her drive!

Lee

you wont let her drive it anyhoo as you will love it too much

 

[bermuda blue]

A lot of good advice above - from experience .
But don't go believing all Busses from the US of A are totally rust free (some are and mine was), but not all of America is a nice dry state so the minimum is usually corroded Battery Trays (acid spill) and front Footwells (water under the Mat) plus, if you are unlucky, a Wheel arch or two.
I know it's a pain but beware , my misses was the same , would'nt even ride in the front passenger seat (as a driver she felt she should have control in that offside seat),
hated it and in the end it had to go .................been looking RHD for two years without success , either rotten or too expensive - just trying to be honest for you.
Best of luck -JIM.