Vehicle Wanted Wanted - Honest runner £9k to £12k

[HartyaHarty]

Hi all

After a few years away from classic VW ownership I'm looking to get back into it with a van to enjoy with the family.
An early bay would be the preference but would consider any bay window in case anyone has anything suitable. A tin top would be great, I'm not keen on welding but I'm not expecting a minter for my budget. As the title says up to 12k is the budget but if there's something needs a bit of work and isn't going to spiral out of control financially I'll happy to put a bit of work in to get it running.
Let me know what you got... Please!

 

[ozziedog]

Good luck with your search. I’m thinking that your timing is impeccable. Have a lititle look at all the bay sites on social media as you’ll see quite a few on there and they don’t seem to be selling too well. LateBay.com is another good place to look as well.

Ozziedog,,,,,see ya in a field some where come summer.

 

[HartyaHarty]

Good luck with your search. I’m thinking that your timing is impeccable. Have a lititle look at all the bay sites on social media as you’ll see quite a few on there and they don’t seem to be selling too well. LateBay.com is another good place to look as well.

Ozziedog,,,,,see ya in a field some where come summer.

Cheers... I'm having trouble signing up to the late bay forum... I've requested a confirmation email many times but it won't come though. Tried to contact them via the link on the web page but no joy... I've got my eye on the classified pages tho.
Any recommendations for Facebook pages? I'm on one but don't know which others are active it decent.

 

[pgtips]

Sign up to car and classic too, I get regular auction emails and quite often there are some nice bays .
I'll post a link in a moment of I can find one

 

[pgtips]

If you subscribe you'll get a weekly or daily email. Filter it to UK.

Auctions

 

[HartyaHarty]

If you subscribe you'll get a weekly or daily email. Filter it to UK.

Auctions

Nice one I'll do that... I've seen a couple on there that look good.
I'm considering one or two that need welding on the underside. I know it's not going to be cheap but can you realistically some more than a couple of grand on the chassis welding? Unfortunately I can do electrics but not welding

 

[ozziedog]

Nice one I'll do that... I've seen a couple on there that look good.
I'm considering one or two that need welding on the underside. I know it's not going to be cheap but can you realistically some more than a couple of grand on the chassis welding? Unfortunately I can do electrics but not welding

Yup, when it comes to welding the famous bottom six inches, the world is your oyster. Pick a number and double it then add an extra nought to the end then add your age to the end of it and your last wage cheque number to the front of it. On one hand getting a rust free example is going to be extra costly if there are any true rust free examples out there especially with original paint, then you can see exactly what you are getting. On the other hand, any thing other than a pristine low mileage example is gonna need attention somewhere along the line as they are all fifty plus years old, so if you get one and do it yourself then you agai know exactly where you stand. Out riggers and sills and corners are probably to be expected, however, main chassis rust near the front beam or near the rear torsion tube it’s best to run a mile. The issue is you can only see so much and so can a garage when pricing the work, more is revealed as the work progresses. If you are toying with the idea of restoring one, read some of the nightmare threads on here in the gallery section. Another thing to be particularly concerned about is welded patches on top of patches. If you are going down this route, then the less new paint the better. What area are you in? Maybe go and look at some garages that do this sort of work and ask to see some that looked great but a little rust bubble coming through recent paint can lead to all sorts of horrors. Take someone with you or take the van to a specialist before you partwith any readies.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,I’m not trying to put you off

 

[sparkywig]

Don't worry too much about a bus with mechanical issues as they're relatively cheaper to remedy.
Never, ever buy anything with rotten gutters.

 

[HartyaHarty]

Cheers all,
I have actually dodged one van with a bad gutter section! I'm currently pondering over a solid South African panel van import. It's very solid underneath and pretty good bodywork wise but needs new seals all round and a complete interior. I'm thinking it's a more predictable project than anything showing signs of rust.

 

[HartyaHarty]

Yup, when it comes to welding the famous bottom six inches, the world is your oyster. Pick a number and double it then add an extra nought to the end then add your age to the end of it and your last wage cheque number to the front of it. On one hand getting a rust free example is going to be extra costly if there are any true rust free examples out there especially with original paint, then you can see exactly what you are getting. On the other hand, any thing other than a pristine low mileage example is gonna need attention somewhere along the line as they are all fifty plus years old, so if you get one and do it yourself then you agai know exactly where you stand. Out riggers and sills and corners are probably to be expected, however, main chassis rust near the front beam or near the rear torsion tube it’s best to run a mile. The issue is you can only see so much and so can a garage when pricing the work, more is revealed as the work progresses. If you are toying with the idea of restoring one, read some of the nightmare threads on here in the gallery section. Another thing to be particularly concerned about is welded patches on top of patches. If you are going down this route, then the less new paint the better. What area are you in? Maybe go and look at some garages that do this sort of work and ask to see some that looked great but a little rust bubble coming through recent paint can lead to all sorts of horrors. Take someone with you or take the van to a specialist before you partwith any readies.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,I’m not trying to put you off

Ha, I won't be put off easy but words of caution are welcome!
I'm in Lancashire, willing to travel for the right van but obviously it's hard/expensive to view anything far away

 

[ozziedog]

Spot on,as Wiggy says above ^^^ the mechanical issues are such a minor part of the running on these vans as is the interior. Window seals are a standard problem but mainly on hot country imports and is a good solid indicator that it is indeed from a hot country. Interiors are to personal taste as well .

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,you’re playing your cards very well so far.

 

[sparkywig]

Cheers all,
I have actually dodged one van with a bad gutter section! I'm currently pondering over a solid South African panel van import. It's very solid underneath and pretty good bodywork wise but needs new seals all round and a complete interior. I'm thinking it's a more predictable project than anything showing signs of rust.

If it's very solid, then the only real cost will be new rubbers and seals. Don't forget all the other rubber bits like fuel and brake hoses, etc will have rotted as well.

 

[HartyaHarty]

If it's very solid, then the only real cost will be new rubbers and seals. Don't forget all the other rubber bits like fuel and brake hoses, etc will have rotted as well.

Cheers for the tip about rubber hoses et ... Hadn't thought of that but like you say at least that's a known fix.
There are some nice looking vans for sale round about the place at the moment.

 

[Pete B]

Am about to compose an advert for my bus, an October '67 tintop. Needs some welding and the engine is a little tired, but could be had for less than the bottom of your budget.
I'll get an ad sorted or you could message me for photos/info.

 

[HartyaHarty]

Cheers Pete, I've sent you a message

 

[Gadget Boy]

Don't worry too much about a bus with mechanical issues as they're relatively cheaper to remedy.
Never, ever buy anything with rotten gutters.

Amen to that Sparkywig

 

[milfredo]

@hartyharty post some pics of the new purchase

 

[HartyaHarty]

@hartyharty post some pics of the new purchase

Not had much chance to take any yet but I'll be shot and about in the van this weekend, I'll take some then .

Thanks to all who responded, I bought a cool 71 American import... I'll post a thread in the interior section when I get some good pictures

 

[milfredo]

Not had much chance to take any yet but I'll be shot and about in the van this weekend, I'll take some then .

Thanks to all who responded, I bought a cool 71 American import... I'll post a thread in the interior section when I get some good pictures

I mentioned to my friend that you were looking for one... you bought that van. It's a very, very cool van!

 

[HartyaHarty]

I mentioned to my friend that you were looking for one... you bought that van. It's a very, very cool van!

I'm glad you did, it stood out to me when I saw it. Got my list of jobs to get it exactly as I want it but it's got some great style to start with.