Westy interior - to sell, or not to sell...

[71Westy]

.... that is the question.

So, to fit the kids and usefully use the bus, I have pulled out the original interior of my 71 US import Westy (it's the lighter wood effect, if that makes a difference). I would say that it's in reasonable condition - the overhead locker, rear seat and wardrobe are good, the buddy seat unit is a bit below par (cracked and chipped veneer), the sink unit is good apart from the tap. The vinyl nearly matches (the rear seat must have been recovered).

Now, I was told by the valuer that I have decreased the value of the van significantly by replacing it (but no figure - I am suspecting £2000 ish?). But then I hope to keep it for many years. The furniture is clogging up the garage, and the new interior is costing a bomb, so I could offset the cost a bit by selling.

So do I sell it or not? I've had two offers to buy it (but no prices mentioned) already. I don't really know what it's worth compared to the loss of value of the van.

So what would you do?

Nick

 

[mattd1984]

Sell.......me the overhead locker. If interested ill pm you an offer.

 

[K@rlos]

At the end of the day dude it's your bus and if removing the Westy interior makes it more pratical for you and your familey then do it, as you say your planning to keep it for a long time so tbh you don't need to worry about the value as much. I've got a 1970 Westy pop-top and i've removed the overhead locker and the sink unit, it's made the bus more suitable for my needs, made me some money and help other people out with finding parts

 

[junkyardjim]

At the end of the day dude it's your bus and if removing the Westy interior makes it more pratical for you and your familey then do it, as you say your planning to keep it for a long time so tbh you don't need to worry about the value as much. I've got a 1970 Westy pop-top and i've removed the overhead locker and the sink unit, it's made the bus more suitable for my needs, made me some money and help other people out with finding parts

WHS^

 

[gusbus]

Hi...I've also got an top box and small side locker for sale ...both original and in good nick...£50 if anyone interested..

Paul

 

[Gadget Boy]

Gus Bus i have sent you a Pm re your locker an wardrobe

Gadget

 

[petegee56]

Dont sell the locker and side unit to gadget he has loads of crap knocking about, sell them to me i am looking for both

can come and collect

Pete.

 

[clyde]

If you think that taking out the westy interiour has de valued your bus by 2K then i would have a word with your insurance people because im sure the last time i looked a complete good condition interiour dosent fetch more than a grand, £1200 tops.

 

[71Westy]

Well it's only a guess. I was assuming that Westy with original interior is worth more than Westy without, plus an interior (if you get my drift).

Mind you, with one or two folk mentioning £50 a piece for the bits and peices, that makes it worth less that £300ish all in, which means it's definitely worth keeping....

Thanks for the responses, folks,

Nick

 

[flynster]

nick,
a westy interior is deffo worth much more than 300 sheets fella, i`ve seen yours and its a nice one and could fetch from 500 squid upwrds , at the end of the day its worth what someones prepared to spend on it ....stash it away because i guarantee you`ll regret it later on down the line at some point
only my opinion though its up to you dood

ste 8)

 

[Bwuttonmoon]

I sold the sink unit from my early westy as it was in the way and i'd never use it......not planing on selling the van so its no issue..
Put it on Ebay and got £320 with a broken tap! Paid for my roof rack!

 

[Clem]

Westy interiors will fetch 500 one day and 1000 the next, like most things I guess.
TBH if an interior is worth a grand, I think it devalues a van more than its worth by removing it because you are removing the og interior from the van it was fitted into by the factory ... I do undertsand that not everyone will see it this way though.
I think if you sell it youre more likely to regret it. Having watched the ads on here over time, I think its Westys without Westy interiors that take the longest time to sell.

End of the day - your van, your rules

 

[71Westy]

Yep - it's decided! I'm gonna keep it. In the rebuild, I've left all the mountings and stuff intact, so it should be pretty simple to go back to the original. Not that I'm planning to sell after all the hard work....

Thanks for all the advice folks - its this kind of thing that makes this forum so good.

Cheers,
Nick

 

[cyberdyne systems]

Sell.......me the overhead locker. If interested ill pm you an offer.

It looks like its a poptop overhead locker which is not as tall as the one you require

 

[ground hugger]

Hi 71Westy
Can I ask what are the reasons why you are removing it :? I thought/think this is/was the best interior fitted to bays as a camper.They look fuller a good use of space more of a camper.I think I can say :msn4: the most sought after model for this reason.
Wouldn't it be easier to have it restored and re trimmed,keep the value of the van if not add more because its been restored.....Dave (who's got a crossover with just a back seat)

 

[clyde]

Sell.......me the overhead locker. If interested ill pm you an offer.

It looks like its a poptop overhead locker which is not as tall as the one you require

Please explain the thinking behind this.............not as tall??

 

[cyberdyne systems]

Sell.......me the overhead locker. If interested ill pm you an offer.

It looks like its a poptop overhead locker which is not as tall as the one you require

Please explain the thinking behind this.............not as tall??

There were two versions of the over head locker or shelf, the tintop type goes higher into the roof area, where as the poptop one isn't as tall. The reason being the poptop van has the sunroof box which the sunroof would have retracted into, meaning the interior roof is a bit lower in the rear of this type of van.

 

[clyde]

I knew about the 2 different widths but thought that all the westy conversions had the birch head liner which made them the same height at the rear where the shelf fits.

 

[ground hugger]

Hi
So your saying in tin top westy the rear ply is wider ,so it bends more and fits tight up to the roof supports.Like this but in the rear

and on a poptop the ply is smaller,like this

So whether it be tin/pop top the fronts sections of ply are the same

 

[Grazy]

So whether it be tin/pop top the fronts sections of ply are the same

No mate , the front and rear sections on a Tin Top are Slightly different to a Pop Top

Click on my headliner link below