What do you think of this?

[Supertramp]

I've found this on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160637413865&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We're considering going down this weekend to view it with the potential to buy.
Just wondering if anything sticks out to anyone and what they think of the price?

I may also need someone near the location to come and give us the benefit of their advice (Powys, Wales).

Thanks

 

[terrier man]

Certainly worth a look & from the pics it's looking very pretty & had plenty of money spent on it you can see that, & being a tintop no worries about a leaky roof.
You need to be careful though don't let your heart rule your head you'll need someone who at least knows about bodywork for advice. if you can't find anyone take some closeup pics of wheelarches, cab floor, rear quarters,sills,even the engine bay, front panel around windscreen lower seal and lower indicators,& post them up on here for advice it can't do any harm.
Goodluck & let us know how you got on.

 

[faux]

Certainly worth a look & from the pics it's looking very pretty & had plenty of money spent on it you can see that, & being a tintop no worries about a leaky roof.
You need to be careful though don't let your heart rule your head you'll need someone who at least knows about bodywork for advice. if you can't find anyone take some closeup pics of wheelarches, cab floor, rear quarters,sills,even the engine bay, front panel around windscreen lower seal and lower indicators,& post them up on here for advice it can't do any harm.
Goodluck & let us know how you got on.

Some good advice there. It is always hard to tell from pictures, even harder when it has been freshly painted. The interior looks nice and original which is a good sign of care but it is a uk bus so could be hiding a lot. The badge on the front is wrong and the holes for an original one are missing. This could mean a new front panel, welded holes or a skim of filler, just a shame whoever did it didn't know their buses.

Let us know how you get on.

Jon

 

[Charlie Bubbles]

I like that bus. For a 73 that is. No engine pics? Whats up with that? Its missing the front splash pan. FYI.

 

[terrier man]

I wonder if it is tax exempt being manufactured before Jan 1973 it should be. I'm pretty certain the front would of had a spare wheel carrier hence the wrong badge, does it have a spare wheel? Not to worry too much I carry mine either on a roof rack or on a trailer on long trips but it would be nice to have one, as for the front belly pan which was well spotted! I don't think it would be a deal breaker on my part, as for the price it coud be a bargain it could be a can of worms you got to look at it in the flesh and the owner could also be a decideing factor as it was in my case.
Good luck.

 

[Supertramp]

Wow, thanks a lot for the replies, really helpful.
He's taking and sending loads more pictures today, I've asked for the usual rust prone areas such as sills/arches/gutters etc, also of the engine bay and front panel and more of the underneath.

This is the description regarding tax exempt: Albert was registered in 1973 although was built in 1972 so is a crossover model with the low front indicators.
I'm assuming the log book should say 'historic vehicle' or something?

Also, missing front belly pan, what does this mean? Is this bad and something that needs to be replaced?

Thanks again.

 

[Trikky2]

The front pan is held on with a few scews so no prob regarding buying since, although you do need one, they are cheap and easy to find second hand. It does however mean the owner is not fastidious.

By far the 3 most important things are rust, rust and rust.

New paint and new underseal = suspicion.

Are there photos of the bus before and during the work carried out?

Most important of all - take a magnet.

You can wrap it in a bit of soft cloth and glide it over the usual rust areas of the body. If it stops sticking you know you have found filler. Then check the underside with the magnet and check the quality of any welding.

 

[terrier man]

Lots of Bays have lost their front pans their basically a guard/shield for foot controls, where gear linkage enters cab ect & can help to stop drafts cumin up the floor from your brake/gas pedals protects those areas from road debris/water splash, in away
because they are missing you can see whats been done or not in that area.

 

[Supertramp]

Yeah the new underseal made me a little suspicious, I thought it may be able to hide something.
I've been sent more pictures of the 'rougher' areas, this is where I get a little worried but perhaps I'm being too picky.










The magnet idea is great, also I know someone locally who is into VW's so he could come and take a look, just don't want to drag him 77 miles if even I can see its a no go.

 

[terrier man]

I think I would pass on this one to be kind its what I expected for a UK Van, I was looking for a year or so & after a few viewings of uk vans decided to only view dry imports my van was only in this country for 18 months with over 40 years in Southern California had to travel to Yorkshire to view it, but i've had bays before when they were just old camper vans when the only people that waved to you were people in bays. :lol:
Hope this helps.

 

[ozziedog]

Hey Bear,,,,,,, I got a bad feeling about this one. There is the rust in spades in all the usual places, what worries me is that it`s been resprayed in the last decade I think,, but not had the rust cut out Now the bits you can see, did not go rusty just last week or so and have been covered up and painted , now it`s rearing it`s ugly head again, so I`m assuming it`s worse than it was before, and it had a respray then !! Then there is the issue of the `fresh underseal' :? I now think that it`s a lot of dosh for a rhd that `may' be a big can of worms I think once you start stripping it back, the rust will go on and on and on.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,, But it looks nice and shiney !!! :lol: :lol:

 

[ozziedog]

So that`s the decision of the Bristol posse then :lol: Best get out and do a bit now then gang :mrgreen:

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,, I got a rhd British bus,, so I`ve seen a lot first hand ! :mrgreen:

 

[Araon]

Not at that price........

and not worth negotiating him down I cant see him coming down to a suitable resto cost as its gonna get messy before you start seeing the good stuff.....

 

[Supertramp]

I think you're all right, walk away
I may have to concentrate my efforts on imports :msn4:

 

[Sausage]

Would stay clear. Lots of rust coming through and plenty more as well i bet!

 

[faux]

Walk away, there are many £'s to get that one right!

 

[Charlie Bubbles]

The rust in the pics is probably why it is for sale. Run.

 

[Trikky2]

For 7 to 8 k your not going to find a really nice bus so in your position I would prefer to buy something more honest - eg. not resprayed or re-undersealed etc. so that you can see exactly what needs doing.