TheSamba.com :: View topic - Restoration costs for 1970 VW bus sportsmobile bay window

Sat Aug 03, 2019 12:15 pm

We just found this in a field and the farmer is saying we can have it if we help get it out. My dad has a shop and 45+ years experience building race cars and restoring/repairing cars and he has everything we need to do a full restore except the paint.

Most of the rust appears superficial (we took wire brushes to it and pulled up carpet and crawled underneath) and it’s been on 18” blocks since it was parked after the single owner passed in 1987.

The cabinets are in surprisingly good shape and all the windows and screens are in good shape. The flywheel appears seized, but we’re counting on replacing the motor and drive train anyway.

We were thinking about $12K to get it on the road, and another to make it pretty, does that seem about right?

We have always wanted a VW camper and the 80s Westies in our current price range don’t really appeal, and the drivable ones like this are out of our price range right now. We are in no rush and can take our time working on it as we save up for the bigger things.

Any advice on best places for reliable and reasonable parts and interior needs would be greatly appreciated!

Sat Aug 03, 2019 12:22 pm

ha! 12k will barely buy the supplies to weld it up.

that has rot to the bone....

to restore that bus, 50k easy. paint alone....(paint and body that is) will be 18-20k all day long

Sat Aug 03, 2019 12:28 pm

I was once told by a wise man (maybe a wise guy), the difference between a $6000 VW and a $15,000 VW was $14,000.

The point is, it's VERY expensive to pay someone else to do all the work. And honestly, it's not much cheaper doing it yourself.

Restoring any old vehicle is expensive and a camper has a gazillion small parts. Many of which are NLA.

Sat Aug 03, 2019 12:34 pm

That Bus is done - looks like total rot from the waist down. Can you post some underneath photos?

Sat Aug 03, 2019 12:36 pm

skills@eurocarsplus wrote: to restore that bus, 50k easy. paint alone....(paint and body that is) will be 18-20k all day long

6k for a solid long block built with good parts. 2k for a transmission. Another 2Gs on brakes and spinning components. Assuming there's no structural rot, which there probably is.

Sat Aug 03, 2019 12:45 pm

Luckily we have a fully outfitted shop + welding and mechanic skills to to do everything ourselves except the paint job, I guess we’ll pull it out and see if the excitement wears off once we clean it up and can really get a better look at the rust spots. So far just the outer rocker panels and battery tray appear to be completely rusted through.

Thanks!

Sat Aug 03, 2019 12:47 pm

Welcome! bunch of optimists here, right?
we need some more pics to give you a better idea. the good news is that bus has an early upright engine, and is easier to source that the later pancake.
Also your old man may have an awesome set of tools (T.V. repairman?) but a lot of weird shit on these that may not translate from American muscle knowledge.

Sat Aug 03, 2019 12:49 pm

That's promising I guess. Usually stuff that sits in a field turns to compost.

Sat Aug 03, 2019 12:50 pm

alman72 wrote: Welcome! bunch of optimists here, right?

:D seriously, bunch of grumpy dudes here. Just triple check on the structural components, make sure its safe.

Lets see some more pics

Sat Aug 03, 2019 1:00 pm

VWmama70 wrote: Luckily we have a fully outfitted shop + welding and mechanic skills to to do everything ourselves

there is still a cost involved. even if you use the cheap panels. DIY estimate..25k plus paint.

I've seen this movie before. I know how it ends

Sat Aug 03, 2019 3:02 pm

skills@eurocarsplus wrote: VWmama70 wrote: Luckily we have a fully outfitted shop + welding and mechanic skills to to do everything ourselves

there is still a cost involved. even if you use the cheap panels. DIY estimate..25k plus paint.

I've seen this movie before. I know how it ends

what if there is a montage?

Sat Aug 03, 2019 3:06 pm

$30K and a year if you do all the body work unless both of you are retired and can work 7 days a week on it. Check the rear torsion tubes to be sure they aren't rusted thru. The body is built around them.

Sat Aug 03, 2019 3:08 pm

Thanks everyone, I’m an eternal optimist and figure if we can get it to the shop we’ll know for sure after cleaning it up a bit and but wanted a ball park if it’s not about ready to break into pieces!

A lot of the dark spots are patches of lichen, not actually rust...and the guy still mows around it every year so the shrubs don’t grow up.

Here are a few more pics, hope to get some better ones tomorrow!

Sat Aug 03, 2019 3:54 pm

Brian wrote: alman72 wrote: Welcome! bunch of optimists here, right?

:D seriously, bunch of grumpy dudes here. Just triple check on the structural components, make sure its safe.

Lets see some more pics
Sure.. .go for it. And when you dumped another $6000 into it and decide to bail, you'll get $5000 for it.

Sorry... i'm a realist. Spend the extra money and buy one that's solid. You'll save double what you paid over this rusted hulk.

Sat Aug 03, 2019 4:04 pm

You have a free bus and You have a shop... take it apart. I see lots of good parts to scavenge. Then put the leftovers back out to pasture

Sat Aug 03, 2019 4:07 pm

VWmama70 wrote:

A lot of the dark spots are patches of lichen, not actually rust...and the guy still mows around it every year so the shrubs don’t grow up.

the bottom 6" are gone....it's not lichen it's rot :lol:

bet a dollar the sliding door falls on yer foot

Sat Aug 03, 2019 5:06 pm

skills@eurocarsplus wrote: VWmama70 wrote:

A lot of the dark spots are patches of lichen, not actually rust...and the guy still mows around it every year so the shrubs don’t grow up.

the bottom 6" are gone....it's not lichen it's rot :lol:

bet a dollar the sliding door falls on yer foot

Actually all the doors open, close and latch well. The slider gets caught on the funky vinyl panel, but otherwise slides nice. We’ll see!

Sat Aug 03, 2019 5:12 pm

What magic do people think applies that gets them out of a body estimate ?

I think skills is low.

Sat Aug 03, 2019 5:34 pm

Abscate wrote: What magic do people think applies that gets them out of a body estimate ?

I think skills is low.
If one choses bodywork as a profession this is a good candidate to learn on. If it is a bus to restore I would use it for parts and look for another. First objective will be to build a rotisserie because there is a lot of work to do on the bottom. This bus kinda reminds me that it might be a candidate to match Gary's encounter with the red fresh painted pig with lipstick on it. A little newspaper and bondo..........

Sun Aug 04, 2019 8:49 am

Brian wrote: alman72 wrote: Welcome! bunch of optimists here, right?

:D seriously, bunch of grumpy dudes here. Just triple check on the structural components, make sure its safe.

Lets see some more pics

Went out to it with SO today and yikes! The frame is good in spots but questionable in others. The doors really do work shockingly well. We hate to leave it out there, and may just bring home to clean and part out...it’s free!

Here are more pics!