74 Bus - What's it Worth?

[hambone]

I just took a look at 2 derelict buses, both Rivieras. A '69 with a missing VIN and tons of rusty mold, and a gutted '74 missing an engine.
Out of the 2, the '74 is the best but there is some windshield rust holes and a silly sloppy shifter that spins in wide circles.
Really, it would be a gigantic project and not really sure I'm up for it...but the guy wants $450 delivered, not too bad...
I was actually interested in the '69 but that poor girl is at death's door. Believe me.
I wonder if starting one of these projects that need thousands of dollars is really cost effective? Maybe, with a camper. MAYBE.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/4107382214.html

[airkooledchris]

If the 74 is missing everything for the motor, and it isn't even in parts - id offer $300 for it with a comment about how the engine alone is going to run you close to $4k, without even thinking about any of the other repairs needed.

In terms of cost effective-ness, I think most people are best off buying the best condition bus they can possibly afford and moving forward. You rarely get your money "back" with project busses, so if it isn't something you want to build up and keep for yourself long term - id be tempted to pass on it and look for something a little closer to driving down the road.

If you want a project just to work on for the fun of it, and you end up keeping the bus forever, then as long as the rust isn't too bad it's certainly a good enough starting point.

How is the canvas top on it? (spendy and time intensive repair to address that, which could be another bargaining point.)

[Maz804]

Stick with early bays dude... Read this thread if you haven't already:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=567645

Think long term about PRICES and PARTS AVAILABILITY.

Ramona will most likely be the last BUS I own unless another one happens to find me... But I certainly ain't lookin' for another. Now if I had the property space and the price was right... That '69 is worth $500 in PARTS and donor metal items. Overseas buyers don't think twice about our rust issues and they are snatching our bays right up. I would too.

Stay away from the late beast... But grab the tranny if you can!

[tristessa]

$450 delivered? Jump on it, even without the engine. Shifter stuff isn't that tough, windshield rust isn't *that* much of a bother -- I've got a hunch there's some good donor sheetmetal out past Oregon City somewhere...

[hambone]

Maybe if Kirk has an engine and a spare camper interior to sell it would be worthwhile...I gotta talk to him. I may even be able to get the guy to drop the price a little more.
It really bummed me out to see such an original and intact early bay Riv in such horrible condition. Most of the bits were there, moldy and near destruction. Full length pop top! Arrghhhhh

Really I would like to enjoy a restoration instead of fighting nasty stuff...but maybe that's just part of the game.

An aside, do brake boosters go bad from sitting?

[hambone]

P.S. neither bus has a title, but the '74 does have Washington State auction paperwork. Not sure if that's a concern.

[tristessa]

P.S. neither bus has a title, but the '74 does have Washington State auction paperwork. Not sure if that's a concern.

IF you get that and a bill of sale from the current owner, it shouldn';t be too difficult to get title on it. Something with *no* title could be a different story.

Brake boosters don't generally go bad just from sitting, unless brake fluid or somethign leaked into it and ruined the diaphragm.

I tihk Kirk's got a camper interior available, and Mike-with-Ramona might be willing to part with the camping interior from Parts Bus too. Give them a buzz or drop them a line.

I've got a 2.0 that needs a head I'd be willing to cut loose of .. thinking of sticking to stock with the Fasty engine when I finally (FINALLY) get to that point...

[hambone]

STOCK?!?!?!?! YOU?!?!?!?!?!
I think the magnetic poles just switched.

Thanks Hal. And I did just talk with Kirk, he does have a camper interior he'd part with for cheap, and possibly and engine.
And the type1 engine in a type 3 is a thing of beauty. Never thought I'd say that...
It also needs a rear bumper, are they hard to come by in the late bus world?

Hey another dumb question, will a Riv big poptop fit in my garage? A Westy will...

[Mike Boell]

The riv tops do sit higher than the Westies tops.

[Mike Boell]

I just took a look at 2 derelict buses, both Rivieras. A '69 with a missing VIN and tons of rusty mold.

The missing VIN might concern me along with no title but doesn't this one have an engine and more complete?
What do you mean by rusty mold. Mold and mildew from wet weather and sitting should clean up. Is the rust all the way through the metal or just a lot of surface?

I can say first hand working on Melissa's bus that repairing missing sections due to rust is very time consuming but also very rewarding both in the result and that you have saved another bus.

What was his bottom line on the 69'.

What sheet metal does the 1974 need? I do have two parts busses here at the house but I have been cutting on them.

Your post says 1974 but the Craigslist add says 1973?

[hambone]

The '69 needs to be crushed and put out of it's misery, poor thing. It could be parted out, and at least the nose saved, maybe the poptop although the canvas was bad. The mold etc. really scares me because I'm very allergic. The engine was a useless rusty grease blob. Parts.

I could probably get both for 600, and get one delivered to my house and the other to some guy's farm heh heh. You up for dismantling a bus? I've never done it.
What do you think? I have to purchase WISELY right now, because this will finance my future.
BTW I think it's really a '74, no gas door.

[tristessa]

The riv tops do sit higher than the Westies tops.

If a Westy poptop fits, worst case scenario means you let air out of the tires to get it in through the door.

Maybe I should have said "stock-esqe engine".

[Mike Boell]

BTW I think it's really a '74, no gas door.

Did you write down the VIN number, that should give you the year.

Crushed you say. Think about all those splittes back in the day the were crushed for the same thought reason, now those worse off are being pulled from the briers and restored.

I hate to admit it but I really don't have time to part out a bus or start yet another project.
Janelle has also been real gracious in not saying much about the dead vehicles sitting around although she has said no more until I clean up what is currently here.
Actually she's good to have around or I'd be buried in antiques and VW's and signing autographs for the hoarders TV show.

[hambone]

Allright then, I'll stop entertaining that idea. Probably for the best anyway.

[tristessa]

Part it out in your driveway. Get a work crew together and it could be done in a day or two.