The epic rise in prices for early VW Buses with either a lot of glass or a lot of extra headroom shows little indication of abating. Stories like the one David F. wrote up about the riverbank find in Alaska are increasingly common, revealing how the uptick in value for these Buses is driving enthusiasts (or speculators, or both) to look for early examples in far-off places. I’ve read about this 1958 VW Samba here on eBay a few times as it is famously known for as a hay hauler for livestock before being rescued and put up for sale.
All told, the Bus is actually in fairly solid condition if you can get past the obvious damage to the valuable window glass. And given how many windows there are, glass replacement will likely be one of the more expensive projects involved in readying this Bus for driver status. The other issue has to do with the roof: I’m guessing to make it easier to load the hay, a previous owner cut off the roof, which has been crudely re-attached here (I think it’s also facing the wrong direction). The seller doesn’t hide any of this, but thanks to its farm life occurring in the dry climate of New Mexico, this Bus doesn’t suffer from any significant rot-through that dooms so many other projects.
The floors retain their original paint, so I guess hay is good for other things beyond feeding cattle. There are no holes in the floor, which is doubly surprising because after the Bus’ original engine failed, it went to a junkyard where it held motorcycle parts for 40 years. Given the the likelihood of leaking fluids and exposure to weather – even with the dry climate – I’m still a bit shocked by how nice this Bus looks inside. Not only that, it appears largely free of the cosmetic damage you would expect for being used as a glorified storage shed. There’s no interior with the VW, but the seller notes it’s a “great start” despite the mountain of parts it will require for restoration.
The seller says he has owned this Bus for two decades, but since he hasn’t found time to restore it yet, he doubts he’s going to have the ability any time soon. While there is a fair amount missing in the cockpit and elsewhere, the seller is including “…a correct clock, radio-delete, correct speedometer, horn-push, cab-seat cores and correct cab-door window frames.” Headlight assemblies and the correct front bumper, brackets and trim are also all included. The dolly attached to the rear is unconventional, but it will make for easier towing/loading considering the rear torsion bar is MIA. $30K used to be crazy money for these, but not anymore – is this former farm truck worth saving?
I wheel never understand why people pay so much for these 💉
Any hippy from back in the day who would (could) now pay six figures for one of these, did not live up to his hippy ideals. I guess the commune didn’t work out, huh?
No “hippie” from back in the day would pay the insane asking price for these 27 window busses. Those buying them as far as I have seen were more in tune with the Nehru jacket wearing Peter Sellers types back then….if you get my analogy
This is a 23-window bus. Later models had 21, never did they have 27.
“You sold out dad!”
“I didn’t sell out son, I bought in”
Don,
I AXLE-OT of people, but have no answers yet. Maybe with a lot of ENGINE-UITY, a guy can make something of one of these. They really looked neat back in the ’60s. A lot of people get RUSTLESS when they think of restoring one.
I know that these have gone up and up on PRICE but you are got to be KIDDING after your Done your going to have $70,000 into something that going to be Worth maybe $50,000 I know people won’t a Peace of the YOUTH back but if you do it your self your going to have maybe what its worth. WOW.
I agree ! If the old hippies want a part of there youth back , go and find a 50 year old BONG might be cheaper and a lot more fun☠
Very well said, Even if the ones that can AFFORD this they are going to PAY somebody BIG MONEY to look at every SCREW and Weld..
I even have a 50 year old bong, made by “Walking stick Willie”, gate 5, Sausalito circa 1966. Wonder what I could get?
This one is the 23 window, those rear corner windows make it worth lots more than a 21 window bus. Maybe 20 k difference?
No prob making new metal for the roof.
Robert, your understanding of the Microbus market is a little off. 2 recent Barrett Jackson sales for buses like this one are $235K and $302k respectively. Another one just sold in Germany for $218k. You can spend lots of money on this one, and if it’s done to a very high standard, you will make a profit.
Selling prices for good ones are now into 6 figures, which is driving the rest of the split window bus market up.
Matt true , but your over looking one little thing that is these are only for the selected few , not everyone is looking for one.. And the Car market does have its ups and downs , a person can put a half a million dollars in one ? But can’t expect to recover it with profits… These VW Buses are that rare as to like some cars are..
I’d love to see this one saved. If someone does buy it there are VW shops in Cali who may be sitting on every single part it needs (Skinner restoration?).
I can’t see it. Even with a (non original) engine + transmission thrown in and all the talk in the Ebay listing about how great this project is, it will require so many more parts and so much work (including getting the unit body welded back together properly) that unless you already have a ’50s VW parts stash and the know how, time, and facilities to do the work, you risk not breaking even unless these 23 window buses continue to appreciate a lot.
And with the softening of the collector market, that’s a bet on my parts, know how, time, work, and facilities that I wouldn’t take.
I so agree, That Price I would want to drive it HOME, At least Push it Home.
It’s mental. For 30K I could have that 57 Ranchero I want, and actually drive it, and look way cooler than anyone in a microbus. That said, I am officially on the lookout for yard-find VW busses. To flip that is.
Me Too! 57 Ranchero on my bucket list!
A 23 window went for over $130K at Barrett-Jackson not too long ago. This one has an ambitious starting price, but fully restored ones will bring almost Porsche numbers.
I’m thinking they had one a few years back that went for $200K.
See Edward’s comment below…..it doesn’t matter that some VW busses have sold for $100K. If you can’t get there from here without sourcing hundreds of special, very rare and maybe unobtanium parts, it’s a nightmare project that’s not financially feasible.
And the body has been crudely cut in half and used to haul hay, and would need to be separated and then expertly welded back together before anything else could be done.
I think that’s why this body has sat around unsold. Anyone who might actually take this project on because they know VW busses, won’t, especially at $30K for a messed up body and little else.
How the memories run rich & deep for me a child of the 1950s/60s.& son of a British farmer who owned three of these the second two replacing the one before. 1957; 1962; 1964: In particular the front cab area brings many memories, though ours of course were right hand drive. The layout identical. I as a small boy sat there watching the hundreds of miles go by.
Occasionaly my mother drove and she struggled with the hand brake. My brother or I would crouch down and operate this all important lever, seen clearly in your pic. The accelerator pedal would occasionally stick down too, and have to be lifted manually…..No WD 40 in those days !
Rick. Your so right. I’ve seen several of these go north of $100k over the last couple years. Personally I have no interest in these. All I remember about them is, they couldn’t outrun the neighborhood cat. Too many real cars out there for this kind of money.
If you want one that bad, go to Mexico, or Brazil. Plenty down there! Better shape, less money.
Since the original drivetrain is already gone, maybe it’s a good candidate for this conversion:
http://www.zelectricmotors.com/
Sorry to say…only electric motor I’m concerned about is the one mixing up my margaritas!
This sold in the 6 figures.
Even my 82 Vanagon would have been easier to measure acceleration with a calendar in lieu of a speedometer. My first engineering boss back in 63 had two of these, a 57 and a 62, I think. Regular microbuses, not 23 window. Shifting was a real adventure and we definitely couldn’t be in a hurry to get anywhere. If we were in a hurry, the 36 Ford Fordor was pressed into service. Winter in NH necessitated us dressing as if we didn’t have a vehicle around us as the heaters were less than furnace-like. Ah, the memories!
Everyone has at least one “I wish I kept it” story. Mine involves a 1961 23 window bus. Drove it home for $250 in college in the late 80’s. Couldn’t keep 2 cars after I graduated, so sold it for $500 and felt like a real wheeler dealer. Sigh.
“Measure acceleration with a calendar”: Brian, you just made my day! I’m doubled up in laughter. As an owner of an MG Z-series Magnette, your words really strike home. Has been said that Magnettes don’t accelerate, they gather speed. I remember test-driving a new ’66VW Microbus. ‘ Figured they couldn’t be too bad or they wouldn’t sell. With a modest head-wind, God be with you on an interstate if you wished to get out of first gear within the same day. Of course days like that would spare you the problem of finding second, let alone 3rd and 4th.
As an owner of a ’64 micro of many years, I can say that the purchase/restoration of this vehicle to be beyond the capabilities of almost all. Without looking at it’s sell price, I look at what’s missing from the picture. Do you realize the bus needs an entire rear end? Engine, axle assemblies, transfer cases, brake systems, wheels? Oh, you got a spare already in the side yard? As for that special glass? The wrap-around rear ones were originally not glass. Good luck finding a replacement as R/L are different. Securit OEM …priceless! These vans had stale air 36hp engines with split case transmissions. If you don’t know what this is all about, do you think this is a wise investment?
Does anyone know why they abandoned the two rear corner windows when they went from the 23 window Samba (sunroof with 8 vista windows) to the 21 window version in 1964? I figure that those two corner windows not only looked cool, but that they helped with visibility as well.
Lol 😁 looks like the one someone found in San Francisco with Flowers and Grateful Dead painted on it… Woodstock 69!!!
I think the reasons bus prices have gone crazy is simple…a lot of folks (even non car people) have always had a bus on their short lists of cool ‘someday’ cars. So a few guys catch ‘auction fever’ in Vegas a few years ago and bid what was reportedly one of the nicest restored busses ever, up to 1/4 million (btw, the winning bidder was reportedly there to sell his Veyron -which I think puts the price paid into context). So now owners of other top notch restored busses see that a handful of ‘underbidders’ had been willing to pay north of $100k for an exceptional bus, and a trend is born…
Now (imo), you’ve got people feeling a lot more comfortable with throwing down ‘only’ 60-90 grand (a relative bargain) on a ‘lowly Vw bus’, and on the lower end of the market you have folks thinking that if they don’t buy one now, they’ll never be able to afford to!
surprised Dyna-corn isn’t making new re-pops , I’d like one but $30.000 better buy a turn key cream puff rather than a beat up shell . ..
I had a couple early 60s Econoline vans back in the day. Much better vans and just as cool in my eyes.
I used to haul hay in a 69 VW bus. It was amazing how many bales ( I think 12!) would fit into the large sliding door and on top of the flat panel on top of the engine. It was always a slow wobbly drive though.
Barrett Jackson. I think this ended in the neighborhood of $275,000. A TV builder but still… A rising tide lifts all boats…
robj
$290 with buyers fees if I remember right!
Here’s $300K….keep the change….ya filthy animal!!!!
At 70lbs/bale that puts 800 lbs of weight into the middle. I’m positive that would indeed effect handling. That’s more than 4 adults would be in same vehicle. All my experience makes me believe that driver-only ride is great, while fully loaded is not!