Don’t look now, but bids are at $50,000 for this recently-extracted 1958 VW Type 2, otherwise known as a Bus. Thanks to its unique 23-window design, these early Buses have been shooting up in value fairly reliably, even for complete basketcase examples. This one isn’t that bad, but it will still require complete restoration. Find it here on eBay where it’s apparently part of a larger collection of dusty classics waiting to be exhumed.
This Bus really does check all of the boxes, from its 23-window design to its sliding canvas roof – it’s exactly how you’d expect a vintage VW Bus to look. No offense to the Bay Window owners out there, but the original formula is still considered the most desirable by many. In fact, in the large Georgia car and truck collection we’re helping to market, the split-window VW Buses were the first ones to sell – and those were effectively parts vehicles.
Given the desirability these Buses now have, this one will never be a parts Bus. Ironically, twenty or thirty years ago it may have been, as even these multi-windowed models were considered throw-away items at one time. This one has all of its glass, which has to be one of the more challenging pieces to find if you own a 23-window with broken glass. There is clearly some rot in the body, but I’m sure that doesn’t phase anyone bidding who has to own one of these Type 2s.
As you can see here, there’s more to be uncovered in this dusty, dark garage, including more Type 2s and several American classics. The seller is coy about the details, other than suggesting to keep an eye out for future auctions. While I love the style of the 23-windows and the enthusiasm that follows them, it still makes me a bit sad I didn’t think to sock one of these way when they were worth the price of a decent Beetle.
Another POS rust bucket. It would be smarter to just take your money and set it on fire, at least you wouldn’t be into it for any more money. Remember when your loafing along at 45 mph and there are about 40 cars behind you that are pissed off at you that you really are in a underpowered POS. Also realize how dead you’ll be in a front end collision in this death trap. All that’s up front is enough sheet metal to keep the body parts in place when your killed. The corner will thank you. I just don’t see why these are so desirable.
I agree in that I don’t see the attraction to these. But we have to be careful about comparing safety features to newer cars, or we’ll all be like that guy whose brand new car is better in every way than any classic ever built, yet he’s here lurking all the time.
Indeed he is Tim. Of which he will express all points in odd verbage with curious grammar. We dare not mention the name as to not summons him!
Time to take your Prozac
when *you’re * killed …
The *coroner* will appreciate it… Sorry. Couldn’t resist….
Geeze, dude; who peed in your cereal this morning? These 23 window “POS rustbucket” you refer to, have been selling for $100K plus for a number of years now. Are they worth it? The market sure seems to think they are, so buying & restoring one will likely get you some ROI. No one will ever call the collector car market logical; it’s passion-driven.
Yes, you’ll be loafing along at 45 mph, but it’s HIGHLY doubtful these ever make it onto the interstates [no one is that bold], thus no huge line of pissed off motorists behind you.
Lighten up. Take a nap. Have a cookie.
Well, that and interstates are multi lane, so, yeah.
I saw a super nice 23 window on the interstate last summer, climbing through the NH mountains. I have respect for that owner.
*peed in your cereal* LOL!!
I’ve seen completed auctions move clean 23 window Buses for upwards of $140k or more..
Could have bought my neighbor’s clean 23 window for $800 in ‘76.
Decided it was too big and a Type III Squareback could sleep two nicely.
💩
Two more words: “American Pickers”…. meh.
Come on up here to Canada, as of today we have “better” cookies
Different people have different tastes. What some people see as a worthless POS, others (not myself) see it as a highly desirable vehicle. Still others may see what you consider a highly desirable vehicle to be a worthless POS and so on and so on.
Just remember this –
There are a lot of people out there that think all of us “car people” are wasting our money and time that we spend on any old vehicle.
What is a corner?
A corner is a place where two or more sides or edges meet
Dead on Nate!
Amazing how many people survived driving these. Must be awful dangerous driving in Canada. These VW buses have and continue to sell for insane prices due to rarity, maybe you’vr heard of that before. Just because you or I can’t afford one does not mean they are useless investments at certain prices.
Why would it be dangerous to drive in Canada! I owned a 1958 Samba VW bus and it ran great in Canada until I blew the engine! Wish I had kept it now!
i’m with you on not getting the attraction of these things. they do look pretty cool in an industrial kinda way but seem like death traps on the road.
i used to have (maybe still do…?) a silver Matchbox version with the pop-top on it. never could figure anything cool to do with it except park it in the sand at the beach or have it putter up hills while the cool cars blew past it with engines roaring.
i guess it’s nice that there are so many options for enthusiasts to invest.
I had that one too… what was with the yellow windows? My Scenicruiser had them, too, but I overlooked it ’cause, hey, it was a Scenicruiser!
You should try to find it(matchbox) probably worth thousands of dollars to some buyer.lol
Have loved the old busses all my 75 years well not until I grew some I have a match box van that my sun in law gave me he had it when he was a kid I had a 63 kombi. What a great time Wish I had it today 😂
Nope. Not worth much. Sat out a Matchbox case full of ONLY 1/64 scale and smaller VWs at a swap meet last Saturday. No buyers. Only the Hot Wheels redline bay window with surf boards sticking out of it appears to be going the way of the real thing. Had one, destroyed it in 1969-70!
I always liked the pinkish-purple color below the black finish on these early buses. I think I have the Revell model kit of this stored somewhere…also semi-worthless.
The Seller’s rating scale on this is a 7.5 out of 10 with 10 being perfection. Apparently, his rating scale and mine are at two totally opposite ends of the spectrum.
GREAT Comment!
We have to remember, this is exploitation of the hobby in the greatest sense. It’s for people that have no intention of driving it, they just don’t know where to spend their money. For a while it was Big Healey’s, then Superbirds, and 1st gen Bronco’s, now VW buses it’s silly, but such a dilemma, what should I buy today? I see some guy pays $70g’s for President Kennedy’s cigar box ( with half a dozen cigars) or some guy paying $100g’s for some Samurai sword, just to hang on a wall, it’s a world most of us will never see. Those same people wouldn’t know how to live on $14g’s a year. But,,,if there’s any salvation to all this madness, someone had the insight to stash these away, and it’s time to cash in before the bottom falls out, and rest assured, it will, and the restoration will pad many pockets, and that’s how our system works. Too bad most of us didn’t get that initial jolt of cash from grandpa to fuel this craziness.
Well said Howard, when you put it that it will help fuel the economy, and a few working class guys get to make a buck on it. It’s still a POS though.
Can’t wait until this hits the “regular” viewers. That’s why I view these posts as pure entertainment, and are clearly targeting the wrong audience here at BF’s.
Seriously, is ANYBODY here actually interested in buying these overpriced rust buckets? ( bottom line if a pessimist like me wrote the article).
No offense, Jeff, the world needs optimists to help balance out the universe,, :)
Depends if you’re into veedubs, eh? I’m not*, but I’m happy to thrash a 2CV along a motorway so I must have a deathwish too…
*…but I know some folks that are, and they’re REALLY into them…
Always a fine time to be had here at the BarnFinds gathering !! Great commentary and automobiles . Wish I was in Canada tonight but I must finish a remodeling project in the morning. High Everybody up North !! (-;
The initial jolt from Grandpa had nothing to do w $$$ in my case
I know a guy like that. He is always saying no matter what he buys today, he’ll have more money tomorrow than he does today. Doesn’t matter if it’s a car, a boat, a house…… the dude is loaded.
Buys stuff on a whim.
Sure wish he’d give a bunch to cancer research or some other needy cause.
When someone pays for something, car related or otherwise, it almost always has a trickle down effect for good causes. Let them spend their money how they wish. It will benefit someone else in some way.
There’s a guy selling a 1931 Harley on eBay right now that’s owned it for two years and has no idea what it is let alone having never even started it.
Nothing against capitalism but there will always be bored and clueless people with money to burn. And that’s a major contributor to people of simple means not being able to afford vehicles that they’d appreciate tenfold of that of the clueless..
I had a 1961 23 Window Bus. Doubled my money on it. Bought it for $250, drove it for a couple years and sold it for $500. Ha ha, coulda, woulda, shoulda.
Feeling your pain, Shaggy. Many of us let that kind of ca$h slip through our fingers…. But of course hindsight is 20-20, or better!
I really like the pink and black,and the sunroof top,quite a rare combo
I would think..?This will be well over 100g when done,so high that
even those like me,who aren’t into VW’s,but can appreciate their simpleness,
will never be able to even think about having one..,even in this shape..!!
The owner was very smart to stash these away..,years ago,I hope he gets
his dream jackpot,from these ol’ buses.He should have some old rusty
356 speedsters around too,then this bus would look alot better..!!….LOL.
Wow
As a kid a neighbor had one of these, it was a 60? Model. My friend told me it was worth a lot because of the windows, lil did I know it was 50 years from that time.
This is really insane, 50-g’s for a rusted out VW !
This is pretty much the holy grail though of VW isn’t it?
A local commercial van dealer put a later 70’s one on the lot this week .. in grey. I would be tempted were I not renovating the house from ‘Money Pit ’ at the moment.
$50,000? For this? Well,I could get this or get a new Volkswagen California. Mmm…
Aren’t available in the US.
Arn’t sold in the US.
I think a 7.5 is awful generous for a rating looking at what we can see in the pictures. I never understand the love affair with these busses (unless you’re an old deadhead).
They do get big dollars at auction, so there much be some well to do followers of Jerry Garcia out there…
I have seen this bus in person…the rust is SO BAD underneath this bus will need a complete frame replacement (not a simple or cheap task). Did you notice there is no photographs or the undercarriage? There is a reason why, so BUYER BEWARE. And watch out for SHILL BIDDING on this one…The reserve is 60K I am told and interestingly the bids have been bumped up just below that….coincidence, I think not.
hehe..no photographs on the undercarriage,….there is probably no undercarriage..
Bill I was thinking the same thing, I can only imagine what the bottom of this beast looks like from sitting on the dirt floor. Frame would be unibody. And yes there’s so much fraud on fee bay it would make your head spin. I have heard of guy selling a reasonably priced sailboat, sold 3 times and winners gone, no reply. I don’t understand this, is it a cheap thrill? I had 2 ebay items that I lost my commission on because of this. Buyer beware!
Cheers
GPC
While they are slow on the highway, which is an easy fix with more modern trans and motors. They were all rated for 1 ton. The drive train was the same across the board whether it was a delivery van or a kombi or 21 window. The split window Van’s had gear reduction boxes like portal axles. So even changing the gearing at those points would help speed things along.
Somehow I stuffed a Harley, 800 pounds of tools and whatever else I’d need to live 1200 miles away in my ‘66 split window..
Easily a one ton truck.
It needed a calendar instead of a speedometer and couldn’t pull the skin off of rice pudding but it got me there, all around Northern California and back again..
Her name was ‘Vanessa’.
God is great beer is good and people are crazy🍻
Cheers Don H……that is one of my favorite songs ……by Billy Currington
9 years later this is still a great song!!! Little could Billy know just how “crazy” people were going to get…
I would get it running, put on some Grateful Dead, get my space together, and start “Truckin” …..✌
exactly what I would do – and what I regularly do with my Type2, T2A – best vehicles ever built – from my point of view. Keep on truckin everybody!
Some people have more money than brains.
Until they sell it for big $$$$$.
No, no, no. Pass, pass, pass.
Have all these sellers gone crazy, or is it
just me?!! Oh sure, I like these buses, but
not $50K worth!! For that kind of cash, I
could put my SIL into a decent used car,
have a high end heating/central air unit
installed at Mom’s house–complete with
pass throughs, and have more than enough to buy my neighbor’s ’94 Pontiac
Sunbird convertible. Now THAT’S how
you spend 50K!!
The bottom will never fall out for those that can afford to pay that kind of money, they can afford to sit on it until they die, then it’s an inheritance that will give the inheritors what ever money it does bring, for free
I don’t get the “I don’t get” comments. These buses have been selling for big $$$ for years no matter what the condition. What is there not to get? An old, goofy, underpowered van with an insane cult following = big flippin’ money.
Exactly.
I had one of these just after high school while living in Detroit. It was cold to drive and the heater was not very good. We would open the roof to put a canoe in it to take it camping with the point of the canoe facing forward with the bottom facing up and it would act like a great big air scoop in the summer. At maximum speed of about 65mph is was kind of like driving in a tornado. It was bought for $350 and me and some friends painted it sort of the same blue with house paint and rollers and we thought it looked pretty good. Sold it after about a year for $650 and thought we made a killing.
Now they are bringing a quarter of a million dollars. Whouda thunk
Back when these were daily drivers,I’d say
that “The only thing worse than getting stuck behind
one on the highway is getting stuck behind two of them.
Also,a Friend described driving one of these as –
“It’s like you’re racing,but nobody around you is aware
of it”.
I don’t get why anyone would spend a huge fortune
on one of these.
I think they have character. May be slow but practical too.
Part of motoring history.
“On a scale from 1 – 10, with 10 being in new or excellent condition, this item is rated as a 7.5 (Solid Restoration Project” he says. Snort. Can’t even begin to imagine a world where my wife wouldn’t punch me in the brain if I paid $50k for this thing.
KawiVulc you made me laugh. I had a cartoon image of your wife opening your head like a garbage can lid pulling out your brain and giving it a punch. Just so you know if I brought that home for 50k it would be my new home.
Can we all agree that we hope that it will be restored, displayed and hopefully driven. Too me the more classics that get pulled and restored the more people can be involved in it. I love many of the classics but would not want to take on the task of ownership as it would be another costly maintenance item.
Sadly,,no. That may have been a good analogy 20 years ago, but people that pay 6 ( or even FIVE ) figures or these, it’s all about money, like I said above, they have no intention of driving it, and if they happen to, it’s right back for sale at the next auction hopefully attracting the next sap with deep pockets,,,and around and around it goes.
In 1961 I was six years old and our family was touring Europe. Dad bought a 36-hp VW Microbus from the factory, piled Mom and four boys into it, and off we went! On one memorable day driving through the alps, we got into a “race” with a bicyclist for several hours. We would pass him on the uphills (just barely) and then on the downhills, wait for him to flash by us at speed.
😎i’m a 1965 vw training school grad culver city ca. i started on the lube rack, at continental motor’s. vw was just starting 2 move. 50/50 pay scale on labor. 👎i personally helped load 2 of these onto junk truck. both 1 owner’s, both needed a clutch & #3 exhaust was burn’t on both, also neither were charging. both owner’s were elderly & didn’t want 2 spend the money 2 repair. they were both acc. & rust free. nobody wanted 2 have anything 2 do with them. they went 2 wilmington, crushed & sent 2 asia👎
@DAVID6 – I can think of no better use for the pair (all of them, really). They were dangerously underpowered. You could load them until no amount of clutch feathering could coax them into motion. They had miserable suspensions. They looked and felt unsafe in the showroom. Sadly; there are those whose emotions have clouded their memories.
In the 1970’s, I worked for BAP, and sold MANY engines (and other parts) for these. Only a stoned hippy could reasonably consider these under-engineered imports good transportation for any purpose except one: They were giving them away. Same for Bugs. There were so many better solutions for that particular transportation equation, that the resale market was zero for them.
People with NO money (and NO interest in cars), latched onto them. Then they kept them for so long, that the pathetic 4-cyl death traps seemed like a member of the family.
These people are just buying nostalgia. The peace signs, flowers, anti-war slogans and budding rock group insignias. Reality is VERY different.
Bidding up to 50,500 with reserve not met?… people are crazy… can’t you buy one of these brand new in India or something… I recall seeing a story about a small custom factory building them but can’t find it.
Let’s see… a 7.5 on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being “perfection”? Wow! That is beyond ultra optimistic. Not even close. On a good day, A GOOD DAY, this is a 3 or 3.5. That’s it. What I was surprised about is the thing is (as I write this) at $50,500 with 54 bids and the freaking reserve isn’t met yet. What, in the name of all that is good and holy in this world, does this seller think the thing is worth in that condition. My God, if I got $50,500 for that MAJOR restoration project, I would french kiss the guy who was giving me the money and give him an hour to draw a crowd.
If VW really wanted to pay off the billions of dollars in dieselgate fines, they’d license a “cottage manufacturer” to build NEW ones.. Kinda like the Dynacorn bodies in white Mustangs.. I’d build one. Maybe just to exasperate those $150,000 buyers.
I bought a 1957 for $100 in 1980. I sold it for $150 to the first guy to look .One of the few cars I have sold for more than I paid.
Many of you are thinking in broad terms without knowing the reality of the VW bus collector market. TheSamba.com and its forum members have the knowledge and background to discuss this value of this bus. The documented sales of these have ranged from $45000 in rough condition to $135000 in excellent condition. Overall the bus value market is actually flat with some softness in a few models. Lots of theory why, but the marketing going to the moon is no longer true.
Dave Kandig sold a VW bus last year they did over in his shop & it appeared on the show. Kevin his shop manager broke his ballz about buying a rust bucket bus & it wasn’t even a real 21 window but it brought 250K at B.J. auction. I know the show & his fame helped with the sale of it but I couldnt believe someone would pay that for a bus & I luv vintage VW buses.
$50,000 for this wreck? Fat chance! I’d pay $10,000 for it, and then restore it before seeing how much it’s worth.
What a find! Of courze irs not everyones cup of tea,but then neither is a chevelle 454 or a fiat 124, or a Renault Apline. But to someone out there each of these cars would be a dream to own.
I have owned a ’63 that I converted to a camper in ’68 and drove from Connecticut to California on my honeymoon. No one ever complained that it was too slow. Several cars later, I bought a ’67 that I drove all around Los Angeles freeways and the swamps of Baja for a couple of years. No problems, and no one ever complained that it was too slow. Years later I sold my used up Astro van to a “band”, and bought a 1980 Westphalia camper and drove all over California to every surfing spot from Del Norte to Rosarito, and the dry lakes from El Mirage to Ivanpah. No one ever complained that it was too slow. With all that said, I firmly believe that anyone with extra money can spend it however they want.
bring that bus back home for the wife to look at, tell her you spent $50,000+ for it, and you would problably be sleeping in it parked in the driveway (or wherever she directs it be parked at) for a while. my dad had a VW bus and the thing could barely move forward. that being said, if I had known these things would be worth as much as they seem to bring, I would have bought it from him. he also had a 57 t-bird that got away for nothing as well. and a studabaker station wagon. I had a corvair… all of them either given away or sold for a few dollars. man, I remember seeing 4 Plymouth Road Runners and Superbirds (440 c.i. of course) parked outside on a dealer’s lot in Fresno CA back in 69 I believe it was… each for about $5,000, brand new. Adjusting for inflation and all, that is problably like about $10-15k today… still one h*ll of a bargain. I bought my 2000 firebird WS6 formula in 1999 for 30k and thought I did ok for a 320 h.p., 14 second 1/4 mile, 160 mph car. Still my daily driver to this day, in fact I just got back from the grocery store in it. Here is my pride and joy, the white marks are unwiped wax streaks. The factory literature was somewhat of lying, saying and badging them on the hood as “ram air”. nonsense balony. it was a fresh air scoop. there is no air being “rammed” into the motor when it has to pass thru several hood rain baffles and an air cleaner to get to the motor. I have the factory propaganda saying how the air was “force-fed into the motor”. How Pontiac got away with that considerable lie is beyond me.
@mike – You definitely ‘get it’. That WS6 is way cool, too.
I have a 65 Dodge van, it has a slant 6 cylinder and 3 on the tree. It is a much better vehicle. My buddy wants to stick a 440 C.I engine in there and it would fit but would be dangerous to drive. Many of these had a 318 C.I. engine with automatic ttrans.i get lots of thumbs up while driving
Finding one of these is like winning the lottery! Provided the farmer whose barn it’s in doesn’t know the value.
In a world where people spend $50,000 on a sparkly Bass Boat, $35,000 on a side by side (a glorified go cart) or $80,000 to restore a 65 Mustang (that drives exactly like a Ford Falcon) Who’s to say that $100,000+ restored for something like this is crazy. There’s just as many former Deadheads (or Deadhead wannabes) that are retired investment bankers with plenty of disposable income as there are people that have an emotional connection to any other car. Personally, I’d get more enjoyment from looking at this in my driveway than I would from a whole garage full of Superbirds. At this level of car collecting it’s all about something that you have an visceral emotional reaction to, as even a new Hundai will shame most 60’s muscle cars. People make their money – and they spend it however they want.
Any of the1st gen type 2 vehicles have TONS of charm, it’s one of those vehicles that receive attention for what they’re NOT(ie effective, safe, fast).Owned a 71 bay dormobile camper many years ago, even that one was charming as hell! Any 1st gens deserve the attention, but prices are WAY out of sense as of now.I know of several classics I’d rather spend $50k on, however I understand why people would desire one
Drove a very nice pop-up Campmobile bay window just last year priced at $3500 locally. Way under market. Brought my VW expert with me to also drive it. Well done mechanical and exterior restoration. Canvas was left original but good. The interior was gutted with two modern van seats in front. We passed, but now I wonder “what if?”
What year was it?
I was very fortunate to get mine when I did. Bought my ’66 Deluxe bus from an old man in Utah in 1993 for $200. Pretty original condition including all the interior, engine and owner’s manual. The old man cautioned me not to make a rash decision and sleep on it before buying “that old thing”. Even though she doesn’t leave the garage very often, still makes me super happy. Very pleased with the appreciation too.
Holy bong pipe and scrape the resins off the headliner batman. Had a 58 or 59 rustfree in 1981 and a rusty 64 in the early 90`s. Sold the 64 23 window for $1500 after paying $400. Never thought there utilitarian POS deathtraps would ever be worth more than crusher price. Guess the weed is more powerful nowdays like everyone says.
I too am the former owner of one of these. I paid $100 for a 1961 Bus in 1971. I could see the road pass by looking down at my feet. I had to get creative with construction paper and a magic marker to insure I had an inspection sticker on the windshield every 6 months back then. But I didn’t freeze in that bus, ever. It had a gasoline heater. I sold it a year later for…$100. I felt very lucky to get that
@Jimbosidecar – My point exactly. Thank you.
There’s a really ugly undercurrent that runs through Barn Finds. The gist of it is that anyone who has more money than I do, and can afford to play with cars at a level that I can’t, must be “stupid”, “clueless”, have “more money than brains”, is “ruining the hobby for the rest of us”, and must have inherited their money “from Grandpa”.
That’s pretty much the definition of sour grapes, and it’s not attractive. Would I personally buy this bus? No, it’s not that interesting to me. But I can understand why someone would.
In fact, the market is the market. People buy rusty old buses like this because there is a healthy market for them restored. And people restore them for reasons of nostalgia. If it weren’t for that, there wouldn’t be any vintage and classic car hobby at all. Further, the restoration and collecting generates economic benefit for all sorts of people and businesses along the way. What you think the bus is “really worth” based on nothing but your own resentments and inability to play at this level really has no relation to reality. Find something you can afford, and play with that, instead of the constant whining about how anyone with more money than you must have come by it illegitimately, is clueless, and is somehow ruining your hobby or your life. You’re doing a fine job of that all by yourself.
I’ll see myself out.
Yes.
@cyclemikey – I take issue with your premise. There has never been a moment when I begrudged anyone $14M for a rare Ferrari, Maserati, Dusenburg or the like. They are automotive masterpieces. They are rare. What price art? I haven’t the wherewithal to afford a fraction of a percent of it.
To me, Pebble Beach is both Nirvana, and the uber-wealthy’s ridiculous peacock-like display of over-restored cars and women. But I don’t begrudge it to them. That is the creme de la creme. It is worth its price, if someone will pay it.
Rather over-priced and preserved, than what I experienced in the 1970’s-80’s, with rare and fabulous cars being used up like toilet paper, and thrown away for pennies to even worse fates down the line, until my brother and I (and kindred souls) could scrape together enough to rescue one or two at a time and return them to some semblance of their factory purpose. Even at that, we were more like a M.A.S.H. unit than say, Barrow’s Neurological Center.
Certainly some on BF seem to have a class envy problem. But I by no means think the majority does. It seems to me the issue is more one of proportion. When we read of some sultan or mogul who has had all lavatory fixtures in their private 747 or 300+ foot yacht fashioned out of gold, it rankles. I don’t begrudge them the lifestyle, the planes, the yachts, etc… It is, after all, their money!
But foolish waste and excess does rub the wrong way.
I knew of a man who had sold his ’69 383 Charger in his youth. He subsequently made a decent fortune, and bought the Charger back for something like $100,000. This was at a time when you could get a nice one for something like $8,000. loaded. This was clearly a ‘feeling’ purchase, not a ‘thinking’ one. These VW’s fall into that category.
I never, ever deny someone his/her right to legally spend their own money any way they want. As long as they don’t deny me the right to point out a fool and his money. In my estimation, this is the feeling of most on this board. They just express it in different ways.
@TriPowerVette – thanks for the thoughtful response. The only thing I might take issue with is the distinction you make between spending money on a car like this versus spending the same (or much more) on a Ferrari or Duesenberg which you adjudge to be beautiful and thus more worthy.
But that’s not an objective distinction- beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And if this is, say, the car that you spent your youth in, following the ‘Dead around, it may be just as meaningful to you, if not more so, than the art aficionado’s appreciation of that beautiful Duesie.
Further, that nostalgia is every bit as valid a reason to spend the bucks on a resto of this bus as on bringing back one of the “classics”. After all, what is a classic but a car that a large number of people agree is desirable?. Performance or mechanical goodness has little to do with it in either case, since people aren’t restoring either 23-windows or Duesies for transportation purposes.
The point is, you can’t say that you have no problem with those who have, and spend, the bucks on their automotive art projects of choice, and then turn around and denigrate them if those choices aren’t the ones you personally would make.
I would also say that your story about the guy who bought his old Charger back being comparable to current VW bus buyers/restorers is flawed. The guy paid ten times market for the Charger only because he wanted THAT one, and he’d never get the money back on sale. (even so, I understand his motivation). But the buyer/restorer of this bus isn’t likely to lose money like that. The market is there for these.
@cyclemikey – I guess, in the end, I am somewhat a curmudgeon. In terms of industrial art; Andy Worhol really wasn’t a superstar, until he painted the famous Campbell’s Soup Can. He didn’t just paint one… he had an “assembly line” of them.
“Small Torn Campbell’s Soup Can (Pepper Pot)”, 1962, in May 2006 sold for $11.8 million. I have included a pic.
In many ways, if the Volksie in question is represented as art, in the same class way as (for instance) Duesenberg, then it and Worhol’s Soup Cans have much in common.
It has little in common with Leonardo da Vinci’s works.
I’ll leave it at that.
I do agree with this, especially when dealing with vehicles that are iconic and a significant part of motoring history like this one.
I think brand passion comes into it also. Some seem to be unable to accept other brands are worthy of interest/praise/high value.
You make all good points, but what do you expect? A greater portion of the audience here, has no intention of buying these things, so posting them is going to get the comments you see. To most of us that remember these being used as tool sheds, or what they are really like to drive, the thought that they are worth what a decent Porsche would cost, just doesn’t fly with us. I don’t see how WE are ruining the hobby, when we can’t even participate in it anymore. WE ruined the hobby? All we can afford today, is the computer to view this foolishness, and for some, like me, even that sets us back.
@ cyclemikey: thanks for your comment – I would have written exactly the same, but unfortunately my english isn’t as good.
I would wish that also VW-Kombi lovers could by equivalent members of the BarnFinds-Community, without getting the feeling that their beloved vehicles are worth less only because they have a small engine.
From my experience I can tell, they are reliable as hell, they get you anywhere, slowly but steady. And the design is timeless, clear and simple.
Bought mine in 1994, a 1968 model (1,6 liter engine), still running strong with original engine.
Would never give it away.
Yes! cyclemikey.
Well said
Just like fake news, fake bids! We will see this disappear or get stuck in relistville!
I know of a vintage VW, it is like a pickup truck… room for 2 up front, the rest is the bed. the thing that is neat about it is that the sides of the bed are like slats and can be folded down or taken off if I was looking at it right, turning it basically into a flatbed truck. the front looks just like the front of an old VW van. It is rather beat up and looks its years. The motor looks small. I may get ahold of the owner and see what he wants for it, I wonder if these kinda-weird VW “trucks” have a cult following as well. As far as fake bids and all go, I do not know if ebay still allows others to see feedback score of the bidder, but if it is a 100% feedback or near that, I would think that the buyer is legitimate. In any case, if the wife of the buyer is not into cars and such, and hubby hauls this thing into the driveway and announces “it only cost me $60,000+, plus I have to spend additionally about half that for a restoration”, and, “our daughter can go to a community college instead of YALE”, all I can do is hope that the buyer (I am assuming the buyer will be male) gets a fair judge during the divorce proceedings she would surely bring against her dear hubby within 10 minutes in a phone call to her lawyer after poor hubby trailers the VW in. Note: this is a scenario for those who are not rich, if one is rich, great, but personally for that kind of money I would go after a vehicle that can attack freeways and mountains without beating the beejesus out of it, rowing thru the gears like mad, deaf to all the horns behind him, blind to getting the finger one passing vehicle after another. but after the nasty divorce, this may not seem like such a big deal. but the kicker is that she will problably get the VW in the settlement! I drove one of these vintage vans once. I started it, put it in gear and pushed down on the gas peddle. nothing but a change in the engine and exhaust noise happened. so I pushed the pedal all the way down to the floor. within a few seconds or so, the van decided to slowly move forward, seemingly on its own. I doubt if it could top 60 mph going downhill, but it was poorly maintained I think. do I think that women are smarter? In most cases… yes. they can also drive ya buggy but it goes with the package… this is a case when the buyer is most wisely not married. but I could be wrong about all of this. p.s. my wife left me because I bought a $100 storage shed without her knowledge or permission, but she was just looking for an excuse… mike
@Mike, I get what you are saying. First off, one of those VW Type 2 “flatbed” trucks you mention was on Barn Finds within the past year I think. And yes, there is a similar rabid following for them.
Secondly, in regards to comments about class, and college funds going toward rusty projects. I have been at this game since at least the mid-1960s when Dad first gifted my mother a used Simca Vedette to use when traveling to teach piano. The old saying “they were just used cars” back then became “old equals collectible” sometime in the pre-internet era. I rode out the early wave of nostalgia by buying a 59 Ford Galaxie Sunliner for $50 and stupidly trading it on something modern and ugly for $1000. I thought that was the greatest thing ever…to do a little work on an old car and make a modest profit. I stopped paying to watch the Velocity Channel last year because all it did was turn me into a cranky old man — griping about all the money being made on old cars. I’ve found a niche that I do well in, it’s just not the cars I grew up with and worked on and admired.
As far as us BF subscribers never buying a vehicle shown on Barn Finds, I expect I will some day. I visited the Cortina from a few weeks ago when it first rolled out of the barn and onto BF in 2017. Would’ve, should’ve, could’ve.
Yes, single and double cabs have quite the following.
Rustbucket single cabs start at $12000. A decent driver is $19000. The number three most popular VW bus in my opinion after Deluxe (like this BarnFind) and after Campers.
one of our longer Comments, eh?
“…its glass, which has to be one of the more challenging pieces to find…”
when it’s all flat like this vehicle (cept the L/R 2 rear ‘corners’) I just go down the glass man & get some of his lamie off cuts frm the big store windows. Cheep, safe’n quick. The ‘corners’ can B made up too but’s a bigger dealio…
Wow….now I feel really better ’bout what you say about the Mopars….and Porshisas….
I too used to own one VW bus in Atlanta…Betsy. Redhead, utilitarian and cool to me in the eighties. Then on Monroe Drive, some clown in oncoming lane swerved in front of me, turning to his left, in the rain…he ‘must’ have thought I was going slow; (-; Crunched the front and I had to part with it. The clown? He was an insurance man, and tried to sue ME for hitting him!. That didn’t fly. Earlier in it’s life a great girlfriend and I decided to take a trip from Atlanta west, just far enough to get Coors beer in cases and bring it east where there was none if I recall rightly. I had the radio on too loud to hear the engine cry out that it needed oil. A few days later, with a rebuilt engine installed, we had a much less number of beer cases. I miss that van. Was not this 23 window style tho. As a boomer, alas, we were trying to stay alive, maybe prosper back then.; all these nostalgic stories are our fondest memories for some reason. Many cannot even get down in some of the vehicles now much less climb back out! Sure, we’ll raise our bid just one more bump…hide a jeep in one of my outbuildings… the little women never noticed it for five months because I’d had it tarped. The marriage continues another year…
I too used to own one VW bus in Atlanta…Betsy. Redhead, utilitarian and cool to me in the eighties. Then on Monroe Drive, some clown in opposite swerved in front of me, turning to his left, in the rain…he ‘must’ have thought I was going slow; (-; Crunched the front and I had to part with it. The clown? He was an insurance man, and tried to sue ME for hitting him!. That didn’t fly. Earlier in it’s life a great girlfriend and I decided to take a trip from Atlanta west, just far enough to get Coors beer in cases and bring it east where there was none if I recall rightly. I had the radio on too loud to hear the engine cry out that it needed oil. A few days later, with a rebuilt engine installed, we had a much less number of beer cases. I miss that van. Was not this 23 window style tho. As a boomer, alas, we were trying to stay alive, maybe prosper back then.; all these nostalgic stories are our fondest memories for some reason. Many cannot even get down in some of the vehicles now much less climb back out! Sure, we’ll raise our bid just one more bump…hid a jeep in one of my outbuildings… the little women never noticed it for five months because I’d had it tarped. The marriage continues another year…
Wow what a pile of crap! Why can’t I find a sucker with his money. Where r these guys u at. u say-Ebay?
These folks would buy and transform it into something brand new and not the least ‘poky’ !
http://www.zelectricmotors.com/our-story/
The law of supply and demand at work. Why is there a demand for split-window VW Buses? Because for many of us (even those who were yet to be born), the Buses harked back to a very interesting period of American life. If enough people, for whatever reason (including silly ones) want an example of a limited supply of goods, then the price goes up. 21 window Buses are limited in number but very high in “cool.” Therefore, prices are up. I’d love to have one, but not enough to spend anywhere near what the asking price of this is. And I would certainly never get anywhere near one that was in solid “daily driver” shape.
If you don’t like it, buy what you do like – simple enough!