This 1977 VW Transporter pickup is said to be a recent arrival via container ship from Sweden here in the states. It conjures up emotions good and bad for yours truly, as I own a similarly rare ’81 Toyota HiAce that is also a utility vehicle showing signs of having lived a hard life. Regardless, this is a rare vehicle on our shores and it’s likely to tempt at least a few aircooled fans to make a bad decision. Find it here on eBay with the reserve unmet.

One does not go into the decision to import a vehicle lightly, so it intrigues me that this seller is already listing this Transporter for sale. Did he not like what he saw when it rolled out of its container? Quite possibly, as those layers of amateur paint jobs could have masked the extent of the rust from across the ocean. The bed itself looks quite solid, but the sight of actual rust holes in the body are certainly disconcerting.

The seller says this was a barn find discovery in Sweden. I can only imagine what it’s like finding a vintage vehicle hidden in a barn in another country, as it’s tough enough to keep your emotions in check when finding one in your own neighborhood. Seat upholstery looks quite tidy, as do the door panels. Of course, with the metal in the condition that it is, floor rot is likely but patch panels are available.

Wow – that is some serious rot that has been repaired time and again. My HiAce isn’t that bad in the fenders (although the tail gate is another story). It’s interesting – my shop and I discussed simply Bondo’ing the tail gate and doing proper metal repair in the lower sills and doors because the rear gate isn’t structural. In the case of this Transporter, it’s already got so much filler and patch work done that it appears the only option left is proper metal repair. Is this rare Transporter worth it?