Late bay on an prototype bay chassis

I have been talking to the man who owns this bus,
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/1970-t2-vw-campervan-pop-top-step-through-fully-restored-2012/1006928289
when he bought it some panels had already been replaced with late bay ones, it has been
restored by Top Class Restorations, looks a beautiful job, and am considering making an offer, any comments on the late body early chassis situation would be much appreciated.
Trevor

 

Dont know why whenever I type early on this site the word prototype appears instead

 

it's a quirk of the site

 

try typing o r a n g e

 

Are you sure its not just a ringer and he's come up with a good reason for it being on an earlier plate

 

why swap chassis?

just weld the chassis number on your late bay chassis ,easy... C

 

I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. If you were to put a late body on an early chassis, apart from a huge amount of work, you'd have to cut the back of the chassis of and put a late one on, and change the inner front valance. That's a '73 or possibly a '72 with a new front.

 

On the plus side, it's a nice looking van and no one will ever question it all that matters is whats is on the paperwork, may well be perfectly in order.

 

I have seen all the restoration photos and it has been done well no doubt, the owner says that previous to him owning it, some panels were replaced with high light instead of low light panels.
It is one of several I am considering, there are if you look around quite a few fully restored bays for sale, however I am very cautious which is why this site is proving to be so useful.
I have been offered Bertha, 1973 Westfalia Continental from the featured rides as well, seems pretty straight, time was it was easy to part with your £800.00 for a bay but when these sort of figures are involved it makes me nervous of anything that seems a little out of the ordinary
Dont want to buy a ringer, shed or dog !
Trevor

 

Looks like thats whats happened its a late or a crossover with a early chassis number to make it tax free even the dash heater controls look late.


If the work has been done well its still a bit pricey you could get a genuine early or late for less !

Ive been looking !!!

Trevor

 

if you can get the chassis no. the samba could be your friend: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/chassisdating.php

My guess is a dvla cock up somewhere along the lines? has the bus been registered out of the country? see if the chassis no starts 213

 

that is not a 1970 van...

ask him for a picture of the engine

 

do you people walk around shows with your eyes shut?

there's a hell of a lot of tax exempt late bays floating about like this

 

From the advert - Its a 73-on body on a 1970 chassis retaining its number??? I smell bullMarmite but I could be wrong, he should also have the ID of the 72/73 if it is the case - quite likely to be tax exempt aswell as it has the fuel flap, but my guess is this has been 'lost' :

Nobody is bothered what it is to be fair, but thats alot of money for something thats likely to be not quite what it says on the tin.

Just think the stolen bays need to go somewhere, and restoring them to the hilt will remove most owner identifiable marks. :