Panel van conversion desirability

Hello everyone

I don't want to open a can of worms but, ignoring condition and quality of the job, are panel van conversions in any way shape or form less desirable than kombi conversions, simply because of their birth status?

And are window recesses the main difference/tell-tale?

 

Q the ridicule of the panel van conversions

 

Hmmm. Possibly yes. If there were 2 side by side, in same condition I'd pick the original camper over the panel van.

 

OK so side by side, same price, same condition, same spec, colour etc the kombi would win. That makes sense. But factor in differences and I guess the panel could easily win depending what they were.

 

And depending upon whether the purchaser knew the difference

 

So are they potentially worth less then?

 

Absolutely not. OK, so they are probably going to be a lower value (look at the old 1970's price lists for Devon Conversions, the panel van conversion was always cheaper) but not worthless.

I think maybe their side windows are a little more prone to nasty surprises in rusting around the seal, but as I haven't got one, I can't be definite on that.

 

I didn't mean worthless! I'm just interested to see if a panel van is worth say 5%.. 10% less than the equivalent kombi or exactly the same. I've searched and can't find much discussion about it.

 

I don't think its as easy as that - general overall condition is always going to be the main effect upon price. But given 2 identical buses, I'd always go for the microbus version, but then I like the recessed windows.

 

panel vans are the biz (as a panel) but the rubbers look nasty as campers tintop panels are lovely.

 

panel van as a van, kombi as a camper, doka as a WICKED works truck

 

I have a panel conversion and I can agree with @baybirmingham I had some nasty surprises around the rear windows mine where totally rotten but it's an easy fix as it's one piece of steel I have a Westy roof fitted mine is a bit of a miss match and I know I will get stick for it at shows but it's still a bay and it will still go up in price maybe not as much as the proper vans though

 

Most people don't know the difference when they buy one so I'd say it doesn't make much if any difference to the price.

 

^true

 

When you learn the difference, you wish you'd bought a proper bus! Until then your oblivious.

 

I love my van... it does the same job as any other van...

 

It depends on what you're looking for. I did a bit of research before buying ours and decided I wanted a Dormobile roof, RHD was preferable to LHD, manual not auto, and I wanted it to have walk through front seats. Other than that I didn't mind as long as the windows performed their function of keeping the weather out and the views visable! I do have rot around one of the rear windows, I knew it was there when I bought it, and when I fix it I hope it will be good for another 40 years. If I had the choice again, I would still be accepting of either window fitting. Just in case it wasn't clear - we have a panel van conversion.

 

I've had both and I'd rather have factory windows.

I found making the insides look good a lot tougher with a converted panel. No logical edge to attach trim panels to so needed to fit battons to fill the gaps etc.

I sold my expanel before it needed too much welding, but I've fixed a few window frames since and it's a lot of work to do nicely.

 

I'd be more put off by rusty gutters though