Please help me to value this restoration

Hello everyone,

We are seriously considering to buy a 73' Devon T2 which is part complete project.
We have a limited budget and never done a van restoration before so I would like to ask some help to value how much more work is needed and how much it could cost to finish the interior.

The owner did a lot of the bodywork and had the engine reconditioned etc, really all is missing is the back interior. The front cab is also completed.

We are aiming to have a full-width bed, a unit with fridge, sink/hob and some storage something like the VanWurks birch ply standalone unit. (see photo)

I'm quite handy with doing stuff myself and also have access to power tools and a helping pair of hands. We have a joiner that could do the carpentry for us. I'm however quite limited on time and would rather get my joiner to do some stuff.

I would appreciate your opinions on the costs of completing this project. I'm attaching photos of the back.

 

@aniol1349 if it hasn’t been mot’d then it will probably be much more involved than fitting a new interior. The running gear, brakes, suspension etc will all need checking over / replacing. The gutters look a little rusty so they need to be checked for rot. Photos of the underside/ engine bay / outer panels / doors would help too. Sky is the limit for a restoration, depends how much needs fixing and how much you could do yourself.

 

Hi and welcome to TLB!
I only happen to be the first to see this ... Expect others to ask you some searching questions about the rest of the van, as well as prophesies of spiralling costs in general, before getting to costing 2/3 of an interior.
Personally I would be looking more carefully at the work that has already been done to reassure yourself the price is right in the first place.
As I say there will be others who will be better informed and more experienced, but that passenger arch/tub doesn't look too promising a finish .....
Your joiner should be able to give you a price, which you can double and add to your purchase price before deciding if that's fine for you ... The "worth" of works is highly subjective.
You might also be better off making sure the bodywork is tip top first, and live with it a bit before setting out what you want for an interior, as well as how "finished" you want it? (what's happening to the metal frame around the pop top opening for example?)
Last thing ... You might be lucky enough to get a nearby TLB member with knowhow to look at the van.

 

Here is the listing description, I guess that will help.

"When we bought this Devon Bus it had 20 MOT failures along with a long list of advisories. We meticulously worked our way through all of these with no expense spared replacing/repairing where required until all the issues were ticked off. This along with the other refurbishments we carried out along the way (See list below). The most important area on any Bus, underneath, has been completely refurbished with new floor pan and structural welding carried out (where required), it has Stonechip applied and coated with Undersealed so looks brand new. All the brake lines have been replaced with one new calliper fitted and a refurbished front axle fitted. The paintwork has a few age-related surface rust spots but these are only cosmetic. The interior of the cab has refurbished seats, new carpets, new stereo speakers and door cards. The rear of the interior is a total blank canvas other than having Silent Coat insulation/sound deafening and new door cards installed.
Due to this Bus being over 40 Years old it is now MOT and Tax exempt, although it would sail through a MOT. Work carried out - New rear floor pan with various other areas welded. - New brake lines (copper & flexi) all round. - New front offside brake calliper. - Refurbished front axle. - Under sealed & Stonechip applied. - New hot air vent to cab cables fitted. - Gear linkage bushes replaced. - Engine push rod tube & seals replaced. - Spark plugs and condenser replaced. - New engine tinware with foam seal. - New fuel line. - All fuel breather vent elbows replaced (including all the awkward ones around the fuel tank and the back corners). - New fuel flexi filler neck. - New cab window scrapers and seals. - New door cards (front & back). - Silent coat insulation/deafening fitted. - New front door accessories. - Refurbished cab seats with new vinyl covers. - New cab carpet set (Mad Mats). - New front cab speakers. - New cab seat belts. - Cables installed from front to back for front 12v socket (to be connected into Leisure battery system) and for rear speakers. - New concertina style (the more expensive original Devon style) Devon pop-up roof canvas (Proud to Pop). - Various other items and I’m sure some I can’t remember too."

 

If you only have a limited budget then I would definitely buy a van that is already complete.

The cost of an interior will vary massively depending on what units and material you use - i guarantee it will cost you more than you initially think.

The van you are considering buying (partially restored) says it doesn't need an mot, but would fly through one.

You don't need an interior for an MOT, before buying it get the current owner to put 12 months MOT on it (it will fly through after all).

Once it has the 12 months MOT, you can add on the estimated cost of an interior , plus a contingency amount.

Once you have that total you will know the true cost of this van.

Then take that total and see if you can buy a far better 'completed' van.

You will get more van for your money by buying one someone else has restored, than you will by buying a van and then spending money on it to complete it.

Even if you buy a completely restored bus, check the quality of the work (on here as well as yourself).

Id go for something that has been restored a while ago, so you can see how it actually looks now, rather than a freshly painted or restored van


I had my own bus restored in 2002 and it costs a fortune.

 

Adding some more photos of the van.

They want 9k for it.

 

As said above they want 9k, we have 12k to spend.

 

Question is- if it would sail through an MOT, for £40 why haven't they put one on.
You will struggle to get that finished properly for the £3K that you have left.

 

We can spend max 12k, my other half wants it to look decent and obviously it needs the eng/body in good condition

 

Interior £250-£5k depending on spec

a fridge can be a £50 second hand one or a new Compressor type will be £600

If you want 230v and leisure battery setup that add £500+ and if you want solar thats more.

Decide what camping you are going to do (weekends, weeks, on fully equip campsites. etc) that will help decide what spec of equipment you need

 

We will be doing a bit of campsites and weekends around Scotland most of the time. My other half is from northen spain and I would also love to explore that part of the world in our bus one day.

 

Honestly- look at something other than a T2. At £12k you will be very lucky to find what you want without it needing work.

 

It could be a very well restored bus you are looking at for 9k, but nothing you have shown us so far provides any evidence of this.

Its basically a long list of reasons for an mot to be refused and someone has ticked to say they have done the work.

We have no idea if whoever did the ticking is any good at restoring vans/welding etc.

If i tried to weld or restore a vehicle it would be Marmitee, other people can do welding and restorations properly.

At the moment we can't tell if the resto has been done by someone like me, or someone who know what they are doing.

Where do you live?, perhaps there is someone on here who owns a van who could come and inspect it with you.

My gut instinct is to steer well clear of it.

Decide what you want/need from a bus and then start looking for the best you can get for 12K.

There is no shortage of buses for sale!

 

Thanks Bysearcher..I did ask him yesterday why the door don't shut flushed with the body and he admitted that he realized that at the time of taking photos.
I just realized I forgot to post the outside photos so here they are:

 

I said he would be lucky, not that he wouldn't.