Who has paid the most for their bus on tlb and what do you think they fetch now

I paid £8500 for mine with tax and mot ready to go, Arizona import 100% rust free. That was 6 years ago. Spent 3 or 4 grand on it so should get money back. I don't intend selling it and i've had 6 years of camping trips all over the uk with friends and family. Also this is a hobby of mine so how much do normal people spend on other hobbies.
If i had paid 30k for a new motor home it would be worth a lot less now and would never have been cool, also i would have had to pay out on another hobby.
It all makes a lot of sence to me so i'm a happy bunny. 8)

 

If you buy from a dealer, you will lose money. If you properly restore a van, you will lose money. The only economical way to run a van is to import a rust free, waxoil it and don't spend any money 'improving' it. If you can resist the temptation to spend, the sums will probably add up!

In any case, cars are always a sure way to blow your money - it's just a matter of keeping the depreciation to a minimum and in the long term, a bay should do OK on that basis.

 

your very lucky malc you had a double d pleasure buying yours too :

 

I don't care how much it's worth. I'm not selling it.

I did buy it for £4700 though, but that was before I redid the interior, tinkered with it abit, replaced a few bits, added a poptop, new cab seats, new engine (sold to pay for re-loom) then scoobied.

All done in the name of using it, and I've not ever borrowed to pay for it or its upkeep, so all is good.

 

As a recent owner, I looked at the market pretty hard to find what I was looking for.

First criteria was one that was running, taxed and MOT. Also wanted a Westy poptop and a RHD. Found my one locally which was a bonus. Prices seemed to be anywhere from £3,500 for one which needed lots of welding to about £7,000+++ for what I was after.

Mine was £4,500, tax free, Westy, RHD, MOT till June last owner for 13 years (although now I think that is a negative after seeing what he did to it!). I knew it needed a bit of work but I enjoy it.

So it is my hobby, a holiday work horse and a second car. I think it is worth it all day long. Also if I keep it for 20 years, I will have saved about the purchase price in road tax!!! If I bought say an Astra for £4,500 and kept it for 4 years, it would prob only be worth £1,000.

 

we paid just over 3.5k for ours with 12 months MOT and tax

since then i have bought 3 new doors cheap (£200) from vanfest
1 wheel arch and made a few panels and patches my self
a new pop top canvas (£100)
and last winter i rebuilt the rear brakes

most of the money has gone on the camping side
new cooker
compressor fridge
r & r bed
awning

i would estimate total spend around 5-6k

 

paid 7 grand ,proberly woth 6 at the most ,spent about 4 grand on it (engines)
who cares ,didnt buy one to make money or be smug.

 

My main buying criteria was to find a genuine unrestored bus that was rust free. So it had to be an import. I bought my '78 Californian Tintop back in January. It is totally rust free, never welded with all original paint and interior. Cost me £7.5k with MOT. I'm the 2nd owner and it's exactly in the condition I wanted.

I've spent another £2k on new fridge, hob + oven, waxoyl etc

 

I paid the equivelent of 2,900 GBP for mine in 1976, as a new Kombi bus.
Its insured for 8,000 now, 36 years old and VERY, VERY GOOD rust wise.
Currently off in Cornwall for complete restoration, which I expect to cost +- 20,000.
I will insure it for 20,000 when its on the road again.
Its a family heirloom and will never be sold in my lifetime.
Tony

 

20.000 keep talking the pills... ;D

 

My panel van I had had back in 95 I swapped for my wizard for. Then flogged it for a grand. This van cost me 8k as a straight South African import Kombi and so far has cost about 3k putting in the interior, lowering and remedial works. Next biggie bill will be paint.