I know it’s a bit of a how longs a bit of string but it part of deciding whether to keep the van or not. It needs the right lower corner, the right wheel arch and the right outer cill (inner looks solid) Then a prep and bottom half paint job in red metallic. any ideas of rough costs.
Well, depends which wheel arch and how much you want to spend, if you can find a body cut or buy new panels. Anywhere from £500-£1000 in panels plus labour, depends whats rotted out behind the obvious bits My bus for all 3 sills both sides a couple of years ago was £4k plus other work came to £4.6K Basically 64 hours labour costs plus about £300 parts. And painting was extra. For your job , call it £1-2K. Then the paint job , you regretfully have metallic, some people probably wont touch painting half a bus because it will always be different. Say £1k-£3k for painting. If it was paint match rattle can solid colour DIY then maybe £200 or less.
I read it as a bottom half paint job, so up to the swage line all round? You can get a perfect match on metallic. Depends who does it…
The other side the front, rear and the doors have been repaired by me and painted badly just so it sort of matches from a distance. It’s been a bit of a rolling restoration for a few years doing bits in the winter then using it. Unfortunately I’m not really up to it. We have had a little bit of money come our way so am trying to decide to pay someone to sort the rest of the bodywork or sell it and get a T25 again.
There's no such things as "just a few repairs" as you never know what's behind until you start. Ended up with complete rear end on ours. Sent from my Nokia 3.4 using Tapatalk
You know a T25 will need all the seams done.. they are all older now too than when you last owned one... another different can of tinworms.
My son has 2 T25's. The original one needed much bodywork which would have cost 6k. He decided to buy another better T25 with mot during 2020 lockdown for only 4k. Its another air cooled with pop top and auto box and good body and paint. Your Bay is basically good but needs some work and demand is high with good prices at the moment. So your option to sell the Bay as it is and spend some of the money getting another T25 may well be a good option and with money left over you have cash in hand to spend on the T25. In the current market you should get close to 10k. Supposing you spent 6k for repairs and paint, then it owes you 16k, which it may not achieve. I would sell it and let someone else do the repairs and paint. I have sold my Bay now for good money considering it needed a new engine and interior and some bodywork and paint restoration and I got 6k for it. Next project for my son is to remove the good engine and gearbox from the old T25 and store as a spare in his workshop. He is removing as many good parts as possible with a view to sell or give away the old shell on wheels.
There's a rather nice 1980 T25 Devon pop top air cooled listed on Ebay at the moment with an asking price of £9500 or offers. Worth a look and food for thought.
