We purchased this van as a replacement for our previous Danbury convertion. We were looking for a bit more sleeping space for the kids without having to worry about putting up an awning every time we stopped. This worked for while, but we ended up going down the caravan route and this van is now only getting the odd trip out and spends most of its time garaged. It has had a restoration and respray some time in the early 2000’s at a guess, probably when the previous owner first purchased it. Since then it has just been serviced regularly, MOT,d and then used. I’ve done nothing but service items, top up the oil and add 1 new tyre, since 2017. We did get an MOT when we purchased it 2017, just for a bit of piece of mind. It sailed through with no advisories. It is Tax and MOT exempt, but now holds an MOT until June 2022. All the photos are current and a fair representation of the condition. There is a lot of MOT history available back to around 1993. It starts very well, runs well, even after long periods with no use. All gears are easily found. It’s solid all round. This is not going to win you any shows, but it will reliably get you to camping tomorrow and is not full of rot. There are a couple of areas of paint that need attention and the interior could do with a freshen up. I see it as a very good base for a £25-£30k vehicle if you want to put some work/money into improving it. I’ll post any photos that are requested and welcome any inspection. Price is negotiable. I’ve probably missed loads of important sales info so just ask! Location Price £14500 Ono Contact via PM.
I’d appreciate the views of some of the TLB regulars. Is this way out on price? Would it help if it had an MOT regardless of its exemption? Does the add need some more work? Feel free to comment!
Doesn’t seem massively over-priced to me (I saw a 79 asking £55k the other day - fifty-five grand!) but it sounds like it’s not selling, you need it away and you’d accept less than you’re asking. Maybe list it for what you’d take for it? Isn’t it a 73 btw?
i think it’s right on the money in the current market. An MOT may help the sale… But I wouldn’t just post on here.. get it advertised on eBay,gumtree,marketplace…
I can't say very much about the condition of the underneath or engine, but from a quick scan of the advert I'd push the fact it's a RHD Westie - they're not that common. Also, if advertising on ebay or somewhere that you're not going to necessarily be getting views from folk who know, quickly explain the fact that it's a 1973 build with a 1974 registration owing to length of time being converted in the Westfalia factory, and not because it's a dodgy registration plate etc! (We know, Joe Public may not) If you can, get a lid on that glove box: smartens up the dash IMHO And yeah, put it through an MOT even though you don't have to by law - it's peace of mind for a buyer, and most previously-non-VW-owning people looking at it will see a PASS as a golden ticket. It looks a nice bus, can't see why it wouldn't sell around that price - especially as we're now in the last phase of lockdown for a bit longer and foreign climes are still a costly exercise. But ebay, gumtree, FB marketplace - as said above - will expand your potential (if you haven't put it there already) GLWS
The icky little hole in the roof would give me pause. And the "This bus could be worth £25k" - at it's current price that makes it sound like it needs £10k spending on it.
Further to the above ..... MOT definitely. The less said about no MOT and very little attention over the last three years the better. (Those in the know will look online anyway, and I suspect they would also not pay £14,500, being the ones who would truly understand the scale of the work potentially needed to stop further immediate deterioration?) Take photos of it "in action"/camping, (hair bobble thingy in the back doesn't count!) as opposed to with posh cars and buildings in the background ... People may think (consciously or otherwise) that this is the poor relation, and that you don't really need the money. The engine bay will appeal more with a bit of a clean up, (another thing that at the moment says you're not all that bothered) and maybe a new coil, same type of flexitube throughout etc etc. All small, inexpensive, and easy things that would boost your enquiries ... GLWS! PS, is that a bungee cord underneath? If it's doing a job maybe find a less glaring option, or just get rid of it's not!
Give it a polish at least! Sell the dream. Don't be so honest. Omission isn't fibbing. Showing the bad pictures is good, but any negative spiel is bad. I think it looks pretty good and worth the dosh, there are loads worse at this price, not so many better.
Thanks for all the comments and feedback. I’ll put some more work into the add and probably a bit of work on the van. MOT first to see if there are any bits that need doing and then a polish and spruce up of the engine bay. I might have a tidy up of that roof gutter as well! I’ll let it sit on TLB and then maybe eBay when it’s MOT’d and freshened up a little. @Dub and Dubber the bungee is probably connected to the heater flaps. I’ll swap it for a cable…tie. Unfortunately the posh cars are not mine, I thought I was doing well cropping out all my junk.
... I just meant viewers might make an assumption that doesn't work in your favour Parked up in a field with a nice picnic laid out would do the job
People are so easily led by there own preconceptions. If you look at which attract the most bidders on eBay it's usually the well advertised ones as D&D says with happy easy lifestyle pictures - no awnings, no traffic, no tarmac, no camp sites. Groovy "free spirit" locations - people still believe this dream is something that is attainable by buying the correct vehicle - give em what they're looking for, it's not your fault.
This is now in for an MOT. I’ll collect it tomorrow evening and for those that are interested I’ll post up any advisories of work that needs doing. I’m a little nervous, it’s been a few years since the last one.
This is it. MOT fail. Nothing to keep me very busy. Brand new spare to go on the rear, sort the washers, couple of CV boots and a small oil leak. I’ll leave the leak, it’s traditional. The MOT guy adjusted the lights later in the day so that’s sorted. I think I got off lightly. Should have it back through early next week.