Another indecisive VW virgin

Hi, I found this forum via a Google search into where T2s rot, before I actually go and look at one.

I'm just reaching retirement, and getting a yearning for a bay T2. I'd really like a splittie, but the ones I can afford seem to have issue, and/or seats or home made interiors inside. At my age I don't want another long term project, I want to get out there and enjoy.

Ive had dozens of bikes over the years, and restored a few classics, but no more room in the garage.

I'm now toying with the idea of converting money that is sat in an ISA earning almost nothing, into a 70's bay which, like the bikes, should hold value against inflation, while giving me some enjoyment at the same time (Man maths at work here).

Ticking the same box is my 1985 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera, it simultaneously makes money and costs me a fortune, probably evening out in the long run. It was immaculate when I bought it 9 years ago, but I always knew it was hiding rot -when I bought it I found a few places where a magnet wouldn't stick - £20k spent later it has new sills, scuttle, B posts etc, looks exactly the same but now steers properly and doesn't fail MOTs due to bubbles in important places any more. I maintain it myself, like an oil/air cooled VW it shares a lot of DNA and I'm not scared to get the spanners out.

What I'm very wary of though, is spending a relative boatload of money on a T2 to find I've bought a load more hidden rot, or an expensive but unreliable shed. Life's too short for me to learn how to weld at this age, like the 911 I'd end up paying someone else to do it properly.

I'd thought of a Brazilian T2 camper, to get 30 years head start on the rot, but I'm starting to get the impression from forums that the original build quality isn't that great, I could end up with something that depreciates and costs £££ to put right, worst of both worlds.

 

If you don't mind left hand drive then a good Bus from a dry climate, can often tick the 'head start' on the rust box.

 

Welcome aboard

Lots of helpful and friendly advice on here . Buying a van can be a bit daunting but if you have a idea of what to look for that`ll help and if you narrow it down i`m sure there`ll be someone locally who can give you a second opinion - happy hunting

 

I am age 76 now and bear in mind as time goes on it will be more difficult to get under a van and do maintenance. You have the Carrera and I have an MGB. I parted with my T2 not long ago after the engine went and I was struggling with my old body trying to look after it. The MGB is manageable and simplistic so its a keeper.

As you are at the toying with the idea stage, I would go to the VW shows and events near you and see the vans and speak with the owners. Also, there are places where you can hire at low cost to give you experience in driving a T2 and an opportunity to check them over.

As folks on here find, the vans are old now and fewer garages around to maintain them. That's why the trend is to buy a more modern front engined water cooled van and the bay vans are getting rarer.

Some folks on here do migrate to modern and I see more and more vans like the T4 and T5 at the shows and on the road, hardly ever see a T2 on the road.

Take your time and enjoy looking and never buy on a whim.

 

Welcome along!
Where are you based? It would be worth dragging along one of us to view any van you might end up buying.

 

I wouldn’t touch a Brazilian bay ever again after doing some work on a customers 1998, not the same quality and often a Heinz 57 variety of parts.

Dry state import is your best bet but they’re getting rarer too!

 

Welcome along.

 

Welcome

Suggest you need to work out what you need so you can narrow down your search (rhd vs lhd, camper vs bus, pop top vs tin top, early cro$sover or late bay, basic interior or full cooking/fridge setup, manual vs auto, type1 or type 4 engine etc).

Bear in mind, interior is pretty straightforward to change, pop tops can be added. Rust however can be very expensive and complex to address especially if you're having to pay someone else to do it for you.

When you've found something i'd recommend posting at link to the ad on here so you can get feedback before you make the effort to go and look at something. Its amazing what folks on here pick up from just a bunch of pics

Don't buy anything that's shiny (unless maybe you've got a stack of resto pics showing it back to bare metal). Original paint may be faded or tatty but that's ideal really to be able to see what you're getting. Lots of busses out there that are full of filler unfortunately.

I've had my bay for 8 years now and knowing what i know now, i'd probably buy at the cheap end of the market but the most solid /original bus i could find, a late bay obvs, 2.0 type 4. Something like this would appeal to me, put a nicer interior in it and potentially get a westy style pop top added if needed. Keep the patina and add some knobbly tyres.

FOR SALE - Lucky - 1978 Champagne Edition Late Bay - Reduced to a bargain £12,000! | The Late Bay

 

Key things have already been said, but ....

If "maintaining value" is up there then it seems Westies are your best bet.

On the other hand if you're driving solo, or just two of you, (as opposed to catering for grand kids maybe?) then you might find the Westie interior a bit full-on cramped.
"Best year", "best pop top", "best engine" "best colour" .... It's all going to be a matter of opinion ultimately.

The famous stock answer to "what rots" is "the bottom six inches" ... and at least it's usually possible to see what the story is there, but a word of warning about gutters and roof seams.
They can be not-so-obvious, and a pricey tricky bugger to sort out if gone from the inside out.

Looking forward to seeing how you get on!

 

Hi & welcome. You have a similar mindset to myself, passion lies with two wheels but fancied a T2. Roll the clock back 7 years we picked up ours knowing very little about them. With help from the very friendly and knowledgeable folk on here & a decent mechanical background i am happy we took the plunge.
As mentioned an import from a dry climate helps. Ours came to the Uk in 2000 from Australia & is pretty solid

 

Welcome.

As you have already realised, any old vehicle will need constant TLC to keep it going. As others have said, buying from a dry country will definately help keep rot at bay. How successfully the rot is kept at bay though will be down to the prep work done to it before it arrived in the UK.

Bottom line is...buy the best van you can and enjoy the ownership. Oh, and find a friendly garage that can help you with keeping it on the road.

 

I've always kept my buses at least under a car port until the last one. All I can say is they really need a garage or at least a sheltered car port.

 

Thanks for the replies, luckily I have a car port, though my MB C270 may have to go to free up the parking space. I don’t think a T2 would fit in the garage, certainly not with 3 motorcycles for company. Are covers a practical thing, or just a nightmare to fit and remove? I have a fitted one for the 911, but that’s tiny.

I have an idea of equipment I want (fridge, sink, cooker & electric), however it is becoming clear that condition is more important- better to refit a solid van than derust a luxury shed.

 

Maypole breathable covers seem to be about as good as covers get. I’m on a second one as the waterproofing does dry out & become flakey after a few years in the sun. Overall a good fitting cover. Worth letting it flap a bit though to get some air flow under it so any condensation can dry out.

 

Welcome from sunny Devon.
If it's a full blown camper you want they all generically come down in price at the end of the summer.

 

Does that apply to dealers as well? I’ve got my eye on a rebuilt Aussie import, though it’s an awfully long way away from here in Manchestershire.

I guess they are under the same pressures as private sellers, once the season is over nothing much moves until next spring without responding price drops. Something similar happens in the motorcycle market.

 

This one just surfaced in the "For Sale" section on here and looks like all the donkey work has been sorted out ...

https://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/1978-devon-“doogle”-bay.96789/#post-1910397

Bit closer to you maybe ??

 

That's nice, pm sent. We're down that neck of the woods for the Silverstone Classic at the end of the month.

Edit: Many thanks for that link, Lasty, Ryan and I are in touch, I'm going down to view at the weekend, I'll keep you all posted.