Family Bay Rediscovered after Years in the Wilderness…..

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by Rebel_Runner, Apr 12, 2013.

  1. It most certainly is a tough call. My aim should i choose to keep it are:

    1. Get it Physically sound
    2. Get it mechanically sound
    3. Get it painted
    4. Get the inside sorted
    If on the other hand I choose to get rid of it what is the going rate for an Panel Conversion high top, with original rust and go faster holes included.....

    Maybe I should enter it in some competitions surely I'd win an award for best rust / holes....
     
  2. From those photos alone id say theres more than 5 grands worth of work there without even thinking about painting it

    Id put it on ebay at a £500 starting bid and if it sells for over £2000 you have done alright
     
  3. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    I think you are right there Para, I know on Gusbus we have passed the magic £10k (inc purchase) marker and have the interioir to kit out yet..but that said, look at what Womball is doing on his bay, his has some rough spots & he's doing sterling work
     
    womball, Tiny-Pie and paradox like this.
  4. The bus is near Middlesbrough according to the original poster
    Thats not the biggest journey in the world from me at near northallerton

    Id be willing to go and take a look at it in the flesh so to speak if they were willing to cover my fuel money and a few beer tokens for my time
    It would be nice to be wrong for a change but from the pics id say it would be better off to sell it and buy a better base project

     
  5. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    I'd look at the chassis first & see what state that's in - if its bad, its no contest, if its ok & needs no repairs, do a rough estimate of parts & costs involved & go from there!
     
  6. Para for years i lived in Northallerton, and my dad still lives there, had I got the Magic Bus when i lived there we wouldn't be in this mess lol.
     
    paradox likes this.
  7. I'll try and get some pictures of the chassis sorted out. I'll be honest i don't hold out a lot of hope...
     
    MorkC68 likes this.
  8. I got dragged up here with the mrs lol
    I love the area though and ive got the dales and the moors within a short drive so i cant complain

    If you can give us as many pictures as possible it will help
    If you want me to go and inspect it and write you a list id be happy to do it for some fuel and beer tokens as i said earlier

    Im thinking ill probably tell you what you allready suspect but the list would be helpfull to be honest in the listing if you did ebay it

    If the bus was in northallerton and could stay there i would be willing to do a bit at a time for you over a long period as and when you could afford it
    However i dont normally take on full restos as there soul destroying and i dont have a workshop anymore
     
  9. mate that bus is shagged,if you were to repair it there would be that little of the original bus that there wouldnt be any nostalgia
     
  10. Do you have kids and how old ? Mine are nearly 10 and 14 and I wish I had bitten the bullet on getting a bus years ago so we could have had lots of adventures without space being a premium. So if you are looking to re-kindle fond memories with your own family, sell it or keep it, but get yourself a more modern camper that can be used straight away. You could still have a go at restoring yourself if so inclined, it will just take forever and lots of money ! Depends on whether you are looking for a 'hobby' or holidays.
     
  11. think of a figure to restore it THEN TREBLE IT thats what its going to take and more , plenty of good advice on here owen nw
     
    Tiny-Pie likes this.
  12. I love a great story , in fact this one has made me late for work this morning...:rolleyes:

    You have the bus, keep it ,if your family is young buy a nice runabout and take them on holidays NOW ,later in years you will find the need to sell your runabout and save the magic bus....

    There is a lot of stories about long restorations, if you give you bus to the right person it will only take a couple of weeks...

    http://www.justkampers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=98895&hilit=rusty on the road in a week

    http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11648&p=218007&hilit=expanding foam#p218007

    That dandaz bloke is fast...:thumbsup:
     
    baygeekster and oxiderenegade like this.
  13. Poor poorly Magic Bus :( Go and tell your mother off for not covering him better!!!

    Chassis willing, this turns into a Head Vs Heart problem. I think it's sound advice though to spend the £5k on something else and keep Magic Bus under a long term resto. Best of British to you Rebel_Runner
     
    oxiderenegade likes this.
  14. We bought our first bus in October last year. We are new to all this like you. We have completely stripped it down and are in the process of sand blasting it. We were working on the front drive till December until we found a workshop/ garage space in about as much state as the bus. We are complete novices to this but we are teaching ourselves welding, sand blasting, rewiring etc. Yes it takes time and money but i don't regret a minute. We get very little time to spend on the bus with work but i'm pleased with how far we have got. Yes we bought the bus in October but the days to work on it only amount to about a fortnight.We are hoping to get it on the road in about 2 years. It is a labour of love and money... with regards to you getting a garage you might struggle as it wont fit into a bog standard garage.. you will be working on it outside. As the other members have said if you want to keep it it for sentimental reasons then buy one you can use straight away and take your time in restoring it.
     
    oxiderenegade likes this.
  15. Thanks for the good words Morkc68, if you can do the work yourself yes it can be very cheap to do a bay, my van will cost about 5.000 all in as I can do it all myself, but if you have to pay, then your better of to get a better van .
     
  16. :)
    I love watching your restro Womball ......gives me a little hope
     
  17. Give it to womball to do. It will only cost £5k ;)
     
  18. Yes I could probably do it for less as my van was defiantly worse,but then I would charge you about £10,000 for labour. Ha ,lol
     
    Lofty likes this.
  19. This bus I would never purchase ,but if it had been in my family and had history I would never sell it...

    people like me value the history...:thumbsup:
     
    Mrs Moosey and oxiderenegade like this.

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