WANTED Late Bay camper with recent restoration

Hi everyone

We’re looking for a well sorted camper that someone has recently invested their time, love and money into, ie something that’s not going to require anything major doing to the chassis and body for a decent time yet. Tired engine less of a worry as that’s more easily fixed

preferences (though none of these are deal breakers)...

we like original spec/colours but also “sensible mods”

Prefer pop top over tin top, we like Devons and the lower profile rooflines

Uk vehicle and rhd preferred over imports.

We’ve got a decent wedge burning a hole in our pocket just waiting for the right van. Have just spent the Xmas holidays making a van shaped hole in the garage, which had become overrun with bicycles and motorcycles. Have been to see a few on the wider market but disappointed so far with what we’ve seen. Photos and descriptions often telling an optimistic story

Anyway, we’re based in the East Midlands, currently in tier 2 though appreciate it’s likely that travelling to view may be a no no at the moment but more than happy to view virtually then if all good pay a visit when restrictions are relaxed.

We’ve both owned / had use of late Bay campers previously and are looking forward to getting back into it all (once the world gets back to normal),

If you have one to sell that fits the bill, please get in touch

Sean and Grainne

 

??? .......
https://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/not-been-on-here-for-ages.90743/

https://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/thinking-of-parting-with-my-bay.90741/

@vwmad1mk2

 

Hi Sean,

I will be putting my restored bay 'Wilby' up for sale this coming spring. I have spent the best part of 10 years carrying out a full restoration. Please see my restoration thread Wilby's long term resto.....8 years counting! | The Late Bay
I know its not a low profile pop top but please let me know if you are interested. A couple of pics...

Thanks
Andy

 

Personally I think it’s exactly the right thing to look for.

Someone may have had the use from their restored bus for some years and need to sell it for cash, or to trade up for something bigger, or a load of other reasons. Lack of need, too old to use it, bored of it all. Etc.
I think most on here would agree that buying one to do up will cost a fortune unless you can do the work yourself, while buying one restored on the private market will rarely cost as much as paying someone to restore one.
Rarely would a private seller get back what they’ve spent.
The issue with this is how well it was restored.
Good luck in your search and I hope you have good advice in checking over any prospective purchases if you don’t have knowledge yourself.

 

They're in debt due to the extra £10k they hadn't accounted for when they started restoring their bus / The wife never wanted to go camping and is nagging about how they could have had a luxury holiday in the tropics for the next 10 years for less £

 

and more importantly, “restoration “

 

Hi Sean & Grainne,

Just read your post and my bus may be for sale shortly. We have owned her for over 8 years and have had many family holidays in-between repairing and restoring her with the main bodywork and painting completed while she was off the road for 18 months, approx 2 years ago.
As people have mentioned above, it does cost a lot to restore them and I have the standard box of receipts with the main repairs & paint costing in excess of £10k (we never knew until stripping it back how much needed completing, and once in that far there was only one proper way out!)

However, the finish is excellent and we have had many trips out including the Netherlands, Belgium & France in 2019.

The van is a '76 Devon and is RHD, Road Tax & MOT free (tested every year for pace of mind) , pop top with 2 bunks and all finished in the correct factory paint colours. The interior is a remake of a Devon Eurovette but with Zebrano laminate and green Corian tops. We do have the rear overhead (headbanger) unit in the matching finish as well.
The story behind the graphics is that we had the curtains first and went from there and as far as we know, it's unique! They have all been professionally applied and can be easily removed.

If your interested please PM me and I can send further info and loads of the resto photos etc?

There is not a single main reason for the sale, but our children have grown up and recent life circumstances have changed, although sitting in it with the engine running and sun shining its far from my mind

It has been one helluva journey over the years and along the way we have made some great friends, the late bay forum has been a great place to be

 

Thanks for posts above everyone and the warm welcome.

We went to see Benjie's grey 73 Devon at the weekend and were very impressed with the thoroughness of the work and money he'd invested over 5 or 6 years and the extremely clean presentation of the van in every nook and cranny. Basically we got all the reassurance we wanted about its underlying condition and hopefully modest future investment requirements.

So as it was fairly local to us and ticked 95% of our boxes, rather than wait weeks or months to be able to travel to see others which look promising to compare to (like those above) we just did a deal there and then and will be collecting it very soon.

Very excited! Will be posting elsewhere very soon no doubt.