Volkswagen Type 2

Irishchick

I dont know much about cars but Ive always loved the old volkswagen hippy vans.

Can anyone tell me anything about them? Ive seen some restored ones at astronimical prices but can you get old ones in need of restoration?

Ive tried cars.ie ,done deal ect with no luck.

DarenO

Check out thesamba.com for your global VW needs, for a bit more local availability and choice start with our near neighbours England, a copy of Volksworld will give you a few options for both trade and private sales.

D

Run_to_da_hills

Irishchick wrote: »

I dont know much about cars but Ive always loved the old volkswagen hippy vans.

Can anyone tell me anything about them? Ive seen some restored ones at astronimical prices but can you get old ones in need of restoration?

Ive tried cars.ie ,done deal ect with no luck.

If you are thinking of pre 67 You will pay big for a clean genuine example.

Quite a lot on UK Ebay but one must beware as there has been quite a lot of stolen splitties done up and sold under new identities. Also it would be worth getting a professional opinion before you buy as they can often end up as rust buckets if a cowboy job was done on them.

You may be lucky to pick up a pre 1975 Brazilian split for about 40% cheaper than a European model but many parts including the steering rack and front suspension are not compatible. They look the same.

I am glad that I purchased mine 14 years ago before the craze.

krissovo

I have had 9 of them over years, great reliable simple to fix vehicles that are a pleasure to drive and use. Top tip....Wait for the end of summer and save a few bob as the value of these drop slightly!

To buy a mint one in Ireland will set you back €10k > €17k anything more expensive is joke and a van over €14k must have nice original features. Over €14k also brings you into Split Screen territory and a nice samba model commands up to €50k for a mint one. STAY CLEAR OF BRAZILIAN BUSES! The metal is poor and will fall apart in Ireland and the value of a Brazilian made bus is very low. You can tell the difference between a German made bus and Brazilian.

Next bracket is roughly €7k > €10k, these will be nice buses but are not mint. Engines maybe a bit tired and bodywork a little shabby and may need some minor work on the bottom 6 inches or minor welding.

Under €7k is a minefield, often there will be rust issues or badly restored with a fresh coat of paint hiding some bad rust issues or even some nice honest vans that with a little TLC will last another 20 years. You can pick these up from €3k but they will require restoration and you will be lucky to get a year out of it before it craps out if it even runs.

Sources for info and to buy an Irish van are Type2ireland and eircooled (google them). In the UK a good site is VZI (again google) and ebay but be warned vans that end up on ebay have either been over priced on specialist forums or not wanted by people who know these vehicles.

UK is a good source of these but the UK has salted roads for many years and many will be extensively welded.

I get mine now from the US (dry states) or South Africa, as mentioned before thesamba.com is a global website and probaly the best resource if you are prepared to put lots of work in.I am currently importing a bus from the US, I paid $2.5k for a totally rust free, original paint 1972 Westfailia conversion (German and most sort after) with 72k miles. After import costs (shipping, tax, handling) it would have cost me €5.5k to get it to Dublin. I will probably put another €2k > €4k into the van by a good engine overhaul/rebuild, replacing brakes, suspension, underseal etc but I will have a great van that will last a good 5>20 years and that will go up in value.

Its also worth attending a few shows as buses will be for sale, there is a VW show in Fermoy, Cork on Sunday and its worth talking to the owners to get a feeling for the "scene"

trevorbrady

www.krazykombis.com

based in Kilkenny

or

http://bugbitz.com/iacc/

based in Armagh

Redrocket

completely out of my league here but im curious, whats wrong with the German T2s? As in why go to the states and pay the larger import/transport fees?

Run_to_da_hills

Redrocket wrote: »

completely out of my league here but im curious, whats wrong with the German T2s? As in why go to the states and pay the larger import/transport fees?

Better selection and cheaper in the States and also better chance of getting one from a dry area like California, Utah or Nevada.

I had one when living in Seattle before the craze started and paid $1600 for it.

Mine current one is ex Swiss Army, good as from Germany.

Abelloid

Irishchick wrote: »

I dont know much about cars but Ive always loved the old volkswagen hippy vans.

Can anyone tell me anything about them? Ive seen some restored ones at astronimical prices but can you get old ones in need of restoration?

Ive tried cars.ie ,done deal ect with no luck.

Budget?

peasant

Don't forget about the Type 2 T3 (the square one)

In contrast to the earlier models you can actually drive it in today's traffic and it offers really useful space, driving comfort and safe handling ...while still having the engine in the back (even aircooled, if you must) and being affordable (still ...just about)

shagman

I've had both and the wedge isn't as nice looking allright but sure drives better.
Here's a cheap one in California that looks good....
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/cto/1903383955.html

Leadership

^^^^^^ I like it a lot ^^^^^^

vincent coffey

trevorbrady wrote: »

www.krazykombis.com

based in Kilkenny

or

http://bugbitz.com/iacc/

based in Armagh

+1 here. I got mine from John Hickey, good straight honest bus, interior mostly intact with no rust.

In Dublin, Ben Byrne VW is a good palce to start
http://www.benbyrnevws.ie/