Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2011 06:47:31 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Advice about buying a bug
In-Reply-To: <4DAD7595.6030708@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
On Tue, Apr 19, 2011 at 4:44 AM, Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote:
> I just happened to drive by a local repair shop yesterday and saw a
> really nice 67 VW Beetle sitting next to the shop. I went to talk to
> the shop owner and it belongs to him and was for sale for $5500. It is
> a dark grey color (not original I think), has new floor pans, a rebuilt
> engine and all new brakes. It has recently been painted and the paint
> looks excellent, the engine bay looks like a show vehicle and the dash
> is complete with excellent steering wheel and original radio. However
> the interior needs to be completely redone (no interior panels, no
> carpet, the seats all there but need to be recovered. I know it sounds
> strange but the Beetle is the VW that I know the least about as far as
> value goes. I am wondering if I bought this thing to fix up and resell
> what could I possibly get for it? I was looking on the Samba and the
> prices seem to be all over the map. I have seen some for around $12k
> that seem to be in similar shape with the interior done but is that
> reasonable? I would appreciate any advice on this.
>
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
At your figures, I doubt you would make much money turning that one. That
asking price sounds reasonable...but like a vanagon, there are various
"value-levels". You could take another used VW to that described condition
pretty easily and have less than the asking price into it...Bug parts are
remarkably inexpensive and plentiful, as are the vehicles themselves.
They are very fun to own..I had a 70 beetle when I first got my vanagon
about 3yrs ago. As many of them seem to be, this one was 'mostly restored'
by someone, bright yellow paint and cool rims, cheapo seat covers, etc.
Really fun to drive. Simple and easy to work on, but somewhat frustrating
because there were so many little things that were in need of improvement.
I didn't want to do a "total-restore" because I liked driving it everyday.
Great snow cars. Good on the highway, in a basic sort of way. I have
another beater in my field that was given to me...rebuilt engine but a rusty
floor and dented up..I plan on making a Baja Bug from that to tow along on
my winter desert outings..
Don Hanson
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