1978 Volkswagen Westfalia
Let me start by saying that I have owned a handful of antique vehicles over the last ten years or so and this Bus is by far the best. Not much compares to cruising down the street in the stereotypical 60's/70's VW bus, onking the horn at every one you see, topping into car show and stealing all the attention, etting up camp at the edge of the ocean, r just having a safe place to sleep after consuming too many cosmopolitan's at a summer cookout. My plans were to keep this bus for life, ravel across country with friends, nd eventually settle down and use it as the family camper. Unfortunately I just bought a house and money has gotten pretty tight, o I need to sell her. With that said, lease, lease, lease- do not bid if you do not intend to pay- time is truly of the essence for me with selling and therefore relisting it will be quite a burden, ence the low buy it now price. I have owned a few busses and for those of you who haven't, et me say that it is truly a life changing experience! And yes this one does have seat belts, aking it family friendly!
Well over 100 pictures available plus videos!! See here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/92916647@N05/sets/72157658402972024/
I posted some short video's on the above link so that you can see it running and driving, hich it does great! (I suggest being very cautious if buying a 'running' vehicle on Ebay without actually seeing it run in a video or in person, ome people use the term 'running' petty loosely)
Let me say that I can guarantee that you will not find any comparable bus to this for under $35K, have looked. These busses are prone to rotting, eglect, nd 'customization', o finding one of this caliber and being able to buy it for under $20K is something you're not going to see often. It's a solid, xcellent running, nd excellent driving bus. Aside from a VW specific car show, ou likely have never nor will ever see a bus this solid, omplete, nd original. Keep in mind when buying a bus that the 1978 has a few unique items that are missing from other years: the big engine, eat belts, full top bunk bed, nd a swivel passenger seat that has the ability to turn around and face the back!
As far as the condition goes it is damn near mint for a 1978. The interior is just about flawless. The original plaid upholstery is in perfect shape, o rips, o fading, o holes. The bed folds down with ease and if you've never slept on one, ou'd be surprised as it is quite comfortable. The top bunk is also in excellent condition. The front seats are in excellent condition, ith a small tear in the seam on the driver's seat, hich can be easily replaced with a matching stock slip on cover for less than $50. The dash is in excellent condition. The door panels are in excellent condition. One of the key things I point out to everyone is the carpet in the camping area, hich is in PERFECT condition and 100% original. There are no stains, ot a single tear, un, r loose thread on this thing. I am convinced that I was the first person to ever step foot on it, nd yes, did require shoes to be off. I mean you can eat off this thing, 'm not talking 5 second rule, 'm talking you can legitimately eat off it as it's that clean. The cabinetry is all there with the original handles in place. The sink is in great shape and the electric waterpump still works! The stove is in outstanding shape and the stainless steel still shines. I have never filled the propane tank up to use the stove (safety first!) but the original tank and all hookups are still mounted under the bus, nd in excellent condition. The ice box is in mint shape and still has the refrigeration system in tact! Usually these would be ripped out as soon as they had a minor issue, eaving them very rare and in my opinion priceless! The closet even still has the original mirror hanging in it! The louvered windows open and close with ease and still have the screens. The bus still has all of the original curtains, ncluding the one that goes across the front windshield. Sliding door slides smooth. Pop top goes up and down with ease, nd the canvas was just replaced and in great shape.
Mechanically the bus is in great shape as well. Starts right up, ven after sitting for long periods of time. Drives down the road straight and stops well. Emergency brake works great. Engine idles and runs well. No smoking like you would expect for a 40 year old car. Tires are in great shape, s well as the brakes. All the lights are hooked up and in great shape, eadlights, arking lights, aillights, rake lights, icense plate lights, reverse lights, tc (only lights I have had an issue with recently are the blinkers which I am guessing is just a blown fuse, enjoy the attention that comes when using hand signals so I haven't messed with them!). Wipers work. Has radio in place but I never actually had it hooked up, enjoyed listening to the engine, onversation with my friends, nd bystanders yelling "cool bus man!".
Transmission shifts incredibly smooth, o hesitation in any gear whatsoever. No popping out of gear, o difficulty getting into gears, o grinding, tc. Clutch is in great shape as well which makes driving this a breeze. Speedo works, ash lights work, arning lights work, uel gauge works intermittently (which is pretty typical for busses, always suggest tracking mileage just to be safe).
Body wise this bus is also in fantastic shape. Solid all around with the original German metal. No repairs/ patches seem to have been done at any point, hich means no hidden bondo! Seals around the windows are in good shape, lass is all in good shape. Paint is in great shape. Some (very minimal) surface rust starting to show in a couple areas (very small). Again this is just surface rust, t's not rot that's eaten through the metal. The only actual rust is 1) on one of the battery trays hidden inside the engine compartment, hich does not effect anything and therefore not worth fixing in my opinion, nd 2) below the driver side door, hich you can see in the pictures. Both areas are very common and are a very easy fix should you want to. The only other flaw on the body (and with the bus in my opinion) is a dent/bent corner on the bottom of the slider. My guess is that the slider was either taken off for maintenance or it popped off at some point a while back due to a bad bushing, ne of which lead to bent bottom corners (please note that the bushing is fine now with no issues). Again this is a very minor cosmetic item. Overall this bus looks amazing and is perfect to be used on a regular or daily basis, hich is a lot more enjoyable than owning a $45,000 'trailer queen' that you're afraid a bird will poop on. As far as the underbody / bottom goes this thing is incredible as it was undercoated with a protective coating when it was purchased back in 1978, nbsp;and it has held up extremely extremely well. Most of the undercoating is still present on all the floor paneling and frame rails, elping them standup over time without rusting and rotting, hich is very rare for a Bus of this age. No frame or floor patches whatsoever. Front floors are also perfect, ith no rust ever present. Around the windshield and along the roofline where the gutter lies is also perfect with ZERO rust! These areas can be extremely difficult to repair, o you will sleep well knowing that this bus is perfect!
This bus gets a ton of looks, miles, humbs up, igh fives, tc... by far the most compared to any other classic car I've driven in, hich includes some pretty unique, are, nd expensive cars. You pull this thing into a campground and it gets much more positive reactions than a $225,000 RV. Everyone has a story, veryone is happy so see it, nd for better or worse everyone asks for a ride.
Please remember this vehicle is close to 40 years old, nd no it will not drive like a 2015 Ferrari (although it will be more fun). Yes, t is in fantastic shape for it's age. Could it use a few small odds and ends? Of course. Could a 2015 Ferrari use a few odds and ends (aside from the driver's ego)? I wish I knew! Anyway, have described everything to the best of my ability. If you have any additional questions please reach out prior to bidding. This is sold as is, 1,000 deposit via PayPal due within 24 hours and non-refundable, ull payment due within 72 hours (3 days). Payment must be made via wire transfer, ash in person, r PayPal (not preferred as they charge an arm and a leg)... wire preferred. Shipping cost is buyer's responsibility. Willing to work with shipping company to help coordinate pickup. Bus is for sale locally as well and therefore I reserve right to end the auction early, nless of course you use Buy It Now, hich is priced extremely reasonable at $16,500. Buy it now tends to disappear as soon as someone bids, o if you would like to make me an offer and do not see the Buy it now option just shoot me a message.