We don’t follow the big auction houses very closely, but we do occasionally take notice when something like a completely restored 23-Window Volkswagen Bus brings in more than $200,000 at auction. We’re not sure exactly what’s driven up the prices on these old Buses, but they still command a lot of money in good condition. Maybe that’s why this seller is asking $47,000 for this very early 23-Window Bus project on CraigsList near Eugene, Oregon.
This is in pretty rough shape, all told, and the seller claims this one was put to use for the end of its functional life on a New Mexico ranch where it hauled hay to cows before it stopped running in 1969. Along the way, it took a pretty good beating, but someone in its history put the roof back on it and has made some attempts at beginning restoration.
It sounds like the seller has quite a few pieces to put it back together, including a 1958 engine, but not nearly enough to consider it for full-restoration with just what your $47,000 and your time will get. There will be plenty left for the Bus restorer to track down.
On the face of it, that $47,000 seems an absurd amount of money for a 58-year-old VW Bus whose rear-end is sitting on a dolly. Most of the big-money auction lots have returned six-figure numbers on later Buses. If done right, this ‘58 could bring a huge number. Or not. The market is fickle and who knows if Volkswagen Buses selling for a quarter-million dollars is sustainable? Like most investments, there’s a certain amount of risk in it as well as the consideration for what one’s time is worth and if the return will likely make everything worth it.
I’ll guess that for the right Volkswagen person or shop, this is probably a decent starting point on a full restoration, but for the novice, you’re going to have your hands full early and often in the project.
Its asinine what the bus market has become. I have a 1963 bus that according to the “internets” is worth $15,000 in its current state. It runs, is reliable, no rust. but its not a restoration. I drive it year round rain or snow.
The six figure busses we see at auctions or other places is just stupid. No it is not sustainable. I tell people buy something like this because they like it not as an investment because it will only cause heartache. Same goes for any automobile interest.
A dollar!
Judging by the leader photo it’s the world’s only two or at best three wheeled VW bus….
This isn’t rare enough to be a $47k pile of steel. Its not a semaphore, its not a euro spec, its not overly special other than a 23 window. So does it have some implied value, sure. But this is a classic case of I saw it on barrett Jackson so this must be worth crazy money. In reality the seller is just crazy.
“There is a sucker born every minute.”
This quote fits this sale quite nicely.
“We’re not sure exactly what’s driven up the prices on these old Buses”
Marijuana legalization?
No, not that the buyers have necessarily been purchasing Microbusses while high, but that we are seeing more demand by people planning a road trip to Colorado to get the closest thing they can to an authentic ’60s hippie experience.
Whether they are able to remember it or not.
One of these was on American Pickers, so suddenly they’re all priceless.