VW Kombi

[Shirley]

We had a LWB VW Kombi visiting in our street today, never seen one so long before, g'son called it a Kombi bus.
We drove up to Newcastle after seeing same & couldn't believe the number of Kombis that we saw maybe there was some sort of rally.
Thought it would have been a great project for Terry to fit out as a M.H.

[T1 Terry]

If it was a canary yellow one, it's name is LOMBIE, a long kombi. It a cut and shut of 2 kombis, the section added is infront of the sliding door and behind the front doors. I would have loved to build a lombie if I hadn't already got into the big bus project.
i'm guessing it was the Kombi Clubs Northern Beaches cruise, end of July/begining of Aug 2014 will be the big one at Valla, 30th yr celebration of the event. They come from Aust wide, held every 2yrs, the cruise and show takes every bit of Coffs Harbour's main street on the Sat morning, then an even bigger car display at the Valla caravan park for the rest of the week end. One of those must do at least once events if you are into kombis

[Dot]

Just what you need hey Terry? another project, but there are always dreams to be had.

[madiesmum]

im glad its not just the hot rodders that take over valla. although they take over for a whole week or so.

[Shirley]

No Terry it was bright red, several young guys inspecting it, looked really good, nice paint job.

[Shirley]

Found a 1972 Classic Kombi Poptop on the CMCA Members' Market site $25,000, Sept., week 4,
refit almost completed.

[T1 Terry]

Found a 1972 Classic Kombi Poptop on the CMCA Members' Market site $25,000, Sept., week 4,
refit almost completed.

If you are ever thinking of buying a kombi, you need your eyes wide open.
Only really worth anything if there is a full photographic album of all the rust being cut out and plated, a series of photos with the body stripped to bare metal to show there is no body rust, it has all been plated. Then the receipts from a reputable workshop for the rebuild of the transmission, engine, brakes and suspension. from there any addition fit out can be added to the value, if the base body isn't fully restored, it's money wasted, all the refit must come back out to start the restoration.
A 1972 kombi is known as a low light, the front indicators are low on the front panel, near the bumper bar. Renowned for rust in the panel behind the bumper, around all the windows, the sill panels all the way around, the battery tray, the front floors. Basically, if it's got a lovely paint job and no album of the full restoration, forget it, it will only break your heart.
This is why kombis are worth so much money, it's very hard to find a good one.
A split window kombi would have a full restoration photo library to be worth even looking at, over $100,000 to fully restore one, and that is if the base structure is still good, split window kombis rust from the inside out, if you see rust outside, there are 3 layers of structure underneath that no longer exists.
An early bay, 1968 - 1973, unrestored, $2,000 to $3,000, a late bay,1974 to 1978, unrestored, depends on condition, $2,000 to $5,000, a T3, not really a collectors item so what ever you can pick it up for basically.
A fully restored split window $125,000 plus, fully restored low light, up to $60,000, a fully restored late bay, there is one for sale down this way for $42,000 at the moment.

[Shirley]

Interesting info,not thinking of buying a Kombi happy with Coaster, busy with family don't get away enough in the Coaster. Guess one needs to check any 2nd hand vehicle for rust unfortunately most do rust with age.

[Newcastle George]

There was one shown on TV's Pimp My Ride just last week and the rust was very, very noticeable on the interior of all body panels, including the roof. There was no mention of sandblasting or similar before they added all their bling.

George

[T1 Terry]

It's not like they'll do a follow up on it in 2yrs time to see what condition the body is in then I see so many people throw very big money at a kombi that is really only suitable for parts, then discover even more money is needed to make there original investment worth anything. That late bay I mentioned before selling for $42,000, the owner had spent more than $70,000 all up after starting a restoration on a vehicle that was really too far gone, then had to keep pouring money in to get any of it back. No idea why he is selling it now though, as it has been fully restored it will continue to appreciate in value, they are becoming a rare find now. Send it to the UK and add a 1 infront of the $42,000, and it will sell. Even though the newspapers say they are broke, they still have big $$ to spend on investments.