Hi All
Thinking of buying a Bay window kombi to join the Baja in the drive, Just wondering what would be considered the best year and motor size is best. Any ideas? Is 😎 2 ltr better than 18oo etc looking to spend around $4000. Be very interested to learn what to look for.
cheers
Jay-Jay
78 or 79 ...unless you can find a good Lowlight 69 to 73 ...lowlights are not as refined as a 78/9 under somewhat under geared/ powered and early ones only had drum brakes with no power servo ...but they are likely to become more valuable ..many say they are the next splity
Cheers&Beers
Ray V
yup, low light.. early lowlight, upgrade the running gear..
Personally I prefer 74-76 models
'71, for Style.
low light, small tail lights, but you get disc brakes.
77/78 for comfort.
A lot more refined than early models, a lot nicer to drive.
Most people seem normal, till you get to know them.
Thanks guys for the info so far. Do like the sound of the 71 with disk brakes thats the sort of info i was after..let the search begin. Mind you not a lot of vw action in Karratha which is 1600kms north of Perth, can only educate.
cheers
Jay-Jay
I love my '77... If I had anything that wasn't 2litre, I'd definitely be modifying the engine. Even now just a squidge more power would be nice hehe
👍
"Mr Writer, why don't you tell it like it is? Why don't you tell it like it REALLY is?" - stereophonics
low light - 72 was the best year.
Loves a lolcat
'72 has big tail lights though.
as a bonus you do get the wide engine bay though.
Most people seem normal, till you get to know them.
yep. thats why.
Loves a lolcat
72 oh yea has got it all
👍👍😂🙅🥷😬🤓
'cept a split window! :P
75-77 is the pick of the models. Early bays you don't get the niceties interior wise and usually are all 1600's plus things like drum brakes, and all the bits and pieces that are transferred of the last of the Splits. 1800's and 2l are not as common in pre 75's unless someone has done a transplant. Plus later bays all have better access to engine bay as well. Steer clear of 78/79 models as most of them are prone to bad rust due to the paint being thinner because of the Australian build quality. Around gutters,seams etc etc the paint coverage seems to be a lot thinner and therfore surface rust is more prevelant. also they seem to suffer with rust in places like the sills, bottom of front doors and areas where the german built cars have more paint and some form of rust preventative. That's not to say that there are not good ones out there but they certainly are few and far between.
ACCEPT THAT SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE PIDGEON AND SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE STATUE
Alder Outlaws VW Racing - check it out on fb!!
Sounds like i need the front of a pre 66 back of a 72 running gear of a 75 and interior of a 78 ANY BODY GOT ONE? Only Joking. Still like the sound of a 71 or 72 as like the older Bays and being used to a 1960 baja mod cons not important. Got a SS Dunny Door for NEED for SPEED and a Jeep for the hell of it plus one very patient understanding wife...( Just in case she reads this thread).
I've got a 77 and the access inside the engine bay has come in handy more than a few times.
Gotta love those disks brakes, they've come in handy more than a few times. 🙂
I'd say grab a late bay, around 77 for your first kombi and if you like driving it around you can always move on to low lights or splits later.
gotta go the 72....lowlight looks, later bay gear, ie; disc brakes, but the best of all is the ability to slot a type 4 2litre straight in....no dramas just BANG BANG BANG
existentialism has no future
Are you after a camper or a microbus?
.
there all good
I thought the '72s were the most hated because they were typeIV's with no engine access hatch. I saw one time a 234xxxx (that's 1974 model btw) without an engine access hatch, and a type 1 in it. Weird! That was in Australia.
I reckon either go all out modern and get a FI 2l late model, or keep it simple and get a single-carbied type1 early bay. I've had problems with the '74.
They sure are different to drive, my '69 is quite truck-like compared to the '74.
They're all fun though. A.
Jay - Jay how about all those old school buss's in that yard out near the point !!!
Yeh i'vv been there and reckon you'll be hard pressed to get any Kombi in the Pilbara but good luck to you and i'll look you up next time i drop in on my sister.
Don't let body work get in the way of real suspension travel
Hi All
Looking for a bus with seat in back that foldes down to bed, Camper would be good, just want something solid and licenced that can be restored whilst being driven occationally on the weekends etc. Where i work we have our own cabnet shop so was going to perhaps refit an old one or design new. Checked out the ones in the yard ages ago and the best have gone. there is a splitty in the yard being used as storeage for old rims and tyres but would take a lot of work to get back on the road.Looking at a long term project not in any hurry.
cheers
Jay - Jay
Double Cab, any year!
I have a 71 Deluxe if you want one!
All the deluxe options.
With early bay styling.
0402255551 Shane
Hi Shane
Kombi plan on Hold as looks as if relocating back to Perth in about 6 weeks. Still trying to convince wife that Baja needs to stay in the family. Might be pushing my luck purchasing a kombi just now as just spent 2K on the 😎baja, Hey always keen to look. Moving back to Perth is going to make life easier as not many Bugs or Busses up in Sunny Karratha. Will be selling the Jeep and The Boat so when get back to Perth and the dust settles should have some serious dollars free for more toys.....
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE wrote:75-77 is the pick of the models. Early bays you don't get the niceties interior wise and usually are all 1600's plus things like drum brakes, and all the bits and pieces that are transferred of the last of the Splits. 1800's and 2l are not as common in pre 75's unless someone has done a transplant. Plus later bays all have better access to engine bay as well. Steer clear of 78/79 models as most of them are prone to bad rust due to the paint being thinner because of the Australian build quality. Around gutters,seams etc etc the paint coverage seems to be a lot thinner and therfore surface rust is more prevelant. also they seem to suffer with rust in places like the sills, bottom of front doors and areas where the german built cars have more paint and some form of rust preventative. That's not to say that there are not good ones out there but they certainly are few and far between.
78/79's weren't built in aus..
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE wrote:...Steer clear of 78/79 models as most of them are prone to bad rust due to the paint being thinner because of the Australian build quality. Around gutters,seams etc etc the paint coverage seems to be a lot thinner and therfore surface rust is more prevelant. also they seem to suffer with rust in places like the sills, bottom of front doors and areas where the german built cars have more paint and some form of rust preventative. That's not to say that there are not good ones out there but they certainly are few and far between.
The VW plant in Australia stopped making Kombis and Beetles in 1976 and from memory was sold to Datsun or Mazda. 1977-79 buses were manufactured in Germany... much better than Australian built crap. European built buses had the rustproofing treatment and the metal is just better full stop, as is the general fit and finish.
😎
Biggest ones to watch out for as far as rust and general build quality goes are 75-76 models... especially '76's. They rust as the metal is crap and is not rust-treated like European0built models, the clutch cable tube welds come unstuck, blah blah blah... Nonetheless, I still like '76's for the simple fact they have a 2L motor and gearbox AND factory ambulance fans!
😀 They stopped putting the fans in after the '76 model...
1976 Kombi Trakka camper, "Buttercup"... driver.
1976 Beluxe Microbus, "Saphir"... resto.
1974 Kombi panelvan, "George"... shed.
1974 Superbug, "Schmeetle"... resto.
[img]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b366/cI have a late 73 camper with virtually no rust. I bought a 77 as a work vehicle(my $700 wheelie bin) and i can't believe the rust in it..i think it was salt dipped before painting...got all the 2litre goodies tho👍
rocknrob wrote:I have a late 73 camper with virtually no rust. I bought a 77 as a work vehicle(my $700 wheelie bin) and i can't believe the rust in it..i think it was salt dipped before painting...got all the 2litre goodies tho👍
'73 might have been an import... I'd still take an imported '73-'76 over an imported '77-79 if build-quality and rust-resistance was important too me (which it isnt), but a '77 or later will GENERALLY be the better bet as compared to most Ausssie built machines.
That said their are good and bad examples of both and a great deal of it comes down to how it was looked after, where it came from through the course of it's life etc. etc... Any Kombi that's lived outside on the waterfront in Byron Bay for near 30 years is gonna have rust regardless of the anti-rust treatment, and an AUssie '76 living in a a garage in ALice springs will no doubt be spotless.... Hell, I've seen a '78 which had just about no roof under the poptop.
🤪1976 Kombi Trakka camper, "Buttercup"... driver.
1976 Beluxe Microbus, "Saphir"... resto.
1974 Kombi panelvan, "George"... shed.
1974 Superbug, "Schmeetle"... resto.
[img]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b366/cand....when i jack my 73 up at the rear jacking point only the rear wheel comes off the ground...when i jack the 77 up both wheels lift off😏 so even with the rust its got it is still strong as👍
VWMA Editor wrote:Double Cab, any year!
Yup cause they're tough as!!
I've got a 76 but mine is a german built job so apart from the normal rust that a 30 year old car gets from sitting in the weather it's pretty damm good!!
ACCEPT THAT SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE PIDGEON AND SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE STATUE
Alder Outlaws VW Racing - check it out on fb!!
