23 WINDOW WANTED- *** Still Looking***

Does anyone know of a 23 window out there that is for sale. Please U2U me if you have any info. I have tracked down a few but they are overseas and I am scared of what they are going to cost to bring over from the US and Europe.

I have never recovered from missing out on getting one as a result of vindictive behaviour from my ex wife. A very painful memory.

Any leads???...can offer a small spotters fee for any leads that result in purchase.

I really do want to get one before I am too old to see the road in front of me and NO, I am definately not after one to sell on for a profit...

It has been a despiriting exercise looking for one...put me out of my misery someone.

I recall as a teenager going to a car yard with my late father in 1971, in Perth, looking for a vehicle for the family and my father, who loved VW's seriously considered buying a 23 window splitty that was in the car yard. I remember it was the light 'olive' green colour with white roof. I was quite young and that was the beginning of my love affair with them...I promised that one day I would own one. Amazing the amount of time has flown by...the hope thread is pretty thin at the moment.

Sounding a bit desperate eh...sorry guys...just gets a bit disheartening at times.

Thanks for the response

[Edited on 13/3/2005 by preacherman]

Good luck i'll ask a few guys i know who have them and see how much they want.

You have u2u

Good luck.....

I wish I had enough money to live the dream:cry

Buy one from the US.
It`ll save you $$$ as they are so rare in OZ, people ask silly money for them.
Get one from California or Arizona or something.
I can get you the parts to convert it to RHD.
Cheers
Graham.

Does anyone know what it would cost to bring a microbus from USA. I would be happy to share a container if anyone is looking to get parts or WHY from the US.

All up what would be the cost of shipping and customs excise. I know i have to apply to customs for an import permit. On say a 23 window costing US$12000-15000 what would be the landed cost in NSW??

Any help appreciated as this may be the way to go. I reckon there would not be much change from $10000 for shipping

Anyone know for sure??

Cost is About $5000 aussie all up into Syd,Melb or Adl

Can help you with contacts when your ready.

I have just finished the process with my car.

Cheers

Judging by the amount of views of this thread, I reckon a number of us covet a 23 Window - and would like to know the outcome of what happens.

Squiz...

Hi Squizy

Yeah I can see that. Well what can I do other than if I find a paddockful I will pick mine and post the address on the forum. See what a dreamer I am!!

If i can realise my dream with just one I will be a happy man...I promise. I realise I am in the 'one needing restoring' financial situation but then it will be all the more precious to me knowing I have done all the work to get it to a working state. I am definately NOT going the 'concourse..hide it in a shed'... route. It will be loved and used as much as I can and when I really am too old for it I will pass it down to my son who is a splitty fan as well...wonder how that came about

I have gotten so much joy seeing other splitty's on the road that I will do the same.

[Edited on 7-3-2005 by preacherman]

if im not mistacken i think that you have been looking for one for a while now????in the last 6 months ive seen 2 rhd splittys in the uk(off the samba)one 21 window and the other a 23 window and they were priced between 5500 pound and 7000 pound.they did have rust but one was a pre 60 and one a pre 58 and both were rhd(but they were both very resorable!!).and dont be scared about shipping cause as long as it rolles you can ship it for around $1300us roll on roll off(RO-RO)from europe(thats to brisbane)so probably cheapper to syd or melb.

and i think from the states its cheaper.forgot to add 13% bunker charge on shipping.but it shouldent cost you more than 1600$au to get a kombi shipped to aus if you shop around and just find the right company!!or just buy a 23 window from the states and do a rhd conversion!!!you would be paying F all with todays exchange rates.and if your really sentimental about getting a 23 window the states would be the way to go.just people that are looking to make $$$ want original rhd in my opinion.if it were up to me ide gladdly drive a lhd splitty if it were legal in QLD.:thumb

Looks like I have been totally misled re shipping. Have had a suggestion re shiping company with details to follow (thanks M). Does anyone else have contacts/names of autoshipping companies in Australia that can do the job.

I'm Ok with 1. Driving a LHD or even 2.converting LHD to RHD...either way it is the type of vehicle that is important to me.
KDFKing do you know of a carrier that I could try.

thanks

hey dude
we just imported the frid from belgium to brisbane and it cost about $3000 aussie but that was including a tilt try in belgium to the port ($500) ,steam cleaning ($400) and ours was in a container and still cost under $2000 if you didnt have to do the above!
dont be scared just do it we ahve pulled off this frid into aussie for under $15000 which when u look at it is well worth it!!! have also ben looking into importing a 23 window there prices are going big in USA aswell!!
i hope you do it dude its a well worth investment!
chers
rhys

Thanks Rhys...certainly takes the mystique out of importing. What was the name of the company you used. Did they do everything for you including the paperwork? Did you have to put in a Import VEhicle Form to Customs??

Will look into it but need a carrier/ autotranspoters name

Thanks again

Looks like the dream is taking vague shape.

hey
we found that transeuropean were the chapest out of our research and yes we did have to apply for the vehicle importation it taks about 10 days to clear so do it before the vehicle arrives!!!
they did all the paper work for us using one of there brokers but u can sav money by doing it yourself!
cheers
rhys

Actually,

I wouldn't buy a 23window just at this time. I personally think they're just about
spiked in terms if high asking prices and may even reduce
a little. Certainly I think some cheaper busses in poorer
condition will soon appear in the US again (might as well pay less
for a crappy bus - you end up doing it all anyway...).

Fair bit involved in terms of time in converting LHD to RHD
on a deluxe (with belly pans).

Others nice models can be bought much cheaper (than 23s)
and will now evaluate more - most barnies are much cheaper
than 23s for example.

?????????????????????????

RobK

www.calimage.com.au rekon they can do a yank tank from LA to brisvegas for 2950 total for everthing.no morre to pay. i keep on seeing their ad in unique cars just after a towd or something intersting turns up on thesamba. (well youve gotta be able to dream eh).

hi preachermann,try willanius williamsen(one of the largest shippers of vehicles in the world.and ask them for a price for Ro-Ro from destination to destination(and you will also need the rough measurments of the kombi.ill try to find the website or a ph# for you but i think you will be pleasantly supprized.best regards Andreas

i heard that in qld u don't need to do the lhd to rhd conversion, if the vehicle is over 30 years ols, which i beleive counts for the 23 windows.

is this right??

from hamburge to brisbane ill be paying 1050$us for an audi a6 to get shipped over in a few months!!!and thats a fairly large car(roll on roll off)and it doesnt even need to be driving(it just has to roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!and from the states to germany we shipped over a new bmw 3 series for 580us plus port charges$in us.all up its very little money considdering the aus and us $ are almost the same now.

if its over 30 years old just join a club and drive it under the collector rego....normally you can just drive them to meetings and mechanics with a limited amount of kms per year(without converting it)but whos going to check???and if you do get pulled over just say your going to the wreckers to look for a part for your car or your just taking it for a test drive something imaginative......😉

[Edited on 8-3-2005 by KDFking]

No - not required by law to convert to RHD drive now (in any state).

RobK.

hi rob k!!is that just for cars over 30 years old or any cars???thanks Andreas

I know that's the case for 30+ cars.

Not sure about
;later model stuff - don't think so but you'd only have
to call a licencing authority to find out for sure...or
an approved ADR approving engineer - the phone queue
at licencing authorities can take a while (at least for VicR:bounceoads! - but your call is always important to them!)

regards

RobK

Karmann Konnection in the UK has RHD 23 samba for sale,
SIT DOWN NOW!





PRICE 20000 GBP I think. check volksworld magazine.

if you end up buying that 55 on ebay you wont have to bother going after a 23 window!!!!just out of curiosity how much are you able(or willing) to spend on a 23 window splitty were one to come up?????regards Andreas

there is a 23 window for sale in melb, $58000,

Still looking for one. Had a few possibles only to have the door close on me again and find it to be a dead end. Thanks for those who tried to help with a couple of contacts...

I certainly would rather a RHD but am looking overseas now with the hope that something reasonable will turn up there. Still hoping that someone out there will want to sell at a reasonable price.

I havent read all the posts so someone may have posted this already...

This bloke http://splitclassics.au.wmit.net/?pg=2
in Maleny QLD, has a 21 window, apparently its mosltly sorted (was a customers car - he says the customer spent $30K and is selling for $25) Dont know what it needs, dont know the condition, and he was cagey about sending me pics. He even said he didnt have a web page! but this one above is his! He would be a prick to deal with but if it gets you what you want (-2 windows) it may be worth it to you! If you look at the web page there is a blue and white 21 window there, and i recon thats it. But has apparetly been resprayed, new motor...

Good Luck!!

Well I thought I would update the progress........NIL!!

Had a couple of leads that so far has lead to dead ends. Had a guy in the UK (from VW Relics) offer me a restored one for Sterling 32,000 ono. It is an ex mexican 23 which has had everything replaced...i theeenk!!
Conversion rate for the vehicle would come to the Gross National Product figure of Australia !!

So I guess I keep looking. I had the 21 window in the post above offered to me but I am undecided. I think I should wait and see. I am such an optimist eh! I guess we would all give it up as a bad joke if we lost all hope of

1. Finishing our projects

2. Finding our dream car/vehicle

I hope this hope does not wear me out.

ANY MORE LEADS OUT THERE?????

Depends on how much you want to pay?

Bill is my oldman.
Yes he is a bit kooky but not passed on.
He does not have a computer or can use one.
He had a website years back called vw split classics but it expired 2 years ago and I cancelled it myself.
Bill bought a few splits from a fella in 97-98 and then a bit later he mentioned he might do a website so Bill said he already has one and this fella just did one up.We had never seen it or had any idea it was still going.
I just had a look at it and it is dodgy and ancient .
So that is why he said he has no web site.
I will email this person and take it off the net.
The 21 in question was not complete to begin with but has all glass and complete sunroof thats what I know.

my modem dropped out just as I posted therefore the double post.

try new zealand...............

good luck !

Well guys. I am still chasing down a few leads and have not yet found a 23 window. I have spoken to a few people who have one but not for sale. Any other leads out there. A friend of a friend of a friend...perhaps!!

Have been looking at Samba looks like the UK are the ones chasing the big money. The funny thing is they buy them relatively cheap in US and then seem to want to sell them back there with an inflated price...go figure.

Might have to settle for a 21 window but just don;t want to give up just yet...yes I am the perennial optimist that ther is one around the corner. I just don't want to blow the money away only to regret it later


Story of our lives eh!!

21 or 23 window? A dilemna I'd be happy to be in. Go and grab that 21 before someone else with the same urge as you gets it.

just wait, u know when u buy sumthing of lessere the exact pops up !

it'l take a while, go for a holiday in usa or europe and go dig up one that is unrestored but solid and easily registerable etc...........and bring her home

Well just an update. I didn't see any deluxe splitty's at the Nationals but then I had to leave for a Church meeting early even though I tried to seek out a couple of you guys on the forum!!

I have had a lead to a 23 window but it is in need of total restoration and with a hefty tag on it in it's present state. Anyone out there restored one of these and got any idea of cost involved??

I am not wanting to go down the route of a concours vehicle because I really want to use it on the road and not ferry it to shows.

Still looking though!!

what are your capabilties?
u can weld ? if so no worries, if not do a course 🙂

i dont think u are going to find a bargain in Oz ..............

[Edited on 29-3-2005 by SKEWtYpe3]

I am a sheetmetal worker by trade tho I have been out of that for a while. Welding and shaping metal presents no fear for me but the whole time thing and the over the top restoration costs.

But restoring a 23 window is like Mrs Beetons Rabbit Stew recipe.... first I have to catch one!!!!

exactly - catch one
if this guy has no other interest on it then let time go..............a little
if there is other interest then who knows when u will get another chance

any resto of an early bus is huge, cos they are all layers upon layers of metal. but if u can bend it up u have saved heaps $$$$$$$$$$ already i reckon

otherwise there is enough parts out there depending on year and ppl on here than can help out with parts and connections etc............

anyone on here restored an old bus themeselves ? splitbusauss ?
how long did it take you?

Hi there, Im doing a 23 (58 Euro) at the moment. It cost me about $8000 US plus $1000 shipping to me here in Japan with Wallenius. Ill be bringing it to OZ when I come home.

Its going to be about 2 years total before it hits the road in fully restored state. If you're going to get one might as well restore it properly if youre going to work on it at all. It costs about the same amount to do a crappy resto as a full one. The difference is the extra time it takes you to do a good job or how much work you have to sub out to others. Just because a bus looks great is no excuse not to drive it either:thumb. Mine will be on the tarmac from day one! Rat should not be a concideration for a 23 unless you can find a completely dry OG paint bus, cos you can never get to the cancer with the preservatives the rat drivers are using and sooner or later your 23 wont be worth shit. Believe me, people said I should have left mine OG and driven it rat but they couldnt see the cancer that was through it and it would have lead to a scrap/parts bus in the next 5 or so years... a terrible waste. SO...

As for your search.. I would recommend getting in touch with some of the big trustworthy names on the Samba. Douglas Denlinger comes to mind. He doesnt have a 23 at the moment for sale but he'd look out for a good one for you for a modest finders fee. Great thing he's in Arizona so the busses he finds are usually so dry, (= little rust work).

The biggest tragedy lately 23's have gone through the roof in unrestored condition (busses like my 58 are now about 13000 to 15000 in about the same condition) and the yanks think its cool to drive a RHD. Why? dont ask me. and will even pay more for one. That plus the competition with the Brits and RHD are scarce as hens teeth. Add to that RHD delux parts.....:repuke.

Id get a LHD if I were you and convert (tricky) or be content with a really cool RHD BD! Ask me any questions you like. Im enjoying doing the restoration but its expensive and more time consuming compared to other restos Ive done in the past. I figure Ill put about $15000AU (high estimate) into the resto in total, but then, how many 58 euro 23s do you see.

Im curious how bad the 23 is youve found already. Got any pics to show me. I can tell you if its going to be worse than mine to do or if its a good deal for the money. (pm me and Ill send you my email to save your bus from the vultures).

Anyway, good luck
Dale

Rob K is the only person I know of who has restored a 23, his was LHD and he converted it to RHD.

Cost does depend on how much you can do yourself.
Mine is a standard 11 window and I worked out it cost me over $20,000, and I did all the work myself apart from the shotblasting and some of the welding.

Took me 3 and a half years.
One piece of advise, dont buy a shiny bus that needs work, it is cheaper to buy a dodgy one as they both will need the usual repairs, ie sills doglegs outriggers etc, and when you do this work it will then need to be repainted so why pay for paint in the first place.
All unrestored buses will need the above repairs as a minimum.
As was mentioned in the post above, to do a rat 23 it cost Rikki James in the U.K. more than it would to do a proper resto as he didnt want it to rust away and so had to have all the repair work done and then had the worn paint matched to suit.
If you are going to get one restore it properly and that way you only have to do it once.

Just my thoughts and good luck.

Cheers
Dave

just what he needed

get one from OS, good luck getting one here

Thought this might be of interest to you

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=108574

Sweet bus...

I did see one on Samba probably 8-9 months ago. It was a really crusty bus but a genuine 59 RHD. He wanted $1,000 for it and I am kicking myself for not buying it then. Haven't been able to find the link to it since.

Yogie

there's a link in the general chat for one in the uk for 32,500 sterling

Farm clearing sales...

I checked an old newspaper by a week or so to find the items of a clearance sale listed. It included the exact words "volkswagen kombi type 23". I checked the date of the auction, which was "today", and then the time....I was a matter of hours too late, and it had been sold.

That evening my sister shared how she was working on the main street (selling stuff) and she said a split kombi was being towed by. She described it as very light inside, like there were lots of windows everywhere.

It might not be too difficult to find where this kombi went. If you're interested, first there's the finder's fee.....

:thumb:thumb:thumb

o.k just kidding about the finder's fee. :party