Help Please: I\'ve found a split, Need Advice, Deal or Dog?

Hi guys, I want a splitty. I have been doing some research on the net as to what to look for but haven't actually poked one in the flesh yet; just hours of turning internet pages and looking at jpgs. So, I've found one for sale in the UK (I'm in the UK and am emigrating to Oz early next year - with or without a van). And what I need from you guys is any help and advice on what to look for and what to ask the owner so I can find out if it's a bargain or a dog. It looks like it's too good to be true (so it probably is!). It's a US import '60 and is apparently fairly original. The main bad point is there's a new custom interior in it, though it has got IRS. Don't pay too much attention to the price - that's really low for us suckers in the UK! It's also running a 1600 so that's obviously not original. Are there any problem areas I should look out for, and any searching questions I should prod the owner with? Is there anything I should test out, or any noises I should be listening for, when I take it for a test-drive?
Any advice gratefully appreciated, I'm going to see it this Sunday and I'm a bit in the dark here. Here's a link to the advert: http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=336810
Cheers lads, I'll get the beers in when I get over there, Jez

Save your cash and buy an Aussie car when you get here. You will regret paying top dollar (compared to here) for an imported car that has been molested. She does look pretty solid though.

Hertz wrote:Save your cash and buy an Aussie car when you get here.

Yeah, you may have a point there. The thing is though I need it to be ready and restored by the time I get over there. So, I'll have to buy one way in advance of reaching your fair shores anyways. You see, I'm going to use it for my company vehicle and it needs to be sprayed up in company colours and with signage on top. Plus, I'd like an LPG conversion and, from the research I've done so far, I can only find converters in the UK, not in Oz. Also, if I bring it over with me, I can fill it with lots of parts and goodies that I won't be able to get in Oz. I have been looking for my kind of van in Oz, but to be honest, they're aint much of a selection, and when a good one comes up, it's gone. And unfortunately, I don't want to wait until I'm over there to start all the work on it. Thanks for your comments pal, yeah, it does look quite solid. Cheers now, Jez

For a daily drive you might get sick of the LHD

have a look here

http://www.dsk.com.au/dsk/forum/index.php

An Australian Split group

Bizarre wrote:For a daily drive you might get sick of the LHD

have a look here

http://www.dsk.com.au/dsk/forum/index.php

An Australian Split group

Yeah, you might be right there. Though, I've been driving a LHD squareback daily drive for a number of years and I just kinda get used to it. Thanks for the DSK tip, I've already discovered them, nice guys. I wonder how much, and how complicated it would be to convert to RHD? Any experience? Cheers fella, Jez

hey jez. go look at kombiclub as well. and in particular 'roy'. he has a few that he gets a hold of, and although they vary in price, can help you find what you might be after and have it ready when you arrive. like wise 'kombi rescue' on dsk.

happy hunting mate. half hte fun is in the chase!

** having a bit more of a look and that one you spy across the pond has a roof hatch and stuff. i suppose it is what you are after.
things to remember and look for is that they all rust. the fact is says rust/rot free is more the fact it hasnt come thru yet.
they all rot from the inside out. inside the sills, inside the front nose and inside the out riggers.
you wont know how bad until it starts coming thru or you go searching.
i remember when i first got mine. seemed rust free. had it on the road for almost two years then bubbles started coming up all over hte place. i could grab an outrigger and squeeze it like hard foam. in the end all sills nose and outriggers etc replaced. she rust free now... but $$$$

so when you go looking give it a good poke and look under at the sills and see if you can leave a thumb print in the outriggers. it looks ok from the outside in the pics. if your happy. get it and give it a good going over and soaking with rust kill. maybe you can slow the deterioration further.
as for the price. 7000 pounds. that used to be a lot. but on our ebay recently have been examples of less than daily driver or needed resto jobs sell for the equivilant in aus dollars. (11-16k) so a daily on the road in need of a bit of love can be 15k or higher.
there is a panel for sale for that. its rego'd. there is also a couple of good buys going aorund, but you would need the help of roy, steve or others.

as i said, good luck. happy hunting. but hey if you can bring us back a barn door or samba... it might be nice after all ours keep heading your way. to get one back> a bonus.

[ Edited on 14/2/2007 by twoguns ]

LPG: Australia just about leads the planet on LPG technology and use so don't worry about that. And I'm not sure if a UK conversion would be legal over here without re-certification. Plus, any chassis/driveline mods to your UK splitty would also have to be re-certified.

LHD is legal, but a PITA, especially for a 'working' car

I reckon you should buy one here even if it means having a stand-in Jap van for a few months