I have been offered a 1971 kombi camper. It is owned my an elderly man, and was owned by his father before him. The seller is a friend of the family and has given me the option of paying it off in installments.

The seller claims that it is in original condition and has 40k original miles. It has rego till november. I have only had a quick look at the outside but i did notice that neither the sills or doglegs were rusty. But obviously i will have to inspect this more closely.

I would like to know what to look for when inspecting this vehicle. I will need to be picky becuase i will need it to be relaible and relatively cost free, this is important becuase if i purchase the vehicle i will be in no financial position to spend much more money on it, well for the short term at least.

Thank you for your time. Any help is greatly appreciated.

As much as I love vw's the reality is they cost money to upkeep. The need regular servicing etc

Hi Ash,

There's a guide to buying a Kombi which might be of some help at:
http://www.aussiekombicampers.com/buyers_guide.shtml 
If the mileage is really just 40k (i.e. 64000 km), it could be a good buy, but it's still 33 years old, and that would be true with a mileage of 0 km.

Look hard at all the underpinnings for signs of rust, cause this a is what will break yr. budget. It's not the sort of thing which elderly gentlemen often do, so there might be some surprises. Poke all the wheel wells and sills with a screwdriver.

Good luck!

[Edited on 25-3-2004 by modulus]

[Edited on 25-3-2004 by modulus]

thanks for your help

Hi Man
71 bus! sounds cool
Have a look at these places
Front windscreen surround (A pillars) take something to lift up the rubber so you can see underneath, should be nice and clean.
All the outriggers under the floor, also look at the front under section of the floor, and under the cabin mat, also where the floor meets the sides of the bus inside the cargo area.
Front wheel wells at the rear, at the bottom of the B pillars.
Inside bottom of the front clip, behind the front kick boards, if the windscreen seal has been leaking the water would have collected there.
Rocker panels, they have drain holes on the inside under the bus, these should be clear of silt and rust flakes.
Rear battery tray, look at it from the engine bay and from underneath the bus.
Rear panels under the engine lid and either side, where the holes with plastic bungs are.
Go around the whole rain gutter and look for signs of bubbling. (hard to repair)
Thats some things to look for, but you can generally see if the bus has been well cared for, If it looks shabby you could say that there will be quite a few things wrong with a bus of this age. It is a vintage car!
Rob..

Sounds like a great find, as long as its solid and roadworthy, you can improve and maintain it as you go