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23 WINDOW WANTED- *** Still Looking***
preacherman - March 6th, 2005 at 08:26 PM

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]


okrasa power - March 6th, 2005 at 08:30 PM

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


ClassicVW(pacific) - March 6th, 2005 at 09:13 PM

#! Message No Longer Available !#


72TWINCAB - March 6th, 2005 at 09:32 PM

Good luck.....

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


57 Chook Shed - March 6th, 2005 at 10:15 PM

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.


preacherman - March 7th, 2005 at 12:45 PM

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??


okrasa power - March 7th, 2005 at 02:07 PM

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


squizy - March 7th, 2005 at 02:34 PM

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...


preacherman - March 7th, 2005 at 02:52 PM

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]


KDFking - March 7th, 2005 at 07:25 PM

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


preacherman - March 7th, 2005 at 07:33 PM

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


kombi_kid - March 7th, 2005 at 07:35 PM

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


preacherman - March 7th, 2005 at 08:35 PM

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.


kombi_kid - March 8th, 2005 at 10:22 AM

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


splitbusaustralia - March 8th, 2005 at 02:57 PM

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


helterskelter400 - March 8th, 2005 at 03:48 PM

http://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).


KDFking - March 8th, 2005 at 05:31 PM

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


bugeyedbabe - March 8th, 2005 at 05:36 PM

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??


KDFking - March 8th, 2005 at 05:38 PM

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.


KDFking - March 8th, 2005 at 05:43 PM

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]


splitbusaustralia - March 8th, 2005 at 06:43 PM

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

RobK.


KDFking - March 8th, 2005 at 07:57 PM

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


splitbusaustralia - March 9th, 2005 at 05:47 AM

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


GASBNR - March 9th, 2005 at 02:20 PM

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





PRICE 20000 GBP I think. check volksworld magazine.


KDFking - March 9th, 2005 at 09:01 PM

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


sjm2 - March 11th, 2005 at 11:05 AM

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


preacherman - March 13th, 2005 at 09:48 PM

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.


VWENVY - March 16th, 2005 at 01:59 PM

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!!


preacherman - March 17th, 2005 at 08:45 PM

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?????


karmannghia60 - March 17th, 2005 at 08:53 PM

Depends on how much you want to pay?