1958 VW Ambulance

James Fischer

James Fischer

PCS Member
Although I do own a couple of rare in demand VW Type 2's that I have owned over 25 years...
A recent sale at Barrett Jackson Palm Beach brought a record $129,500 for a restored VW 23 window bus.....
and now this price(I realize its an asking price,but still) for an ambulance ????.......WOW....lol....


1958 Split Window Ambulance ,1600 dual port Price: 35000

Total Patina rusty bus. Daily driver. Drives to Mojavie desert , Ventura, LA, Vegas. Front original pop out windows. Pressed bumpers. Sigla glass. etc.Split case rebuilt 1600 dual port engine, freeway flyer rebuilt transmission, 12 volt system All original body/interior ambulance, This was Louis's old bus.



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Bus

Total Patina to me equals rusty piece of crap ,that and laser straight are the current overused buzz words. I think when I list my next vehicle for sale,it will say new when first sold. :myopinion:
 
The ad read:
1958 Split Window Ambulance ,1600 dual port Price: 35000
Total Patina rusty bus. Daily driver. Drives to Mojavie desert , Ventura, LA, Vegas. Front original pop out windows. Pressed bumpers. Sigla glass. etc.Split case rebuilt 1600 dual port engine, freeway flyer rebuilt transmission, 12 volt system All original body/interior ambulance, This was Louis's old bus.

I read:
1958 Cracked Window Ambulance ,1600 should be the price dual port Price: 35000 and I intentionally left the decimal point off.
I named her "Total Patina" and she's a s***box of a rusty bus requiring another bus to restore it. Used to be a Daily driver when it was new. Drives to Mojavie desert , Ventura, LA, Vegas can be done with enough work or a tow. Front original pop out windows now rusted in the open position. Pressed bumpers pressed into body due to previous accidents. Sigla glass (must be Italian). etc.Split case (cracked head) rebuilt 1600 dual port engine, freeway flyer rebuilt transmission (ie parts fly off going down the freeway), 12 volt system because all the 6V harnesses were eaten by mice All original body/interior ambulance, This was Louis's old bus, because it says so on the bill of sale.
 
Hay now be nice.. This rig comes with a custom chrome tail pipe insert.. was not even mentioned in the add and is your at no extra cost.
 
Maybe it's the same guy that has the 1942 Henney-Packard Civil Defense (Box Unit)? Same general area and "scenic" background. MM
 
Update:

I own a 60 Vw 23 window bus completely restored..I recieved a call from Hagerty after I added my 72 Superior last year, advising me to raise the value on the bus ..saying they did not think that the current 75k was market value for that model....so I raised it to 100k......
Who knew...that these buses would escalate to these values....funny I have a 58 in th back that I use for storage....:rolleyes:


I was told this afternoon that this IS the correct price......by my son who is into VW's..he made a few calls and this bus does run and drive very well...
Also the ambulance equipment can fetch a hefty sum,,like the red cross light on the roof alone can go for $2000 or more..and the front "safari" windows can fetch $3000-$4000.....they were an option for "hot" climates..Africa,Australia,South America,Mexico...etc.....and not made for US vehicles.....
But he did say it is a bit overpriced.....

One thing that has to be understood is that in the VW community the more original,complete,rusty and running the bus is.... the better ......at least in California......I sold a 66 VW Westphalia camper that I purchased in 2005 for $1500.00 with the intention of restoring it..well fast forward to 2010 and lots of things in between..I put it on E-Bay and after 10 days of bidding wars..it was sold to a gentleman in Leeds England for $21,777.00....all I did was put new tires on it and a tune up......and took it to the dock in Oakland to be put in his container........it was not as bad as this...but you get ther idea.....
 
I'm into volkswagens but have never owned one for this reason exactly. If you get on thesamba.com and look at what some of these totally rotted out almost unsavable buses,single and double cabs are going for it's kind of ridiculous.

I've regularly seen a bus in such bad shape that I would be afraid to even look at it wrong sell for over $1000 for just the body and front beam. No trans or motor and more often than not no title.

The VW world is a little funky. Patina or "hood rides" are the it thing right now in that world also.

I would like to own a 67 or older bus and a 57 oval non ragtop sedan someday.
 
Steve wrote:

Who the heck is Louis?



WHO CARES !
A guy who doesn't take care of his automobiles is all I can see.

By the way, if you have any extra 35000.00... there are some incredible cars out there that would be worth the price. Just a suggestion.


Next,
Darren
 
now remember there is a nitch out there for every wacko nut case. so to each there own. you got that kid of money to toss around your in the excetric class. now me if I had I would just be crazy
 
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