Looking For a VW Top

[HudBud]

Looking for a VW to cut the top off and secure to top of 1974 Gillig school bus for a sleeping loft.
Looking to spend around $200
We are new to the Skoolie community and welcome any help or criticism
Currently living in western Oregon to finish university
Originally from Idaho, living out of a Washington bus

[EastCoastCB]

No offense, but for that kind of money, you're not likely to find ANYTHING that ever had a VW logo on it in its life. Even Vanagons are going for 1000+ for rust bucket basket cases.
I'm probably sounding like a negative person here, but I'm a huge fan of aircooled veedubs and it breaks my heart to see the prices so astronomical these days.
The fact that the "bus" has become such a symbol of yuppie wealth makes me sad. I once scored a near MINT 76 Westy that had been sitting at a local rv lot for $100. The owner took the transaxle out for a dune buggy and the whole thing had less than 30k on it. Got a 70 for $500 from Arizona and drove it through high school. These prices were in the 90's when everyone else were buying gas guzzlers and dreaming up ways to make the petro companies richer and more powerful.
Best of luck in your search but I think you're going to have a very hard time.

[bansil]

I have to agree, check out Norris junk yard in Carter county (Elizabethton, TN) probably be 1k plus for a non cool one ;) .... Years ago he had a 21 window ?safari one that windshield opened up like a duece and a half...

[EastCoastCB]

Ahhhh, yes, safari windows are cool on a split.

This example would have been too expensive for me back in the 90s when it would have been maybe ten grand or so. Now days, this would be somewhere like 50k-100k. Not very "hip" at today's prices.

What a beauty though, I just LOVE sealing wax red on the early buses.

[bansil]

They have a bus get together every year on the new river in NC, it is so awesome to see westy's everywhere and safari's and the pickup that sides fold down, you would love it and 2 miles up the road is 30/50 amp camping ;) for us bigger buses

[crazycal]

Here is an option for you though not as cool.

[bansil]

I have seen Astros with both flip top tents mounted like the magello and a fiberglass version similar to old westies

[HolyBus]

Maybe a top like this?:


The idea is called vanabode for living the same but in a van instead of a bus. I can see only one advantage and that is that it isn't as obvious when you slepp in a shopping parking lot like Wmart.

[HudBud]

Hello guys! Thanks for the replies. No offense to you either eastcoastcb but do understand we are in the inland northwest, and it's very different then the east. Incomes are lower, and things don't rust like they do in the coast. Which I have noticed do drive the prices up. But understand I have a 1972 vw bay window Rivera, dual Weber carbs, no rust, solid bus. I purchased for 200$. And no more then give years ago I did this very project with a buddy. And we got a beater vw for 100$ . the bus doesn't need a title, doesn't need to run. Also, for all,the hardcore DIYers out there,there is always a cheaper way. I like the idea of using different van too. I thought about using something like this too.

[HudBud]

I appreciate info. But don't nay say anyone out there who has a vw they want off there property in Washington, oregon, Idaho. Please let us know. And I mean no offense east coast cb

[EastCoastCB]

No offense taken.
How much you want for the running bay window?
Even with shipping, I could make some GOOD money out here on those.
Haven't seen a VW bus sold in the hundreds of dollars amounts in a long time! ;)
Seriously- start shipping them south and east. Cali is the biggest "consumer" of classic vw's in the states.

[bansil]

Originally Posted by HudBud

. I like the idea of using different van too. I thought about using something like this too.

Make sure to airbrush Zelda on the side ;)

[HolyBus]

Side pipes! I haven't seen side pipe exhaust in many years and I live in an area that has many custom and restored older vehicles. I really miss seeing side pipes!

[Stu & Filo. T]

Years back I saw a Skoolie with 2 VW vans on top thought it was cool but impractical as hell , way to high you'd be better off mounting a pop up trailer if you really want a loft