Advice and Thoughts on Fleetline vs original

[RobMunro]

Hi there

I am considering purchasing a 1975 Single Cab Fleetline Splittie and am interested in your valuable opinions. I used to own a 1963 1300cc duel door 15 window bus and sold it to finance my trip to Europe (was in the US at the time.) I have a new business about to come on line and a shows and demos, having a nice Splittie will be a winner.

Is it worth getting an original Splittie or are the Fleetlines viewed with similar admiration?

Am stoked to find this group and once I get the VW I will post all of the upgrades and mods!

Regards

Rob

[splitbusahollic]

Hi Rob and welcome...
please introduce yourself on the newbies thread and tell us more about yourself...and where you are from etc.

you can find it here....
http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... start=5100

there are some"Grumpy old Airheads" on here that will have a Moan at you for not introducing yourself in the correct manner first !
hope you enjoy our Forum !

[RobMunro]

whoops, sorry. Will do.

SORRY peeps, not ACVW savvy!

[retrovan]

Hi, and welcome to the best VW forum.

You have now opened a can of worms....... ( exactly what I like to see.. )

There are millions of opinions on this matter, and it will depend on who you ask.

The 1st group will insist it must be a Barn Door (big tailgate engine flap)
The 2nd group will tell you that it must be German and pre 1960
The 3rd group will tell you it must be German, regardless which year.
The 4th group will tell you that anything goes as long as it has an split window
The 5th group will tell you that a Fleetline is better as it is a more modern model so more desirable.
And the other 1000 groups, all have there own reason for the one or the other.

But I am sure they will voice their comments here. (let the fur flying begin )

I say, if its a VW Aircoold, you have the correct one.......

Herman

[RobMunro]

Hi

Thanks for the comments so far.

What sort of price would you expect to pay for a good condition '75 Single Cab? Any ideas?

Also, if you modified a fleetline to have some of the nicer original features, or is it best to restore to '75 original?

Thanks

Rob

[retrovan]

There is not much difference between the Fleetline and the German units, and most folks can not see the difference.

If you talk of value, it is always better to restore to original, as when you sell it, the next guy has very little to do.

Should you customise it, the Bus is saved and can be returned back to original should the new owner so wish, but it would now cost him to restore to original, and he will subtract that amount from the paying price, he will give you.
BUT you will maybe enjoy driving it when done to your own taste.

Price ?..... will be what you are prepared to pay for the bus you like as well as how much you prepared to pay the previous owner for all his hard work.

Herman

Herman

[splitbusahollic]

i saw there were some for sale on Gumtree recently between R45 and R65 G's.
you are aware that the Fleetline single cab's have wide load body's on them ??

[RobMunro]

Hi

By wide body, you mean it is about 10cm wider than a normal bus from the floor/loader area up?

I am planning on making a food industry vehicle with preparation/serving from it's back, so a little extra width would help with the knees.

Would need to throw some stainless aboard and or sides and top, or I could use a canvas cover....

I saw one in Vanderbilt Park. Anyone know of it's history?

Rob

[Klaus]

Most people wont know the diference.

This my fleety. If you decide to do the canvas top then I will be interested working with you on some on some of the R&D as I want one for mine. Just need to get the hoops right and then I have someone who and stictch up the top.

[RobMunro]

Hi Klaus

I have a friend who designs and makes canopies / awnings/ shade items for luxoury yachts and would be very good person to work with. His work is accepted by owners and skippers of multi million dollar yachts, so should be ok for a kombi! LOL.
I have a very specific use for it, so mine may not be ideal for others, but I will keep you in mind for sure. You in the Cape? Great looking vehicle BTW!

Also, what are the pitfalls to look out for when buying 2nd hand ? Any hidden issues that should be checked? Other than the visible and obvious that is.

Thanks

Rob

[jolas]

Hi

Thanks for the comments so far.

What sort of price would you expect to pay for a good condition '75 Single Cab? Any ideas?

Also, if you modified a fleetline to have some of the nicer original features, or is it best to restore to '75 original?

Thanks

Rob

Howzit Rob

Whereabouts are you ?

A good condition Fleetline single cab will (should) still have its original wide load bed. Loved by a few folk and loathed by many - that widebed
Not many are surviving complete with loadbed - they are quite flimsy and tended to rust away quite quickly. The pick-up you are after, what does it look like, share some pics ?
A Fleetline bus or pick-up is cool "as is" and does'nt really need any modifications - they came out with 1600 twin port motors, so, were already one-up on most of their German counterparts.
Are you talking about stuff like safari windows and other accessories ?

Price depends on how much YOU really want a split bus at the end of the day - and what you want to spend to secure it. In the last 10 years the value has increased and they have become more and more rare in ZA, as you probably know.

Good condition splits seem to be going for between R80k - R120k. A Samba (non runner) was recently sold here for R200k. So with your R80k bus you can do quite a bit, transport the whole family, camp in it, etc, etc. There is some value for your money.
With a pick-up you are quite limited as far a passengers and camping and the rest goes - but you seem to have a plan cooking there.

The value of splitties in ZA seems to have caught up with the values across the great pond - so perhaps have a look at what Single Cabs over there are selling at - might help give you an idea ?

Locally, there have been some pick-ups going for between R30k and R65k. I had a look at a yellow Fleetline pick-up a few months ago, it really was very very rusted, and the chap wanted R30k. This would have cost about R40k at least to restore properly .....

Good luck, don't forget about the pics, and welcome to ACVWSA

[Sambabus]

Is it worth getting an original Splittie or are the Fleetlines viewed with similar admiration?



Rob

What makes you think a fleetline isn't "an original" split bus?

Is your merc, BMW, Toyota,Opel, ford ect ect an " original" whatever? Because chances are it is manufactured here In sunny SA and not the country the manufactures were founded in.

Long story short, the Fleetline split window is probably one of the rarest split window busses in the world, they were manufactured in very very small numbers for a very short period of time,.....completely unlike thier " original" German siblings who STILL have the record for highest number of vehicles EVER manufactured at the Wolfsburg plant.

So yes, it is completely worth your while buying and restoring a Fleety, they are as good as any split bus made anywhere in the world......

[RobMunro]

Hi

Thanks for the responses. I am taking a look at one tomo am and will post some pics. The price is decent and it is tax'd and runs. Will be interesting to see it up close and see it's true condition.

I never knew about the Fleetline until yesterday and am intrigued. I agree about the engine and all, plus they have 10 less years on the road than many of their counterparts.

I would keep it original, but need to do some mods to the back for it's purpose.

Is there anything other than rust I should look for?

Thanks
Rob

PS - am in CPT

[jolas]

Does it need new tyres, add R3k, does the engine smoke, might need a rebuild, perhaps R10k, all the rubbers and door seals, etc, are they still there (often not replaced after a respray), does it have a rear bumper ( ), does it need to be reprayed (apart from rust repairs), check for signs of body filler.
go for a drive, does it jump out of forth gear ?
Check the steering whilst you are driving, is it all over the road ? Take note of how the front suspension feels .........
Electrics, are there any home made "improvements" or is it all stock - do all the lights, etc work? How do the lenses look.

There is a fair bit to look at - Repairs can be expensive

[RobMunro]

Thanks Jolas!

My old bus lept out of 4th so badly it never re-engaged! Had a 3 speed in the end! LOL

Regards
R