Aircooled VW South Africa

Hi Guys,
Just trying to get a feel, and your opinion on the different Values of the Split Kombi, verses the Split Panel Van
Lets say you where offered both, in exactly the same condition and also the same year model.
all things being equal, every thing the same but one is a Kombi, and the other a Panel Van.

For the interest of this exercise, lets say its in perfect restored condition.

German Split Bus/ Kombi = R..............
German Split Panel Van = R..............

OR

Fleetline Bus/Kombi = R..............
Fleetline Panel Van = R .............
Brazilia Kombi = R .............

Would be of interest what each of you guys have in mind as value's

Herman

With bodywork in similar condition, then i would say the panel van is worth more.

Panel vans typically did not live inside a garage, so would be more rust prone. The panel would typically had a lot more spent on replacement panels, and a bit less on window rubbers. And there are a lot less panel vans than kombi's around.

Personally i prefer the pre-68 German split kombi/panel vans, (and be prepared to pay a lot more for them), but it's a personal thing.

Others may favor the 75 Fleetlines.
A good rust-free Fleetline (if there is one), should be worth more an a badly rusted German one.

In the end it depends on what the individual buyer is prepared to pay, and what the seller will let it go for. But i'm a bit out of touch regarding recent values in Rand...

Thanks Dawie,

I to think the Panel Van would be the more valuable, and in time to come, the Fleetline, due to its rarity, will become more valuable then the German Split due to the High numbers made over the years.

Then you have the Brazilia, Still trying to find out how they came to RSA, and how many where brought in, and what the mix was.
Do however feel the Fleetline, being a One Year wonder, here, compered to the Brazilia, which I have heard of 1976,1977, 1978 models of, but not sure of numbers, would have had more sales then the Brazilia.

Please guys join in, and if you have any numbers for the above , please shear.

Herman

Rarity and value are not necessarily linked. Some things are rare because nobody wanted them when they were new and they have no value today because nobody wants them now. I think the fugly baysplit hybrids are a good example of this. However, I've seen quite a few of them restored recently, so who knows, they may become collectable and valuable one day.

I don't agree that panelvans are worth more than kombis. Yes, they are likely to be less common, but they are less practical for most people and they are more difficult to drive because of huge blind spots. I think kombis are way more popular than panels because they have windows and you can carry your pals in the back.

Personally, I like panels, and I have driven more than 300,000km in two Fleetline panelvans. But they are not to everyone's taste. And because more people are likely to be looking for kombis than panels, kombis are likely to fetch higher prices. But people who prefer panels would obviously put a higher value on a panel than a kombi.

From reading old copies of the Commercial Vehicle Data Digest, it seems VWSA made between 5,000 and 5,500 Fleetlines between late 74 and March 76, but I have doubts about the dates. Brazilia fuglies were offered for three years from 76-78, but I believe there were fewer of them than Fleetlines. 1976 saw the most fuglies produced, then production tapered off sharply, with fewer built in 77 and 78 together than 76.