Volkswagen VW Early Bay 1969 LHD

I am listing this vehicle for my Dad who has worked with me in writing  this description of the vehicle. He is happy to answer any questions  you may have or take further pictures etc. Just contact me via Ebay  questions or contact him on his mobile:- 07547457145 after 6. 30pm  please.  
General Overview 
You are looking at a 1969 Early Bay - Left Hand Drive. When we bought  it from FBI in Swansea on 27th July 2005. it had just been imported  from the USA (Washington State) and at the time had its Westfalia  Campmobile interior and elevating roof section. Apart from FBI. Dad is  the only UK owner.   We still have the Westfalia fibreglass elevating roof section and its  corresponding roof rack panel and these will come with the vehicle if  you want them. The camping interior is long gone.
Although not currently fitted. the vehicle will also come with the  middle 2/3rds bench seat. which although stripped for repair (it will  need new horse hair padding) it does come with a new unfitted TMI seat  cover set which matches the new TMI seat cover fitted to the rear bench  seat which is currently in the Bay.  
The years have gone by. children grown up and we no longer use the Bay  so are looking to find it a new home. We are VW fans and also have two  early beetles one of which 1960 may also be for sale.  
Description of vehicle condition 
What follows is a detailed. warts and all. very honest description of a  very genuine Bay. I have made no attempt to hide anything. In my  opinion a buyer would prefer to know the true condition of a vehicle  rather than be tempted by something that may look wonderful and shiny  at first but on closer inspection is disappointing. full of filler and  covered in fresh paint. But please remember that you are bidding on a  vehicle that is 44 years old and there will be marks. wear and tear. nbsp; dings. scrapes. scratches. rust and all the usual signs of age and use  that you would expect from a vehicle of this type. make and age.  
I am more than happy for you to come and see the vehicle. before you  bid. or to talk you through the condition over the phone etc (after 6. 30 pm please) or you can contact my son via Ebay questions. I am happy to  take additional pictures of any area of the vehicle you wish to see.  
Additional Photographs Available Now 
The following photographs are already available. Please just ask for  what you want to see via Ebay questions.  Inner bottom of sliding door Offside cab step area Nearside cab step area Offside cab floor Nearside cab floor Main floor Sink drain hole Belly pan Nearside hole under cab step area Offside holes under cab step area Roof lining Interior view Front seats Paint imperfections by wiper spindle When vehicle was a camper When vehicle was half red Slight nose dent Door trim panel Speedo / Dash area 
If you decide to come and see the vehicle. I'm happy to take you for a  drive but for obvious reasons of insurance I am not prepared to let  anyone drive. If you can show me your insurance certificate. proving to  my satisfaction that you are covered to drive a vehicle that you do not  own. on a comprehensive cover basis. then I may reconsider. I'm not  trying to be awkward or hide anything just protecting my vehicle from a  potential calamity. Would you be happy letting someone you don't know  drive your pride and joy? 
TAX - This vehicle is tax exempt MOT - Passed the MOT on 12 July 2013. with no advisory items.  
Body 
Paintwork - I believe the colour is Pearl White. We decided some years  ago that it would look nice red and white. so I painted the bottom half  with a brush. We then decided it looked better all white again. so I  spent many hours in 2011 gently removing all the red paint to reveal  the original paint underneath. When you see the vehicle you will see  odd bits of red paint. I mention this so you know exactly what you are  bidding on. the history of the vehicle and so there are no nasty  surprises for you. I would say that the vehicle retains 75-80% or so of its original  paint.   
Nose / Front When we bought the vehicle it had the usual tyre holder bolted to the  nose. I felt it was just too heavy and a bit ugly so removed it and  filled the holes where it was bolted on.  
There is a fairly shallow dent which is covered by the number plate and  a few other shallow dings and dents. some of which have been lightly  filled and painted by me so not the best job. There are some small  paint imperfections below windscreen rubber around the offside wiper  spindle and in a few places between the spindles. These are very small  and were present and looked just like they do now when we bought the  Bay back in 2005. Picture available on request.   
Windscreen - Green sun tint along the top. Windscreen rubber was  replaced by FBI when we bought the vehicle.  
Rear of Vehicle 
Hatch Door - In good sound condition with a few dings and scrapes.  
Gutter - Light surface rust just below the roof gutter but I stress  this is ONLY light patina type surface rust.
Bumper splash pans still present. Both half moon vents in good order.  
Engine Cover - Good sound condition. Hinges recently replaced.  
Rear Corner Off side - Battery tray replaced by FBI before we owned the  Bay but could do with some attention here again now or leave as is.  
Rear Corner Near Side - There don't seem to be any issues with the  corner this side.  
Near Side of Vehicle 
Sound roof gutters. with light patina SURFACE rust on and just below.   Similar light patina SURFACE rust just below the Louvre window.  
Large panel above rear wheel good and sound. usual dings. scrapes and  paint blemishes etc. Small bit of corrosion to the left of the rear  side reflector as can be seen in the picture.   
Large middle panel good and sound. This panel used to have the  Westfalia power hook up in it. I removed this when we took out the  camper interior. Hole was backed with alloy. lightly filled then  sprayed but easily removed if you want to put back to original camper  spec. Tried to photograph this but it didn't show up.  
Sill good and sound. Some bits of the red paint that I mentioned at the  start of my description.  
Front door good and sound. again some red paint underneath as I  mentioned above. Door will need new rubbers. Door latch release lever  behind the handle can be a bit stiff but vehicle will come with a good  used pair of front door handles that use the same key. Interior door  trim panels have holes cut in them for speakers but the speakers are no  longer present.
Cab Step and Dog Leg etc - All good and sound Area directly underneath cab step - Looking from underneath the Bay  there is a small hole that will need to be welded up or left as is if  you prefer. Picture available on request.   
Off Side of Vehicle
Sound roof gutters. with light patina SURFACE rust on and just below.  
Large panel above rear wheel - Good and sound. There is a small area  just above the jacking point. where the side step is bolted to the  vehicle. where the paint layer appears to have lifted away from the  metal underneath. This is about 4cm long but the metal underneath seems  sound enough to me. Also small patch of corrosion to right of red side  reflector. Probably linked to battery tray.   
Main Side Door - Good sound condition. some surface rust on the inside  at the bottom edge. Vent window needs work as will not stay open 
Sill - Sound original paint flaking off along very bottom but only as  you would expect for this area and bearing in mind the age of the  vehicle.   
Front Door good and sound but will need new rubber. Key barrel came out  but vehicle will come with a good used pair of door handles both of  which use the same key. Interior door trim panels have holes cut in  them for speakers but the speakers are no longer present.  
Fresh Air Ducting on Front Doors - Because we were using the vehicle as  a microbus. the front door panels have been fitted with the fresh air  ducting which passes through the metal panels behind the front seats  into the main seating area.   
Cab Step and Dog Leg etc - Cab step good and sound. looks rusty in  picture but it's just where the paint has come off. Dog leg etc good  and sound but signs of corrosion adjacent to the end of the step rubber  on the bumper. Picture available on request.  
Under off side wheel arch two small repairs.   
Area directly underneath cab step - Looking from underneath the Bay  there are a couple of holes that will need to be welded up or left as  is if you prefer. Picture available on request.  
Cab floor - Sound but has been repaired both sides. Pictures available  on request.  
Main Floor - Sound. Just a few small surface rust patches Floor still  has the factory hole where the Westfalia sink unit outlet was fitted.   Picture available on request.  
Chassis / Outriggers / Jacking Points - All good and sound. Pics  available on request.  
Suspension - All as it was when we bought the vehicle. It has not been  lowered and as far as I can tell all per factory.   
Roof - As you can see from the pictures. the vehicle looks like a tin  top. The original factory hole in the roof has been filled in with a  genuine Type 2 sliding sun roof panel. This panel has not been welded  in place and can be easily removed should you want to reinstate the  elevating roof which will come with the vehicle.   Roof is in good condition. All the bolt holes and screw holes where the  elevating camper roof was fitted have been filled and sprayed body  colour but not welded up. so easy enough to remove the filler and  backing if you want to reinstate the elevating roof. Similarly the vent  hole for the original Westfalia sink has been filled in but again can  easily be reinstated.   
Gutters - All good and sound. Some surface rust but only light patina  stuff.  
Mechanical 
Engine - The engine was replaced with a new 1600cc twin port Green  engine (totally new crank case option) from The Engine Shop in August  2007. at a cost of £1045 - I have the receipt to prove this. The  mileage when the engine was fitted was 44. 58. The mileage on the clock  now is 50351. The speedo is the original one fitted when we bought the  vehicle but I have no way of verifying the actual mileage covered by  the vehicle.  
Heat Exchangers - Good. sound and yes they do deliver heat into the  interior. The control cables have long since broken and I have never  got round to replacing them so the heater flaps are currently on heat  mode permanently at the moment but perhaps not a bad thing given that  winter is on the way. I still have the new control cables I bought  years ago which will come with the vehicle.  
Carburettor - Replaced about 18 months ago.  
Gearbox - As far as I know it's the original box. It does not jump out  of any gear. changes nicely and does not crunch. That said. the box can  whine a little in 4th gear. It's not a noise that has bothered us and  you soon get used to it as just how the Bay sounds. quite a friendly  sound really. I mention this as I want to be 100% honest so that there  are no unwelcome surprises should you decide to bid. If we were keeping  the vehicle I would not be thinking of changing the gearbox as it still  works just fine and is just part and parcel of a 40+ year old well  loved and well used vehicle.   
Clutch - All ok Steering - Original steering box. slight play in the straight ahead  position as you would expect for a vehicle of this age but works fine. nbsp; doesn't wander and passed the MOT test OK.  
Brakes - Standard drums all round. Front brakes sometimes pull to the  left a little if you are using the vehicle for the first time after a  long spell if not being used. This settles down after being driven a  few miles and passed the MOT OK.  
Drive Shafts - As far as I know these are the original items. Offside  joints need attention as sometimes knock when you turn right. The near  side joints seem fine.  
Electrics - Dynamo has been replaced with an alternator. The battery  was replaced in July 13 with a new one from GSF.  
Interior Trim - All OK but clearly old and used and small hole in top  corner of driver's seat. But rear bench seat has recently been  recovered in a new TMI cover from VW Heritage. Middle 2/3rd seat comes  with vehicle see above. Pics available on request.  
Dash - Good and sound with a couple of age / sun cracks.  
Speedo Binnacle - Fuel gauge replaced. Speedo needle can be erratic.   Clock from a slightly later Bay fitted and did work but not currently  connected up.   
Mats - Cab mat is the original item. is obviously worn and has splits  in the rubber but still looks OK. Walk through mat all OK. Main load  area mat OK.  
Headlining - I recently replaced the headlining with new ply. Looks  just like a tin top vehicle from the inside. Cab section is the  original ply as is the bit by the rear hatch.  
Tyres - All OK and passed the MOT. They are commercial vehicle strength  tyres.  
I know how disappointing it can be to travel miles and miles to see an  item only to find that it falls well short of what the seller has said  or failed to mention. Or to buy an item based on a sellers description  that has been written to at best gloss over the bad bits and at worst  mislead you into believing that what you are buying is better than what  it really is just to get a higher selling price etc.  
I hope that you find my full and honest description informative and  that it helps you decide whether it might be the vehicle for you. I  have done my best to ensure that when you see the condition of the  vehicle it is exactly as I have described it. no shocks. no  disappointments. no let downs. That said I am only human and there may  be things I have missed so I recommend that you come and see the Bay  before you bid to satisfy yourself that it is the right one for you.  
If you decide to bid without seeing the vehicle first that is. of  course. your decision. However. I will take it that by bidding you are  confirming that you accept and are fully satisfied with my description  and what you see in the pictures.   Winning bidder to pay in full by PayPal within 12 hours of their  winning bid and Vehicle to be collected within 7 days at a day and time  to suit both buyer and seller.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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