IMPORT YOUR OWN BUS

Buying any VW takes a pretty large investment of cash these days, whichever way you look at it. Time was when you could save a massive chunk of money by buying a VW from Europe, Australia, or the USA. The problem now is that good Buses are becoming pretty scarce the world over, so in line with the laws of supply and demand, values have risen accordingly. Prices have also risen as a result of sellers the world over realising that us crazy Brits (and now most of our European compadres) will pay a lot of money for any old VW.

There are still bargains to be had, however, especially if you're willing to take on a project with no engine/gearbox, or possibly even paperwork anomalies, which are fairly easy to iron out, if a little time-consuming/risky. Here's a potted guide then, from seeing your dream Bus for sale on the Internet, to getting it here and UK road legal.

Let's start by saying that buying any old VW sight unseen takes quite a leap of faith. This means you have to be very thorough during the buying process and expect there to be more faults/work required than you expect. In fact, you can count on it. Most states in the USA, for instance, still don't have any standardised MOT style tests, so if a vehicle is registered for use on the road, it can be driven even if the brakes don't work, or the wiring/lights are broken. What this effectively means with many Buses is that the suspension, steering, brakes, wiring often need repair or a full overhaul, not to mention any rust or welding repairs; unless you have assurances that all these areas have been overhauled or addressed, you must allow some room in your budget for work to be done. I will say this once only: buy the best/most rust-free body you can. Everything else may cost, but it pales in comparison with restoring a rusty ’shell.

So with