Volkswagen Bus/Vanagon

Let me just preface this with saying that I am a pretty easy going , rational person who thinks human beings are for the most part good, honest people. Over the years, I’ve bought a number of cars online/ebay including: 1957 Corvette, 1965 Corvair convertible, 1993 Toyota Landcruiser, 1999 Mercedes E320 and a 2001 Honda Odyssey. Some showed up nicer than others, some of the other’s descriptions were a little “fluffed,” none were grossly misrepresented.
I purchased a 1978 Westfalia from the VW BUS FACTORY and this vehicle was GROSSLY MISREPRESENTED! What I presumably paid for was a vehicle that “ran & drove great.” What I got was this…
The truck driver drops off at my house, the vehicle won’t idle. “OK, probably just needs a little adjustment.” I inspect the exterior of the vehicle and here’s what it looks like:
Windshield: Poor…permanently fogged and noticeably chipped up…worse than you would find on a parts vehicle. Paint: A quick and nasty job, most of the body work wasn’t even finished when it was painted. Bumpers also painted on the vehicle, and about a dozen runs, some the size of your index finger. The front spare tire cover had blown off during shipping and what is there is a completely worn , flat tire that has steel belts coming through…I deduce was there solely to hang the spare tire cover on. Lots of turn signal covers held on with drywall screws, all side ones inoperable. All four tires are dry rotted.
Interior: Filthy. Many parts broken or missing. I knew the radio was missing from the photos, and had one ordered. Not a shred of paperwork…no bill of sale, no title. I pop the top and try to unfold the bunk, but all there is no hinged bunk board…just the cushion. Both window cranks are broken and someone attempted to fix them with a stapler.
Open the engine compartment…All engine tin is missing. Battery is defying physics by still sitting on a tray that is 90% gone. Mechanic says cylinder #3 has zero compression, motor mounts are gone, one shock is badly bent, needs brakes. About the only thing that works on the dash is the clock. Go figure!
I try to call Beth Osborne at the VW BUS FACTORY and the number no longer works (this is never a good sign). I reach her by email and she says that she wants to work this out but will be gone for a week. She swears up and down that it ran “good” when it left, and it definitely had the upper bunk board when it left. I told her this van is nowhere near the condition described in your ad, and is basically a rolling restoration project. She says I obviously mistook this for a vehicle that was “professionally” restored which are bringing $20,000+. I told her that I know what these vehicles go for in the hobby, and that I received one worth roughly half what I paid. I ask her for $1000 refunded (before the mechanic gave me the news on the compression). So that I could fix things to make the vehicle resemble the description of her ad. She said she would only if I left her positive feedback on Ebay. Thinking this may have been a onetime “oops” on her part, I reluctantly agreed. I then received an email & phone call from a gentleman a few hundred miles south of me who just received a 1974 from the VW BUS FACTORY, which also had a bad engine, poor paintjob, doors that wouldn’t shut.
Whose fault is this? Mine. I should have researched this seller more. I did ask all the pertinent questions in regards to the vehicle and its condition, but what I got back were lies.

I have had seven VW busses over the years. From a 1960 double barn door to my latest my 83 w/air cooled 2.0,, A older VW bus is like buying an older triumph or harley motorcycle,, know what you are getting into,, If you do not wrench yourself you are looking at high priced specialized hard to find mechanics to do any work needed,, My latest bus is one of the last air cooled busses ever imported into the states, I found it in a local paper, was a running ad that every week came down a little more,, it was original owner 74k and put into storage for 4 years to be saved for a grandchild,,( he wanted a elcamino he found insted at 16),, The brakes were frozen and VW shop wanted $1200 to repair,,but the owner started and ran every month and changed the oil every year,,he just never moved it,,((DUH)) I got the bus for $800 and did the brakes for $400.. I now have over 175000 miles witha upper motor rebuilt last year,,I get more looks and waves driving my van than being in a new 100k car..
I like the ride and the bigger interior of the vanagon design, but still always looking for that split window I can give a sandrail look to..
Just wanted ta put my two cents in here,,I've sold a bus on ebay but never a buyer,,just be aware of what you are looking for,,and if you are not turning your own wrench and doing the upkeep on a older bus,,just have a big wallet to dip into..