Uh-oh!!! Summer's here and a new strain of Westy Fever is raging here in
Boston!!

I stumbled across an interesting bus hiding in a back garden about a block from
my house here in Cambridge, and instinct prompted me to ask the owner if it was
for sale.  "It might be," the owner answered; I introduced myself and we spent
about a half hour looking over the van, and talking about its life.  The owners
are probably in their late 60's, and bought the van in Germany new in 89 and
shipped it back after a vaca in Sweden.  He's going to call me back in a few
days if and when he and the wife decide it's time to sell -- I guess the van
has been sitting more and more now that they're not camping much anymore.  So
the question is: what's a reasonable offer for me to make?  I'm thinking $5k to
start -- would that be a fair deal for a mechanically sound, but rather
delapidated 89 Westy?

This van wears its original white paint, and a real dirty top.  There's no
structural rust but a lot of cosmetic bubbles, stains, and drips (especially
around the sills and hook-ups).  There's some minor damage to the front bumper
and a couple of dents up front.  Needs mirrors... and probably new wheels
(currently 14's) and rubber.  Owner says new tranny 30k ago.  No major
rebuild... so it's probably due, yes?  A/C and front blower a little funky, but
working.  Exhaust good.  My gut says $2-3,000 in body work and paint and the
thing"ll look fantastic... but what can I expect to spend on mechanicals
getting bus that's not had much use for the last few years back into
daily-driver condition?

All comments, anecdotal evidence, and general advice appreciated!
Best, Isaac Taylor