1974 Volkswagen Bus/Vanagon Westfalia

Description

This is an all original 1974 Volkswagen Type 2 bay window Westfalia camper van in great condition as a Barn find. Solid, body is in good shape.  Appears to have never been abused or in a wreck. There is surprisingly little rust, probably because it has spent most of its life in Florida, and there is a receipt for ziebart rustproofing for it in 1977.  Still, there are some rusted spots that I found:  along the bottom of the two rearmost side windows, and a 2 inch high by 3/4 inch hole by driver's side footpad. I noticed one under the car on the frame.   There is an old bondo repair under the passenger's side doorsill that will need repair.  There is a dent in the front bumper.  See photos.  This van comes with the factory owner's manuals and the maintenance records (missing records from 1985 to 1992).
The first owner picked up the car in Europe, where he drove it a few thousand miles, then he had it in California and Oregon until about 12,000 miles.  Then he put on about 60,000 miles in Illinois and Florida.  He then sold the camper van and my uncle bought it later and enjoyed it for 40,000 miles. Both did frequent maintenance and documented it. The odometer presently shows 63,908 miles, but the odometers on these vans only go up to 99,999 miles.  Because we have the maintenance records, we know it has 163,908 actual miles driven since it was purchased new.  The car has been in Florida for the last 35 years.
My uncle had great adventures with it, including touring to Mt. Rushmore and Montana, camping all the way, as well as many camping trips in Florida.   When my uncle moved out West, he parked it in running condition in Florida, and it has sat there ever since.  No one has run it or even tried to start it for 17 years.  Now it is time for someone else to get it ready for operation and new adventures.  I don't think that you will go wrong with the choice of this solid, original 1974 Westfalia camper van as a platform to do a restoration, or to just keep it original, and do the things needed to get it in running shape after sitting unused for 17 years, such as new tires, new brakes, fluids, battery, and getting the engine going again.  We just don't have the time or the aptitude.
Best wishes as you bid on this, I'm sure you too will enjoy it.