Anyone know anything about camper vans?

Philly_Q

OK, I know this is totally random but is anyone here, by any chance, knowledgeable about camper vans or motor homes?

My dad has an old Bedford Bambi which he doesn't use any more (frankly I'd be worried if he tried to drive it at his age) and he'd like to sell it, but I have absolutely no idea what it's worth - they seem to be listed on eBay, Gumtree etc anywhere from about £700 to £4,000.

I haven't a clue where to start - I don't even drive.  All I know is it passed its MOT this year, so presumably it's in reasonable working order.  My dad doesn't desperately need the money, he'd probably let it go for peanuts but I don't want him to get ripped off.

roundthebend

I bought a VW T4 this year - modern in comparison to the Bedford Bambi but a campervan nonetheless. We're converting it to a campervan so I've got a bit of knowledge on the subject. My best advice would be to look at the Self build campervan group on Facebook and post some pictures. You might even be able to sell it through there. https://www.facebook.com/groups/sbcampervans/

At least you might get some good info on the vehicle which you could use to advertise it on ebay.

mart

@Col_Decker ?

EricTheWeary

There are a few forums and Facebook groups re camper vans and motor homes and you may find someone with decent knowledge on those,  might even sell it through them. A dealer wouldn't offer much unless as part of a px. 
Essentially you have the van part and the habitation part. If the van is in good working order with an MOT then the value depends on the habitation. Was it done by a reputable company (there have been dozens of such companies,  often quite short lived although a quick Google suggests Danbury and Auto homes did a lot of the Bedfords) or self converted (ie worth f* *k all,  unless done exceptionally well )?  Does anything need replacing?  Does it all need replacing?  

axisus

They are slightly more effeminate than Camp vans.

ICBM

I don't know anything about camper vans specifically, but if they're anything like old cars the value will be at the low end of the range rather than the high unless it's been extremely well maintained, and recently.

My dad has a 'valuable' old Merc that he was thinking of selling, until he discovered that in the condition it's in - which is far from terrible, just average for its age and mileage, and it's roadworthy - it's only worth a couple of grand. To get the headline prices on that model would require spending thousands having it professionally restored - basically a full strip down and rebuild.

EricTheWeary

Camper vans are like this but with the additional complication of things like burners and beds - £thousands for a basic refit before you even get to the engine and the bodywork. On the other hand in good condition they hold value better than the equivalent base vehicle. The Bambi is tiny by modern standards so it won't be an easy sale but there are enthusiasts for these things - like people paying over the top for a Woolworths Top Twenty. 

ICBM said:

I don't know anything about camper vans specifically, but if they're anything like old cars the value will be at the low end of the range rather than the high unless it's been extremely well maintained, and recently.

My dad has a 'valuable' old Merc that he was thinking of selling, until he discovered that in the condition it's in - which is far from terrible, just average for its age and mileage, and it's roadworthy - it's only worth a couple of grand. To get the headline prices on that model would require spending thousands having it professionally restored - basically a full strip down and rebuild.

ICBM

EricTheWeary said:

Camper vans are like this but with the additional complication of things like burners and beds - £thousands for a basic refit before you even get to the engine and the bodywork. On the other hand in good condition they hold value better than the equivalent base vehicle. The Bambi is tiny by modern standards so it won't be an easy sale but there are enthusiasts for these things - like people paying over the top for a Woolworths Top Twenty.

Ha! I have the direct experience of doing that. In the last year or two I have done several of that type of old junk guitar - completely rebuilt them to be decent enough guitars (although I know some people here will still tell me I'm wrong ) - and sold them for good prices. Essentially they're worth the value of the work, not the guitar.

Same with the old Merc - the people who spend tens of thousands on a professionally restored one are basically buying a handbuilt new car that used to be an old car, and the work is by far the largest part of the cost.

Philly_Q

EricTheWeary said:

Essentially you have the van part and the habitation part. If the van is in good working order with an MOT then the value depends on the habitation. Was it done by a reputable company (there have been dozens of such companies,  often quite short lived although a quick Google suggests Danbury and Auto homes did a lot of the Bedfords) or self converted (ie worth f* *k all,  unless done exceptionally well )?  Does anything need replacing?  Does it all need replacing?  

EricTheWeary said:
Camper vans are like this but with the additional complication of things like burners and beds - £thousands for a basic refit before you even get to the engine and the bodywork. On the other hand in good condition they hold value better than the equivalent base vehicle. The Bambi is tiny by modern standards so it won't be an easy sale but there are enthusiasts for these things - like people paying over the top for a Woolworths Top Twenty. 

So I'm looking for a Bambi-enthusiast equivalent of a vintage-collecting dentist or lawyer, rather than Harry Seven?

This is interesting and very useful.... I had naively assumed that the beds/seating, cooker etc were all just part of the original fittings.  But it's actually an entirely separate process?  That goes some way to explaining the different asking prices.

I'm pretty sure my dad bought it already fitted out, although I think they replaced all the soft furnishings etc at a later date (they'd be pretty rank now if they hadn't...).  There's a sticker in the back window with the name of the original dealer, but that's probably not who fitted it out.  I'll get some more details from my dad (if he remembers).

Thanks also for the suggestions about Facebook etc.  I'm not on Facebook - and my dad doesn't have any form of internet-connected device - but I'll ask my brother to have a look into that.

EricTheWeary

Apart from some VWs the beds,etc, will almost certainly have been put in by a specialist fitter ( or DIY enthusiast) and not the original van manufacturer. Probably when the vehicle was still new but possibly later. Some of these fitters are more respected than others.

Camper vans and motorhomes are three basic types of build: van conversion, coach built or A Class. Most camper vans will be van conversions, you can see that it's a van with panels taken out. But some of the Bedfords were coach built, that is they use the van cab and the base of the vehicle but stick a light weight box on top. Your dad's Bambi will probably look like that ( looks like a pick up truck with a big square box on the back, which is basically what it is). The base vehicle is a Rascal which was the British built version of the Suzuki Super Carry so you see Bambi's with the Suzuki badge on as well. There was also a Ford version of the Suzuki and they made and sold the vans all over the world so spare parts for the van part of the Bambi should be suprisingly easy to get ( even though the Bedford name stopped being used in 1991 according to google). 
The biggest problem with coach built types is the box itself, once you start getting leaks ( around the seams or where Windows,etc, are fitted)then they can be difficult to repair. 

A Class are where they use the axles, engine, etc, but not the cab and build a box around the entire thing, but these are relatively rare these days apart from high end motorhomes. This is Ralph, one of the motorhomes we've rented, which is an A class - there's the basics of a 1990s Mercedes van underneath the Hymer body and fittings. 

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/phlplls/Mobile Uploads/2015-07/IMAG0159_zpswknktvcx.jpg

Philly_Q

Thanks!  This is all very new to me, but I see you know your stuff!

It's definitely a van conversion, looks pretty much like this one (to the best of my memory and my very untrained eye).

The front of the roof got bashed at one point when my dad drove it under a low arch, but he got that properly fixed.

TheMarlin

The Bambi is not as desirable as a VW Camper, so you won't get VW kind of money.  I've had three campers.  Went to see one of these, and wasn't a fan....

If if you want to best money for it, get any jobs sorted first, and make sure it's squeaky clean inside and out.  

Good luck

Marlin

guitarcookie1

A quick google suggests there is a bambi owners club. Maybe give them a try? 

Hootsmon

John_P

guitarcookie1 said:

A quick google suggests there is a bambi owners club. Maybe give them a try? 

+1
ive had a few campers but all variations of vw - Bay windows and T4.    Each brand has its own fans and market so there will be aspects of the van that will attract or put off potential buyers.   At a guess I'd say if it looks clean and rust free, drives well then try a few ads around 4K and drop if you don't get any interest.     

Philly_Q

guitarcookie1 said:

A quick google suggests there is a bambi owners club. Maybe give them a try? 

Yes, I've seen their website.  Forum doesn't seem to be very active, and I'm a bit wary of being "bloke who signs up just to sell something", but I might give it a shot.

TheMarlin said:

If if you want to best money for it, get any jobs sorted first, and make sure it's squeaky clean inside and out.  

That sounds like too bloody much hard work, but I guess we could get it valeted....

Sambostar

I shouldn't think it will be worth much as it stands, maybe £3k tops if it is mint and up to date, although I guess to that rare person, the size might be an advantage I would have thought around £800 although there is a fanbase of bedford rascals.  Have you thought about possibly modding it?

ICBM

lol

I guessed what that was going to do when I saw the roll bars .

I saw an unloaded Transit Tipper nearly do that once, when doing an emergency stop - the back wheels lifted a couple of feet off the ground.

It wasn't even Sambostar driving, I don't think...

Philly_Q

Sambostar said:

I shouldn't think it will be worth much as it stands, maybe £3k tops if it is mint and up to date, although I guess to that rare person, the size might be an advantage I would have thought around £800 although there is a fanbase of bedford rascals.  Have you thought about possibly modding it?

I have a nasty feeling my dad could manage that without modding it, all the more reason for him to sell it....