1963 VW Bus Sells For $217,800

by Bertel Schmitt

June 26th, 2011 12:41 PM

Got a VW microbus in your garage, back from when you listened to Jimi Hendrix and the Doors? Need some serious money? Two options:

You can either try to find one of those asbestos heat exchanger class action lawsuits (although it’s a bit late in the game).

Or you could put your bus up for auction. A good one can fetch $217,800

Yes, you did read right. A 23-window 1963 Volkswagen with full-length sunroof went for that price (including bidder’s fee) at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Orange County. This was “by far the most ever paid for one at auction,” says speedtv.

The second priciest car was a 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger from the Dave’s Garage Collection. It was bid up to $215,600

A brand new custom 2011 Mustang GT500 built by West Coast Customs went for the –by comparesion – relatively paltry sum of $105,000.

A 1973 Ferrari Daytona was bid to $325,000 but failed to meet its reserve.

Now don’t think any old VW bus will make you rich. It must be an exceptional one in exceptional condition. A lesser 1965 21-window VW bus had sold earlier for $82,500, with bidder fee.

Some other top sales (including bidder fees):

• 1957 Cadillac convertible, $172,700.

• 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III James Young sedan, $159,500.

• 2005 Ford GT, $165,000.

• 1970 Chevelle SS LS5 convertible, $137,500.

• 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner hardtop, $121,000.

• Custom 1955 Chevy Nomad, $121,000.

• 1968 Shelby GT350 convertible, 121,000.

• 1937 Ford street rod, $110,000.

• 1961 Impala coupe, $110,000.

• 1957 Chevrolet convertible, $106,700.

• 1958 Corvette 283/270 four- speed, $99,000.

#AntiqueCars #BertelSchmitt

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2 of 23 comments

Johnxyz on Jun 28, 2011

I've read several comments about the inordinately high sell prices at Barrett-Jackson in recent years. It's got to be Speed Channel coverage and really rich guys getting intoxicated in the auction fervor (the cocktail waitressess help that along, too). And then B-J adds their 10%! The sell prices on Mecum seemed so much lower. But you're in Indiana, sipping on PBR and not Vegas surrounded by bags of money, and celebrities (including the auctioneer assistants now famous in their own right). I've seen cars on Mecum I would of bid on. Do you have any examples of cars sold at B-J in the last 2-3 years (at any of the venues - doesn't matter) that have been a good deal, well-bought or even an outright steal??? That was crazy money for that Micro Bus... Auctions are kinda suppose to be a place to find a bargain, right?

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Nolaplus on Jan 29, 2013

I have a 69 van sitting in a backyard, just waiting for the chance for someone to fix it up and make a fortune. Want more info?

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