Scam or Real? 1990 VW Vanagon Westfalia Camper – $10k in Arcata, CA
Updated 3/30 8pm PST: One of our users commented on Facebook they’ve seen more pictures of the van, but that there’s significant seam rust and no title at the moment, and no CA smog certificate.
Here’s an interesting specimen that landed on the Humboldt County, California craigslist last night, however I’m weary that it may be a scam. This find is a 1990 VW Vanagon Westfalia Camper with a rebuilt engine, stock 4 speed manual transmission and 178k miles with an asking price of $10k. I’d really like for this to be real, and I apologize to the seller if they’re legit, however I think it’s bogus, so be careful if you’re interested or have been in contact with the seller.
Why might this be a scam?
1. The seller says there are Thule roof racks that can hold kayaks, bikes, camping gear, etc, though there are no rack mounts visible on the pop top. I know in some rare cases, the mounts are actually attached to the top, and not the sides.
2. The seller states the engine was “rebuilt” by GoWesty in 2006, however GoWesty (as far as I know), doesn’t do traditional engine rebuilds, they only sell their own versions of remanufactured, larger displacement wasserboxers.
3. The plastic rocker panel covers behind the kitchen are missing, and I believe these were stock in 1990.
4. The price is just too low for a running/driving sub <200k miles 1990 Westy Camper in Northern California.
5. The seller seems to imply mileage is accurate, but also states the odometer cable needs to be replaced?
6. The seller is already stating they live in AK, but work in Humboldt, which while it might be legit, this adds to the numerous other red flags already states.
So, what do you think? Real or Scam? Let us know in the comments below or head on over to the individual discussions about this Westy on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Google +. I’m going to email the seller now and report back here.
