I just found this site and more info about barth campers yesterday while looking for a motorhome on craigslist. I found a 1972 21' barth with 47k miles. It has a chevy 400 that apparently runs well, and 6 new tires that cost him $1100. He is asking $2700. Apparently there is a little water damage from a missing rivet in the luggage rack, and he has removed the bathroom.

I am a carpenter and can build out the inside to my liking, just wondering if this is a good deal for a Barth of this vintage, with this engine, etc.

Thanks so much

Josh, have you laid your hands on it yet? I have seen many pics of Barths on Craigs List that were downright deceiving. You've really got to go look at it or have someone else who is knowledgeable look at it for you. $2700 isn't a bad number if it was really good. But it doesn't sound really good. Why did he remove the bathroom? Was it due to the leak? Did the floors rot out in the area of the leak? Engine, drive train, suspension would all have to be in good shape for me to pay that much. You can tell a lot about a motor home by seeing how it is kept and pictures don't show you that. And there's no substitute for driving it. The real cost of the motor home is not what you pay for it but how much money you will spend getting it in good, dependable shape.
Hum

Ditto to what Jim and/or Tere said.

Barths have an aluminum structure for the most part, so you will not need to worry about rot there, but I'm not buying for a minute that one rivet could cause that much damage.

Take a good look around the windshields for steel structural rot and don't hand over any cash until you've laid eyes on the prise

I am going to see it tomorrow, and I have automotive knowledge, so I will drive it, look it over, etc. He removed the bathroom because he only purchased the rig to take it to burning man, and he wanted more space in the camper. The rivet hole has just caused a small soft spot in the ceiling. It is definitely not polished (obvious from the photos), but I will most definitely go over it before i decide to do anything.

craigslist post

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/rvs/2869520397.html

What is a fair price for one of these with a good drivetrain (he just drove it to reno, nv and back pulling a trailer) but a roof leak (minor) and no bathroom, 47k miles, etc.

I am just looking for a cool rig to mostly park at a farm that I am running this summer, so I actually don't plan on driving it a lot (im into fuel efficiency and would be looking for a 5.9 liter cummins if that were the case), just a nice space to spend time, and something that looks good on the farm.

Thanks for the help so far.

Josh: Seller is asking $2700.00, what are you going to offer??? Good luck, you can be very happy if you buy it right. You have the skill to do your own repairs...........

Josh,

Have you looked very long? There have been some really nice Barths come up for sale in the under $5000 range. My thoughts are you could quickly end up with over $5000 in this one where as you could have upgraded to another unit requiring less work for the same money......

Just food for thought...hope it turns out well!

K&E

Buy it.
We can finally have a Barth get together in Northern colorado.
Sounds like a good price to me.

Welcome to this bunch of brand-specific zealots, Josh
The forty year old motorhome to which you refer is always going to need something repaired or replaced. Accept that. ergo what can and cannot be replaced?
As I recall, the windshields (if they are about 16" high) are absolutely no longer available for 72,73 Barth. I'm sure someone here will correct me if I am wrong.
Conversely, most chassis and engine parts are readily available. Most interior components are readily available or have better contemporary alternatives, i.e. LED vs. incandescent lighting.
Josh, few other motorhome or travel trailer brands have the robust body construction of a Barth. So, the 40 yr old one you found is probably more structurally sound than SOB's (some other brand) 12 years old.
I urge you to initially spend a few hours browsing this site. Contribute and buy the CD's too.
There is a wealth of information here.
The contributors who have been here much longer than I represent such a pool of knowledge that you can feel more at ease about sticking your neck out to get that antique.

Josh, the lower aluminum skin is attached to the body by a system of 1" square steel tubing. Carefully inspect it so you know how much you will have to replace due to rust. On my '85 Regal, the tubing on all four corners rusted badly. Also inspect the lower storage compartments for rust.
Also, the ad mentions a '400' motor. 21' Barths usually, maybe always, had the small block 350. Longer Barths had the big block 454. GM did make a 400 cubic inch engine in the early 70s. Maybe this is the case here.
Hum

An added note on the 400 Chevy. Unlike the Pontiac 400 which was a small-big block, the Chevy 400 was a big-small block that necessitated Siamese cylinders to get that displacement. This means there is no water jacket between each cylinder causing all sorts of wear issues and overheating potential. RVs are already prone to cooling issues, but the Chevy 400 would be a real gamble. The 350 and 454 are much better motors for this application. The 400 was a bear at the drag strip though!!

Corey,

Enlighten me some.....I had understood there was a "small block 400 Chevy" and a "Big Block 400 Chevy" which were two different engines..... is that true?

K&E

TheBIG BLOCK IS 402 CUBIC IN. Which was a 396 .030 overbore ( not one of GM's better ideas) Small block is 400 cubic in. we run a 400 cubic inch boared .035 in our dragster (8.00seconds) in the 1/4 mile when it is feeling good But stick to a 350 or 454 for your motor home.

quote:

But stick to a 350 or 454 for your motor home.

Hopefully somebody did not stick a CAR engine in that 40 yr. old Barth. The 454 is a TRUCK engine. Neither a 454 nor a (Ford) 460 belonged in a CAR. Even so, it happened.
Given the inherent cooling problem of a 400, it was okay for a CAR, but not a TRUCK, let alone a motorhome.
In fact, very few engines are well-suited to being smothered under the front doghouse or the rear bed of a motorhome.

Siamesed bores are OK if overheating is avoided. Our Barth and boat both have 502s with Siamese bores, and are fine.

quote:

Corey,

Enlighten me some.....I had understood there was a "small block 400 Chevy" and a "Big Block 400 Chevy" which were two different engines..... is that true?

I think you got your answer before I could respond, but there was never a 400 big block Chevy.