A cult following for a rare classic
The Volkswagen T2 has its roots in the German carmaker’s dream for an affordable car for the people. While the T1 ‘Bug’ was a wild hit, it was small and limited in carry capacity and power. Dutch importer Ben Pon was in Germany to purchase some T1s to sell back at his dealerships in the Netherlands when he came across a T1 that had been crudely modified into a light cargo hauler. He realized that VW could do better and fill a niche it was currently leaving on the table. His quick sketch eventually became the original T2, a car synonymous with the Hippie Movement, youthful rebellion, and counterculture.
While that first-generation T2 would eventually be retired, later T3s would begin to carve out their own identity, one that was a little less radical and a little more measured in its madness. The third-generation T2, also known as the T3, was produced from 1979 to 1989, and became the nucleus for a sort of ‘Van Life’ movement, which focused on responsible camping and road trip aesthetics. This particular example is the especially rare and sought-after Syncro version of the Vanagon Westfalia, pairing a powerful 4×4 transaxle with the Westfalia-style camper configuration. It has a few dings and worn edges, but it’s still in good shape with a solid core competency and plenty more adventuring left in her.
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A classic look with a blemish or two
The entire Vanagon has been done up in a rich, dark green, with a retrofitted GoWesty steel bumper kit front and back, with integrated hitching, as well as side rockers and wheel wells protected by a thick layer of black bed-liner material. The front has also been redone with a South African ‘Kombi’-style front face, a popular conversion for this kind of van. Two pairs of headlights sit on either side of a black slatted grille face, with a black-on-black VW logo placed squarely in the middle, while a second, thinner slatted grille rests between the turn lights.
The passenger side door opens to reveal a retractable ARB Touring side awning for sun and weather protection while at the campsite, and full utility connection ports have been installed, including a shore power connection port. The front brakes have been upgraded to discs, and the 16″ alloy wheels are shod with BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires, including the full-sized spare that is set on a rear door carrier. Some defects in the paint can be seen on the front paneling, as well as minimal rust, which the listing photos are careful to document thoroughly.
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Green and tan in a retro style
The interior features a driving compartment accessed by conventional driver and passenger doors, as well as a rear living space accessed by either the passenger sliding door or the barn-style rear doors. Up front, comfortable and commanding captain’s chairs sport tan vinyl with green styling inserts, matching the second row, rear-facing bucket seat, and the rear bench that doubles as a fold-out bed. All of these seating surfaces were reupholstered together as part of a 2013 reupholstery effort.
The dash has been carpeted in a slightly darker shade of tan, which extends down to the rest of the front cabin. The dash is minimal and austere, but does feature a retro-styled stereo with Bluetooth integration, with additional speakers built into the doors, as well as a heater and air conditioning. Driver and passenger windows are manually crank-operated, and a decorative strip of green vinyl adds contrast to the overall tan. The bi-spoke, bar-style black steering wheel boasts an embossed VW logo in the center and sits in front of a 0-100 mph speedometer, and a 7,000 rpm redline tachometer with built-in coolant and fuel level indicator gauges.
In the back, the aforementioned rear bench folds down into a bed, with a camper pop-up style tent and bed platform above it. There is a fold-down table for meals, as well as residential-style outlets and rear storage compartments. Several sliding windows with privacy curtains and a skylight add even more of a homey feel.
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Plenty of power, sent where it’s needed
The core of this vessel is a rebuilt, water-cooled 3.0L (183ci) Subaru flat-six, installed in 2025 alongside a new battery and alternator. Although the listing doesn’t mention which engine it is, our educated guess is that it’s either the 2000-2003 version of the Subaru EZ30D engine, or the 2003-2007 version, which saw some upgraded components. This would give a factory rating of about 217 horsepower and 213 lb-ft of torque in the first case or up to 240 horsepower and 219 lb-ft of torque in the latter.
In any case, all of that power is sent independently to all four wheels by way of a recently serviced four-speed manual transaxle, combining the transmission and axles with locking center and rear differentials, all in one assembly. Factory-standard independent front and rear suspension, as well as power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering, combine to provide responsive handling. The clutch has also been recently replaced.
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Final thoughts: The good, the bad, and the glass half-full or half-empty
For all the positives of this Vanagon Syncro Westfalia, there is also a list of incidentals requiring minor maintenance and repair. We’ve already mentioned the blemishes in the paint, especially on the front paneling, as well as a bit of rust. There’s also a bit of damage to the trim in the rear compartment, and the air conditioning does not blow as cold as it ought to.
An auxiliary ExpertPower deep-cycle battery has been fitted, which we didn’t mention, as the owner states that it is not currently in working order. There is a crack in the skylight that leaks slightly if exposed to rain, and the aftermarket ScanGage II diagnostic and information readout attached to the column is non-functional.
All in all, this is perfect for someone looking for a ‘project car’ that is overall road-ready and usable out of the gate, but if you’re making a bid, it should factor into the price you are willing to pay.
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