Last of the fourth generation T2
The VW T2 was born out of an effort to capitalize on the popularity of the T1 Beetle, which shot into popularity in the post-war European markets, and did very well overseas. The T2 would go by many names, some of them highly regional, like the Vanagon here in the States, or the Kombi in South Africa, with others more generic, like the Transporter or just simply Bus or Microbus. It would also see many generations since its introduction in 1950. The chassis proved very flexible, filling in well as a passenger van, but also a light utility truck, and in today’s example, a dedicated camper variant catering to the leisure-driven Van Life subculture.
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From the outside, a humble people-mover
One of the nice features of many of the smaller van-RV conversions is how much they do not look like a dedicated recreational vehicle. At a casual glance, there’s not much to mark this vehicle as anything other than a simple run-of-the-road passenger van. This can have tangible benefits, especially on the highway, where many motorists are more likely to be irritated by a larger, more unwieldy RV, and may even drive more aggressively. It is also nice when you get in and out of the campsite, or make stops to stretch your legs, as finding a fitting place to park and maneuvering a parking lot is a good deal easier.
This particular example comes in a stock and solid Silver Gray. The twin grilles are slim but wide, the upper one stretching to touch both headlights, and the bottom one about the same, though without so defined an endpoint. A blue, silver-lettered VW badge also sits at the center of the upper grille, with a matching one on the back just above the license plate. The back features a receiver hitch, with a tow ball listed as included in the sale. The roof naturally pops up to become a camp tent top, complete with a sleeping loft and zipper-controlled windows. When down, Yakima-branded roof crossbars allow lashing and connection points for storage. The 16″ five-spoke alloy wheels are finished in a black-on-black look, shod with Lionhart tires.
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On the inside, a proper Weekender
On the inside, a humble gray-colored cloth with lightly patterned inserts covers both front captain’s chairs, which are also heated. The dash and door paneling are padded in gray, matching the carpeting. Centrally located is a Pioneer stereo linked up to a GEX-P920XM digital satellite tuner by the same brand. Cruise control and air conditioning are also included. The steering wheel has two pairs of thin spokes on each side, making it almost like a bar-band spoke, but with spindle connection points. Behind it sits a gauge cluster with a 0-160 mph speedometer, a tachometer that redlines at 7,500 rpm, as well as secondary gauges for fuel and coolant levels.
Heading to the back, the passenger-side sliding door opens to a pair of rear-facing captain’s chairs, as well as a folding bench seat that can fold down to, if not a proper mattress, at least a place where an air mattress or enough blankets could be laid to serve as one. There is also a fold-up table, under-seat storage, and privacy curtains to keep out prying eyes. It’s probably not ideal for a true long-term ‘Van Life’ project, but for a day or two out of the house, there’s certainly enough of what you need to make it work.
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With all the power to get you there and back
Under the hood is a 2.8L (171ci) VR6, which effectively means you get the smooth and even power generation of a V6, but at a narrow-enough angle of attack that it packs in about the same space as an inline six. This engine has a factory-rated 201 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque.
All of that power is sent to the front wheels through a four-speed automatic transaxle, combining the transmission, differential, and front axles into one efficient assembly. Steering is effected by power-assisted rack-and-pinion, while braking is done by discs on all wheels. The odometer reads 107,000 miles, which, as far as we know, is the accurate figure.
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Final thoughts: All you have to do is pick where to go
Many modern recreational vehicles, even the smaller Class B van conversions, pack in a whole lot of extras that perhaps get in the way of the more rugged and austere camping experience we’re looking for in the first place. VW’s tradition of offering simple, reliable, and no-frills Westfalia camping variants of their T2 vans is nothing new, and thanks to today’s offer, nothing new means just the way it was meant to be. If you’re going out to yearn and pine for simpler times, this van is a great way to do it.
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