This 1984 Volkswagen Vanagon is a standard van model that was previously converted into a camper with all the Westfalia package trimmings, sans pop-top roof. The interior features some smart upgrades to make living the van life possible without the added complexity/maintenance needs of the leak-prone roof. It is equipped with an automatic transmission, so acceleration will be glacial, but speed is not the point of one of these. The Vanagon did duty as a daily driver for the seller before becoming a recreational vehicle, and while it has some needs, they all sound manageable based on the seller’s seemingly honest listing. Find it here on eBay with bids to just over $5K, no reserve, and located in West Jordan, Utah.
The current bid price is higher than I was expecting for a non-Westy Vanagon. Of course, that goes with what I’ve believed for a while, that functional vehicles like this that can either simply look cool parked at the beach or be used for an active on-the-road lifestyle will increasingly be in demand as workers continue to shift to virtual work arrangements and the conventional life in the ‘burbs lifestyle fades away. That’s just one man’s opinion, but I’ve not seen the interest in van culture subside much since it became more of a household topic among the millennial set. Credit social media platforms like Instagram that make living on the side of the road seem glamorous.
Of course, there’s no question with the right set-up, living free of utility bills and yard maintenance can look pretty great. This Vanagon has been upgraded with various shelving and storage units, a folding bench seat that doubles as a bed, privacy curtains, propane stove, sink, refrigerator. Glancing at the eBay auction pictures confirms that a previous owner stripped out a Westfalia edition Vanagon and transplanted all of the camping-related equipment into a base model GL trim. This is something I’ve wanted to do with my 1981 Toyota HiAce project, as there’s a local junkyard with a Bus that retains all of the original shelving and fridge units, but I just haven’t had the time to yank it all out.
The driver’s compartment features swiveling captain’s chairs, adding to the functionality of the interior. It’s funny: I used to chastise anything with an automatic, but having driven some very slow vehicles with a manual ‘box, I can see the merits. You aren’t going fast anyway, so why not give your left foot a rest? Other than the additional upkeep, it’s not a bad thing at all in a rig like this. The seller notes the Vanagon uses some oil and coolant and claims he just keeps it topped off and then forgets about it. Bids are already taking the Vanagon past the point of just being a cheap toy to play with on the weekends, and given how many good ones are out there at a given time, the converted interior is likely boosting interest among the van life contingent. Could you live without a pop-top roof in your camper?
Some people will dis it for not having a pop top, but it does look ok other than the dents and rust issues on the driver’s side. Price is ok if it doesn’t go up too much.
That’s all Westfalia factory gear in this rig. You could order this package with everything but the pop top and that’s probably what it is. The time and energy to get everything out of the donor, which includes the propane tank and lines for the refrigerator and stove, is pretty high. Also, we owned 2 pop up campers, a ’77 and an ’84 special edition, and neither one leaked. As an ’84 this one has the water cooled engine with is reliable with good power compared to the air cooled 2.0 liters.
Sweet looking VW Vanagon. I’d buy one if I could find a decent condition model.
nope..sorry NOT a “factory” camper. Notice the station wagon headliner,. Notice the lack of the air conditioning evaporator/fans/housing IN “hollow” cabinet over the bed. Westfalia used a KOMBI with bare metal inside (and non-metallic paint) to build campers of all types. This is a converted passenger van. One of the ONLY reasons to put up with the leaky VW drive train was to get the stand up space you have with the pop top. This will need an engine SOON. Kinda battered van with a bed and some cabinets for BIG money. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got over 400,000 on my 84 Westfalia (250,000 with Subaru power) and wouldn’t have anything else. This van’s price just shows how popular and expensive the actual VW camper has become.
My eyes my eyes, I read the above comment. A stupid rue motor in a German van. Subaru motors have serious head leakage issues. Not to mention the big bucks to convert. $5000.00 is a fair price. Look up go westy for sticker shock. And yes the water cool motors with auto trans are slow but mine will do 80 on the flat and Florida, not so good at Bear Claw pass,10500 ft at the pass. That’s Billings to Cody for you that don’t know.My Westy has 280 thou. on the clock.Great camper…However I am putting a 2014 Jetta TDI motor in the puppy.I just wore out the water pumper.
You sure you don’t mean Beartooth Pass? Taking one of these up there is not what I’d consider a good time.
We went 89,000 miles on our stick shift ’84. Only problem we had was the pilot bearing fell apart at around 40K. Looked like the roller cage got damaged when installed. Steve and Stephan.. congrats on that much mileage. The only complaint we had on the ’84 was the front seats. Did a lot of long hauls across the country and they did get uncomfortable pretty quick. About half of our mileage was with towing our race car,car and trailer totaled 2,600 lbs, and we had no problems at all running 70 mph on the interstates using the cruise control. Had a lot of fun with it. Also, see what you mean about the A/C hole. Didn’t catch that first time around. Those were good units. The 100 plus stuff in Oklahoma would have been rough without it.
I’m glad we finally had an expert chime in on VW engine conversions! Funny..Head gasket issues. I install a lot of these engines in vans. Smoother, quieter, better fuel economy and CLEANER., I install new, and the latest design, Subaru head gaskets with new bolts etc and have yet to see a head gasket failure. The original VW engines have nothing BUT head gasket issues! I have had to deal with the inline engines in Vanagons. Wow.. Noisy, slow (YES the TDI!) with broken exhausts and motor mounts due to the vibration. The mileage not much better than the Subaru and on more expensive fuel (the rest of my personal fleet IS diesel BTW) If you go with a mechanical pump you have to increase the size of the pump driveshaft by using one from a Cummins B-series which creates its own issues. And..the cost? We did a stock rebuild on a 2.1 Vanagon engine in the bay next to a 2.2 Subaru conversion and the rebuild was MORE MONEY than the conversion. It is, with the wiring work, a pleasant weekend project. If you can’t do that kind of work by yourself, you cannot economically own a Vanagon anyway! I DID mention 250K trouble free on Subaru power, right? 49 states and 7 provinces. 3 months every summer. Season 5, Ep 9, Hasta Alaska.
You DO have to maintain them and even then, I’m sure a Vanagon owner coined the phrase “WTF?” Finding people who will do the work and SHOULD be doing the work is hard to do. I only do work for friends and family..(and people have asked to be adopted…) I rebuild the tranasxles and have been installing .77 4th which, when coupled with more power (2.1 or bigger) gives better mileage and cuts down the racket from under the engine lid. I have a 5 speed in my 84 and have changed out the interior to a later model with the adjustable arm rests and so on. Makes it a lot more comfortable. Added factory cruise, power steering and later front suspension. Years ago we counted and (including a 1950 panel van) I’d had over 100 VW vans. Parts vans many, but I’d get one on the road and someone would offer me a LOT more than I had in it and it would go to a happy new owner. I found this 84 and my wife said “You are KEEPING this one!”..and so we have. We are shut down now due to the lock down. Looking at the trans-Labrador highway if we can get out and across borders this summer. Make no mistake, my Sprinter is a better vehicle in every way. I still take the VW van because it’s more FUN! I am sitting 6 miles from over 500 VW Vanagons. It’s kinda spooky…
Yo Bro. If you are current on VW The 2014 TDI has counter rotating shafts which do sway with the vibes. My water pumper never had head issues,water pipe issues yes. And Go westy will sell you a good rebuild of a water pumper,which can be delt with. There is no way to install a subbie for the same money as a rebuilt water pumper. I paid my way through UF fixing air cools.My old split window double cab with a tweeked 1600 would go over 80.That is till some rat stole it.for me putting a subbie in a german machine is just wrong! each to thier own have fun, that is what it is about. Love ya bro SKH
Rut roe, yes it is a bear tooth. just beats the heck out of a mule. I bet you haven’t done this, but going 80 mph up the pass isn’t what I would call fun. Putting along at 50 which is about what the camper will do is just fine. There are a couple of 3000 ft drop-offs, and the campground at the pass is over the top. I have been to WY., Mont. the Blue Ridge, Crater lake, Zion , Arches, Niagara falls, Devils tower, pipestone , the Painted Desert, Mount Rushmore, and yes my mother and father drove to Alaska and back in the camper. Smiled all the way. And like a dog that won’t let go of a bone. Yes, d fuel is more costly, but longer on Oil change, no plugs or electrics, motors last forever, and it’s GERMAN TDI . Silky smooth, and power to spareGo Gators beat FSU