Normally, when we see Westfalias pop up (get it?) for sale, they fall into two categories: completely restored examples that sell for outrageous prices, and rust buckets with trashed interiors that need so much work they just don’t appeal. This 1969 example is pleasingly right in the middle: some rust and needs a motor but not so rusty and/or trashed inside that the weekend hobbyist couldn’t take it on. Find this Bus here on eBay listed at no reserve and bidding under $5K.
Bidding ends Monday evening, so we suspect this weekend will see a jump in price as more potential buyers check it out. And check it out they should: this Bus has a great vibe with the desirable pop-top camper, factory steel wheels, hippie stickers in the back glass and tidy chrome bumpers (rear bumper missing). The way the seller tells it, this Westy spent a few years languishing in Colorado after its long-time owners lost a battle with the town that tired of seeing it sitting on their property with no means of propulsion.
The good news is that even during that time, it clearly stayed sealed up. The interior and sleeping quarters look fairly clean, as you tend to know right away if living in one of these vans for a few days would be dangerous to your health. The curtains are a nice touch and there’s plenty of potential inside to dress this Westy up with all sorts of vanning gear. If there’s one thing I’ve learned since buying my HiAce, the “using your van for camping” industry is a booming market.
Overall, despite being off the road for a number of years and stored outside, the VW is still looking fairly solid. While there is rust – which the seller describes as being in the “usual places” – it doesn’t look like a battle with the tin worm that’s already been lost. A new motor and transmission will have to be sourced, but this is a perfect excuse to upgrade to a Subaru flat-four, which would make this Westy one that you’d feel confident taking anywhere. At what price point would you consider this a bargain purchase?
So, where is the little stove, counter, ice-box and minute table????
Best guess, they were tossed out for a set of bongos, an acrylic smoking apparatus, and a bean bag chair.
They tossed out all the things that make this a camper. To me now it is just a VW van with a pop up roof.
Man, these things were slow on hills!
They are slow uphill downhill flat roads you name it slow ,but fun
What’s your hurry?
Yuck, it’s a slushimatic.
Always liked type 2’s even the camper version.
My sister had a ’68 that I remember taking on one of the best drives of my life. Back roads between Whitmore Lake & Okemos, sunny summer afternoon in southern Michigan, by myself with the windows down and rowing through the gears. Going way too fast around the corners. Gave real meaning to being able to drive a slow, underpowered car quickly.
Of course her van had a motor in it…
I spent 10 days in one of these. (The same color.) Nick named “The Lead Twinkie”. Up in the U.P. during the Press On Regardless rally. Thankfully it had a gas heater. And when 4 people sleep in one of these at the same time in late October in the U.P.. It rains inside from the condensation. Aah the fun of youth!
(geesh, I just figured out that it was 40 years ago! What happens to the time?)
I know it was The Lead Twinkie, not a time machine. Plus, it would never get to 88mph unless it was over the cliff!
seen em (2nd generation) in Africa, NZ, Ireland, CO, don’t matter…
~keep on truckin~
BTW: I think I recognize the stickers…
A resto with an upgrade would be my choice since you already need to source a engine and transaxle why not put in a 6 cyl. Subaru that’ll get you up to 88 mph. I sure wouldn’t want to be in a wreck in one of these, you wouldn’t need a coffin. The just bury you in the crushed bus. It would be a fun driver though with the extra power.
These ride & handle better than anything of that era. Subaru engine on the wrong side of the transmission for this body . Somebody would have to do some serious fabrications !
Put a corvair engine & trans in it. At least twice the power, and it would be a *period correct* upgrade. ;-)
They call it a Transvair.