I’m excited to see this VW Camper back on craigslist. It popped up a few weeks ago without photos and the description made it sound worthwhile. While a camper by any other name, the Sundial conversion is fairly rare to see these days. Differences between this and a Westfalia were mostly cosmetic, other than Sundial being an American company. Find this rare variant here on craigslist near Boise for $21,999. Go here if the ad disappears.
Personally, I would jump at the chance to own this if I had been hunting for a proper early pop-top. Those are pricey to find, and the later ones just don’t light my fire. The combination of the prettier early design with the smaller bumpers and the full assortment of camper features make this Sundial super appealing. The seller says this Bus has been stored since 1983 in a shed and that everything remains in “…serviceable condition.” From here, the body does look fairly solid.
There’s a great online resource for these Sundials, located at www.Type2.com. They break down the key distinguishing features of the Sundial: “Sundial campers are most commonly recognized by five (three on driver side, two on the passenger side) SINGLE pane, pop-out windows rather than the LOUVERED style associated with the Westfalia campers. Often, they have a third non-popout single pane window on the passenger side.”
Inside, the seats have been removed but the seller says they are still with the vehicle. The interior is described as “ugly but usable.” The engine sounds mildly worked over and was rebuilt 32,000 miles ago. Upgrades include Isky hydraulic lifters, dual carburetors / dual port from a Squareback, and ball bearing throttle linkage, among other tweaks. The motor is not stuck and turns over; there’s just more work here than the seller wants to take on in his retirement years. Anyone ever owned a genuine Sundial?
So technically, this isn’t a Sundial as it has louvered windows….
And hanging the oil cooler in the engine compartment… not the greatest idea in a Bus that already has cooling issues..
I agree the oil cooler is troubling. They are using a Squareback motor which is a pancake motor but using an upright fan shroud which requires changing the cooler.
Perhaps they did and this is a secondary. But if they didn’t swap coolers and it’s the primary that’s a big problem.
Just curious…I have my Dad’s 1965 Bus that has placards that are imprinted with the word Sundial, but it has the louvered windows like the one pictured above…if it is not a Sundial then why do the placards say Sundial? And what is it?
Ok call me ignorant but that much for that bug bus ….no
Actually you must be out of touch. This is actually a pretty good deal. It won’t last long.
If it’s still strong enough to lift it with a factory jack and remove a wheel like that, it must still be pretty sound body wise. There are parts available and shops that are taking the buses like this and converting them into the multi-window buses that are so sought after. I’d say it may sell close to the asking price.
Pro move with that jack shot.
“Wheel pad” built by an Arizona engineer in 1971 . A fully self contained one-off creation . This Bus drives beautifully .
Being an avid vintage V.W. hobbyist for well over 35+ years. Specifically, 1940’s through late 1950’s era, the common layperson would be surprised at the iconic price tags Type-1 and Type-2 V.W.s command in today’s market. For that fact, even the extremely obsolete coachbuilts (Hebmullers, Rometschs, Danenhauer & Strauss); At some point private sales have already exceeded a quarter of a million dollars. This hobby is definitely not for the faint-of-heart. If anyone has an interest in perusing the V.W. scene, thesamba.com will enlighten you to a completely altered V.W. world. And yes, the asking price for this Type-2 in this condition is not out of line…
Tempo…thanks for your insight. The Samba is THE place to be enlightened about the air cooled buses. I must add that last year a friend of mine and I decided to jump in with a Campmobile from a few years later than this vehicle. Paid all of $3500 for it, decent amateur restoration on the exterior and mechanics, but in need of all new camp goodies inside.
How cool. I’m the proud owner of the oldest farthest north bus in the world, residing in Alaska, and it’s an early ’58 Sundial, been up here most of its life. Was looking for a website for accurate specs on this year Sundial, but hard to find info on these old girls…any ideas?