1973 Volkswagen T2 Camper

The owner of this immaculate camper makes their living by importing and creating parts for these cult classic vehicles, so it stands to reason that they know a good one when they’re presented with one. The camper is an import from the dry sunshine state of California and as a result had survived with very little rust damage to the oxidation prone bodyshell, something these vehicles are unfortunately all too familiar with. Talking of the dreaded tin worm, it’s something the new owner won’t have to worry about at all due to the incredible condition this camper is in, and the measure taken to preserve the metalwork for years to come, now that’s something we can all get behind. 

The camper has spent 8 years on this side of the pond, with its full and comprehensive restoration being completed recently. Some of the work that has gone into this camper is truly impressive and we’ll highlight that in the ‘History Highlights’ section, but put succinctly, this camper has undergone a genuine ‘nut and bolt’ restoration with no aspect being missed out. 

Looking over the camper it becomes more and more apparent that it has been built to such a standard that it beats the condition of the vehicle when it was new, due to the increased care and more modern practices now employed in the automotive industry. You simply wouldn’t be able to come closer to a brand new, modern day classic camper and should perhaps think of this vehicle as a love letter to the original camper, being able to work without fault in the modern-day rat race whilst still retaining its 70’s charm.

It should be unsurprisingly by now, as I’m sure the images have reeled you in, to know that the outside of this camper is flawless, the simple but effective white colour is beautifully contrasted by a lace pattern section in the roof, matching aspects of the interior. That lace work isn’t just a vinyl sticker either, its proper paint, a tasteful nod to the ‘lowrider’ culture of California from which it came. Another respectful homage to the ‘lowrider’/’Americana’ tuning culture comes in the form of the Enkei Slot Mag alloys which shine resplendently against the crisp white exterior. In addition to the alloys, which also came from America due to none being available here, are the brand-new and superb, BF Goodrich tyres, plenty of tread and life left in the period correct items. The white lettering completes the look and adds further evidence to the fact that the current owner was not willing to let anything stop them from producing the best vehicle possible. 

The fit and finish around the exterior of this camper is truly sublime, with the panel gaps standing up to even the most discerning eye. All handles around the car are items that the current owner makes in house for the whole VW scene and the window and door rubbers all round have been checked and replaced. As a result of this, the camper has one key to unlock all doors as opposed to various different keys that do different things, as is often the case with some classics.

As good as the outside of this camper is, the interior is as good if not better, staying true to the era this camper came from and sticking with a colour combination theme throughout, the finish of the interior is absolutely fantastic. The current owner is no stranger to interior trim work but shared the job of kitting this camper out with a company called ‘Steve’s Trim Shop’ who treated and painted all interior frames and trimmed and fitted the diamond stitch patterned upholstery with the carpet to match. We think you’ll agree when we say that it suits the look of the camper down to the ground and looks superbly comfortable as well. 

Now there is a lot more to the interior of a camper than there is on the exterior by its very nature of being a camping vehicle, however, in addition to the level of care and attention to detail received by the exterior of the camper, the interior is no exception. Every aspect of the interior has been carefully gone over, parts checked and replaced where needed to bring it up to the show quality spec it now enjoys. From front to back then, the camper has been treated to new parts galore, the steering box was checked and rebuilt giving the highest level of feel from the wheel. The wheel incidentally is another item produced in house by the current owner, a stunning wood trimmed item that fits the aesthetic of the ‘Cali’ spec camper perfectly whilst being a thing of beauty, in its own right. 

The Camper benefits from a few modern touches inside along with the vast array of new parts, for example there is a modern stereo system, modern, reliable electrics including all new plug sockets and even USB ports. There is a new electrical management system which houses all the fuses as seen in the gallery below, to moderate all the different outlets and aspects of both the driving and leisure electrical systems. Moving through the rest of the interior, the camping creature comforts such as the fridge, sink, hob and units are all new with the protective plastic still present on many of the appliances, there for the new owner to remove to their satisfaction. Both leisure and engine batteries in the car are brand new so should provide plenty of trouble-free driving and ‘leisuring’ for the new owner to enjoy. 

In summary then, the interior of this camper is a fantastic place to be and would definitely be classified as ‘glamping’ rather than camping, a 1970’s campervan brought right up to modern standards whilst keeping the 70’s charm many VW enthusiasts have come to know and love.

As this camper is a Californian import, the state of the bodywork was preserved in the dry climate as opposed to the damp and salted roads of the UK. This van was chosen by the current owner because of the near immaculate condition of the underside. The current owner made the wise decision to showcase that off by repainting the underside to freshen it up to show quality. All suspension components were either replaced or sandblasted and painted in gloss black to contrast the brilliant white paintwork. The result is an underside you truly could eat your dinner off, it’s so clean in fact, we’d be hesitant to take it anywhere dirty and might just perhaps park it above some floor mounted mirrors in a show and shine and wait for the trophies to roll in. 

There are only good things to say and see underneath this van, and to ensure it stays that way for years to come, the insides of the frame rails have been treated with rust preventative measures. 

From the underside, you can see the engine and gearbox sat pride of place at the back of the van, coupled to the brand new, larger diameter, side exit exhaust. The engine and gearbox have not escaped the keen eye of the current owner who has spared no expense to get the 1600cc unit looking and performing its best. Both engine and gearbox were rebuilt with the engine having brand new barrels, pistons, reconditioned cylinder heads, new seals and gaskets all round, it has been table tested and run in since its rebuild so all that’s left to do is turn the key and enjoy. The speedo has been ‘zeroed’ from the time the restoration has been complete to reflect having the brand-new engine fitted and now shows the running in mileage of ‘220’. The wiring is all new throughout the engine bay and cabin, and there even seems to be a fire-suppression system in place in the engine bay as a precautionary measure to any mishaps that may occur.

The current owner is no stranger to VW campers clearly and whilst this car is an import, the owner has done the best to keep any invoices and receipts of work completed during the restoration period, however please note all invoices we have are digital, provided from the seller on a USB stick.

Major works are listed below:

• MOT valid until 10/11/2022
• Various suspension and drivetrain parts 
• Various interior trim pieces, including windows
• WaxOil rust protection – Bitec - 12/05/2021
• C-Line 240 Volt Socket + back box – Electronic trading co – 12/05/2021
• Engine rebuild – MCJ -15/07/2021
• Split charge relay 12V 140A – Auto Electrical Parts LTD – 21/09/2021
• Sargent Electrical – EC160 – Jacksons Leisure Supplies – 12/05/2021
• Blast & powdercoat seat frames, supply rock & roll bed frame, trim seats, door panels, carpet to match – 06/07/2021
• Engine sundries
• Bodywork refresh inside, outside and underneath, paint all suspension components in gloss black – MCJ - 19/12/2021
• B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A – 02/03/2021
• Under bonnet heat shield – Car Insulation – 19/10/2021
• T2 perforated, off white headliner – 10/01/2021
• T2 aerial antenna – Car Masts UK – 17/05/2021
• Windscreen – Botley Windscreens
• Enkei Slot mag wheels – 26/09/2018
• Bespoke camper cabinets – Hewnaw Furniture
• Leisure battery – GCD Garage LTD – 18/10/2021
• Sound deadening – Car Audio Warehouse – 27/06/2021
• Sandblast underside and suspension components – MCJ – 22/12/2020

These campers have and will always be a hit with enthusiasts looking for a taste of the great outdoors, on the hunt for adventure, and they will continue to pull premium prices, especially in a condition such as this. 

This camper represents something a little bit more special above other T2 campers, in the fact that it is brand new, everything on the bus has been replaced with brand new, quality items, or refurbished back to a better than new standard using modern practices. It comes from the state of California and brings with it the free spirit this bus has personified over the years. It has some fantastic attention to detail from a conscientious and careful owner, and even manages to pay homage to its roots with some beautifully executed features. 

Put simply, if you’re in the market for a T2 camper that you can make memories with and keep for all occasions, you will really struggle to find one better than this. 

Our estimate for this vehicle is £29,000 - £38,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at our headquarters near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, so to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.