1972 Volkswagen T2 Campervan

Finished in Sunflower Yellow and Champagne – has any colour combination ever better summed up vanlife – this 1972 Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter campervan came to these shores from the sunny climes of California in 2017.

‘HHR 760K’, who is known within her family as Sophia, was built and completely restored in the same year by VW campervan specialists Morecambe and Wize. The work was comprehensive, comprising a bare metal respray before being refitted with many new and reconditioned components, including the rebuilt original 1600cc air-cooled engine.

The seller and her husband chose to commission Sophia from this particular company after hiring a camper van called Ernie, that had been restored by M&W, as a surprise weekend away – and they went from just one trip to buying Sophia within a month, which speaks volumes as to the quality of their work.

They found dealing with Morecambe and Wize a delight too, and the past years with her in their lives have been wonderful: “She was our pride and joy. Everywhere we went people loved her. She's been totally reliable; she's never broken down”.

Freshly serviced and fitted with a new battery at the very end of 2024, only a change in circumstances is forcing the sale of this beloved campervan.

The Transporter was stripped down to a bare shell in 2017 as the first stage in its restoration. The bodyshell was then soda-blasted before being etch primed and then painted in Sunflower Yellow, a wonderful shade that is straight out of the VW catalogue.

All of the metalwork was covered, so the engine bay and interior are finished to the same high standard as the exterior.

The wheels and bumpers were then colour-coded in Lotus White to complement the coachwork, as was the pop-up roof. The latter also received new fabric sides and new seals when it was reinstalled, with the doors and windows also being refitted with new rubber seals.

The front of the ‘van was refreshed in December 2024, and the overall condition is very good indeed with excellent shutlines and an attractive gloss to the paintwork.

But then it should look good given how well she’s been looked after. How well? We hear you ask. Well, let’s put it this way; her husband went to the trouble and expense of raising their garage roof to provide Sophia with somewhere dry to live: “She’s very much a part of the family.”

The steel wheels are finished with a set of chromed hubcaps, and the T2 sits on 185R14 tyres, with one being an Event Road 2005, and the other three being Kormoran Vanpro. The spare tyre, which lives on the nearside rear inside the cabin, is a brand new Event that still has the label on it.

The pop-up roof rises and falls as it should, and the fabric sides look very smart. The fabric is also fitted with mesh inserts to provide a draft of air while still keeping the bugs out.

There’s a recess up top too, plus lash-down points, so it could be used to carry light luggage.

The lamp lenses, window glazing, and badges are all good, the numberplates are a pair of smart pressed aluminium plates, and a natty aerial sits on the offside front.

As for flaws, there is a dink on the offside of the rear bumper, minor surface corrosion and pitting to front headlight covers and the wiper arms, an area of bubbling beneath the offside rear door, and a small chip to the offside rear panel just below the window.

There is excess adhesive on rubber trim on the doorsteps, sticker residue on the rear panels, evidence of overspray on some door rubbers, and very light staining to the paint near the fuel cap.

Nothing much to worry about then, and you could sort most of that with a weekends work and minimal investment other than elbow grease.

The cabin was completely rebuilt in 2017 too, and the new furniture includes a full-width rock ‘n’ roll bed with space for another two to sleep under the pop-up roof above. 

The rock ‘n’ roll bed provides seating for three and there’s an additional buddy seat opposite with storage space underneath. This means you can sit around the stowaway table that cleverly tucks away in the rear roof space when it’s not being used.

All the seating was repaired as necessary in 2017 before being recovered in Champagne vinyl material. This included the cushions for the bed and the front seats. Interestingly, the front and buddy seats are embossed with the ‘MW’ logo, which is a lovely touch and one that gives us even more confidence in the quality of the rest of the work.

The front seats have seatbelts fitted, and the spares that come with the ‘van include another two that could be fitted in the rear.

Curtains are fitted throughout, and there is enough spare new material to make another set. Linen and blankets are also included.

The flooring is in an excellent condition with only a few minor marks.

New cabinets were also fitted by M&W, along with a new fridge/freezer, sink, and two-ring gas hob.

Electrickery includes a face-off Sony headunit and speakers, USB charging points, and a leisure battery with a hook-up point for connecting to the mains. EHU cables are included.

There’s a remote-controlled immobiliser too, and the instructions for using this are in the history file.

The seller is full of praise for the cleverness of the campervan’s interior; she says they never felt cramped, and when they pitched up at a campsite her job was to raise the roof while her husband plugged them in to shore power “and within five minutes we were drinking tea!” she laughed.

Mind you, by the time M&W built this one they had got eight years of experience under their belt, so the fact they’d got the design and build quality nailed isn’t a surprise.

The dashboard is the original and as for cosmetic flaws, there are a couple of marks to the door cards, the steering wheel is a little more patinated than everything else, and there is overspray on the pedals.

So, again, trivial stuff.

As you can see, the original engine, which was rebuilt in 2017 as part of the restoration, starts and runs very well indeed.

The only mechanical problem we are aware of is the engine cover, which is stiff and would benefit from adjustment, lubrication and/or a new catch.

It should also be kept on a battery trickle charger to prevent discharge.

The engine bay is nicely presented, and bears witness to that recent expenditure.

As for the underside, it’s as clean and strong as you’d expect to see on a recently restored vehicle that’s spent much of its life in the sunny Californian climate – and been so thoroughly pampered here in the UK.

The VW’s MoT certificate expired in October 2024, which means it doesn’t have a current MoT certificate. Yes, it is exempt by virtue of its age, but we would nonetheless encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported vehicle, and the VW comes with two sets of keys and two remote
controls for the immobiliser.

The invoices for the work in 2017 by Morecambe and Wize are on file, as is the invoice for the comprehensive service and new battery it received in December 2024.

With a guide price of between £22,000 and £27,000, this Volkswagen Type 2 campervan offers the enthusiast an awful lot of possibilities: it could be used for weekends and holidays away, both here and abroad; it could be used to encompass the whole #vanlife lifestyle, giving you a place to live and work from; or it could be used as a haven to support your hobbies.

Heck, it could even be used as a promotional/hospitality vehicle for your business, with all the tax breaks that could involve.

Regardless of what you use it for, this is a delightfully presented, strong, and reliable way to ease yourself into the VW campervan scene – and given it wove its magic on the seller back in 2017, we’re confident it’ll do the same for you and your family in 2025!

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.