1975 Volkswagen T2 Devon Camper

With a total of just four previous keepers, this delightful little Type 2 Devon campervan is fresh from a comprehensive programme of restoration that has left it minty fresh and running beautifully; the vendor used it for a family wedding at the weekend and then drove it 300 miles to us – and we aren’t sure which event showed the greater degree of faith in the old bus but she didn’t let him down on either occasion.

But then this is a vehicle with heart and soul; if you believe that a car is capable of evolving and absorbing the karma around it - and if you don’t, just ask yourself whether you would buy a car that someone had been murdered in – then this one has impeccable credentials because it was previously owned by doctor in Devon who used it for family holidays (it will sleep two adults and two children) for almost three decades. And it was wonderfully looked after in this time as well judging by the paperwork. If mechanical objects have a soul, this one’s is beyond reproach.

On a more pragmatic level, the vendor tells us that he believes it to be an original Devon camper conversion. Since owning it he has commissioned a thorough programme of work to it, starting with a significant amount of bodywork to ensure he had a solid foundation upon which to build.

Wonderfully, he then resisted the urge to modernize the ‘van beyond recognition, choosing instead to re-use period items like the cooker, roof beds, and internal furniture, albeit with the addition of a few key modern features such as shore power, a small fridge/cooler, a portable loo, and a sink with running water.

Even the most hard-nosed member of our team came back from his test-drive raving about it, saying that it drives “really well” and is “beautifully finished.” We won’t name him but if he’s this impressed, then you’d better pop over to take a look pronto before he places a bid himself…

The cherry pink and white bodywork is very smart indeed, as well it might given it has just been restored at huge expense and no little effort. This work follows on from a previous restoration in 2008, during which a large number of replacement parts were also fitted.

The owner tells us that all of the corrosion has now been cut out and new metal professionally let in to replace it. He says that there is “no outstanding rust that I’m aware of.” Our look-around corroborates this.

And, the panel fit is excellent, the flanks are straight and true, and the paintwork is shiny and glossy. It’s a pleasure to see work done so well, particularly as so many of these ‘restored’ VW’s are seen with multiple ripples and wrinkles down the sides, bubbles her and there and paint that is a touch, shall we say, ‘amateur’.

Recent new chrome hubcaps have been fitted to the painted steel wheels in 2017. The tyres are nearly new, and have good tread, and there are two spare wheels.

The fabric of the lifting roof looks to be fresh, and the whole ensemble rises and closes smartly, partly because these things are all but bulletproof thanks to their well-proven design and partly thanks to new assist-springs.

A towbar and electrics has been fitted, as has a plug for the shore power just in front of the offside rear wheel.

There is the odd scuff, stonechip and mark but we’d still rate the bodywork as a solid 8.5/10. The only areas that really let it down are a slight matt finish to the area around the offside rear quarter, a very slightly buckled rear bumper, and the odd pitted piece of (original) chrome trim.

The front seats have been reupholstered in red and white vinyl, and piped in white. They look fabulous and are all but brand new, so are still wonderfully firm and supportive and comfortable enough to take you and a loved one on a pan-European tour.

The matching rear seat folds down to convert into a rock-and-roll bed, and two hammock-style beds can be unfurled when the roof is lifted, meaning she will sleep four. There is an extra dickey seat, and the door cards have been finished in the same colour scheme, and look just as smart. In fact, the whole of the interior upholstery has been redone at considerable expense and it all looks fabulous.

The original table is big enough (just) to seat the VW’s four occupants around it with three on permanent seats, while the fourth would need to perch on a camping chair.

The table can also be removed completely and used as a freestanding table outside the van. There is also a fold-down table that can be fitted behind the passenger’s front seat when the cooker is swung out.

The original cooker is still fitted, and it can be used either inside the vehicle, or can be slid/pivoted out for al fresco cooking. A kettle and some crockery are included.

Upgrades include the ability to plug the ‘van into a 240V power supply on a campsite, a dual-battery set-up for off-grid camping, and a simple sink with a cold water supply and tap. Wild camping is a possibility.

Smart striped curtains complete the look, as does a very neat white spare wheel cover and a modern Panasonic CD/radio. Up front, the dashboard and cabin are in excellent condition and have clearly not been abused by careless owners. Lights and wipers work well, and all feels very original and much younger than the 44 years this ‘van has been with us. Under-dash shelf helps practicality.

Jobs still to do include smartening up things like the seat and hammock frames, and the paintwork of the engine cover, but these are very much nice-to-do jobs rather than things that stick out like a sore thumb and need doing immediately.

The engine was replaced with a reconditioned ‘silver’ unit in 2008 as part of its restoration. It is running well, is notably smooth and quiet, and ticks over beautifully. (Please see video to see and hear it for yourself.) We identified a small flat-spot on our test drive but that should be easy enough to eliminate given the simplicity of the engine.

The owner tells us that the campervan will cruise at 70mph, although he does admit that long hills do rather take the wind out of its sails…

The gearbox has been fitted with a Quick Shifter, which helps explain why it changes gear so nicely, and the braking system was comprehensively overhauled as part of a full service and MOT in 2017 (please see associated invoice for details). Our test drive was a delight, the engine, clutch, gearbox and steering controls were much lighter and more pleasant than other VW’s we have sampled.

The engine bay itself is a bit grubby, but at least you know it hasn’t been steam-cleaned to remove traces of oil leaks and the like.

The underside looks to be straight and solid, although a fastidious owner would want to apply more black underseal to cover up the small amount of overspray that is under there.

The camper comes with a box of touring spare parts, and a metal and wood roof rack for above the cab. Please see photos for details of what is included.

The online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever and confirms the car’s low mileage. The MOT itself expires in August 2020.

It is correctly registered with the DVLA as a motor caravan and comes with a current V5 registration document. It also has loads of keys, and still has its original hand-written service history record, instruction manual, plus a couple of old registration documents (log books).

The car comes with a number of expired MOT certificates plus a thick, and comprehensive, sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it from the early nineties onwards.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been restored and maintained to the very highest standard.

Like so many of us, the vendor takes his classic car pleasure from the doing rather than the owning, and so he is now keen to find it a new home with something who will be able to appreciate the campervan’s many charms.

And it really is a very charming old thing; he has brilliantly merged the old and the new, and it now has the best of all worlds; original, period features like the classic and iconic VW Type 2 shape and interior fittings like the cooker and the rising roof merge seamlessly with the freshness and convenience of a new example.

It’ll be cheap compared to a new ‘van, too. With VW asking upwards of £60,000 for its California campervan, you will be able to buy this delightful original for between a quarter and a third of that price; we think it should sell for between £16,000 and £22,000 and, unlike a new one, it shouldn’t depreciate...

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at The Market HQ in Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings of any auction, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles we have for sale. While we use our trade experience to assess every car that comes through our hands (and between us we have bought hundreds of classic cars over the years for our personal use…) we are fallible, and our assessment of a car may contrast with that you might form yourself.

This is why we offer a far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange a professional inspection on their behalf of, each vehicle prior to bidding than any traditional car auction, and we will never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this by coming to see it in person.

That said, we do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or those formed as a result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.