1979 Volkswagen T2

Spectacular, isn’t it?

What we have here is a Volkswagen factory-built Westfalia, made under license, which makes it quite rare. And not just any T2, a pretty late model example, right before the arrival of the T3, which was more modern, but devoid of the old-school appeal of the T1 and T2. Westfalia, therefore, had a very tough brief with the T2; the Camper had to be modern enough to be liked by those owning and using it for what was intended, but not too modern in design that it lost the swinging-sixties character that made VW’s Campers so famous, fashionable and desirable... it’s safe to say they got it just right.

This LHD 1979 T2 was originally delivered to its Stateside owner in California. One look at the photos and you’ll be able to appreciate the near-concours condition it’s in. It’s had just one owner in the UK since the time it was imported in 2013 (first registered in 2015), who has contributed a fair bit to the amazing condition you see it in today.  In 2016 for example, he spent circa. £7,500 in a windows-out re-spray as the Californian sun had faded the still original paint. The vendor was adamant that all work could, would and should not result in a loss of its originality, being particularly proud that it has retained the original floor with the factory underseal, protecting the its original classic sage green plaid interior and making sure that it was re-sprayed in the same, very of the time, Taiga Green, too. And it’s just done a little less than 65,000 miles... for a Camper, it's barely run-in.

Yes the T1 had the split screen, but the T2 is much more usable. And over the years, it’s built a fair bit of following for this reason.

The resplendent Taiga green paint job is impeccable, to say the least. With the roof box, wheels, spare-wheel cover, and bumpers painted in white, this T2 has a dual-tone scheme, which works beautifully. The chrome trims are pristine, including the half covers for the wheels. The original body stickers confirming the car’s origins and compliance from Californian authorities are also present, of course.

Rust, one of the biggest problems of any T1 and T2, is evidently nowhere to be found. The seller flew to the US to find his dream T2 and found not only this one, but another in Canada too. 

This is the one he kept. 

He wanted a rust-free example and that's exactly what he brought back.  It's been his pride & joy since but he's only taken it to shows, he hasn't done any camping in it! 

But no matter how it looks on the outside, the real purpose of a camper van won’t be served if it doesn’t have as good and functional an interior, as this is what’ll make all the difference when you’re out on your adventure. Like the exterior, there are no surprises here, either. It’s a thoroughly clean and well loved cabin and it still has all the original carpets, fixtures & fittings.

Specified with a plaid interior, the cabin is in fantastic condition and original, too. And while four decades old, it’s not short of extra fittings, either. While the Pop Top opens up space at the top, its readiness to go on long drives followed by camping trips is evident by the presence of a sink and a fridge. That’s certainly not all; there’s a full-size bed on the top and the seat cushions for the bench can also be pulled down to make another bed utilising a large part of the rear space. And when it’s time to be back on the road, one can enjoy the comfort of the front captain seats. There’s also a fold-out table and a lot of storage spaces including cabinets in the kitchen area.

At the front, the dashboard appears fresh, the seats are devoid of any damage, and the door cards, despite being very clean, have a lovely age related patina. The dashboard, wonderfully German in its simplicity, is complemented by the presence of a period radio unit.

The primary reason behind the Type 2’s cabin space is the judicious use of Beetle-sourced components and uncomplicated packaging. Since the engine is placed at the rear, one doesn’t have to worry too much about it encroaching into the vehicle’s interior. The forward control front seats means more room opens up behind the front axle. This made the Type 2 a hit for such conversions.

While the earlier T1 model had lesser powertrain choices, the T2b (a late-model T2, like ours) enjoyed major mechanical improvements. These, amongst other things, included a larger engine, improved rear suspension and disc brakes at the front, All these made the T2b an easier vehicle to drive regularly.

The 2-litre, air-cooled flat-four engine makes about 70 bhp, which mightn’t make it the outright winner at Santa Pod, but these engines are reliable and long-lasting if serviced on time. The repairs and replacements aren’t outrightly expensive, either. And with solid community support for air-cooled engines, that’s unlikely to change in the future.

The vendor says he had both cyclinder heads refurshished at a cost of about £2k two years ago.

The underside is very clean for a vehicle this old, thanks to the factory underseal still in place, and it’s hard not to notice the KYB shock absorbers. It’s got Hankook tyres (195-section on 14-inch wheels) all around and these appear to be unused. Given all of this, it’s safe to say that the new owner can expect it to drive as good as any T2 could.

Supplied originally to its US owner in California, the 1979 T2 was imported into the UK in the year 2013. It is MoT'd (no advisories, as you'd expect), is valid until May 2022.

Included with the vehicle are a host of recent documents, consisting of invoices for various parts and the spray. The part list includes the aforementioned KYB shock absorbers (front and rear), headliner material, floor mats, trims, door mirror, wipers, bulbs, indicators, voltage regulator, etc.

Whether it is driving to one of the most popular scenic spots in the country or taking an intrepid road trip for the longer ‘staycation’, this spectacular T2 Camper by Westfalia will be able to take it on with ease and be appreciated by everyone along the way. Generously listed at No Reserve by the vendor with the hammer estimated to fall between £25,000 and £35,000, this late-model, low-mileage and very original example is possibly the cleanest of its kind that can be found anywhere between the poles, coming with all the amenities that all together make this T2 such a fantastic vehicle to take on the new world, this summer and well beyond.

Bring it on, Whitty, we’re up for an adventure.

Viewing is always encouraged, within Govt. guidelines of course, and as stated this car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and 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’.