1972 Volkswagen T2 Bay Window

This utterly gorgeous 1972 Bay Window VW camper is a T2.

The Type 2 T1 is the Split Window iteration. The Type 2 T2 is the Bay Window, which is what we have for you here.

Of course, the personality of the T2 is firmly rooted in the counter-cultural spirit of the 60s/70s, and it may well be that there’s a bit of you that wants to recapture, replay or even reinvent part of your youth.

Perhaps you had a girlfriend, possibly called Astral Moon Child 7, who liked dancing barefoot through mountain streams in a tie-dye kaftan and a haze of patchouli oil?

Maybe you had a boyfriend who could simultaneously roll a 12-skin doobie with one hand and wax his 9’2” plywood SurfMaster Deluxe™ board with the other?

Or you might have been born sometime around 2003, in which case you’ll have absolutely no idea what we’re going on about.

Who knows?

Either way, if there’s even the tiniest part of you that warms to the romance of the open road as viewed through the (figuratively) rose-tinted glass of a VW Bay Window, then we may just have the perfect vehicle for you.

This is a bare metal, ground up, nut and bolt restoration carried out by expert professionals (who are local to us and whose expertise we often call upon in the servicing, maintenance and repair of our own personal vehicles).

It is factory-fresh in almost every meaningful respect. It smells of recently applied paint.

It is squeaky with lovely, minty newness: inside, outside, underneath, mechanically and aesthetically.

And yet, it’s also highly original – still boasting most of the important bits with which it left the factory.

This T2 is truly a thing of beauty to behold and drive. It starts, goes and stops exactly as it should and the light steering, great brakes and lively 1.7 litre engine (T4) make it a lot of fun.

The vendors have known the vehicle for at least 15 years. It’s spent most of that time in the ownership of professional car mechanics, so it’s been in capable hands.

The car has been with the vendors for about 4 years, during which time they’ve been, “meaning to get on with one day restoring it, perhaps, if we get a chance, at some point, eventually, with any luck, maybe, tomorrow, mañana.”

Luckily for the next owner, they finally got round to doing it – and what a superb job they’ve done.

Well, just look at it. What’s not to like?

It’s a wonderful colour combination and the quality of the bare metal respray is excellent.

At the time of writing, when it’s around 30°C in the shade, we’re beginning to think it looks quite a lot like an ice cream.

It’s all we can do not to lick it.

Needless to say, this freshly restored T2 is devoid of any scuffs, scratches, dinks, dents, ripples, creases, warps, nicks or folds.

The panels are straight and the shut lines are clean and even.

The doors slide smoothly and easily, and close tightly.

The chrome work is bright and shiny.

The EMPI wheels are in very fine nick and really complement this T2’s slightly lowered, squat stance.

As part of dealing with any and all bodywork issues presented by the vehicle, the vendors replaced the sills.

We haven’t seen any rust anywhere on this vehicle. We didn’t expect to.

The period roof rack has been thoroughly refurbished and restored.

The vendors had been trying to source replacement original headlight lenses for the very slightly tarnished ones that are presently in situ. They couldn’t find any but have been told recently that they are now available again.

The interior of this splendid vehicle is upliftingly light and airy.

You could be stuck in a city traffic jam, moving slower than a glacier, but if you’re sat in here you’ll be able to smell the sea and hear the surf crashing.

No, really.

The vendors have custom fitted the interior so that it’s more or less a blank canvas.

The colour palette - pale blue dashboard, white headlining and upholstery, grey carpets and beige mats - is both very attractive and easy to work with if you have plans of your own for the interior.

There is plenty of built-in storage space - including a wine rack - but they haven’t fitted a kitchen or otherwise pre-determined the camper’s future use or limitations.

What you choose to do with it is entirely up to you.

Everything is finished to a very high standard, included the newly upholstered (in vinyl) front seats and the fabric ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ rear bench/bed.

The very fine-looking steering wheel was commissioned from, and handmade by, renowned steering wheel fettler, Mark Jackson.

The vehicle comes with a brand-new split charger/leisure battery and has 12V and USB sockets.

As far as we can tell, every toggle, switch, button, lever, dial and gauge does what it’s supposed to do.

Is it all in excellent condition?

Of course it is – this restoration was completed in the last week or so.

Like the rest of the vehicle, the undersides look as fresh as they day they first saw daylight.

Among other things addressed by the vendors, they replaced:

• Brake master cylinders

• Steering linkages

• Bottom ball joints

• Rear suspension bushing

• Rear crankshaft oil seal and filters

They also overhauled the brakes and removed, repainted and refitted the engine.

Carburettor and exhaust upgrades have added a little more eagerness to this T2’s performance.

This T2 comes with an MoT certificate valid until 2.7.22, a few bills and invoices from previous owners, some old tax discs and assorted manuals, articles, magazines, etc.

This very special T2 has been freshly restored (by professionals) and serviced (by professionals).

Frankly, it wants for nothing.

All the heavy lifting has been done, it looks sublime, drives very well and is just about as good as a T2 can get.

We think you’ll be waiting a very long time before a better example presents itself to you.

We’re confident to offer this beautifully restored 1972 VW T2 Bay Window with no reserve and an estimate in the region of £22,000 to £32,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, 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’.