1979 VW T2 Devon Moonraker Camper

‘FPC 391V’, a 1979 Volkswagen Type 2 with an original Devon Moonraker campervan conversion, is better known as ‘Carla’ – and the fact it’s had that name for the past 40 years gives you a hint as to how special she is.

Because the seller bought Carla when he was a 26-year-old windsurfer in need of overnight accommodation – and then hung on to her for the next 40 years; perhaps unsurprisingly, he describes her as being “a big part of our family”, confirming that she has been “cherished for all of those years at home in a heated garage.”

Finished in yellow and white, Carla’s interior was professionally converted by VW experts Devon and treated to a Moonraker roof to give standing headroom inside. Accoutrements include a fridge, cooker, and sink as well as rear seating for four, two double beds, and more storage space than the Tardis.

As for her history file, it contains the purchase receipt from 1986 as well as a significant number of invoices and expired MoT certificates to support the odometer reading of just 78,500 miles.

Only being offered for sale as she hasn’t really been used since the last MoT ran out in 2019, this is a rare opportunity to buy a VW T2 Campervan that’s “served us well and contains many, many cherished memories with friends and family.”

The HPI certificate shows a change of colour from white to yellow and white but that this is the only evidence of fresh paint we can find is a good thing; heck, even the Devon decals are still fitted on the sides and rear.

Which surely goes to the heart of how well the seller ensured the yellow paint was applied to the lower half of the vehicle. Neat and free of drips and other imperfections, if you didn’t know better, you’d think it was a factory finish.

Except, of course, that it is far brighter than you’d expect nigh-on fifty-year-old paint to be.

Panels are straight and well fitting, and the flanks are free of ripples and car-park damage. The louvres in the ventilation grilles across the front and in the rear pillars also run straight and true, and the wheelarches are free of rust bubbles and corrosion.

The front spoiler adds downforce at high speed, or possibly just style at any speed. Either way it’s in good shape bar a small mark to the lower offside corner.

The Moonraker roof rises and falls easily on gas struts, and seals very well when it is fastened down. The fabric is generally in good order, with only a couple of small holes along the lower edge towards the front. There’s a bit of mildew on it too, both inside and out, but the green stripes are still bright and cheerful.

A roof rack is included and this bolts to the brackets on the top of the rising roof to give extra storage space.

Louvred glass side windows on the offside provide ample ventilation along with a wonderful Old School vibe.

Speaking of Old School vibes, a Cornett exterior sunshade is fitted on the top of the windscreen, and its blue Perspex is free of chips, cracks, and sun-damage. Cleverly, the metals brackets on either side allow you to adjust the angle-of-dangle.

Rear mudflaps, which bear the legend ‘Devon’, add further style and practicality, as does the retro spare wheel cover, which sits on a fold-down wheel carrier, something that frees up storage space inside.

The metal fixtures and fittings such as the door handles have a light patina but nothing more, while the rubber door and windows seals appear to be in an uncommonly good condition.

The lamp lenses, including the natty side repeaters, are mostly free of chips, cracks, and other damage, with the only slight flaw being to the inner edge of the nearside front indicator unit.

This is minor though, and the only ‘issue’ we can see is a little white polish residue highlighting the fact the rear lamps and front indicators are genuine Hella items. #firstworldproblems

(FWIW, the headlamps are genuine Bosch.)

The 15-inch EMPI alloy wheels are in fine shape with no dinks, scuffs, or scrapes. They have faded a bit with the odd spot tarnishing but then the seller thinks he fitted them around 30 years ago. Anyway, we suspect they’d polish up nicely.

The design of the alloy wheels also gives of yellow calipers and drums, further proof of the quality of the Carla’s curation.

Tyres are matching 185/65R15 Continental ContiEcoContact EP, and we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

As for flaws, the rear bumper is very lightly scuffed and chipped, the driver’s step has a poor finish and a rust stain, the spare tyre is old and worn, and, well, that’s about it.

If you were of a mind, then a machine polish would brighten things up but that’s very definitely a job for Future You.

The Autumn Leaf vinyl front seats, which have contrasting Biscuit piping, are hideously expensive upgrades – and it probably won’t surprise you to learn that the seller bought matching Autumn Leaf side, door, and tailgate panels at the same time to maintain the cabin’s cohesion.

Uber-comfortable and reclining, they’re still in an excellent condition with firm cushions, unmarked seat covers, and almost flawless side and door trims.

The yellow theme continues with glimpses of the exterior colour on various metal body panels as well as a matching gearlever, steering column, indicator stalk, clock mount, and various brackets.

The rear upholstery is the original brown check, which is charmingly of-the-period and wearing well. The bench seat is supplemented by a permanently-fixed single seat that folds up and out of the way should you need to prioritise space rather than seating capacity.

This single seat can also be supplemented by another that’s stored in the upright cupboard. It can be clipped alongside the first and its cleverness includes a backrest that’s currently stored in the wardrobe.

The table can also be removed, and yet despite its compact size it is still big enough to give the occupants plenty of space to eat or work.

The original burnt orange curtains give privacy in the most cheerful way possible, and given the seating turns into a good-sized double bed, you’ll be grateful of the seclusion they provide when you’re snuggled in for the night in your PJs.

Not that the campervan’s ingenuity ends there because Devon managed to squeeze in a double gas burner and grill, as well as a small sink and draining board behind the driver.

Louvre windows flow plenty of air to expel steam and cooking smells, while the Electrolux fridge that sits under the sink can be run on gas when you’ve parked up for the night and the van’s 12-volt electrics when you are travelling.

The cupboards were replaced a few years ago by a friend of his; the originals were made of chipboard, which invariably warped and separated. He loved the original layout though, so the replacements mimic the originals.

A portable ‘TopRay’ 13-watt solar panel is also included, and this can be unfolded and placed in the sun to help keep the onboard battery charged.

Flooring is an attractive vinyl in the rear and simple black rubber mats in the front. Lifting the rubber mats up shows only solid and well-painted metal in the front footwells.

Other nice touches include lightweight window winders with wooden handles and backing plates that complement the radio surround and the panel under the rear seat that also contains two good-sized speakers.

There’s also more storage than you might think, the T2’s diminutive footprint still being enough to give cupboard space under the cooker, plus a wardrobe in the offside rear, a small cupboard in the nearside front, and a locker under the bench seat. The latter also contains a new side awning, while the two drawers under the cooker give plenty of room for utensils.

Finally, the Moonraker roof not only adds standing room for full-size adults, it also gives you a second bed.

Carla received front brake discs and pads and rear brake shoes so recently that they still need to be bedded in. A new battery was also fitted in August 2025.

The 1600cc starts and idles well, and the flat-four engine revs with a throaty note from the stainless-steel sports exhaust system and four-into-one exhaust manifold that was fitted in 2013.

Our man took it for a quick spin around the block before sticking his head around the office door (we don’t let him in…) to announce: “It runs and drives well.”

The engine bay is grubby but in a good condition otherwise, and access is unimpeded because the spare wheel carrier folds down and out of the way.

The underside looks strong, including the jacking points, and the floorpans are covered with a good coating of underseal, albeit flaking in places. We couldn’t spot any issues under there and while the last MoT expired back in 2019, no MoT tester had ever mentioned rust or structural corrosion up to that point.

As for jobs the new owner will need to do, apart from getting someone to give the engine bay a good clean, the (new) radio needs connecting, as does the clock and voltmeter. Other jobs include lubricating the sliding door, whose grease has gone hard.

That’s not a bad To Do list, is it?

Spares onboard include clutch fluid, engine oil, a manual, and the jack.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar a marker for a change of colour, and the eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that it shows a change of keepers in 1990 and 2020; this was into the seller’s wife’s name and then back again.

Carla’s history file is, of course, kept in a beautifully designed folder that features her photo on the cover. The original keys have been carefully preserved too and stored in a neatly labelled box, and there is a neatly typed list of notes for the new owner detailing her idiosyncrasies.

There’s paperwork too, including expired MoT certificates although the Volkswagen doesn’t have a current MoT certificate.

With a similar footprint to a modern SUV, the T2 campervan manages to offer everyday usability allied to genuine around-the-world reliability and accommodation.

While this example would benefit from a service after lying unused for a few years, the new owner will be able to lean four decades of loving ownership and meticulous curation, which is priceless.

It’s also hard to value; while there is no shortage of freshly refurbished examples on the market, long-term vehicles like this, with all the many benefits they bring, are rare.

However, we suspect this one will sell for between £12,000 and £17,000, which is a small price to pay for a vehicle that offers versatility and solid residuals in equal measure.

Even better, the seller has sufficient faith in his campervan to offer it with no reserve, so it’s going to a new home no matter what.

With summer around the corner, why not save a fortune on hotels and stay in your own place for festivals and car shows? Use it for a few years, create some more wonderful memories in it, and then sit back to admire the orderly queue that’ll form to take it off your hands.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) 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’.