1975 Volkswagen CAMPER

Welcome to our auction for the ultimate summer adventure vehicle, a Volkswagen Transporter T2 ‘Bay Window’ campervan. Built in Hanover, Germany in 1975, it was delivered to the UK on the 27th of May 1975.

The owner has confirmation from Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen that this vehicle was built for the right-hand-drive market. A copy of this correspondence is attached.

The subject of a great deal of restorative work back in 2008, it has since been in regular use ever since clocking up more than 40,000 miles. Clearly a vehicle that can be driven with absolute confidence, it would be ideal for a couple or young family looking for a well-proven camper to expand their horizons on a budget.

The restoration work that was carried out in 2008 included a lot of bodywork, so much so that it tots up to several thousand pounds worth, as you can see from the invoices.

In brief, the body was stripped down and treated to new quarter panels, a rear cross member, inner and outer wheel arches, outriggers, jacking points, a rear floor, a pair of sills, a rear bulkhead and inner bulkhead, 'B' posts, a seating panel, a front floor, and a complete outer centre floor panel.

The bodyshell was then painted and treated to various new rubber trims and seals before being re-fitted with new bumpers, headlights, indicators, hub caps, and mirrors.

And we applaud the choice of colour because the charming light blue and white coachwork sets the VW’s stall out clearly; this is a fun, classic campervan that’s ideal for summer fun on the beach or exploring the path less trodden – and the funky rising roof and period white roof rack (with varnished wooden slats) make this VW T2 as practical as it is gorgeous.

It’s still in good shape, too. The panel fit was never up to much, even when they were new but this one is as good as they come and it’s free of car-park dinks, dents and ripples too. With straight, largely rust-free panels and a decent coat of paint, it’s as durable as it is attractive and all the better for not being completely concours.

Damning with feint praise? Not at all; when you’re looking for a family adventure wagon, you really don’t want anything that’s too perfect or you’ll be afraid to use it. So, this one’s occasional stonechip and minor scratch here and there, plus the odd patch of touched-in paint, make it utterly fit for purpose, allowing you to drive off into the sunset without a care in the world.

The painted white bumpers are mainly straight and free of parking marks, and the steel wheels are in fine fettle; painted white, they’re wonderfully offset by good chrome hubcaps and whitewall tyres.

The contrasting fabric on the rising roof section is in good shape, and the roof seals tightly when it is lowered. There’s a glass sunroof underneath the roof rack, which allows light to flood into the cabin on even the gloomiest day.

Neat little touches abound, like the single yellow foglamp, and the metal GB plaque on the front bumper. The front-mounted spare wheel is covered in a sensible VW-branded soft cover, but the tyre itself looks to be ancient, so will need replacing.

Other problems? Well, the white-painted roof-rack could do with touching up, the striped fabric on the roof could do with a clean, some of the chromework could do with polishing, and there is the odd small bubble of rust starting – and while the latter will need catching sooner rather than later, the rest is very firmly in the ‘nice to do’ camp and could wait for a while.

The seats have been recovered in an especially nice fabric; with blue vinyl on their outer edges, the centre section is a fabulous white tweed-like material that is practical without being utilitarian. They’re all in great shape too, nicely sprung and very comfortable. There are five seats in all, with three seatbelts in total.

The rear seat folds down to make a double bed, and there’s another couple of small single hammocks up top under that stripy roof. There are cubbyholes galore and masses of clever storage space; we’re always amazed at how much room VW manage to create in such a small footprint.

But, if even this level of ingenuity leaves you craving more space then you’ll be delighted to hear that the VW comes with a ‘Royal Traveller Annex’ tent to give you some additional living and sleeping space.

The same fabric has been used elsewhere in the ‘van, most notably on the door trims. It looks fabulous, although the latter are slightly marked in places; some of it would undoubtedly come off with some gentle shampooing, but some won’t. The outer edge of the driver’s seat is starting to split too, and while retrimming would be straightforward, if it were ours, we’d be tempted to leave well alone and just enjoy the campervan as it is.

The fitted sink is shiny and clean, and the Fellows twin-burner gas stove, complete with grill, is neatly fitted behind the passenger’s seat on top of its own locker. The VW appears to be wired for ‘shore power’ too, and while it looks to be in good shape with only minor signs of use, none of it has been tested.

It also comes with some plastic crockery, plus a kettle and a teapot so you can do a Shaun and make a nice cup of tea and wait for it all to blow over. Should you decide to invite more of your friends for a weekend away, post lockdown, there is also a tent and groundsheet included, ableit unchecked!!

The drop-down table is both practical and in good shape, and the blue-check curtains give an element of privacy, whether the ‘van is being used as a changing room at the beach, or to sleep in at night.

A modern CD/radio headunit has been fitted, along with Pioneer speakers in the front doors and another pair underneath the rear seat/bed. Lifting the carpets shows only solid metal, and reveals that the VW was almost certainly white when it left the factory all those years ago.

And, like the exterior, lovely little touches abound. Like the wonderful EMPI trigger shifter in place of the factory gearlever, and the standard dashboard cluster that has been improved with the addition of a lovely white-faced clock. The window winders are modern drilled jobbies too, as are the door lock pins.

Problems? Aside from the seats and door trims, there’s not a lot to do. We’d treat the old girl to a gas service and get someone to double-check the electrics, to be on the safe side. Oh, and we can’t find the switch for the wipers. It might be just us, but we’d hate the winning bidder to be disappointed.

After that, lockdown permitting, we’d just hop inside with a couple of mates and head for the nearest beach to celebrate. These things have a habit of worming their way into the family, so you’ll have plenty of time to tidy it up in the years to come.

The engine bay is workmanlike rather than OCD-clean, but the engine itself starts promptly and settles into an even tickover. It revs well - in fact it seems to run especially smoothly - and the ‘van drives as it should. As the owner points out: “the VW has a strong engine that runs and performs superbly, the gearbox is lovely and the vehicle brakes, steers and handles correctly, and much better than some we’ve been in.

“Having covered serious mileage in recent years, this is a mechanically on the button example that can be put straight back into regular use. This is a very usable example and it's in exactly the right condition for using and enjoying.”

There looks to be a new Bosch battery in there too, which is good news.

The underside is well protected with underseal, and a natty little sidestep makes getting into the ‘van easy for those who are vertically challenged.

The Volkswagen doesn’t have a current MOT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have the car re-MOT’d at the earliest. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The car comes with a number of expired MOT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it since the early noughties. It also comes with two keys and correspondence from Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen to confirm that the T2 was built for the right-hand-drive market and is still fitted with its original engine.

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 maintained to a good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

NB. We know that many of you will be limiting your social exposure over the coming days and weeks, so if you’d rather not come to see the car in person, please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on.

Or, even better, why not contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call? You get to direct us in real-time, giving you a virtual personal viewing experience while maintaining the lockdown. We like to call it ‘The Market’s 2020 Vision’…

There has been a resurgence of interest in classic campervans recently, partly fueled by nostalgia but mainly because they’re so practical; this example is stuffed full of clever little features that maximize the space available to give sensible living and sleeping space for up to five people in a tiny footprint.

That practicality makes itself felt in other areas too; as a much-sought after T2 campervan it has probably finished depreciating, which might make the cost of ownership much more reasonable than you think as there is always a strong market for genuine, well-cared-for examples - and this one is as solid as most and better than many.

They’re also tough and reliable and can be repaired by a chimpanzee with a multitool and a hammer, an important consideration if you intend to wander off the beaten track and away from the main dealer network.

As to what it is worth, we think this one will sell for between £14,000 and £17,000, which is staggeringly good value: Remember, the true cost of owning a vehicle can only be accurately measured after you’ve sold it, and we’d be surprised if it didn’t return a small profit in the long-term given regular servicing and a modicum of care. And given the need to carry out a few simple jobs on it to tidy it up, there is the chance to add value too, which is always a pleasant bonus.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near 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, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. 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 the 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.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.