1975 Volkswagen T2 Devon Camper

With a total of just five 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 most recent owner has continued a run of good maintenance but has found that it no longer suits his needs at his house in France so has put it up for auction again.

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. He and the previous owner have completed a round of proper recommissioning that included some proper bodyworks and the addition of some simple features.

Wonderfully, the previous owner then resisted the urge to modernise 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 raspberry 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 corrosion was cut out and new metal professionally let in to replace it. The current owner has improved things further with repairs to the footwell floor and a professional repaint of the bumpers.

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 here 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 a couple of areas like around the offside rear quarter,  and the odd pitted piece of (original) chrome trim.

The recent owner has personalised the van with the following in his ownership: a front mounted spare wheel, new front lights, locking wheel nuts and an engine cover lock.

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. An under-dash shelf helps practicality. There are some new carpets, a new steering wheel, a windscreen cover, steering lock and an awning to add to the list since we last saw this van.

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.) 

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 'van was last serviced in March at a cost of £400 and comes with a spare air filter and oil can.

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. We note that one of the exhaust brackets has just broken on the final tail pipe. 

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 but the owner sees no likelihood of any issues, he has been shielding so has unfortunately not been able to complete a new MOT.

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. A very impressive history file it is too.

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’.