1974 Volkswagen T2

Now here is something you don’t see every day! This 1974 T2 Bay Window VW was personalised in the early 90’s to pay homage to the classic speedboats of the 1960’s! Really retro 80’s vibes with wood carpentry on the ceiling and sides, this really is one of a kind!

This is a van that actually contains a personal journey. Imported from Indonesia, somebody with some good timber and a lot of craftsmanship has constructed an interior that is…unusual and…definitely unique. You’ve got it. They’ve lined the roof areas, door sides and dash with hand-crafted wood in a very genteel and attractive way; Bilbo Baggins and the other Hobbits would feel right at home driving this!

The vendor has no further history with this creation, he was just enchanted by its genuine charm and bought it on a whim, so we will have to guess how it came about. Are you sitting comfortably? Then let us tell you a story about an Indonesian VW enthusiast who wanted a T2 for Sunday-best (classic cars are not as strong a movement as back here, so let’s salute him as a pioneer). He found a really good example – this one has clearly never done half a million miles as a minibus racing between the lights in Jakarta. He (we really think this combination of dedication & madness is unlikely to be the result of a female psyche) then passionately committed years of talented, home-made carpentry to recreate and enhance the interior of his bus. Once finished, we can imagine this T2 spending most of its life pampered under a carport, taken out once-in-a-while and shown off to any family or friend who showed vague interest. That’s how we imagine it, how about you?

Some of the upgrades for the T2 Bay van include a larger engine (1600 cc in this one, we are told), 12 volts electrical system and half-shaft axle rear suspension. Other modifications include the 90° front doors, front brake discs, new wheels with brake ventilation, placing of the front indicators and the addition of side bars which could be used as a step for getting in and out of the van. Who said creature comforts were not a VW thing?

The Beetle style 1600 cc engine is a sturdy and reliable companion for any trip. No water-cooling to worry about (though the air cooled engine does cough a little bit high up in the mountains where the air is thin). But one thing this great little engine does do is re-enforce that the whole glory of going somewhere in one of these VWs, is the fun, not the speed. It goes and it tends to keep going. The vendor states it has recently completed a 450 mile journey without any issues at all.

PS: did you know that if all the VW campervans ever built were placed end to end, it would go right around the world? Neither did we. See how an auction of this humble VW is already educating us to a higher level….

The body on this van is in a smart metallic grey paint, well finished but with a few nicks and scrapes here and there. There are some areas where rust can be seen under the paint, but no real signs of the rampaging rot that can eat up examples of the popular VW. What sets this van apart from many of the other T2’s in this country, is the smooth flanks and generally good panel fit. So many of these have wibbly-wobbly panels that have seen too much life, and not enough attention from their restorer. Sure, there is probably some filler here and there, but most of it is metal and the final paint finish is generally very reasonable. The roof seems ripple-free, and is painted a different colour to give a deliberate two-tone effect. It has lovely shiny Mercedes wheels for some bizarre and, no doubt, Indonesian reason but they suit it well.

A really cool vintage roof rack is included and made of beautiful wood and fine chromed metal – a real talking point even on its own! The 14 inch alloy wheels are shod with tyres with plenty of tread left. Overall, it presents well.

It’s not exactly ‘The Elephant in the Room’, but let’s start with the wood - on the sides, the front, the bottom and the roof. The other side, the complete recreation of the dashboard, the door panels, the back and the spare-wheel cover. Admired the photos? Good, you’ve got the picture then! Some of you are going to hate it, others will be rather partial to a mahogany finish.

Moving on, it seems to all be there, Veedub enthusiasts will recognise the shapes, switches and dials, if not the material that surrounds them. Looking for mod-cons, it ‘benefits’ from having a large hole in the middle of the dashboard (where a Double Din CD player with built in reverse camera used to sit) and the cab roof definitely contains vents and controls that hint at the presence of some kind of retro-fit Air Conditioning! Untested, we hasten to add, in case the on-button turns out to be a flux capacitor. Or Deathwatch Beetle detector. All handy features for our modern world…

The seats front and rear are clearly from another, more comfortable vehicle, and may be covered with material that once came from a cow, but we’re not completely sure. It also has various storage compartments, and a large space under both the front and rear seats. Plus there are very authentic Indonesian prayer statues, a reminder of where this van was restored and preserved so carefully. Perhaps this is why it has survived so well….

It’s fair to say this is a van where the fussy may want to make a few changes – there is some amateur looking wiring here and there and a few cracks in some of the wood trim. It’s a nice homely finish in here, although we suggest not adding a log burner.

Or you might just decide that wooden VW-shaped air vents (make sure you see these special items in the Gallery) et al is not your thing and decide this is a great base for you to create your own campervan/bus/surf-wagon/harem/single-minded hand-crafted expression of your inner soul/deep message against the destruction of this world due to the rampant capitalism & populism prevalent all around us.

Cool, man.

Because it comes from the southern Hemisphere, there appears to be none of the serious rust underneath that devours so many UK VW vans. We believe there is no real rot going on but it would benefit from a fair bit of remedial tidying up, sorting and cleaning. Protecting this part of any VW van is never time wasted. If you are looking for a solid base for your own creation, this might be just the ticket – welding and replacing metal is a very expensive business.

Mechanically we can only go on what we find and experience. The engine starts and runs well, and changing gears, altering direction and using the brakes seem to occur. Our senses tell us a few other things; our eyes note that the engine and its surroundings look pleasingly clean and fresh, and our nose suggests that it runs a bit rich. We haven’t noticed any major oil leaks.

More simply, we are pleased to note that the same key does the ignition and many of the doors, but a mite disappointed that some of the exterior lighting seems there merely for decoration, rather than the conversion of electricity into light (we do not recommend the winning bidder driving this home at night...)

Not a lot to add here, it is UK registered, but has no other paperwork. If you would like more, you might need to do research on an island-hopping summer holiday in Indonesia.

It is sold with No Reserve (to let your imagination run riot) but also as seen. Feel free to come and visit prior to the auction end to check if it fits your needs, we promise to locate our nearest Minor Injuries Unit if you pick up any nasty splinters.

Take this to a classic car show, or even a VW Show, and we guarantee there will NOT be another like this! It is unique. Just as it is, it’ll generate chat, opinion and love. What the next owner does (it’s not only suitable for Hobbits!) is up to them but this seems a solid, straight and largely rust-free example to work with – those words don’t come up very often when describing a T2 at this price level. So here it is – come and see it, get a feel for it and make a bid. No Reserve, so on sale from the first raised hand.

Estimated value between £6000 and £10,000.

Peace to all.

Comes with UK registration and UK number plates. MOT and Tax Exempt. Ready to drive away!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

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.