Among the trends in collector cars these days, especially among young people, are vintage vehicles that can be taken back to nature for off-roading excursions, camping and lounging around in the woods.
Naturally, the classic VW bus is right up there as a go-anywhere camper, capable of traversing rough roads, within reason, and providing a cozy habitat at the end of the trail. And, of course, there’s all that back story of hippie trips and Grateful Dead concerts.
The Pick of the Day is a 1975 Volkswagen Type 2 Westfalia pop-top camper that looks to be in groovy condition, with many of the upgrades to make it a (small) home away from home.
“Looking for that classic VW loaf camper, with the pop-up top, sink and refrigerator?” asks the seller, a St. Louis, Missouri, dealer advertising the camper on ClassicCars.com.
By “loaf,” the ad is referring to the bus’s bread-loaf design. VW buses from this generation also are known as “bay windows” for their broad windshields, not as desirable or valuable as the original-style Type 2 models but more capable and easier to live with.
“This clean Westie comes from a local owner who cared for this VW for the past decade and used it sparingly for what it was really designed for – to go camping with his family!” the ad continues. “Finished in Pastel White (code L90D) with black trim, the Westie’s paint and trim are in overall very good order.
“There’s a rear defroster on the back window, the white bumpers with black trim fit tightly to the body. This van’s bodywork is straight and solid, its engine bay is quite tidy and the cargo area looks good.”
The VW has had an engine upgrade to the 1.8-liter fuel-injected flat-4 from a Type 4 Volkswagen, which is more flexible and puts out more power, always a need for these vehicles.
Westfalia campers were built by a German company to which Volkswagen would send completed buses for conversion, and they are generally considered the best of the VW camper vehicles. The pop-up roof is a nice feature that provides airy spaciousness to the living quarters.
The asking price is $22,900, which seems like a good deal considering the Westie’s apparent great condition.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
1967 GTO
I have a 1979 Westy which I love dearly. It is a hoot to drive & great for camping.
She always gets attention.
i have a 1980 westy orig been restoring it did all seats ect in orig boogie woogie seat pattern which is a very lot like this one eng rebuilt new clutch trans serviced new seals breaks ect now putting african grill on and switched all lights to led so on on on but cool vw :}