Imagine what this VW bus would have been if its old fuel hoses had been replaced in time. An all original, untouched Westfalia Campmobile, with the desirable 2 litre fuel injected air cooled boxer engine. Simply a gorgeous classic.
And then disaster struck. The engine caught fire, leaving its owners heartbroken. Afterward, the insurance company sold it to us, and we shipped it from Florida to the Netherlands. Now it’s ready for a next chapter. Let’s assess its current condition.
The good
This Westfalia still wears its original orange paint on all panels, showing no signs of previous repairs. Even the dealer sticker is still present on the rear hatch, showing its history as a Florida car.
Aside from surface rust on stone-chipped spots along the lower body, this bay window bus is remarkably rust-free after nearly 50 years of service. There is some bubbling paint at the corner of the sill panel below the driver’s door, and the battery tray likely has perforative rust, but overall, the body is very sound.
The rear end has mild heat deformation from the fire, but it’s minor and can be repaired with relative ease. The right front door and the lower nose section have some repairable panel damage. The polyester camper top is in restorable condition, with some light damage to the gel coat above the kitchen area, though it remains structurally intact.
The challenges
Most of the windows were shattered in the fire, and many parts need replacing. The interior requires a full renovation. While the Westfalia woodwork could be restored by a skilled carpenter using new wood panels and readily available reproduction parts, the dashboard is heat-warped and needs replacing. The instruments and some switches may still be salvageable, but significant work is required.
Mechanically, the drivetrain will also need restoration. The GD-coded engine can still turn by hand and may serve as a rebuildable core, but all ancillary parts were destroyed and must be replaced.The interior needs to be totally renovated. Much of the Westfalia interior woodwork can be restored by a skilled carpenter, with the help of readily available reproduction parts. The dashboard is heat warped and should be replaced, though the instruments and some of the switches seem to be salvageable.
The opportunity
With its original paint, solid body, and rebuildable drivetrain, this Westy is the perfect project for a passionate enthusiast ready to breathe new life into this iconic bus. Are you ready to write the next chapter of its story? This Phoenix is looking for a practical enthusiast who can help it rise from the ashes.
Price: € 11.500
The orange VW camper van has a US title (Florida) and EU import document (duties paid). Door-to-door delivery possible throughout Europe, contact us for a shipping quote. Visits and inspections by appointment at Dandy Classics in the Netherlands.
Photos & videos:
