1987 VW Vanagon Westfalia Weekender

Revo Garage
Revo Garage
Revo Garage

This is a 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon, Westfalia Weekender.  These desirable vans can serve in daily driving duty Monday to Friday, and then transform into a rolling base camp for your next weekend adventure.  For the past nine years, the owner of this van has done much the same.

 

For the Type-III era of VW vans (called Vanagons in the U.S. market), the Westfalia Weekender designation means that is has the pop top roof which provides a sleeping loft or extra headroom, but has a more versatile seating arrangement below without the fridge and stove of the full camper models. This will easily accommodate a family of five with seating for four in the back, (including 2 car seats), or sleeping for 5 with 2 up top, 2 on the fold out rear bed, and one child in a cot that strings across the front. This means that these vans can haul you to work and your family to the mountains for backcountry adventures. Yes please.

The chassis on this van has ~270,000 miles, and it features a “Bostig” engine conversion (more details on the Bostig conversion here), installed by the owner in 2010. The Bostig is a popular and well sorted aftermarket engine conversion which places a 2.0L Ford Zetec motor in the rear engine compartment, and mates to the factory four speed manual transmission. The 2.0L Zetec was designed as a joint collaboration between Ford and Cosworth Ltd., and is used in a variety of Ford applications, and has a reputation for torque, reliability, and durability. The one in this van has ~70,000 behind it. Power goes to the rear wheels, and steering is power assisted up front. The rear main seal, transmission input seal, and timing belt were replaced by the owner in 2017. It has a “ball-valve” to prevent the common hot foot syndrome. While anyone interested in this van knows you’re not going to win pink slips at the drag strip, the replacement motor provides ample grunt, and since it is well paired with the gearing of the factory transmission, it moves the van along the highway at 80 mph comfortably. Complete maintenance records are available for inspection and will be provided to the next owner.

Revo Garage
Revo Garage
Revo Garage
Revo Garage

The exterior was recently sprayed (2018) in the original Pastel White (color code: L90D). This gives the van a fresh and clean appearance, but is not a concours level repaint. The trim is original and shows its age, but it is all present and accounted for. The pop-top canvas features three windows, and is in excellent shape having been replaced in approximately 2015. The rubber seals around the pop top need to be refreshed, and the latch mechanism on the sunroof needs attention before it is fully functional. The van rides on 15” steel rims with no discernible bends or damage. They are wrapped in 215/70 Cooper Weather Masters winter rated and studdable tires with approximately 5k miles. There is a full size spare under the chassis. The front bumper is original. The owner, an engineering professor, designed and made the custom rear bumper which will be installed before delivery. It is a structural bumper that has been load tested to 3,000 pounds and has a standard 2 inch receiver.

Inside there are front and rear heaters, and the van is ready for A/C kit should the next owner choose it. The front blower control was upgraded and blower motor replaced by the owner. The front driver’s seat fabric has a tear. The gas gauge and wiper fluid are not currently functional. All other functions and gauges work properly. The pop-top functions well, and all windows open and close properly.