Vehicle Description
This psychedelic 1970 Volkswagen Type 2 Westfalia Camper Bus is
either the coolest thing you've ever seen, or it's the real-life
version of everything you've ever suspected about the '60s. In
truth, it's a nicely preserved/restored Camper Bus with a lot of
practicality, a strong 1600CC air-cooled engine, and an incredibly
cool look.
For most of us who grew up after the '60s, this is what we figured
all the VW buses looked like at one point or another in their
lives. But underneath the trippy facade you'll find a very solid,
straight bus that's been well maintained thanks to its status as an
American hippie icon. We don't know what color it is underneath (my
money is on White based on the look of the door jams), although
that's a vinyl wrap and custom decal job you're looking at - not a
permanent paint job. So, if you've cleaned up your act and started
working for 'The Man', it can come right off and be ready for the
square life. Personally, I'd keep tripping the light fantastic and
leave it just like it is, after all, this Bus was purposely
executed to be the star of the show, not just another Westy Camper.
The sheetmetal underneath is straight, the door gaps are
factory-set, and by the looks of things this VW has never been
rusty, wrecked, or used and abused, meaning that custom wrap clings
tight to the body without any ugly sagging or major air bubbles
anywhere to be seen. The front bumper and wheels were painted lime
green to match the 'Party Bus' namesake on the profiles, that
super-cool Wesfalia roof is bright yellow, and the three windows in
the rear were wrapped as well to give the passengers some extra
privacy back there. She's a driver through-and-through, with some
parts showing some age and wear-and-tear (in particular the rubber
gaskets around the windows), but nothing that would require
immediate attention. Get in and go, this Bus is ready to have some
fun. Of course, you'll probably have to get used to being the
center of attention, because any time you stop there are going to
be questions, photo ops, and crowds of young-at-heart hippies who
want to relive a great part of their past. And admittedly, all that
attention is pretty cool.
The interior is a bit less funky, with a combination of original
parts and newer upholstery on the seats and door panels. White and
red are the dominant colors inside, a color combination that's
previewed by the Coca-Cola welcome mat that greets everyone that
opens the sliding door, and the vinyl upholstery is in very good
shape overall. Front white buckets start the party at the helm,
while a red-and-white seat and matching bench surround a table in
the rear, as this is a camper van after all. With that in mind, you
also get original Wesfalia-spec cabinetry and shelving throughout,
and even a small refrigerator and sink top tucked away at the side,
making this Bus camp-site ready today. Well-worn (yet still solid)
carpets line the floors and insulate the cabin, while up top the
original Lauan wood covers the headliner just like it would've in
1970. The camper top pops up with ease, instantly transforming the
confines from cramped to friendly, and the thick mat out back
doubles as a bed, although with the big Rockford-Fosgate subwoofer
and extra cabinetry back there at the moment it's currently better
suited as extra storage space. Up front that black dash is original
and shows some minor age and wear, although the original gauges
ahead of the driver are still clear and legible and keep an eye on
the flat-four out back. Options are fairly sparse up front but you
do get a kickin' stereo (could you expect less from a van that
looks like this?) that's managed by the Pioneer AM/FM/Cd/AUX head
unit in the center of the dash. The seating position is definitely
city bus upright, but the commanding view is part of why these VWs
are so beloved, with the shifter for the 4-speed manual
transmission just a short reach ahead. If you were thinking this
Bus was as fun inside as it is on the outside, you were right.
One of the adages of the VW bus is that it will get you anywhere,
reliably, as long as you have the time. Thanks to years of careful
maintenance and thoughtful ownership, this Westfalia does a little
better than most, with a strong air-cooled engine displacing 1600
cc and delivering just enough horsepower to keep things lively
behind the wheel. For the most part it's stock, from the newer
stock carburetor to the dual exhaust, but that's what you want when
reliability matters. It drives like you'd expect, starting easily
and running down the road with that characteristic whistling
exhaust note. The aforementioned 4-speed transmission makes it easy
to get behind the wheel and head out on the road, and with typical
VW reliability, you're always assured to arrive without issues. The
undercarriage has some of the usual surface scale you'd expect from
a VW of this vintage, but it's all superficial and this Bus is
pretty much very solid everywhere you look, proof that it's been
well-cared for since it was new. Stock steel wheels were painted
lime green and adorned with chrome hubcaps (yep, they're original),
and they wear right-sized 185/75/14 radials with lots of life left
in them.
No, it's not for everyone, but if you were there, you know how cool
this VW really is. There's simply no other vehicle at any price
that can compete with this awesome VW in terms of sheer practical
fun. Call today!
