Photo: Garage Kept Motors
The sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to buying a used (or new) RV, as the best ones tend to fetch millions of dollars. On the other hand, you could snag a beat-up old copy that needs a lot of TLC for a few thousand dollars. Or, if you’re handy and have the time and tools, you could turn a lot of trips into an RV.
But we won’t get into the often lengthy process of building your own camper, as the internet is full of videos showing all sorts of conversions, what goes into one, and how much it all costs. Instead, we’ll turn our attention to the real reason behind this story, a 1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Camper that’s currently looking for a new home online.
For a vehicle that's nearly 40 years old, this camper looks great in every way. The exterior screams '80s from every pore, and we're especially fans of the period stripes on the sides, front and rear, and pop-up roof awning. We also like the new 15-inch gold wheels wrapped in Yokohama rubber and the 100-watt solar panels that can power more than your average gadget.
Photo: Garage Kept Motors
The original 2.1-liter engine was dropped and replaced with a 2.5-liter engine sourced from Subaru. It is mated to a 4-speed manual transmission and there is no information on horsepower. However, it is likely to have more than 95 horsepower, which is how much the standard mill produces. The seller claims that the engine swap “It's well made and neat.” He also states that the body panels are aligned and that the lights and lenses are in great condition.
This vehicle has 193,537 miles (311,468 km) on the odometer. Mind you, that's a lot of miles since new, yet only about 13,000 miles (~21,000 km) have been added to the odometer since the engine was replaced. It also has new suspension, new front rotors, calipers and pads, stainless steel brake lines and a Blaupunkt stereo. Upgrades include a refrigerator, modern outlets, LED lights and so on, and the usual cabinets, drawers and so on are on deck.
This Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Camper is for sale and Garage Kept Motors was asking $44,900 at the time of writing to get rid of it. That’s about the price of a new VW Atlas, as the 2024 model starts at $37,995 before dealer and destination charges.