• Viking ‘Spacemaker’ roof conversion which sleeps six

• 2010 restoration featured in VW Camper and Commercial magazine

• Limited mileage since restoration

• Tailor made cover

• Tax free historic vehicle status
• Original cooker, sink and fridge

What's in a name? Vehicle naming conventions have certainly come a long way over the years, (mostly) moving from the internal technical designations to embrace the dark arts of consumer psychology. 

Volkswagen's Beetle started life as the Type 1, only assuming its nickname as its model name later in life. But the second Volkswagen design to come to market, yep, the Type 2, retained its model name from its introduction in 1950 right up until the end of the production of the ‘Bay Window’ design in 1979. (It was replaced by the Type 3, but by then VW had adopted a more creative approach to naming for the rest of the range!)

The Type 2 is of course the rear-engined vehicle that came to be known as the Camper in the UK and which has attained iconic status as the archetypal classic camper van. Proof of this is that you can even buy a Lego model of one. 

A variety of installers offered different options for kitting them out including the company responsible for this one, Viking. Their main selling point was the enormous fold out roof, the largest of all the production models, which gives the van a sleeping capacity of up to six people. It also features a rear-mounted kitchen with its own extractor fan(!) and the option to remove the cooker and use it freestanding outside the van.

A product of their popularity is that for quite some time there has been a veritable industry around keeping Type 2’s going which means that there is massive ongoing support for them. There’s also a festival dedicated to them (Busfest, formerly Vanfest) and so in many ways, it’s not just a camper van, it’s also the keys to a large and friendly club.

The current owner has known this Type 2 for over twelve years now as it was previously owned by his boss, whom he persuaded to sell when he moved abroad with work. His boss had bought the van in 2009 and carried out a no expense spared restoration which was documented in a four page feature in issue 50 of VW Camper and Commercial magazine. 

This included a complete new canopy, a 1766cc engine, addressing some body corrosion (the underside had been undersealed and was solid), a full respray, and a complete refurbishment of the interior including retrimming the upholstery and replacing the woodwork with Walnut veneer ply. In addition, just prior to selling, the clutch was replaced.

Since acquiring it in 2012, the owner has had the bus serviced annually but the twin Weber carbs which came with the engine proved to need constant adjustment. The engine was rebuilt in 2016 by The Engine Shop and at the same time the brakes were fully overhauled with new rear drums, front disks and pads and hoses. Then in 2018 with the Webers still proving tricky, they were swapped in 2018 for a single Weber progressive carb which has proved much more user friendly.

During his ownership the vendor has covered fewer than 7,000 miles but has accumulated many happy memories with two visits to Glastonbury and his daughter’s wedding amongst the stand out moments. Sadly due to ill health he no longer has the strength to lift the roof canopy and so has replaced the VW with another camper van. It’s a reluctant sale but he would rather that the camper can be properly enjoyed.

While details on its early life are a little thin on the ground, from the late eighties onwards there’s an increasing number of invoices and mementos including tax disks and badges from events that the camper has attended. The 2009-10 restoration was fully documented and there is a set of photos on a memory stick and a significant file of receipts and invoices, sorted and filed by category.

The V5 was reissued last year to reflect the newly acquired historic status which means that it is tax and MOT exempt, although for peace of mind it was sent for an MOT in May which it passed with a couple of small advisories. 

It should be noted that the MOT history for 2009-10 looks a little odd as the tester presumably entered the mileage tenths in 2009, but things have been correctly recorded since although it’s not known if the mileage has exceeded 100,000 at some point previously in its life. However the receipt for the engine rebuild shows that it has only covered 2080 miles since then.

Much like home interiors, there are a variety of approaches to decking out your camper van and this one definitely sits at the refined and tasteful end of the spectrum. With beige faux-leather upholstery with white piping, flooring colour co-ordinated with the exterior and curtains made from a John Lewis material (spare offcuts also present), the living space is very much a home from home. 

The capacious and watertight canopy folds up to reveal the ‘upstairs’ bedroom trimmed to match the rest of the cabin and, although two of the hinges were replaced earlier this year, it seems that the struts may need adjusting or replacing as it struggles to stay at full extension. 

That’s the only issue to report however and it’s all good news from here with no other faults to report with any of the generous set of equipment: a two burner stove with grill and 2 speed extractor fan above, dual fuel fridge, gas heater and sink with electric pump. 

It should be noted that although the interior of the fridge does have some staining, it is in fact spotlessly clean having been attacked with a variety of cleaning agents and it was decided to retain it for authenticity as it is the original unit, just like the cooker and sink.

While the gas heater (with thermostat) is very effective, never troubling the carbon monoxide alarm, also included is an electrically powered oil-filled radiator which can be run off a campsite electrical feed to avoid running down the gas, though there is also a spare gas bottle. The cupboards are all in very good order and there’s even some VW camper cushions to finish off the look.

Up front, the driver and passenger seats are in excellent condition and the simple cabin has a few extra additions in the form of dual 12V sockets (the original lighter is still present to the right of the steering wheel) and oil temperature and pressure gauges. There’s also a wired in lock box in which to store valuables and, while on the subject of security, there is also a tracker and kill switch fitted.

Finished in the period colours of Zenith Blue, under Pastel White, this camper van certainly cuts a dash with its custom-made spare wheel cover and mesh sun visor. Reflecting the care with which it has been stored since its restoration, the condition remains very good with only some small paintwork bubbles under the offside door and a larger bubble ahead of the offside rear wheel arch. There’s some slight chipping of the edge of the rear bumper by the engine compartment but otherwise it’s as good as you could hope for, particularly the underside which is waxoyled and, according to the owner, looks good and solid.

The wheels all wear matching tyres with good tread, including the spare, while there is a towbar fitted which has been used for a cycle rack, and on which the electrics are all in working order. Not wanting to add an additional hole in the bodywork, the restorer added the electrical hookup in the engine compartment and clean water in/ waste water out connectors sit unobtrusively below the body.

The sliding door has benefited from a refurbished runner and has been greased regularly to ensure smooth running.

Popping open the engine cover reveals an engine in pristine condition. The engine battery (there is also a leisure battery, of course) is kept on a battery conditioner which ensures that it fires first time. 

With a stainless steel exhaust, it sounds suitably fruity and it runs well, comfortably cruising at 55-60mph, provided that there are no hills involved! There are no untoward noises from the drivetrain or suspension and the refurbished brakes help it to stop as well as can be expected. Mechanically, it’s ready to go.

There is also a collection of spares to go with the camper which includes a fuel pump, switches, fuses, bulbs, clutch and accelerator cables and a pair of Haynes manuals. Although not ever used, there is also an original belly tank for water which can be attached if you want to head to places with more sporadic water supplies.

Camper vans in general are all the rage, especially given the roulette that booking a foreign holiday is right now. But if you want to enjoy the freedom of being able to take off any time you want, what better way to do it than in everyone’s favourite camper, a Type 2? With such strong support available from knowledgeable specialists, there are few classics that are easier to own and run.

This particular example needs a couple of jobs doing to put it among the very best but is perfectly usable in the meantime and, with its hugely practical Viking conversion, could be fun for all the family. With this year’s Busfest fast approaching, this could be your ticket to join the Bay Window clan. So what are you waiting for? Get over to the bid button!