Description
1971 T2 VW Campervan (Earlybay)
After 12 years of ownership, the time has come to part with this fantastic campervan which has given us so many happy memories over the years. We are selling as the kids are getting bigger and we have a project at home which we need to create space for. Sadly, we are not using it as much as we did.
We bought it from the previous owners in May 2012 who had owned it for approx. 6 years. It had been restored before their ownership.
Body and interior
The body is an original Danbury conversion of the VW T2 Kombi and the camping interior is a Westfalia Continental which we presume was added when the van was restored. This interior has a really comfortable full width rock and roll bed, a wardrobe with fold down double gas hob, a sink unit with water tank and cool box ‘fridge’. There are storage lockers all around including a rear overhead unit.
I have installed the child’s sleeping platform in the pop top. The other child bed is a hammock which goes across the front seats. The front seats are original to the van. Drivers seat has worn to a couple of small holes but I have been reluctant to change the original vinyl.
The previous owner had the van lowered on dropped front spindles and adjusted the rear splines. They also added the 356 style chrome wheels which suit the van really well. The tyres have low mileage and loads of tread.
The bus is kept in a garage and not used on salty winter roads. The bodywork is very solid with just a few blemishes. Areas which could do with some attention are the bottom edge of the windscreen and the rear tailgate and engine lid which both have some peeling paint. The underside is in excellent shape with a good coverage of underseal done before our ownership.
There is a file of history from our ownership: Receipts, MOT’s, and work done. I have obtained a certificate of provenance from VW at Wolfsburg which confirms build date 1 July 1971, leaving factory 5 July 1971 with destination Ramsgate, England. Plus, info about the trim and accessories installed at the factory. There is some history from the previous owners including photo’s of the restoration circa 2005.
Mechanical work
Brake overhaul after we bought it
Both front brake callipers replaced in last 2-3 years. Discs in great shape - the van stops really well.
Both front wheel bearings replaced
Steering drag link and ball joints replaced
Rebuilt the Solex Pict 34 carb with new seals, bushes, float etc
Engine replaced with Just Kampers ‘preservation parts’ 1641cc engine in 2018
At the time of engine change, I renewed the fuel line and fuel filter, all seals and gaskets. I also renewed the gearbox input shaft seal and starter motor brass bushing. I retained the more original cylinder heads and they also had some work – replaced all valve guides, replaced the exhaust valves, ports lightly flowed plus 3 angle valve seats, replaced the rockers with 1:1. 25 lift for increased ‘breathing’. I also replaced the gearbox oil during these works. The bus pulls well and copes with hills which was the aim of all this work.
I have serviced it with oil changes every year (always less than 3000 miles) and valve adjustments max every 3000 miles but usually well within that.
It has not had an MOT in a few years as we use it so little but I will get it MOT’d before anyone buys it. The current mileage shows 3180, rolling over to zero 2 or 3 years ago.
Included in sale
Large Just Kampers drive away awning. Blue and grey.
2 camping gaz bottles. 1 full and 1 almost empty.
Full set of window insulators.
Various small parts such as original 1:1. 1 rockers, gaskets for oil changes, spare points for distributor (although it is running an electronic ignition), fuses etc. This campervan has taken us on many happy adventures to corners of Europe as far as Sweden, Spain, the Outer Hebrides and many places in between. It grabs attention wherever it goes and we will be very sad to part with it.
