Description
BOB the camper
For sale, my mate Bob,
Bob has been a big part of our family for the past 15 years, but it's now time to let him go and be enjoyed by a new custodian.
Bob must be one of the best-looked-after bay window campers in the UK. He has been maintained regardless of cost, kept in a dehumidified, heated garage, and has more than £40000+ in receipts and invoices to go with him, along with a record of every journey for the past 15 years.
Bob is an original camper (not a converted van) and left the Wolfsburg factory in 1975 with a full Westfalia interior bound for California in the USA. After many years in the sunny states, Bob was imported to the U. K. in 2006, and I took ownership in 2009 after the owner lost a place to keep Bob inside.
He has been maintained meticulously by the highly respected GCS Engineering near Horsham throughout his time with me, and they have done a wonderful job with only one breakdown in 15 years, proving a VW Bay can be reliable if well looked after.
In 2011, Bob was completely stripped and received a full body restoration with panels replaced where needed (good quality ones), any rust dealt with, and then resprayed with a 1960s Porche paint colour inside and out.
Bob then went to GCE Engineering to be fully rewired (No crispy 1970’s wiring here), and have additional Moon Eyes gages fitted, plus a few other bits tidied up in the engine bay. Bob was also fitted with chrome, replica Porsche Fuchs wheels plus a full engine bay fire extinguisher.
A new interior was then installed by the amazing Darren at Vantastic Campers in Tonbridge, Kent. The interior is an amazing work of art and a complete one-off, especially the rear seats. A 240V hook-up system was fitted with a ZIG CF9 unit and a 240V inverter so you can camp off the grid. In the kitchen, a 12V fridge/ freezer is fitted along with a sink and an oven/ grill. Bob has 4 seats and a table in the back for meal times and at night converts into 2 large double beds.
Comfy Saab seats are also fitted at the front to make long-distance cruising comfy (for a VW Bay)
Bob was also fitted with chrome, replica Porsche Fuchs wheels.
Bob has not been a complete garage King. He has done multiple long-distance trips around Europe and the UK. He is set up for this with the more powerful 2-litre engine with twin carbs that is also fitted with a remote oil cooler that allows for trouble-free exploring along the Mediterranean coast or climbing the steep mountain roads in the Alps (Bob has done both)
In 2019 Bob had a bit of an oil leak on a journey back from North Wales; after an investigation, it was determined a new engine would be the best solution to keep Bob reliable, so a new 2 litre engine was fitted along with a clutch, alternator, starter motor and oil cooler. He has completed less than 4000 miles since the new engine. He will cruise along at 60MPH quite happily.
Just been serviced, the brake callipers rebuilt, the steering box serviced and resealed, and a brand new roof canvas fitted in grey, so it is ready to go on adventures in 2025
Bob is always admired wherever he goes and brings a smile to everyones face.
Summary
1975
Left-hand drive USA Import
2-litre engine with twin carbs (new less than 4000 miles ago)
New Clutch, starter motor, and alternator at the same time as the engine.
Moon Eyes gages
CD/ radio
Reversing Camera
240V Inverter
Zig unit
240V electrical hook-up
Fridge and freezer
Smev oven and grill
Sink and water storage
Small negatives
The bed the roof has not been trimmed
Small paint chip on door frame.
The odometer has never worked, but every journey has been recorded for the past 15 years.
