1972 Bus Manual

Price: US $27,995.00 Item location: Local pick-up only
Description:

1972 Volkswagen Westfalia Camper Bus

Out of production for decades and there's still strong demand for the legendary VW Microbus, especially those with the coveted Westfalia camper conversion. To date, nothing else has appeared that can match its combination of utility, reliability, and simplicity, and, of course, there's no denying the appeal of a vintage VW to folks who were there when they were new. This bright yellow 1972 Volkswagen Microbus is exactly what you've been looking for. Functional, clean, and never used for anything more challenging than exploring the edges of civilization. The bodywork is in decent shape, as you'd expect from a vehicle that's led an easy life, and all the original badges, lenses, windows, and other hard-to-obtain parts are still there. The bright paint is sunny and cheerful, albeit showing signs of age and use, so you can look at it as a slice of history or a blank canvas on which to create your own Summer of Love tribute. The Westfalia camper top gives it a distinctive look that VW fans can recognize a half-mile away, but beyond that, there are no notable modifications (and you can't really call the camper top a modification anyway). The front-mounted VW emblem is as big as they come and you can tell VW was serious about the camper's abilities thanks to the campground hook-ups and vent windows on the side of the van. Inside, it's as funky and as practical as you remember. Tan vinyl upholstery is durable, easy to maintain, and perfectly captures the look of the era without being too outrageous. The original gauges are all functional, and the upright driving position is probably something we'll never experience again in a consumer vehicle. The original ventilation controls are still as indecipherable as ever, and there's plenty of headroom fore and aft so you can walk between the seats to see what's going on in back. The pop-up tent is in excellent condition, making room for a family to spend a weekend together in the great outdoors. Details like the portable table, the various seating and dining configurations, and a bright, airy interior make it an excellent choice, then and today. Even the cabinetry is in great shape, suggesting someone really took care of this bus when it was new and spent quite a bit to fix it up today. Power comes from a familiar air-cooled 2.0 liter Volkswagen flat-four, straight out of the Beetle. No, it isn't very fast or powerful, but it is reliable and virtually maintenance-free, so you'll always get where you're going...eventually. Routinely driven hundreds of thousands of miles, these vans are legendary in certain circles, and they come by that reputation honestly. The engine bay is a bit dirty, but it runs great and all the important parts are still in place, so don't sweat it. It starts with a traditional VW exhaust note, and things like the recent tune up, fresh shocks, and front disc brakes are important if you're hitting the road. The 4-speed manual transmission shifts well, even though the linkage has to reach waaaay back there, and it's easy to get the hang of the bus-like steering, with the front wheels right under your seat. It's original underneath, but there's no structural rust, which is a death sentence for these vans, and it tracks straight on the open road. Newer 205/65/15 Continental radials have been fitted to a set of sporty BRM wheels, so it drives better than ever and looks cheery doing it. Iconic, practical, and timeless, this VW Microbus is the one you've been waiting for. Call today!