1985 Volkswagon Vanagon
1985 Volkswagen Bus/Vanagon Description:
I’ve been the caretaker of this well-maintained and much-loved van since 2002. It came to Maine from Florida and has been garaged every winter. Over the years, I have upgraded it to make it suit a serious camper who wants a little luxury. I recently had a new rebuilt 2.3L Go Westy gas engine installed in place of the stock 1.9L engine, resulting in a van that cruises easily at 70 MPH and has reasonable power up hills. A stainless steel exhaust system and new rebuilt automatic transmission were installed at that time. Although the van just turned over 200,000 miles, the new engine and transmission have less than 8,000 miles on them and have been trouble free. It also has a brand new fuel pump and tires, as well as a Kenwood bluetooth stereo.
The cabin has a small solar system (100 wt solar panel and 175 amp hours of auxiliary AGM batteries), allowing me to run a 1.5 cu ft compressor fridge and a 300 wt inverter and a battery bank charger. I also installed a Propex propane heater for the cabin, which has been a game changer. Last autumn, the van received a brand new 3-window pop-top to go with the handy rain fly and Jack Bombay Pop Top Shocks for easy lifting.
The stock 2-burner propane stove is fully functional. I installed a new water pump and shurflo folding faucet for the sink, as well as a small grey water tank (when it matters). All of the interior lights are LED. The upholstery is almost completely stock and is very good for its age. The downstairs bed is comfortable enough for long trips; I use a thin memory foam mattress if I want to sleep in the upstairs bed. The van can comfortably sleep four. All of the windows have curtains, including the long panel for the front windshield and side doors. I also have bug screens for the slider, the back hatch, and the side door windows. And if you want a little more room, the van comes with Bus Depot’s Ezy Awning and side walls to make a room off the side of the van. It is not permanently installed but attaches to the rain gutter and can be stowed easily.
The van was last painted its original brown in 2015 and is showing a little wear, but it will be good for several years. The body is in remarkably good condition, although it has three small areas of rust—two where the back hatch closes and one at the passenger rear window. The back chrome bumper has surface rust on it, and it could use a new tail pipe (no holes, just ugly). It’s missing one mud flap and one of the rear side markers is chipped at the corner. There is always a project on a 34-year old vehicle. I have records and receipts of all maintenance and upgrades I have done.
In short, this beautiful Westy is ready to hit the road right now and take you on adventures across this beautiful continent, whether it’s just for a weekend or for a longer trip.
