• Restored for national competition in 2019/20

• Fully repainted in original beige and cream livery

• Twin Weber carbs and short-shift gearbox

• Modernised inside with USB points, LED lighting and 230v electrics

If 2021 is all about the ‘staycation’ then you may as well do it in style – and that’s certainly what’s on offer here with this remarkable restored ‘Bay Window’ Type 2. 

The VW van scene is as bustling as ever, with the best examples continuing to make strong money – and this one represents a terrific opportunity. 

Fully restored less than two years ago, it’s still a stunner. 

Prior to 2019, not much of this van’s history is known. It was purchased and restored by Aspire Competitions – a company that raffles off leisure items specifically bought for the purpose. 

It was completely refurbished and resprayed in its original beige and brown colour scheme, but with quite a few modifications including a fully modernised interior and a some engine tweaks, along with lowered suspension on coilovers. 

The van was won in the competition in early 2020 and was then sold immediately to the current owner, who has enjoyed it but is now ready for something different. 

There isn’t much in the way of paperwork with the van from early in its life, but there’s documented evidence of the comprehensive work carried out as part of its rebuild and restoration.

It has a V5 in the name of the vendor and also comes with an MOT certificate valid until December 2021, as although the van is tax and test exempt the vendor wanted the peace of mind of knowing it was safe and in good order.

Overall, this is a great looking van, made all the more attractive by its lowered ride height and 15-inch JBW alloy wheels, which really set it off. The wheels also have nearly new tyres on them. 

During its refurbishment, the van was stripped bare and was resprayed in its original two-tone white over beige. Replacement window trims and replacement front and rear indicator lights were fitted to further enhance the look and keep it fresh. 

The quality of finish is excellent, while its simplicity is fresh and clean, unlike some of the more over-done vans on the market. 

It’s the inside that really matters with a VW Camper, and this one most certainly won’t disappoint. 

Lift up the pop-top roof and there’s a surprising amount of room inside, with a rock and roll bed and a side kitchen keeping the living space to a maximum despite the vans relatively compact dimensions. 

Everything inside is either new or has been refurbished. The list, by no means exhaustive, includes two-tone beige and brown interior trim, a natural wood kitchen worktop, a state-of-the-art Pioneer touch screen stereo, Hertz speakers, a subwoofer, a Smev 9222 two burner hob and a sink with a 12v tap. It also gets a Dometic fridge freezer.

The roof lining has been re-covered in cream, while the gas bottle and water bottle in the pictures are included in the sale. The flooring has been replaced and there are bamboo parcel shelves in cream and brown to match the overall colour scheme. 

It runs off both 12v and 230v electrics and has a split charge system with a leisure battery, along with LED interior lighting and USB charging points. 

The cab is equally smart, with retrimmed seats, a wooden steering wheel and powder-coated dash. 

The engine and running gear have seen just as much attention as the cosmetic areas during the course of the van’s restoration. 

As a result, the van is great to drive – if a little bumpy thanks to the coilovers and lowered ride height. What price cool looks, after all?

Mechanically, the 1600cc flat-four engine is twin ported and equipped with twin Weber carbs for extra performance, while an electronic fuel pump is there to aid warm and cold weather starts. It also features an upgraded underfloor oil cooler, with front disc brakes and a short-shift gear linkage, making it quite a sporty drive for a Type 2. 

The suspension was all newly fitted during the rebuild, with a new exhaust system and all core steering components also renewed, leaving nothing for the next owner to worry about. 

The perennial appeal of the VW Type 2 camper is there in abundance with this example, which is a very neatly done and subtle example that can either be thoroughly enjoyed ‘as is’ or viewed as a blank canvas by its next owner. 

It’s been very smartly and comprehensively rebuilt in recent years and has been carefully looked after since. If you want a staycation without the depreciation, then a classic Volkswagen is certainly the right way to go – the perfect investment for the future, and one that promises weeks (and weekends) of fun along the way. It’s a very cool thing, and in fine order.