The Volkswagen Type 2 informally called the splittie or microbus was produced from 1950 right through to the end of 1967. Over the years these have become a customisers dream as they have endless possibilities for styling and purposes.

Imported in 2013 from the state of California, this left hand drive vehicle has been brought back to a high standard of restoration.  The car has had an extensive restoration back in 2016 by renowned vehicle restorers MAS car and commercial. 

The owner always wanted to do a project with the iconic “splittie” and has painstakingly made the car as original as possible but adding his own touches to it, the lowered ride height adds to the stance of it along with a sympathetic and modern colour scheme which is offset with the white and tan interior.

The car comes with a wealth of paperwork covering the restoration, stamped service booklet, Volkswagen build certificate, UK registration certificate and a host of receipts for the parts purchased during the restoration. The bus also comes with a fresh MOT.
The V5 states that the bus is a 1959, which was recorded from the US import paperwork (which can often be incorrect!) but the VW build certificate confirms that it is a 1960 built vehicle.

The interior due to its refurbishment is in excellent condition, the white and tan colour scheme gives the vehicle a retro feel. The vehicle has custom made cabinets with ample storage, laminated flooring which is clean and free of any marks at all. 

All window glass is clean and the safari windows front and rear open with ease. Upgraded speakers have been added as well along with Bluetooth connectivity and USB charging ports. In the engine bay the car comes complete with spare wheel and tool kit (not original), there is an area of split paintwork inside the engine cover as shown on the photographs. 

The vehicle was shot blasted and taken back to bare metal then resprayed between  2014/2015 the trim was fitted and the owner went about purchasing all new parts and reassembling it using original parts where they could.

The Thunder grey and white pearl paintwork are in good condition, the owner by his own admission states the car is not concourse but has been restored to a good level. There are some small chips on the exterior and some minor areas of rust. Some screws on the exterior have very minor rust showing which would be a simple fix. The rear offside by the rear bumper has a small blemish and the offside door quarter light has some chips on the frame. 

Front and side sills, front wheel arches, half of the rear cargo and cab floor have been welded under the restoration, this also applies to the jacking points. All wheels are clean and free of any marks/scuffs, plus all four tyres have very good tread. 

The owner installed created engineering front beam with disc brakes and lowered. Changed the rear to IRS and lowered again with creative engineering parts then fitted with a freeway flyer gearbox. 

The engine is a 1776cc fully oil cooled unit hand built by Dan Simpson of vintage speed, with goodies such as the twin carbs, 123ignition electronic distributor and beautiful sounding vintage speed exhaust system. The mechanics have all been maintained by the seller and a service in March 2021 at 5616 miles was undertaken, the vehicle since then has only covered just over 400 miles. Although exempt, an MOT has been recently done to ensure everything is as it should be.

The car has a nice burble thanks to a vintage speed exhaust system. 

A custom panel van with twin side loading cargo doors makes this VW “splittie” a rare and unique purchase for a collector or for someone who wants to enjoy this classic where the previous owner has undertaken all the work.

Whether you use this VW as a show car, for weekend getaways or to use for business use  it will always put a smile on your face.