Description
Discover this Volkswagen Combi T2B Riviera with Ma Youngtimer: a matchmaking service for collectors. Important information: Volkswagen Combi T2B Riviera. First registered: January 1973. Imported from the United States. First part of its life spent in Arizona. Conversion by Riviera Motor Inc. carried out from first registration. Engine: air-cooled Volkswagen. Manual gearbox. Recent carburettor. Mechanicals well maintained and running without issue. Bodywork in good condition. Original underseal still present in the wheel arches. Two-tone orange and white colour scheme. Pop-top roof. Interior entirely redesigned and bespoke. Conversion carried out by a professional. Over 5, 000 euros of documented conversion work. Bespoke furniture. Convertible bench seat. Kitchen with sink and hob. Water tank and water circuit. 12 V / 220 V electrical system. Insulated living space. Numerous invoices included. Vehicle featured in a report in the specialist press. Advert text: There are few vehicles that evoke travel, freedom and an entire era as instantly as the Volkswagen Combi. More than fifty years after its debut, the Type 2 has become far more than a simple workhorse: it is now a true automotive icon, as prized by collectors as by lovers of travel and leisure vehicles. The example we are presenting, however, has a history that makes it particularly endearing. This Volkswagen T2B was produced for export and spent the first part of its life in the United States, more precisely in Arizona. From its first registration in January 1973, it was fitted out by the American company Riviera Motor Inc., which specialised in converting Volkswagens for camping. This is a particularly interesting origin, as Riviera conversions are today a more discreet alternative to the famous Westfalia conversions. These versions were notably recognisable by their pop-top roof and their layout, which turned the Combi into a genuine little living space. The history of this example is particularly well documented. After its arrival in France, its current owners acquired it in 2016, with the idea of creating their own travelling Combi. The van still had its original Riviera interior at that point, but it needed major refurbishment. Rather than simply restoring the existing interior, they decided to start again with a layout entirely designed around their needs. Almost three years were devoted to the project. The interior was therefore completely redesigned and entrusted to a specialist professional. The furniture is made to measure in a light finish, with rounded forms that perfectly capture the spirit of the 1970s. Everything is positioned so as to retain as much living space as possible on board. Notable features include a convertible bench seat, various storage spaces, a removable table, and a proper kitchen area comprising a sink and a hob. A water circuit with an electric pump and tank has also been installed, along with an electrical system allowing far more comfortable use during getaways. The orange and white chequered floor, the curtains and the various finishing details give this interior a particularly warm personality, while remaining consistent with the van's exterior configuration. Above all, this conversion is fully documented. A substantial file of invoices accompanies the Combi and makes it possible to trace the work carried out. The professional fit-out alone represents more than 5, 000 euros of work, including the manufacture of the furniture, the bench seat, the kitchen area, the electrical system, the insulation, and various elements relating to the roof and interior equipment. The appeal of this Combi does not stop at its interior, however. Its bodywork presents a very appealing orange and white colour scheme, highly representative of 1970s aesthetics. The bodywork is described as being in good condition and notably retains its original underseal in the wheel arches, an interesting detail when assessing the overall preservation of the vehicle. The mechanicals have also been maintained over the years. The Combi now runs without any particular issue and notably has a recent carburettor. But what makes this example even more distinctive is certainly its known and documented history. The vehicle and its owners have indeed been the subject of a multi-page feature in the specialist press, tracing the purchase of the Combi, its American history, its conversion and the journeys undertaken on board. This T2B Riviera is therefore not simply a converted Combi. It is...
