Highlights

Correctly registered as a motorcaravan
Full history from new known and detailed in service history
Original VW service book with 17 stamps in it
Converted to a Devon Moonraker campervan from new
Paintwork resprayed in original colours

The Appeal

It was a Dutch VW importer called Ben Pon that first had the idea to create a commercial vehicle based on Beetle mechanicals having been inspired by motorised trolleys that shuttled around the Wolfsburg VW plant in 1947. He sketched out a design for essentially a box on wheels and just two years later the first VW van, known as the Type 2 (the Beetle being the Type 1) debuted at the Geneva motorshow.

Initially the first generation ‘split screen’ models used Beetle engines with their torque enhanced by reduction gearboxes in the rear axle and were slow and underpowered. The second generation of Type 2 aimed to address these issue and featured more powerful engines and various refinements. These ‘bay-window’ models were built in Germany from 1968, gaining a major facelift in 1973 that featured wrap-around bumpers, more power and better brakes.

Production in Germany ended in 1979, before continuing in Brazil until 2014.

This ‘late bay’ is argueably the best of the curvaceous Type 2 models (before the rather boxy ‘Brickie’ arrived in 1981) and is one of the last of the German made models to roll out of Wolfsburg. It is thought to have been converted to a Devon Moonraker campervan from new and has received a good quality respray in its original colours under the current owners stewardship.

It features the much more desirable 2.0-litre Type 4 engine that was the most powerful engine fitted to the late bay Type 2s.

The History and Paperwork

V5C in owner’s name
Registered as historic vehicle so tax and MoT exempt
First registered by Maidstone VW in August 1979
Converted by Devon to a Moonraker conversion from new
VW maindealer history from 1979 to 1985 stamped in book
Original service book stamped up seventeenth service in 1989
Current owner bought it from a local garage
Vehicle has been maintained by Spilsby Garage for last 15 years

First registered in 1979 the service books indicate that a fridge was fitted to this vehicle from new, so it is thought to have been a campervan from new. The conversion appears to be a Devon Moonraker but may have been treated to new cabinet fascias at some point in its life.

The current owner bought it from a local garage having seen the vehicle driving around in an adjacent village. He still has it maintained at the garage the previous owner used and it is thought to have been under their care for the last 15 years.

The original VW service book pack is a rare find and is stamped up to 1989 with seventeen service stamps. A large folder of invoices then supports the service history after 1989.

Under the current owners care the vehicle has had a full respray (in the original colours) about five years ago, together with a new clutch and gearbox rebuild. He reckons he has covered around 25,000 miles in the campervan (the odometer read 146,743 miles) since acquiring it in November 2015. As his hobby is birdwatching, the campervan is named ‘Puffin’!

The Interior

Velour effect front seat covers are unmarked
Dark brown door cards in good order but needs new clips on driver’s side
Original style rubber flooring and unmodified dashboard
Headlining and original pop-top roof headlining all in good condition
Interior is a Devon Moonraker conversion with refreshed cabinets
Original sink and oven fitted, together with a handy 31-litre fridge
Separate leisure battery and mains hook-up
Offer four berths with child double in roof and adult double downstairs
Two travel seatbelts
Period style Seventies flooring and period style curtains
Soft furnishings are all in excellent order and rock ‘n’ roll bed works well
Additional fold-down seat near sliding door

Behind the wheel of this bay-window van it all looks wonderfully original except for the wise addition of aftermarket speakers on the parcel shelf that are powered by a 50W x 4 JVC KD-G502 head-unit that features a CD player and a removable fascia.

This VW is thought to have been converted to a campervan from new by Devon Motorcarvans in Exeter and is one of their Moonraker converisons. The flooring is original, while the cabinet carcasses are also period correct but appear to have updated fascias. It’s a marvel of compact engineering and offers a Swiss army knife level of clever packaging. Pop the elevating roof, which appears to have original perforated vinyl trim and marvel at the sheer space it creates.

The pop-top fabric has been updated to period style vinyl during the recent refurbishment and is in excellent condition. Two berths are to be found in the roof space and are probably best for kids, while the downstairs rock ‘n’ roll bed is six feet long and has ample space for two adults.

The sage green fabrics covering all the beds and seating isn’t original but looks period correct and is in excellent condition. The current owner’s wife made the cheerful floral curtains and these work well with the soft furnishings.

The original gas-powered oven and sink are still in place and there’s a useful 31-litre fridge powered by a second leisure battery mounted in the engine bay. A mains hook-up keeps this battery topped up. The pole-in-the-hole table fitting is thought to be original.

The current owner points out that he’d replace the rubber seals on the slatted glass side window if he were keeping the vehicle.

The Exterior

Resprayed to a high standard around five years ago (in the original colours)
Original canvas roof was replaced with period striped vinyl during respray work and still looks good
Bodywork looks very straight and has good shut lines
Period aluminium side step and rear VW mudflaps
Has towbar fitted and rear-mounted spare wheel carrier
Chrome light bezels, VW emblem and doors handles are in good order
Three chrome hub caps in good order, one has slight rust pitting
Headlights in good condition
Hella front indicator lenses have age cracking but are intact
Tail-lights are in good order
Some minor rust bubbles around lower windscreen edge and lower front seam
Underside appears solid and has bellypans fitted
Steel wheels have surface rust and would benefit from refurbishment
Front wheels shod with Evergreen 185/14C tyres (dated 2014) with ample tread
One rear tyre is an Evergreen 185/14C and has minor surface cracking
One rear tyre is a Rapid Effivan in 185/14C size (dated 2020) that looks like new
Spare wheel is also a recent Rapid Effivan in 185/14C size

Most VW Transporters of this vintage have been resprayed and restored several times and this one was treated to a high quality respray around five years ago. The paintwork is in the original colours and the lack of orange peel and straight sides indicate that it was carried out to a high standard. Some minor rust bubbles can be found around the lower windscreen edge, around the front panel seam and on the rear wheel arch lips, but it is minor and easily treatable. Overall the paintwork looks fantastic and the VW sits squarely on the road and looks unmodified and original – just as VW purists like them.

The roof fabric was replaced during the respray and it opens easily once its chromed latches are released.

A spare wheel carried has been fitted to the rear and this holds a recent Rapid Effivan tyre that matches the one fitted to one of the rear wheels (we’d swap the odd rear tyre to the spare).

The chromework is mainly in good condition with only minor rust pitting marring one of the hub caps (spares are easy to source).

Overall the exterior condition is way above average for a vehicle of this age and it’s all ready for new camping adventures.

The Mechanics

Fitted with the desirable 69bhp 2.0-litre air-cooled Type 4 engine
Carb appears to be recent and features a pancake-style air filter
Clutch replaced and gearbox refurbished by current owner
Serviced by local garage for last 15 years

Despite being moved multiple times for the photoshoot, the 2.0-litre air-cooled engine whistled happily to life on every turn of the key and sounded as you’d expect it to. The current owner is not aware of any mechanical issues with it and the comprehensive service history is up to date.

Summary

You can’t help but fall in love with this VW campervan thanks to its clever Devon Moonraker interior and sensitive restoration work. The white-over-green paintwork is in good condition apart from some minor blebs and mechanically it appear in fine order.

A big bonus is the 2.0-litre Type 4 engine, that would have been the flagship engine at the time and offers a welcome boost in torque for easier progress. It’s all ready for a new owner to enjoy life in the slow lane and the unique change of pace lifestyle that only a classic VW campervan can provide.

BEFORE YOU BUY

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