Beryl. An amazing, rust-free, original Volkswagen Earlybay T2 Westfalia Camper Van.
Right Hand Drive. 4 speed manual.
These are the post-restoration pictures.
And this is the before.
Date of manufacture: early 1970. Built
in South Africa. Imported to UK 2014 (Original series H plate) Tax
exempt
Date of registration: 23rd July 2014
I bought this vehicle a few years ago looking as it did
in the picture above. It has since been the
subject of a light but thorough restoration of the exterior. The dents were
removed and what little damage/rust was evident was repaired. It was resprayed in the original colour and the
bumpers, wheels and roof in the original colour white. The windows and doors were all removed and
replacement seals fitted. The Westfalia
kitchen shown has not yet been fitted..
Mileage
is now: 4900. Obviously, this isn’t correct
and with such an old vehicle, I would have been unable to verify any mileage as
correct. It was sold to the current registered keeper
in 2014 and has been used off and on ever since.
If you are looking for a Bus, you’ve probably been to
see a few. In which case, you will not need me to tell you they can vary from
the sublime to the ridiculous. For £5k you can pick up a basket case which you
will end up sweeping off your drive with a dustpan and brush. For £50k you
could pick up a fabulous restoration. And then there is everything in between.
For the kind of money I am looking for here, you could
pick up a good restoration. But it would be restored. Probably shell off. Lots
of fresh metal welded in, plenty of filler hiding who knows what, many
replacement parts of varying provenance/quality. Lots of
rusty bits, nothing requiring immediate attention, but just waiting for the MOT
tester’s screwdriver to poke through.
If you are very
lucky, you will find a good, nice looking, sound vehicle, probably restored
which even looks the part.
What you won’t find is a machine like Beryl. She is
special! And in one of the best colours around, IMHO - dove grey. It definitely has understated class! She is
STUNNINGLY original! I’m no expert on
these vehicles so please don’t hold me to this. But, to my knowledge,
everything you see is original - barring a few items listed below.
But the best thing about her is the chassis and
bodywork. It is almost completely original and rust free. Granted, there is some light surface rust on
the inside floor panels and the like. But nothing that requires repair – again
barring the items listed below.
Non original panelwork.
The last owner had the section below the windscreen
replaced by Beetle Magic – one of the very best restorers of these vehicles you
will find. It is a superb job with no traces of the repair visible.
There has been a repair to the lower nsr wing. About 2/3 mm of filler has come away but the
metal beneath is sound. It was not a repair of a rusted panel. Ditto around the
osr bumper mount.
The underneath has a heavy duty coating of underseal but everywhere you look inside you can see the
original metal and, for the most part the original paint. The worst sections –
for example the floor panels have a light coating of rust which requires
nothing more than sanding down, priming and repainting.
All the doors seem to be nigh on perfect and original.
The worst section was at the bottom of the driver’s door below the handle. Rust
had perforated the interior metal skin and there were marks showing on the
outer panel too. All sorted now.
All the window and door rubbers were look original and
were, understandably, looking tired. They have all been replaced. The quarter
lights – all three of them work well and have good chrome. What chrome there
is, all appears to be good. It has new mirrors – not sown in the pictures
yet. The hubcaps are a mixed bunch – see
the pictures to follow.
The dash appears to have been repainted as has the
removable panel beneath the engine. The section beneath the windscreen has been
resprayed down to the air vents.
Non original features.
The engine.
This is the correct engine for the bus. A 1600cc aircooled. According to Beetle Magic, the vehicle at
some point probably had a watercooled engine fitted –
a common conversion in South Africa. When the current aircooled
engine was fitted, the original airbox was lost –
hence the filter sitting atop the recently replaced carb.
The engine runs superbly, pulls well and, I’m told, uses no oil.
The cross bar mount under the engine is non-original –
apparently.
The sliding door mechanism is a one action slam shut.
No secondary raise-to-pull-in mechanism. This looks original.
The tyres – have all been replaced recently – barring
the spare which looks like it hasn’t moved for years – probably requires
replacement. The wheels are all in good condition. They have been repainted
once, maybe twice.
The rock’n’roll bed has been
reupholstered in dark brown (?!). But the fold up table looks original,
unmolested and tidy.
The interior door cards in the rear have been replaced
with ply. The original vinyl to match the front door cards (which appear to be
original and near perfect) is still available, I am told.
The vinyl floor is recent as are the carpets in the
front. The rubber mat across the front floor appears to be original and in good
order.
Everything else from the fold out hammock bed and the
rather yellowed pop top fabric (a new fabric replacement is provided but,
personally, I love the old one!) to the roof lining panels, appears to be
original. Even the front seats! Some of the piping around the edge is missing
but otherwise they look in excellent condition.
The cards below the front dash down to the floor are
recent. But the dash itself including the glove box is all good – the
instruments too. The indicator warning lights only flash once or twice when
first activated. Not sure why! The
ignition switch works correctly except for engaging the starter notor which is operated by a small silver button alongside.
The brake master cylinder has been replaced recently.
The original pressurized windscreen washer is also present!
The kitchen facilities would have been very basic when
she first rolled off the production line. I have obtained some original Westfalia units with sink, hob (no optional grill but gas
tap and fittings are there) and 3 way fridge. There is also the iconic table
which folds to outside the sliding door, various extra cupboard space including a wardrobe. These are pictured below,
exactly as I found them. Uncleaned and not fitted.
Fitting should be
very straightforward. They will require
minor modification and I do not wish to do this unless they are actually
required. If they are not required, a
discount can be made.
The cupboarding to the rear
appears to be original as is the fold up table. Even the mirror on the inside
of the cupboard door!
The locks all work correctly (barring a minor defect
with the driver’s door – still works though) but there are two keys so
obviously some replacements have been made. The windows mechanisms are all
good. Quarter lights, front roll down and louvred
windows all work well. All the glass appears original. The rear screen even has
the original suppliers sticker.
The gearbox works well but selection is traditionally
bad. 2nd gear is particularly hard to locate from 3rd.
This, I am told, is quite normal!
The fuel guage recently
required a new sender. This requires the removal of the engine or the cutting
of a small panel above. They sensibly opted for the latter. The sender now
works correctly. Pictured.
The heater tubes have been removed. These run from the
heat exchangers to the front ‘totem pole’, where the heat is distributed.
Replacing them is no big deal.
I’m honestly not sure what else to tell you.
If you like, I can arrange Beetle Magic, to inspect
her and compile a report, at my expense, on her mechanical, cosmetic and
structural condition etc. I appreciate this could be viewed as non-impartial
but they have their reputation to consider! Alternatively choose your own
inspector and I will consider meeting at least part of your bill.
It is now MOT and tax exempt but it breezed through
the last MOT with no advises bar a rather odd advise
re the handbrake cable which looks fine to me. All that was required was the
adjustment of the brakes. If you want any more pictures of any specific areas,
do please ask.
Pictures below were
taken just after delivery and before any cleaning and during the restoration.
Further pictures taken 17th July 2021 follow showing a couple of
things that have deteriorated since the restoration.
Westfalia
original elevating roof
Original single canvas stretcher
style bed
Rock’n’Roll Double Bed with storage beneath
Original (?) fold out table
Westfalia kitchen units in remarkably good condition. These will require very minor modification to fit.
Period Sanyo Radio
Lots of cupboard space and cubby holes
Full custom cover for the vehicle
Original (I believe) canvas
surround – this has a little damage but looks ‘proper’!
New canvas for the elevating roof
– personally, I would leave the original one in place.
Some other
spares.
Note the small aluminium panel covering the hole cut to access the fuel
level sender.
The unit on the right is included if you want it. Pictures of
the Westfalia units to follow.
A view of the wheel arch from the
inside! Heavy duty underseal on the
original metal.
Spare wheel bay – view from NS
Spare wheel bay – view from OS
Spare wheel. Resprayed once – so far as I can
tell. Tyre is old and probably useless.
NS Front wheel
arch. Top. Photo taken with
passenger seat removed.
OS Front wheel
arch top. Photo taken with driver’s seat removed.
Original rubber mat OS
Original rubber mat NS
The rust you see is just surface.
No holes. Not even close! And NO repairs! It literally just needs to be rubbed
down and painted.
Front passenger bench seat
unfolded
Driver’s seat removed. All
mechanisms work correctly. No side airbags!
New carpets
and front panels.
Load area floor. Again. Nothing but surface rust. No
holes – except the original drain for the sink!
Under the rear
seat. You can’t fake this kind of originality. Most of the
marks you can see will clean off.
Shame they didn’t use the correct
fabric.
Original
curtain ties and bunk bed fittings.
You simply don’t find sliding
doors like this one. Utterly unmolested.
Roof panels are original. The
poor gluing job, less so! Easily cleaned up.
Latest pictures 17/7/21
Please ask for more pictures of
anything you like.