halcyon motors


Beryl. An amazing, rust-free, original Volkswagen Earlybay T2 Westfalia Camper Van. Right Hand Drive. 4 speed manual.

 

These are the post-restoration pictures.

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And this is the before.

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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.

 

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Note the small aluminium panel covering the hole cut to access the fuel level sender.

 

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The unit on the right is included if you want it. Pictures of the Westfalia units to follow.

 

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A view of the wheel arch from the inside! Heavy duty underseal on the original metal.

 

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Spare wheel bay – view from NS

 

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Spare wheel bay – view from OS

 

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Spare wheel. Resprayed once – so far as I can tell. Tyre is old and probably useless.

 

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NS Front wheel arch. Top. Photo taken with passenger seat removed.

 

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OS Front wheel arch top. Photo taken with driver’s seat removed.

 

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Original rubber mat OS

 

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Original rubber mat NS

 

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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.

 

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Front passenger bench seat unfolded

 

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Driver’s seat removed. All mechanisms work correctly. No side airbags!

 

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New carpets and front panels.

 

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Load area floor. Again. Nothing but surface rust. No holes – except the original drain for the sink!

 

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Under the rear seat. You can’t fake this kind of originality. Most of the marks you can see will clean off.

 

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Shame they didn’t use the correct fabric.

 

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Original curtain ties and bunk bed fittings.

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You simply don’t find sliding doors like this one. Utterly unmolested.

 

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Roof panels are original. The poor gluing job, less so! Easily cleaned up.

 

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Latest pictures 17/7/21

 

 

 

 

 

Please ask for more pictures of anything you like. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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