Eye-catching classic VW camper vans don’t get much more rare than this 1964 Type 2 that went under the hammer last weekend at the Silverstone Auctions sale at the Silverstone Classic.
In fact, this is believed to be one of only three remaining ‘Double-Door-Walk-Through’ camper vans!
So perhaps it’s hardly surprising that when the hammer fell on this lot, bidding had reached £67,000.
Standing out from the VW camper van crowd
This Agave Green and Silver White Type 2 T1 was built in Germany on 26 August 1964, then exported to San Francisco.
In the US, EZ Campers in Little Rock, California, fitted a bespoke interior with accessories, before the camper was sold to its first owner through the main local Volkswagen dealership. Indeed, this ’van still has its EZ front steps.
EZ’s slogan promised that the firm would “convert your VW 211 Van into a wonderful weekend cabin on wheels!” – and this camper van’s layout with awnings on both sides certainly lends itself to that.
It spent most of its life in the Sacramento area and lay inactive for a while, before being bought by Vintage Warehouse at a VW show in Vallejo, also in California.
Vintage Warehouse is a company well-known for specialising in unusual VWs and used the ’van for several years.
During this time, the camper’s ‘pop-top’, double-roof bunk set-up was installed, meaning it can sleep four.
Back to Europe
In 2005, this VW camper van was imported to the UK and has been with the same owner from then until this sale.
It has been the subject of a no-expense-spared restoration by Haywood Classic & Custom, which was completed in 2012 and has been used little since.
The camper’s history file shows evidence of this work and contains receipts totalling around £50,000, plus photographs documenting its restoration.
The interior is trimmed in French-polished teak and marine-ply, with leather upholstery.
Despite being almost 53 years old, this camper van should keep its occupants cosy, as it has been fully rewired and has an Eberspächer heater.
And it should run well, too, as its 1600cc, four-cylinder engine, bought from the VW factory in Mexico, was sourced and fitted with fresh ancillaries in 2008. It has only covered around 5000 miles since, with regular servicing.
In addition, the transmission was overhauled in 2016 and its brakes have been upgraded, discs on the front, drums out back.
We hope its new owner is delighted with his/her purchase!
The camper’s history file contains receipts for work totalling around £50,000