Rare 1970 VW SO42 Camper

1970 Volkswagen Bus/Vanagon Description

Out of production for decades and there's still strong demand for the legendary VW Microbus, especially those with the coveted camper conversion. To date, nothing else has appeared that can match its combination of utility, reliability, and simplicity, and, of course, there's no denying the appeal of a vintage VW which is enjoying a renewed interest in recent years.

This classic turquoise 1970 Volkswagen Microbus is exactly what you've been looking for. On consignment from the owner; a client and dear friend. This bus is functional, clean, and never used for anything more challenging than exploring the edges of civilization. The bodywork is in good shape, as you'd expect from a vehicle that's led an easy life, and all the original badges, lenses, windows, and other hard-to-obtain parts are still there. The paint is an original VW color, albeit showing signs of age and use. We will repaint to your specifications or update the paint job with the same color. The SO42 camper top paired with an iconic roof rack and ladder which gives it a distinctive look that VW fans can recognize a half-mile away, but beyond that, there are no notable outside modifications (and you can't really call the camper top a modification anyway). The front-mounted VW emblem evokes sweet nostalgia, but you can tell VW was serious about the camper's abilities thanks to the campground hook-ups and vent windows on the side of the van.

Inside, it's as funky and as practical as you remember. Tan vinyl upholstery is durable, easy to maintain, and perfectly captures the look of the era without being too outrageous. The original gauges are all functional, and the upright driving position is probably something we'll never experience again in a consumer vehicle. The original ventilation controls are still as indecipherable as ever, but we have added a luxury bonus! A generator and air conditioning unit, as well as an upgraded stereo with 7-inch touch screen and navigation system. There's plenty of headroom fore and aft so you can walk between the seats to see what's going on in back. The pop-up tent is in excellent condition, making room for a family to spend a weekend together in the great outdoors. Details like the custom awning, portable table, the various seating and dining configurations, and a bright, airy interior make it an excellent choice, then and today. Even the cabinetry is in great shape, suggesting the previous owners really took care of this bus when it was new and spent quite a bit to fix it up today.

Power comes from a familiar air-cooled 1600 Single-Port engine, interchangeable with the Beetle. No, it isn't very fast or powerful, but it is reliable and virtually maintenance-free, so you'll always get where you're going...eventually. Routinely driven hundreds of thousands of miles, these vans are legendary in certain circles, and they come by that reputation honestly. The engine bay is a bit dirty now, but it runs great and all the important parts are still in place, so don't sweat it. We will be doing a full rebuild on the motor and mechanical assessment and repairs before you hit the road. The 4-speed manual transmission shifts well, even though the linkage has to reach waaaay back there, and it's easy to get the hang of the bus-like steering, with the front wheels right under your seat. It's original underneath, but there's no structural rust, which is a death sentence for these vans, and it tracks straight on the open road. Newer 195/70/14 Goodyear All-Season radials have been fitted to a set of original wide 5 wheels with original chrome baby moons, so it drives better than ever and looks cheery doing it.

Iconic, practical, and timeless, this VW Microbus is the one you've been waiting for. Call today! 904-201-1700