1986 Volkswagen Westfalia for sale. Sold new April 1986 at University Audi & Volkswagen in Seattle Washington by Herb, an avid lifetime VW owner who drove his cars many, many miles and took fastidious care of it.
In his extensive and exhaustive notes over his ownership we learn that Herb started with a new 1957 Beetle, next he purchased a new 1965 Squareback, then in 1970 a new 411 Squareback until stepping up to this 1986 Westy which he owned and took great care of for its first 20+ years.
It remained in Washington state until arriving in California in 2017 and has enjoyed being under the stewardship of two capable owners who have continued to properly care for this special bus saving it for future generations. It includes an enormous cache of records dating back to the beginning showing it to be well-loved and cared for throughout its life.
This Westy starts runs and drives beautifully. The factory replacement engine was installed 69k miles ago and still runs like a champ with plenty of power and a clean and quiet exhaust. The braking, suspension and shifting all feel good and the bus drives down the road straight and steady. Recent maintenance has included new tires, new catalytic converter, intake manifold gaskets, O2 Sensor, steering rack, drive axles, CV Boots, water pump and more.
The body on this Vanagon GL is impressive given its mileage and 33+ years on the road showing a few minor bruises over an older repaint that still has a nice shine to it. The floors and rockers are solid and rust-free and overall looks nice and respectable. The tent is in good order, the wheels are immaculate and wearing fresh new tires all around.
The interior is complete and original and in nice shape. By the looks of it, I don't get the impression that Herb took folks with him often. The tent (replaced in 2016) pops up easily and the upper mattress looks barely used. The stove, refrigerator, and sink are in good condition as well.
The front windshield curtain and rear hatch screen are present along with both removable tables. All in all very presentable and comfortable. Upfront, the gauges are clear and in good working order along with all of the lighting and switches and the heater.
It is wonderfully complete and solid and in very good condition. 71 pages of documentation dating back to its Seattle beginnings with Herb are available here with a Carfax Report here.
This 319k+ mile bus is proof positive that VW's great engineering combined with attentive ownership makes for a long and useful life, especially given how many million-mile Volkswagens are still out there wearing them like a badge of honor.
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