This guy from down the street and around the corner followed me into my driveway today to ask if I knew anyone who might like to buy his camper. I haven't seen it, though I'd like to go look and check out the conversion and drive it if he lets me. Here's his local newspaper ad:

VW WESTFALIA '82 - Diesel w/ gas conversion, Calif van. $4,800/best. 799-0141

Here's what he told me: Solid van, clean-like California body (that's something in the Northeast), owned previously by a surfer so the interior can use some TLC; usual camper problems like broken faucet, troubles w/fridge; the engine is from a Jetta w/ a CIS injection system; I think he said 148,000 miles on the odometer, but it could have been 128,000, as the 2 1/2 year old daughter was an armful wondering about the stranger in the driveway and the 100-plus-pound dog was barking from a window 3 feet away; and here's the kicker: he said he has a non-diesel transmission in it for better gearing, and has purchased by e-bay and with the help of a friend in Germany a 5-speed gearbox from a turbo-diesel. If all the rest is true and the 5-speed comes with it for that price, I would think it's worthwhile for someone looking for a full Westy in the Northeast.

Of course, I have no financial interest in this. I'm totally willing to go check it out for any list members interested, and could send digi pictures as well for anyone unsure if they want to waste the drive just to see it. when I told him we bought ours on E-Bay, he offered that maybe he should try to sell it there. I never got to tell him how close I came to not paying when we picked ours up.

Ed Carroll
87 Weekender
S. Portland, Maine