In a message dated 98-04-01 15:28:33 EST, young@SHERLOCK.SIMS.BERKELEY.EDU
writes:

<< Saw an ad in the local paper for an '80L Vanagon at a decent price so
  I went to check it out.  Turns out it's got some "camper" elements -
  icebox/sink/storage unit along the driver's side.  The owner bought
  the van from his neighbors when they moved and said he knew nothing
  about this stuff, and I don't either!  So:
  >>

maybe it was a US camper conversion, like an ASI or something...they made
different models of campers from different models of the passenger vans.