Loving the Camper Van Coordinated outfit. Take a still of you sat behind the wheel and could be right back in 1980.

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Haha thank you

I had the previous version, a 1977 T2 1800, with the Westfalia conversion. It had been my Dads, and I bought it to use as a crew vehicle for my TV Production company. It did great service for about 6 years. I even drove it up and down hills in the Lake District. I was very impressed by how easily it did it with 4 people and all our camera and sound gear.. The numerous cubbies were great for hiding the gear. I had a Mobira Talkman mobile phone which was actually worth more than the van!

Great review! I love how T25s drive. There's several inexpensive things you can do to get them into the 21st century. Uprated poly bushes improve the handling massively cause it does have a theoretically very capable suspension setup. The water cooled vans do have good heaters and an auxiliary heater in the back doesn't cost the earth and makes for comfortable camping.

Fabulous video, brightened up a cold Sunday x

Great review. Growing up, my parents had an old-style split screen VW camper van, which was great fun for holidays. Brings back memories.

as an owner of two vanagons this is an appreciated video. awesome job. love the channel keep up the great work.

Great video very enjoyable natural speaking manner of presentation. It's nice to see all these great classics still in general use similar to what they were designed and used for originally.

Cracking review as always Steph.

I had that exact model in brilliant orange, we loved it as a family and took it everywhere, thanks for the memories x

Perfect for the staycations that we are mostly likely to have as our main holiday this year! After lockdown 1, I took the liberty of buying a Mazda Bongo camper which has been getting loads of use since & is honestly the best vehicle I have ever bought. Absolutely Love it!! Thanks for sharing & get better soon Steph

Great video hubnut would love this. Camper van I have seen loads of theses around when I was growing up in the 90s thanks for sharing this video keep up with the good work sheph

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! X

Steph, thank you for great content. I was born very early 70s and moved to usa when I was 19yrs. You always take me down memory lane. Thank you!

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Ah my pleasure x

Uuuuuh... color-matched. 🤗🌼🌟 Love your videos Steph. Hope you get well soon.

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Always! Thank you x

Very good video, it was good to see what's changed

awesome looking van, ive always loved vw's especially vans,buses,bugs etc.

great work Steph its an unsung hero

Love the camper , I like Aaron’s choice yet again on his camper ❤️

I had a 1986 water cooled 2litre panel van version, the heater was always fine and it was pretty nippy when it wasn't fully loaded. I had about six vans in all and that was definitely the best.👍😊

Love 'em or hate 'em, the VW vans are a true icon. They do require some adaptation to drive but are truly wonderous things. Yes, I am a fan having owned a seventies bay window transporter in the past. Heat? Sometimes. Body roll? Yep. Performance? Not really. Usability? Oh yeah. Good one. Always looking forward to your next video Steph. Thanks muchly.

I have this exact model, if it's setup and working correctly when the engine is running and up to temperature then the heater sliders allow you to adjust warm air to your feet, into your face and even into the rear through the tunnel vent. If you intend to camp and need heating when stationery then I would recommend a secondary gas heater such as a Propex Heatsource

Glad to see you back hope your recovery continues quickly Steph .

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Me too! I’m sick of being unwell x

Thanks Steph, and Aaron. I didn't know that power steering could be added to these. I had the regular version VW van/bus that comes with just seats. And it was just about the same colors as Aaron's here. I removed the rear seats to go camping once. I'd forgotten about heat. I arrived at the campground early in the day and that evening it became unusually cold. At the rate the temperature was dropping I knew that it was going to be shivering cold since the engine heater boxes needed new cables and couldn't be turned on. I remembered that I'd had a blow dryer with me and I borrowed an extension cord from another camper. At first I thought, Oh Lord it's never going to warm up in here but after a couple of hours the blow dryer was actually gaining on it. And surprisingly during the night it had become too warm in there. So fortunately, that blow dryer kept me warm through the night, albeit the noise it made. I never went camping again in my bus out of a lack of interest but I did enjoy it as a second car.

Made me miss my old 1980 Vanagon. Mine wasn’t a camper though but I went everywhere in it. It made you enjoy the scenery because it wasn’t very fast.

Great video Steph

brings back some great memories my dad had one back in the day

Another excellent video, Steph.

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks xxx

I really want to do up a little van like this. Great review. 💛

i had an 82 t25 2 litre danbury. another well known conversion company that are still going. mine had basically the same treatment, except for an electric rising roof, and a dash tidy top for odds and ends. the steering was light enough without the p.a.s fitted. and with the engine behind you, it was quiet, making longer journeys relaxed. and by modern vehicle standards, it's small in footprint, but even with the elevating roof down, rather tall. so it will not go in most multi storey car parks.

Great review, nice one

Mum and dad had a W reg one. Exactly the same. Devon Moonraker in that colour combo. Had some wonderful trips. Great memories.

I just love a VW camper. Good to have you back Steph, but you must look after yourself until you are feeling better.

Just coming to terms with 1980 being 41-years ago...Oh heck! Thanks for the excellent review :-)

Love these vans I’ve had a panel van and a caravelle 4x4 I wish I still had them great review Steph

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you x

Get well soon steph another great video looking lovely . Nice van

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching x

@gc5384

3 жыл бұрын

@@idriveaclassic your welcome xx its not a Sunday till I’ve watched an I drive video x

thank you for showing how the pop top works!

We camped in a bay window VW camper which came from the US ! It was a 1.7 fuel injected - and was LHD - that was a fantastic week the 4 of us had !! They are such happy machines and this is infectious!! I'd love to get one ! Great review Steph as always - brought back great memories my missus is now watching on her phone 😂

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Ah I hope she enjoys it ❤️❤️❤️

Beautiful colours!!!!

Great video

It’s so interesting to see this Devon version! In the USA we only had Westfalia conversions, which have a different roof setup. I believe this vehicle was the last application of VW’s type 4 engine (my Dad’s ‘74 914 Porsche also had this engine). The conversion to RHD seems a little rushed-the vestigial sliding door track on the wrong side is odd, along with a couple other oddities I noticed. I love the open panoramic driving experience with no hood out front.

These and other vintage vw's are so cool,any shortcomings become charm and not drawbacks.Wish the costs of these had not put them put of my reach.Great review

Great to see Steph and 'I Drive A Classic' back again!! Hope you are feeling better!! We have all missed you! 🇨🇦👍

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

If I’m honest, not much, but I hate letting you guys down. You all mean the world to me so I wanted to put something out xxx

@leeallen7491

3 жыл бұрын

@@idriveaclassic get yourself better, us lot ain't going nowhere

@stephenhall3515

3 жыл бұрын

@@idriveaclassic We really missed you and you must be sure to get fully better. Your channel is unique in being accurate, as technical as it needs to be but has the secret of British female honesty with something for everyone who likes wheels and integrity. Doc Steve, Ireland

Most Motorhomes hold their value very well, although many older VWs are probably worth more than they were when new! Devon conversions are still going. We visited their stand at the last Caravan and Motorhome Show at the NEC.

I have owned a T3 Westfalia for 26 years. I have become an able mechanic during that time. I have accumulated the tools and knowledge necessary to keep my Westfalia in good operating condition. Most parts are still available. Access in the engine bay is excellent. Removing and replacing the CV axles is easy. Oil changes are simple. There are plenty of resources online to help Vanagon owners keep their vehicles running. If you plan on buying and keeping a vintage Vanagon, a willingness to do your own maintenance and repairs is essential.

Great review Steph - I`m Guessing the Water cooled ones have a proper heater .

Fantastic review Steph, I know you’ve probably been asked this 1000 times before but please feature an MGB on your channel one day. Keep up the good work and stay safe in these challenging times.

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

It’s filmed already! It’ll be on in the next month or two ☺️

Good review

Cool❤️...as usual top marks🙏

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you xxx

Awwww its Air-cooled so yes going to be cold just like the MK1 Beetle, but again a proper lovely Video, I proper like your work :)

I thought I recognised where you were driving through (Findon). Nice camper🙂

Hi Steph looking beautiful as always. What a lovely old camper van it would be a fun van to cruse around in summer. With the engine at the back I think they might of used a petrol powered heater that worked independently from the engine like they used on the Carmen don't quote me on that though lol.

The water cooled version has an efficient heater and blower. My Holdsworth conversion also has a gas heater under the rear seats - an option when new and can be retro fitted.

Best wishes and thank you for filming this review! I'm always curious to see how the non-VW-fans see this kind of car. I bought the 1988 Caravelle Syncro 3 years ago and I'm still excited with that rear-engined vehicle! At least it has the factory power steering and the double (front/rear) water heating is actually considerably good, also the dashboard has all the goodies except for a rev counter, which is anyway of no use for the diesel. And the glacier pace, I'm still laughing! Nobody knows the meaning of "slow" unless you experience the wannabe 69HP diesel in a 2-ton T3 4WD .... and I use it for towing sometimes.

what a great review ! ...body roll, yes, feels like driving on marshmallows !... you can also add butt warmers to the seats....after you figure out the German Engineering temperature control panel, I bought a sticker so I know what knobs and where they should go....

@brits72

2 жыл бұрын

🤣

Looks like this VW Camper was made for you Steph and and your hair and clothes were made for her. My Dad owned a 1978 1.6 Bay window version which was lovely to drive. It did 0 to 60 in about 30 seconds but it didn't seem so bad. It did 66 mph flat out and did 35 mpg on 2 STAR. Even Mum's Fiesta needed 4 Star. I loved driving it,it was so comfortable and amazing in snow 🌨. I think the the Type 2.5/3 was a good upgrade with better visibility and bigger mirrors. They were just well engineered and built and my Dad's is now White over Purple with flowers 💐 on and a young 24 year old lady looks after it. I think you may have found something that suits you Mrs. Make Aaron an offer. Thanks again for great content.

You are right there Steph, most things with a VW badge is big money now due to them having such a following. My uncle had one that colour years ago and it was badged Billabong by Aragon.

Great overview. We have an 82 Westfalia air-cooled 2L. It also has a tow bar. Which is kind of hilarious because let's be honest, what could it tow? We don't have the power steering. It's fine at speed and a nightmare to park. If the heater flaps are properly adjusted, you get a decent amount of heat into the cabin, but they're rarely properly adjusted.

it made me remember my school van.

Very interesting, Steph. I always found these vans dangerously slow, and worse when laden. Volkswagen offered a gas fired heater on all their air cooled vehicles. Trouble is that it is on full blast or off completely. It does not cycle. It must also be left on for a minimum of 5 minutes or it can blow up. For camping, finding a place to mount a caravan heater that can run off the propane gas is a viable option for when parked. Seatbelts can be added to that rear seat. The mounts are built in as they were required in North America. The Westphalia campers did have the belts installed at the factory on Type 3 vehicles headed for the US and Canada.

See a few of those on roads here in USA. Love the videos. 🙂

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

I didn’t know you had them over there 😊

People have already commented on the groovy colour matching but just to add.....interesting van, and you have an enviable wardrobe!

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Ahh thank you. I made this dress myself from vintage material xx

@Mark_T

3 жыл бұрын

@@idriveaclassic Oh cool. I've never attempted self made but I do love a good vintage store find :-)

My dad had an air cooled bay minibus and tbh the heater was useless, in winter it was thermal undies and keep the ice scraper handy for the inside of the windscreen!! That being said it was a 1.6 and would sit at 55-60mph nicely and like the T25 was great to travel in.

They often put wheelchair lifts under the bus versions that would come out at the side, with the middle row of seats removed. My family had an '89 1.9 petrol one that was so comodious you could get me and another wheelchair side-by-side. We kept it for years from 91 to 2005 and I miss it a lot. It was on the road until 2016. It had a pretty good heater and apparently it wasn't that hard to steer even without power-assistance, as the engine was not weighing down the front, but then it wasn't a camper.

My ex girlfriend had one just like this in that bright yellow. I am not a Volkswagen fan but I really did like it! Was so characterful and I was so impressed how, in typical VW fashion, It felt built like a tank and was sooo ahead of it's time. I couldn't believe something built in 74 could be so comfortable and do long motorway stretches with ease, like a modern van or car! Like you say. Suspension is noisy but you just don't feel it. Engine surprisingly quiet too. You can still hear its distinctive air-cooled rattle though and a some characterful transmission whine from the front. Can guarantee these vehicles can make a day in a Tesco carpark a dream date! 😉 Brilliant review. Having experienced in myself I can confirm this is spot on. Steering was so heavy and gearbox so vague. Takes some getting used to! 🤣

Handy in the UK having different coloured plates so you can tell if its going backward or forwards. 😆 Here in 'Sralya Maaate this would set you back some reasonable coin. All old Volksie Vans have gone balli$tic! Forget camping, would be cheaper to take all your holidays in a 5 Star resort. This van is hella cool though! Luv it!

the opening shot reminds me of carry on camping

@aaronmatthews6315

3 жыл бұрын

I've now got a Carry on Camping sticker on the rear 😅

This would be a very cool thing to own!

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed 😍

Wow, your travelled a long way to see that!

The roof inside looks so yummi! Love to sleep next to mold 🤨

Steph, your delivery is excellent. Umms and errs are non-existent. A small point but very important!

Great video...the heater control is not adjusted to send heat to your feet. I drive my 1980 in below freezing.....perfectly warm

Unusual to see one with a floor!

That would be my first purchase if I came into some money!! Then I'd immediately regret it when I realised how cold Scottish summers are 🤣 Hope you're feeling better Steph.

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Hahaha it’s too cold for Scotland. Trust me

@laurentartiges

3 жыл бұрын

Well, as a ex-user of one of these, my advise would be: don't! My father had one, bought new in 1981, mostly used to go to holiday trips. I can tell you that this thing is full of conception mistakes, starting with the engine itself, terribly slow (2 liters twin carbs 69bhp, the top speed on flat road was about 125k/h) an unreliable (well also besause none of the useless VW mechanics could maintain/tune it properly... the synch of the carbs was terrible, the engine was leaking oil causing overheating). The dashboard was far too simple (yet, wi did get the clock on the right dial.... but there was no warning light for the brakes; nor parking brake). This thing used to break up every time we crossed the border... and preferably where there was nothing around to call for a towtruck. 185000km = 3 different engines (one was swapped in turkey, the second in Greece.... we gave up at the third and gave it away to the scrapyard). Te heating system was indeed terrible too, especially to 'defog' the windscreen but in the Wastfalia version, a webasto was installed at the back so I was hot while my parents were freezing at the front. Ii spend mos of my childhood in this bag of shit, never consider to buy a VW since I got my driving license thanks to this. It was a painfull experience for all os us (especially my father who spent hours under the engine, trying to get it back to live again... untill the next breakdown.

@marklittler784

3 жыл бұрын

@@laurentartiges That's happy motoring for you 😃😂😁😀

@laurentartiges

3 жыл бұрын

@@marklittler784 well, yes... I couldn't agree more. Forgot to mention the very positive point: looking at my father struggling to death to be able to drive a few more miles (and listening him swearing) was an excellent training to understand mechanics and learn good expressions to tell someone to get lost ;-)

@alextoft9199

3 жыл бұрын

You don't need much money to own one actually. My girlfriend of the time who had more much vision and is much more practical than me! Bought one off a right dodgy dealer in Birmingham for probably 1.5k. I was horrified, I thought it was a right piece of junk and that she'd gone mad! 😅 Aright it took a while to start and didn't like the wet but we went everywhere in it and once it got going and warmed it was fine! The camper section looked good too with a bit of DIY and hippy decor! 😅 People try to sell you one that is 20k and immaculate but you don't need that, they are built like tanks! It is a risk, but one worth taking. They are cold and slow but every car that becomes a classic has flaws! We never spent any money on the engine either. If we did bet it would have been fab! 🙂

An excellent review :) I have a 1983 water cooled 1.9 automatic high top T25 :)

@SuperHamster01

3 жыл бұрын

The heaters work fine after 5min driving . It just needs fixing . It doesn’t look well looked after that one .

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Lesley the owner said he’s just purchased it and plans to get it looking good again. We drove for a lot longer than 5 min and really experimented to get it working. It didn’t work and when I take out the vehicle I judge what I’m given. The heater definitely was not up to scratch on this.

Hi Steph .... i have a 1990 one of these ... mine is a westfalia model (German import)which has power steering as standard and runs with a 2.1i watercooled engine 5 speed which more than keeps up with modern traffic.. standard heating is very good and there is separate heating with vents at the rear (all with blowers operated from front) .. mine actually comes with an lpg heater with temperature control for when you are parked ... actually gets too hot if left on ... the roof on mine flips up from the front and again sleeps 2 up top and 2 below .. has all the usual refinements such as fridge, sink etc .... one last thing ... mine has had seat belts fitted in the rear (x3) retrospectively making it safer .. mine though is boring white .. love the colour of the Devon .... Great vid ...

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Ahh I think we need to pinch your heater!

@SKSK-rz7br

3 жыл бұрын

@@idriveaclassic if ever we are camped next to each other i will run a pipe over from mine to yours

love that van steph

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Me tooooo x

The thing is it's air cooled, car heaters work with a heater matrix where the hot water passes through the heater matrix, no cooling system no heater matrix = no heating and the blank clock face probably shows engine temp maybe! Could always get a diesel heater 👍 cool van though and I would love one! Good vid!

Awesome!!

You could fit an aftermarket diesel heater if you have a diesel van you could connect the heater to the diesel tank

I am skeptical of the 20-25mpg claim. I borrowed one (1987 model with a manual transmission) for two weeks and got about 16mpg, and that was mostly flat highways at 60mph. Those vans are cool, quirky, and fun--but VERY thirsty.

should look at the t25 westfalia pop tops. they are the on another level

They were called the Vanagone here in the U.S. A neighbor had one that absolutly never left the driveway. I hardly ever saw them in the 80s and never today.

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Ahh really?! Where are you based

Nice ones of these are worth crazy money in the States. Nice ones are worth more money today than they cost new

I call it the transitional model, referring to the various air and water cooled engine options. The previous model to this, the Bay window air cooled also had a 1.6 air cooled petrol (4 spd manual) option….and I can testify the performance was…..not great. It could, in theory keep up with traffic - but it meant really working the engine….making lots of noise. So, upstairs on one side there’s only a piece of plastic(?) between you and the outdoors.

Been a VW person for many years. Purchased five Beetles and one Fastback used in forty years of driving, but never a Type 2 van or camper. Even here in the States, their value diminishes little. The last early Eighties Type 2 that I looked at was $6,000, and air cooled, which is my preference. Didn't VW offer the auxiliary gas heater in this model. It really hurts your fuel mileage, though. During that same time period I also owned three American Dodge B300 vans and a Ford Aerostar. None have the aura of the VW, but all were much better priced used, and all went over 250,000 miles in daily service. Do British roundabouts circle clockwise? Just curious. American roundabouts are counter-clockwise. I remember VW not recommending sustained speed over 60 mph many years ago. I used to re-torque the heads on my air cooled VW about once a month, as I put on up to 1,000 miles a week, and often at sustained speeds of 65 - 70 mph.

Back in the day when this van was new... probably a Grandma would have has an old school eiderdown or knitted you one... that how you kept warm when camping... same way in the campervan.

a fair way from home today Steph, definitely need a decent heater this time of year.

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed!

@richlee509

3 жыл бұрын

Vw don't normally have decent heaters in the old ones

@suznet

3 жыл бұрын

@@richlee509 well I drove an old VW pick up Water cooled in the late 70s & the heater was fantastic, it would make the moisture steam on the outside of the Windscreen.

my aunt had the blue version befor the vw t4 camper wish she still had the vv t25

I had a Westfalia one of these. The only vehicle I’ve ever filled with petrol 3 times in one day 😧

@TheGavinM40

3 жыл бұрын

Hahaha. I have a Westy with the same downside! 🤣

@lewis72

3 жыл бұрын

I filled my M5 3 times in one day. 😆

nice how u got your dress to match the camper steph!

Seen one of these today. Must have...

when i was a child my father rent a westfalia camper van type 2 ... a lot of funny family memories

The earlier ones beloved by surfers in Australia. Living in them.

@steved3702

3 жыл бұрын

Saw a T3 Synchro (AWD) around the corner from where I work today. It had a camper conversion (not sure whom's) and a pair of recovery tracks bolted to a side panel where a window would otherwise be. And now I find this report! Got to drive a brand new Synchro for work once.

Another great video! How supercar blondie has a bigger following is beyond me?! You review cooler cars, have tons more actual car knowledge and you're easier on the eye 😜 my only critism is you haven't done any powerful German machinery yet....

Yes Adrian Flux seems like a good broker been going for years.

In my opinion this is the perfect cheap way to RV/Camp around the world with its perfect for 2/3 people in it not to mention towing either pop up traailer or to add smth on roof or just carry smth on top my point is its perfect

Love the VW camper vans, Westfalia, California or if you live in the UK, Devon!

@peterriggall8409

3 жыл бұрын

In Australia the conversion were called ‘Campmobile’.

If you ever make it over to America, I have a 1931 Ford Model A and 1985 Mazda Rx-7 you can film!

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!!!

Hi Steph, You drove right past where I work on the A27!! I own a classic Rover Mini Mayfair automatic H reg. and you’re welcome to test drive it next time you’re in Worthing😁

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

Ahh no way!

A very happy looking machine. I always wrongly assumed that the upper sleeping quarters were a child only space so good to see adults can also play at being kings of the castle. Hope your teeth are feeling better

@idriveaclassic

3 жыл бұрын

I’m still in agony 😭😭😭

@alansimpson835

3 жыл бұрын

@@idriveaclassic aww Steph. What a shame. Hope it stops soon and you're able to drink medicinal gin in the meantime

I just bought one because of this