1965 Volkswagen Type 2 Westfalia

Vehicle Overview

1.8L-Powered 1965 Volkswagen Type 2 Westfalia

This 1965 Volkswagen Type 2 camper is powered by a replacement modified 1,776cc flat-four paired with a four-speed manual gearbox. Features include a pop-up top, a roof rack, pop-out windows, Westfalia equipment, a convertible bed, cabinets, tables, storage compartments, a refrigerator, a Retro Manufacturing stereo, and Focal speakers. The van was acquired by the current owner in 2021 and subsequently underwent a refurbishment that included replacing the engine, repainting the vehicle in blue and white, and refreshing the interior in gray and blue upholstery. This Type 2 bus is now offered on dealer consignment with refurbishment photos and a clean California title.

The bus left the factory finished in white and was stripped and repainted its current shade of blue with a white upper section during the refurbishment. Equipment includes painted white bumpers with overriders, dual chrome side mirrors, swing-open passenger-side rear doors, bright trim and door handles, safari front windows, a pop-top center roof section, and a roof rack with wooden slats and raised rails.

Chrome-finished 15” Fuchs-style wheels with black accents wear Porsche center caps and are mounted with 155/60 Continental ContiProContact front tires and 195/65 Lexani LXTR-203 rear tires. The bus was reportedly fitted with Wilwood front disc brakes and a lowered suspension under current ownership.

The interior features a split front bench seat trimmed in gray patterned upholstery, while the rear seats are upholstered in blue vinyl. A Retro Manufacturing Laguna stereo in the dashboard plays through Focal speakers mounted in the front doors and in the ceiling at the rear of the vehicle.

The two-spoke steering wheel bears a Wolfsburg horn button and fronts an 80-mph VDO speedometer and a fuel gauge. The five-digit odometer shows 2k miles, which were added under current ownership after the odometer was reset; true chassis mileage is unknown. The selling dealer notes that the fuel gauge is unsteady.

The rear compartment features a rear-facing middle-row seat, a back seat that converts into a bed, woodgrain side paneling, checkerboard flooring, two hinged tables, cabinets, storage compartments, a refrigerator, and a faucet.

The replacement 1,776cc flat-four was reportedly rebuilt and installed by Dubber’s Toy Box of Stanton, California with use of the following components:

• 90.5mm pistons and cylinders
• Rebuilt 311B connecting rods
• Mahle rod bearings
• Stainless-steel valves
• Engle 110 camshafts
• Engle lifters
• SCAT camshaft gear and swivel-ball adjusters
• Schadek oil pump
• Doghouse oil cooler
• Chrome alternator
• Compu-Fire electronic ignition
• Beru blue ignition coils
• Bosch 009 distributor cap
• Weber Redline carburetor

A valve adjustment and timing service were completed during the rebuild, and the oil was changed in preparation for the sale. The engine case is stamped with serial number B6428672, which is consistent with a single-port 1.6-liter engine produced in 1970 for the USA/Canada markets.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox. A replacement clutch, a 200mm flywheel, and an A-1 Sidewinder exhaust system were fitted during the refurbishment.

Photos taken during the refurbishment are presented in the gallery below.

The M-code plate bears serial number 5142405, whereas the stampings in the engine bay and on the serial-number plate add a “23” prefix, reading 235142405. The plate above decodes as follows:

• 26 4 – April 26, 1965 planned production date
• 425 – North American export package w/1.5L engine
• 842 – Unknown
• 002 – US-spec headlamps
• 025 – US-spec bumpers and six pop-out windows
• 108 – Westfalia SO-42 camping equipment with five louvered windows
• UH – US-market vehicle destined for San Antonio, Texas
• 2312 – Type 2 Kombi with right-side cargo doors, left-hand drive
• 523907 – Export-model Kombi with Westfalia-specific Pearl White paint
• 5142405 – Vehicle serial number