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For sale is Ruby, my 1971 VW Westfalia walk-through camper bus. The most desired year of the bay window era, 1971 was the last year of the Type 1 engine (aka, the beetle engine) in a bus, and the first year with the sliding side door, the bay-window windshield, and power front disc brakes.
Check out these YouTube Videos:
https://youtu.be/AVrEsouDeLk?si=vO7NXSxvQ4TNFNYi
https://youtu.be/RCAfHgXW274?si=zc3bnCGlX3oyexGc
https://youtu.be/jP0haimWkZE?si=z-3WlfS7vi1N_rrg
https://youtu.be/wi2HkkAbGCU?si=-qXcbth4hDnGuyF_
https://youtu.be/NaKbYdTzgSY?si=7DrijjFGePlXC8Xu
https://youtu.be/JeTULn6zNV4?si=fDzvB5rp1nqllN1f
https://youtu.be/0XbejOyJXao?si=ZITx_hOVfVyDzY4h
Ruby has had a ton of work done on her to make her as reliable as any 53-year-old bus could be – and you’ll get lots of smiles and thumbs up everywhere you go!
NEW ENGINE: A Brand New (not rebuilt) EMPI 1776cc VW all-aluminum AutoLinea “Bubble Top” engine was installed 50 miles ago and comes with Pertronix electronic ignition.
NEW WEBER DUAL CARBURETORS: Dual Weber 40 IDF Spanish carburetors with CB Performance linkage kit. The Spanish Weber IDF series carbs are universally considered the best carburetors money can buy.
FRESHLY REBUILT TRANSAXLE: A 4-speed manual 091 transaxle from a ’78 late bay, rebuilt less than 7K miles ago, preserving the original 1971 bell housing and output shaft to preserve compatibility. This is one of the smoothest shifting VWs ever, with a freeway flyer ratio for scooting down the highway and for more capable pull in 3rd gear when climbing up the mountains.
FRESH CV JOINTS AND NEW WHEEL BEARINGS: These have been refreshed with relubrication and new CV boots. All new rear wheel bearings and seals were done less than 3K miles ago.
NEW STEERING / SUSPENSION / BRAKES: New steering wheel, new steering gear box, ball joints, tie rods, steering damper, performance sway bar, brake boost servo and shock absorbers all around.
INTERIOR: Original Westfalia “Campmobile” interior with sink cabinet (icebox converted to pantry cupboard); 12v electric pump for faucet, original 7-gallon water tank still present and functional. The original top bunk cot and the front seat hammock/cot are included. The Pop top tent canvas is in great shape, with zippered openings left/right/rear. The original flooring is in good condition beneath the carpet. Nice ‘room darkening’ curtains, including windshield curtain. Tabletops have been upgraded with stainless steel. The fold-out bed upholstery was redone at some point and does not match the mustard-yellow that was stock for Westies of this era but is a very comfortable bed for two.
All of the doors have been disassembled and rebuilt with new rubber all around.
When I replaced the rubber seal on the rear RH side window, I completely removed the camper interior and was very pleased to see only extremely minimal surface rust where water had collected under the foldout seat. I removed the surface rust and treated the area with POR15 rust-inhibiting paint before reinstalling the interior. Pictures of this work are available.
EXTERIOR: NO RUST! Body work and a new sparkly metal fleck Chianti Red paint job was completed in 2006. Minor bondo cracking in the back corner areas is visible in the photos but she’s a great looking bus that presents very well at 20 feet and isn't so pretty you'll be afraid to drive her!
MISCELLANEOUS:
•Battery box floor replaced.
•Brakes are in great condition, stops well.
•New brake vacuum servo and vacuum hoses from engine.
•New Hella Fog lamps on front bumper.
•New windshield seal.
•New rear windshield seal.
•New seal and tinting for rear window on RH side (facing into the closet).
•Jalousie windows are fully functional and in great shape.
•New front door interior panels (driver & passenger).
•New front door weatherstripping and all new rubber seals (driver & passenger).
•New sliding door bearings and bracket.
•New sliding door weatherstripping.
•New Pioneer Bluetooth stereo and Rockford Fosgate Punch door speakers.
•New Smith’s programmable tachometer in instrument cluster that matches the factory speedo.
•New cylinder head temperature gauge.
•New VDO retro-look oil pressure and temperature gauges.
•80-watt solar panel mounted on roof rack with separate deep-cycle battery to power 12v outlets, sink faucet, and added LED overhead lights – ready for more options.
•New engine isolator mounts.
•New under-dash parcel tray.
•New front kick panels.
•Rebuilt and re-upholstered front seats.
Ruby is a GREAT value! I have over $35K invested with the new engine and carbs alone costing over $7K.
So much work has been done on her to make her a reliable and trouble-free camper for you to enjoy for many years. I have a huge stack of receipts and documentation as well as a clean Colorado title in my name. Please hit me up with any questions you have!
More pictures can be viewed here:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/nf4jdtiu6e1tr7kz53jk3/ANVNJcAJB8R-DsZchE2CF9Y?rlkey=1clslff8ho61kbnhc37zlvtqs&st=kmyjjp6n&dl=0
Thanks for looking! Ken
