1986 VW Vanagon Westfalia

Travel anywhere in my mechanically excellent 1986 VW Vanagon Westfalia GL. Powered by the rock solid 2.3-liter GoWesty engine with 38,000 miles on it, and new 3-speed transmission with less than 1,000 miles on it. Nearly everything has been upgraded to travel. Superior stopping performance thanks to GW Big Brakes up front.

Super easy to drive with a three-speed automatic and power steering, and gets 18-21 miles-per-gallon on highway. Most dependable and longest lasting transmission available for the Vanagon platform.

I’ve driven from Southern California to British Columbia, throughout Washington State, all of Oregon, Seattle, Utah, and Nevada. Total adventure vehicle. I’ve made many trips from home to Northern California and back to camp along the coast of Monterey and Big Sur. It’s been to Mammoth Lakes multiple times.

No fluid, coolant, or oil leaks anywhere. No seam rust. No chassis rust. Clean title, and always passes California’s tough smog certification. It’s a California Vanagon, too.

Inside, the two-burner stove works perfectly, interior lighting is at the ready, shore power connection too, USB outlets front and rear, and a galley sink with 14 gallons of fresh water on tap. Original frig was removed to add to storage space, but I still have it and it worked before removing. Can be reinstalled, or upgraded. Custom front drink holder in center console with place for maps, etc. surrounds the shifter for convenience.

Sleeps two to four. Just pop-up the three-panel tent at your camp site and watch the stars. Upper bunk is super clean and has GoWesty ladder for easy access. Eight-foot ARB awning outside for extra room with matching wrap-around privacy cover. Custom-made waterproof snap on cover for pop top when it rains!

The factory 3-speed transmission is under warranty until November 2025 by Maxed Performance in Huntington Beach, California. The GW 2.3 was installed at 166,000 miles by Mike’s Foreign Car in Anaheim, California. The chassis has approximately 204,000 miles it.

Original tan interior in good shape with normal scuffs and wear for age. Comes with 3- inch GW memory foam mattress pads and covers for added comfort when sleeping in either bunk. The body is straight. No accidents and comes with CarFax. Comes with rare extra swivel jump seat for rear passengers. Installs in OEM tracks. New floor mats up front, and GW rubber floor mat covered by soft automotive black carpeting out back. OE carpeting is good condition.

Vanagon has starter battery and house battery.

Overall exterior body and paint is fair to good. Normal wear of paint and, small dings, but nothing too serious; surface rust in some areas. It sports a GW swing-away spare tire carrier and Sarge gear box as seen in photos. Tires have plenty of tread life and there is a never-used spare tire. Spare tire carrier under vehicle is now empty, and can be used again, or converted to haul misc. gear.

Brief History

In 2016, I decided to buy a Vanagon to travel for freelance work assignments. I’m an automotive journalist (30 years now) and needed a van to camp and produce video, photography and outdoor magazine stories for clients. I was always more concerned with the mechanics than how shiny it was when it I bought it.

Research shows it was originally purchased new from Stan Antonio Volkswagen in Sunnyvale, California in 1986, and according to the CarFax report it has lived in the San Francisco Bay area most of the time. The previous owner lived in Bodega Bay, California, where it was garaged.

Swapping out the original 2.1-liter for a 2.3-liter made a noticeable difference in overall performance. Oil has been changed every 4,000 miles under my ownership. Coolant has always been maintained. All mechanical work was performed by Vanagon specialists.

There’s a lockable roof mounted Pelican storage case that’s waterproof, upper GW bunk ladder, privacy curtains all around, factory VW jack and miscellaneous Vanagon parts as seen in the photos.

Rear factory A/C needs fans repaired, or replaced. Any competent A/C shop that works on Vanagons can do it. Fully operational in 2023 and blew cold air until evaporator fans inside shroud stopped working properly. There are many other 12-volt options on YouTube for A/C worth considering, too.

I am including all receipts for all work and service dating back to 2012; including the factory owner’s manual from VW and Bentley. My next project would have been replacing all front bushings and tie-rod ends.

Upgrades/Maintenance/Repairs

2025

• German alternator belt

• German powering steering belt

• New blue coolant

• Heater hose replacement

2024

• GoWesty Stainless Steel catalytic converter (50 state legal).

• GoWesty Genuine Bosch oxygen sensors (thermostat and cat)

• Auxiliary 12v Battery

• Sliding window screens for fresh air

2023

• New rebuilt VW 3-Speed transmission (new planetary, torque converter, bearings, etc). Spotless and smooth shifting.

• Fresh ATF Dex fluid 

• Power steering hose replacement

• Engine breather tower

• Alternator belt

• GW stainless coolant tank

• Fresh 20/50 engine oil

• Mann oil filter with crush washer

• Fresh coolant replacement

• Distributor o-ring

• Valve cover gaskets

• Porsche Lobro axle shafts, joints and boots

• Engine tune up

• Rear brakes adjusted

• Radiator fan switch

• Crank pulley seal & o-ring

• Buslab speedo cable

• Upgraded GW sliding door rollers and bearings

• Power door lock actuators

• T3 Technique Powerflex steering rack bushings

• Dynamat sound deadening in doors and engine cover area

2022

• Rear hatch struts

• MT-41 MegaTron starter battery

• Brake adjustments

• Idle control valve

• GW interior mat

• Auxiliary front power outlet with dual USB

• Auxiliary rear power outlet with USB and voltage meter

2021

• Sliding door handle trim

• GW rear hatch window seal (not installed yet)

• GW front windshield  rubber seal

• Van Cafe South African grille 

• Van Cafe headlight harness

• Van Cafe round H4 assembly with buckets

• Van Cafe South African high beam light assemblies

• H4 headlight bulbs (55/100 watt)

• GW Vano swing-away system

• GW universal tray bracket

• A/C recharge

• Michelin Agilis Cross Climate c-rated tires (205/65 E15)

• Four wheel alignment 

2020

• Front windshield rust repair patch work

• Front window glass

• GW front window seal

• Buslab Gutter Trim for pillar

• GW LED resistor

• Crank pulley seal and o-ring

• Conti-Tech belts

• Ignition wire set

• Spark plugs

• Distributor

• Oil breather hose

• Fuse box replacement

2019

• Water pump

• Fresh water clear hoses

• Fuel filter

2018

• Expansion tank with sensor

• Rotors and brake pads

• Complete GW LED light kit

• Front bearings repacked

• Front and rear Bilstein shocks

• GW hub conversion kit

• Flexarm for skylight

• T3 Technique 25mm front anti-roll bar

• T3 Technique HD endlinks

• GW fridge elimination kit

• GW Monster alternator bracket kit

2017

• Four wheel alignment

• GW Bumpers

• 2300cc GW engine (will run on 89 octane)

• GW stainless exhaust system W/Bosch oxygen sensor

• 15x7 GW alloy wheels

• Fuel injection hoses

• GW stainless exhaust

• Five 15-inch alloy wheels

• ARB 4401A shade awning

• ARB awning brackets

• Michelin Defender tires

• Bosch fuel pump

• GW Big Brakes

• Rear heater connection hoses

• Engine R&R

• ContiTech belts

• Motor mounts

• 87 degree thermostat

• CV drive axles

• 2-inch and 1-inch GW memory foam mattress toppers with covers

• Third brake light kit

• Roof mounted Pelican cargo box

• GW telescopic ladder

• Locking strap for Pelican box

• Bosch oxygen sensor

• GW tachometer kit

• GW cluster circuit kit

• GW steel plate bumpers

• PIAA fog lights

• Front privacy curtain

• Bench seat cargo net

2016

• VW German radiator

• Radiator fan switch

• Upper balljoints and bushings

• Throttle cable

• Fuel injection hoses

• Stainless steel radiator/coolant pipes

• Van Cafe 3 window popup canvas tent

• Popup seal kit

• GW transaxle cooler