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 and brand new 3-speed transmission. You don’t need to do anything. Everything has been upgraded for travel. Superior stopping performance thanks to GW Big Brakes up front. Responsive throttle in the city.

Super easy to drive and gets 18-20 miles-per-gallon.

It has been driven from Southern California to British Columbia, throughout Washington, Oregon, Seattle, Utah, Nevada and California. Total adventure vehicle. No fluid, coolant, or oil leaks anywhere. No seam rust. No chassis rust. Clean title, and always passes California’s tough smog certification.

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. Sleeps two to four people. 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 access. Eight-foot ARB awning outside for extra room with wrap-around privacy cover. Waterproof cover for pop top when it rains!

The factory 3-speed transmission has less than 200 miles on it. It’s 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 GW 2.3 engine has approximately 36,000 miles on it. The chassis has approximately 203,000 miles it.

Original tan interior in good shape with normal scuffs and wear. Comes with 3- inch GW memory foam mattress pads for added comfort. The body is straight. No accidents and comes with CarFax. Comes with extra original seat for rear passengers.

Overall exterior body and paint is good.

Brief History

I’ve owned many water-cooled VWs. 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.

I believe 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 changed every 4,000 miles under my ownership. Coolant has always been maintained. All mechanical work was performed by specialists.

Although removed for maximum storage space, I have the factory working refrigerator. There’s an extra factory passenger seat on swivel that easily locks to the floor rails when you need more seating. There’s also a lockable roof mounted Pelican storage case, upper bunk ladder, privacy curtains all around, factory VW jack and miscellaneous Vanagon parts as seen in the photos.

Rear factory A/C needs new fans/shrouds. Repairs can be made because system is 100 percent intact. Any decent AC shop can do it, plenty of DIY on The Samba about the fix.

I am including all receipts for work and service dating back to 2012; including the factory owner’s manual from VW and Bentley.

Upgrades/Maintenance/Repairs

2024

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

• GoWesty Genuine Bosch oxygen sensors (thermostat and cat)

• Auxiliary 12v Battery

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 actuator

• T3 Technique Powerflex steering rack bushings

• Dynamat sound deadening in doors and engine cover

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

• VanCafe 3 window popup canvas tent

• Popup seal kit

• GW transaxle cooler