Wasserstopper Equipped: 1980ish Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia

Welcome to Daily Turismo's Syncro de Mayo, our May 5th celebration of Volkswagen's four wheel drive system known as Syncro.  Those pop-top Westfalia camper things used to be cheap and easy to run on a budget, but some kind of nostalgic hypnosis has convinced people they are worth somewhat more than scrap value, and you'll find people asking insane amounts for these small Syncro equipped campers. However, DT's tippers are good at finding the diamonds in the rough like this next thing. Find this 1980ish Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia offered for $11,000 in Port Orchard, WA via facebash marketface. Tip from Zach Z.

Double Mack: 1959 Volkswagen Bus

The original Volkswagen Beetle "People's Car" aircooled rear-drive platform was adapted over the years to just about every possible kind of vehicle, from the people hauling Bus/Van to the off-road ready Thing...but I don't believe VW ever built a semi-truck version. Thankfully, we have hilly billies with welders to fix that mistake.  Find this 1959 Volkswagen Bus here on eBay bidding for $4,088 reserve-not-met with 1 day to go.

Pick Me Up: 1984 Volkswagen Vanagon

Volkswagen built a utility/pickup version of their iconic Type 2 (T3) Vanagon with a strange hinge-sided bed that is impractically high and strange looking to boot. But this next car is an example of what a blow torch wielding customizer can build that is probably better than the factory and certainly cheaper..  Find this 1984 Volkswagen Vanagon offered for $4,800 in Lehigh, FL via craigslist. Tip from Dascpcu.

Slightly Slower Than Normal: 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia

Words and tip from Zach: Subaru gas or diesel, Ford ecotec, Tiico, upsized wasserboxer or something else entirely - you choose.  Looks like it is either solid sheetmetal or else repainted.  Denver shouldn't be too rusty, so at least worth a look.  Should clean up well with a bit of elbowgrease (and monkeywrenching on an engine, but hey, the question of swap or wait for what's installed fails is already resolved, no?).  Find this 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia offered for $6,900 in Denver, CO via craigslist.

Auction Watch: 1981 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Camper

Find this 1981 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Camper here on eBay bidding for $4,550 with 1 day to go, located in Van Nuys, CA.

Mobile Brick: 1984 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Camper

Somewhere along the way while I was living under a rock, the bizarro world known as VeeDub Universe realized T1/T2 vans were becoming unobtanium and stumbled across the obscure bread loaf Vanagon of the '80s.  All of a sudden every hipster wanna-be needs one, and prices are rising faster than collective intelligence.  Find this 1984 Volkswagen Westfalia Camper for sale near Boston, MA for $15,800 via craigslist.

Diesel Conversion: 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon Type 2 T3

The  Type 2 Vanagon (T3) was released in 1980 and replaced the aging Volkswagen Transporter T2.  The new version added a number of refinements in terms of speed/ride/capability in exchange for a less cool looking package, but today's T3 brings even more utility than normal.  Find this 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon T3 offered for $7,500 in Phoenix, AZ via craigslist. 

NSync Syncro: 1987 Volkswagen Type 2 Westfalia Syncro w/ Subaru power

by Adam -- Want near 50/50 weight distribution, sleeping accommodations, and off road capability? Look no further. To Baja and beyond this four wheel drive can get you to the start of the race and when the pavement ends the fun doesn't stop.  Setting the tone of your adventure starts with the vehicle driven. Arrive in style.  These 4 Wheel Drive Volkswagen Type 3 Vanagons take all the utility of a regular Vanagon and add a Steyr-Daimler-Puch four wheel drive system. Find this 1987 Volkswagen Type 2 Westphalia with Subaru SVX power for sale in Bend, Oregon for $48,200 via craigslist.

Syncro de Mayo: 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro

Welcome to Daily Turismo's Syncro de Mayo, our May 5th celebration of Volkswagen's four wheel drive system known as Syncro. First up in our symphony of synchronicity is a somewhat beaten up example of the Volkswagen Type 2 (T3) which is variously known as the Transporter, Caravelle, Microbus, Vanagon, Kombi, Westfalia and TippyMcDeathtrap.  Find this 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro offered for $7,500 in Santa Fe, NM via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

High Top: 1988 Sven Westfalia VW Camper

Just when you think you had seen every variation on the VW camper theme, another one pops-up (bad pun intended).  Here is an example of a configuration that does not pop up, but when it comes to travel amenities it is heads above the others.  Find this 1988 Sven Hedin Westfalia Volkswagen Camper here on eBay for sale in Blanco, TX for $18,900.

Starstruck: 1981 Volkswagen Type 2 Vanagon Westfalia Camper

The third generation (T3) of VW's legendary 'Type 2 Transporter' continued the formula set up by its predecessors of slow, tippy (or is that trippy?), and reliable.  It was marketed in the USA as the Vanagon from 1979-1993 and the one to get is the Westfalia camper version in which you get a pop up top, a full kitchen and sleeping accommodations for four adults! Find this 1981 Volkswagen Type 2 Westfalia Camper offered for $9,000 in Carpenteria, CA via craigslist.

20k: Syncro de Mayo: 1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro

Welcome to Daily Turismo's Syncro de Mayo, our May 5th celebration of all Volkswagen's four wheel drive system known as Syncro.  Up first is this tip and story by DT reader Andy L:

I am going to be off the grid again this year for May 5th, so here is my early submission for Syncro de Mayo.  Find this 1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Camper Syncro offered here on eBay for $24,000 buy-it-now (currently bidding for $15,100 reserve-not-met) with 1 day to go, located in Eugene, OR.

10k: Ready For Takeoff: 1983 Volkswagen Westfalia Vanagon Type 2 (T3)

The Dodge Tradesman camper featured yesterday elicited some comparisons from our readers to the Volkswagen Vanagon.  The comparisons tilted heavily towards the undeniable awesomeness of the Tradesman and the ridiculous prices of a classic Bus...but...perhaps a Westfalia from the '80s can make a decent competitor to the big ole Dodge.  Find this 1983 VW Westfalia Vanagon offered for $9,900 in Port Charlotte, FL via craigslist.  Tip from Dascpcu.

15k: Zetec Power: 1984 Volkswagen Vanagon Bostig Conversion

The Volkswagen Vanagon Type 2 (T3) was launched in 1980 as a replacement to the aging VW Transporter (aka Hippie Bus, Kombi, MicroBus) Type 2 (T2).  The Vanagon (as it was called in North America) continued the VW tradition of air cooled flat-4 in the back, but was styled in a more angular fashion and added all sorts of amenities like power steering, air conditioning and power door locks.  Don't get me wrong, it is still a thoroughly horrible driving experience akin to riding on the back of a three-legged camel, but it is much more modern and less tippy or terrifying than driving a T2 Bus.  However, you can fix the power deficiency with a kit from a company called Bostig who supplies everything you need to convert to Ford Zetec power.  Find this 1984 Volkswagen Vanagon Bostig Conversion currently bidding for $5,100 and $17,800 BIN with 6 days to go in Jean, NV via ebay.

15k: Poptop Vanagone: 1985 Volkswagen Weekender Subaru 2.5 Powered

The Volkswagen Vanagon / Type 2 (3rd generation) was built in Germany from 1980 to 1992 for export all over the world.  Up until a few years ago even the nicest condition Vanagons were worth slightly more than scrap, but as the 75 window VW hippie buses have skyrocketed in price, so have the Vanagons.  The Syncro (4wd) models are more desirable for snowy climates, but you can't beat the cool of a pop-up Weekender edition.  Find this 1985 Volkswagen Weekender with Subaru 2.5 liter flat-4 power for sale in Portland, OR for $16,250 via craigslist.

15k: Kombi Type S: 1978 Volkswagen Bus With Acura V6 Swap

The Volkswagen  Type 2 was a lumbering slowlane clogger known as the Kombi, Transporter, Van, Vanagon, Bus, Microbus and built starting in 1949.  European production ended in the 1980s, but Brazillian production is still going active and scheduled to end on Dec 31, 2013.  The European/US market versions were powered by small boxer-4 cylinder engines and required an alert driver with a heavy foot to keep up with traffic.  Skip all the slowness and pickup a custom restored Type 2 powered by an Acura V6.  Find this 1978 Volkswagen Bus with Acura V6 Power located in Seminole, FL for sale on ebay currently bidding for $10,100 reserve not met with 1 day to go.

Flash: Blank Canvas: 1985 VW Vanagon w/EJ22 Swap parts

It will seem like a fantastic idea at the time, painting a car with chalkboard paint and letting random people draw on your car...but in truth, it is just an invitation to drive around with male private bits scrawled all over the side of your car. Great if you've got a mobile sperm bank, but pretty horrific if you do anything else for a living.  Find this 1985 VW Vanagon with (Subaru EJ22 swap parts ready) in Austin, TX at $2300 asking via craigslist.

10k: 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Pop-Top Camper, Subaru Powered

The third generation (T3) of VW's legendary 'Type 2 Transporter' continued the formula setup by its predecessors of slow, tippy and reliable, and was marketed in the USA as the Vanagon from 1979-1993.  The ultimate family version is certainly the Westfalia with pop up top, a full kitchen and sleeping accommodations for four adults!  Stay safe and dry at next year's burning man festival with this 1987 Westfalia Camper powered by a Subaru engine, for sale in Colorado Springs, CO for $11,500 via craigslist.