This 1982 Volkswagen Vanagon L has been fitted with a pop-top camper conversion, and it was modified with a 2.2-liter flat-four Subaru engine in 2022 before ownership was transferred to the seller in 2024. Finished in beige over brown and patterned tan cloth upholstery, the van is equipped with a four-speed manual transaxle, dual front bucket seats, a heater, window curtains, a sink, and a kitchenette with a refrigerator, a rear bench seat that folds flat into a bed, a roof basket, and a GoWesty swing-away system. Additional equipment includes aftermarket bumpers, a hitch receiver, 15″ alloy wheels, a lifted suspension, an LED light bar, fuel Jerry cans, and an aftermarket stereo head unit. This T3 is now offered by the seller on behalf of the owner with a workshop manual, partial service records, a Carfax report, and a clean California title in the seller’s name.
The van was refinished in the current shade of beige circa 2021, according to the seller, and exterior features include sliding side windows, dual side mirrors, a rear window defroster, and a sliding right-side door. Aftermarket equipment including a rooftop sleeper conversion, an LED light bar, GoWesty plate steel front and rear bumpers, a roof basket, and a GoWesty swing-away system with a ladder and an accessory tray has been fitted. Two fuel Jerry cans are included in the sale. There is a dent in the rear hatch, the left-front corner of the pop-top canvas has been patched, the sliding door does not stay unlocked, and paint chips and areas of rust around the window seals are documented in the walk-around video below.
The seller states that a 2″ suspension lift kit was installed under previous ownership, and factory equipment consisted of an independent front and rear suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. Gray-finished 15″ alloy wheels are mounted with 215/75 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A tires, and stopping power is provided by power-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes.
The forward cabin features bucket seats upholstered in brown corduroy and vinyl along with a color-coordinated dashboard, door panels, and carpets. Appointments include manual front windows, an aftermarket stereo head unit, a defroster, and a heater. The upholstery on the seats is torn and there are mounting holes in the top of the dashboard. A set of sheepskin seat covers is included in the sale.
The rear compartment has been converted for use as a camper and is equipped with a bed-convertible rear bench, a kitchenette, a sink, a refrigerator, a pop-up topper bed, a removable table, and a cargo-area storage unit. The rear bench seat upholstery and carpet are stained, and some of the curtains require repairs.
A two-spoke steering wheel fronts VDO instrumentation consisting of an 85-mph speedometer and an analog clock with an integrated fuel level gauge. The six-digit odometer shows 96k miles, and a November 2014 entry in the Carfax report lists a mileage of 96,228. Total mileage is unknown.
The EJ22 Subaru 2.2-liter flat-four was installed with a Kennedy Engineered Products adaptor kit in 2022, according to the seller. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transaxle. Service in March 2024 consisted of an oil change, cleaning the throttle body, resetting the CPU, and replacing the spark plugs and valve cover gaskets.
The Carfax report indicates that the vehicle was designated a gross polluter by the state of California in June 2021 and lists multiple failed emissions tests. The van most recently passed a California emissions test in May 2024. A CARB document related to the engine change kit is viewable in the gallery below.