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Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:20 pm

1984
Vanagon GL

The VIN has a "Y" which means it's a bus/vanagon according to vanagon.com, but it had a full kitchenette (gone now). There is no pop up. It is single color painted. I have been searching for pictures of a similar one, but can't find anything remotely close. I'm new to the wonderful world of Vanagons.

Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:30 pm

Tin-tops didn't have kitchens. It might have been a 'GL'. The type with the table mounted in the side wall. Looks as if someone tryed to 'customize' it. Enjoy your new van!

Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:41 pm

If it had a kitchen I'd say it wasn't original & obviously is gone now. (duh)
Probably not any vents/service covers on the drivers side, right?

Sooo...here's my guess:

Orig: stock GL tintop. Nothin' fancy. NOT a Westy. Nope.

(In addition to the side table, the "Weekender" would have had a full-width rear seat, back corner cabinet,
jump seat & light fixture. No sign of any of that stuff, so I don't think that's what we had here.)

???Where's the link to the build codes listed in the pass. cabin????

PO#1: bought the tiptop & put in a kitchen & short (Westy) bench seat...
PO#2: tore out the kitchen & added the stereo (subs, at least)...

So...what's your plan? Change your fuel lines & start livin!

Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:45 pm

Thanks for the quick reply. I am so confused!! I thought the "weekender" didn't get going until 86. Every GL that I come across has bench seating (or bus seating). Mine has the same set up as a camper would have, like the same 3/4 bench seat, a 110v outside plug, and remnants of the exhaust.

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Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:55 pm

Show us a pic of the driver's side?

Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:12 pm

Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:46 am

I'm going to have to agree with dhaavers.
Someone put a fridge in the van. Next guy took it out. Some other guy went retarded-monkey with the interior design. Does the side bench seat fold up? If so, put an electric ice chest in there for days down by the river. You've got the plug in, design something for it to go to.

And post pictures.

Sun Feb 27, 2011 6:02 am

Ummm...yeah. That power port looks pretty ghetto - definitely a hardware store hack.
The fridge vent looks like the Westy, but those aren't hard to come by.
It's in the right place though - fridge must have had propane from somewhere?
What's the black deal up by the driver's door?

Despite all that, here's some strictly academic info if you're curious:

Check near your fusebox for a sticker with "M-codes" - lists options ordered for your van at factory.
Brickyard: M-code listing
I was interested if yours shows either M137: "prep for camper" or M609: "VW Camper" - (but now I expect not).

Also: dig into your VIN# for a few more details...
http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/VehicleSpecific/T3/info/models/models.htm
http://www.vanagonparts.com/vin_decoder.html

Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:32 am

maybe someone swapped vin plates.... check vin number on frame rail.

Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:57 am

I have the same vent cover on an ASI. Maybe original purchaser ordered it that way. On ASI's electrical O/L down low. Can't see what the fixture immediately behind drivers door is? Definitely not a Westy, in one way I like the room in the inside but...

Wed Mar 23, 2011 12:45 pm

Thanks for the replies. It's definitely a Wagon GL that somebody converted into a camper. I think they purchased the seats, and kitchen parts of a westie interior and installed them. Then ripped out the appliances and put in a bench seat.

and yes, I am the retarded monkey interior designer! We wanted something fun, islandy and different. We love it!

Wed Mar 23, 2011 12:52 pm

it looks islandy, just need a palm tree somewhere. It definitely looks like its been customized along the way. I see nothing of a Westy in there tho. Certainly lots of space. Your sliding windows are 1/2's like mine. Any chance this could have been an ASI? without the top? Does it still have the mfg plate on it.? You can check out your Vin number in here.

Wed Mar 23, 2011 12:58 pm

Spanky engineering at its finest.

You find any Rasta remnants in there?

Must had some mighty fine stuff to do that kind of art work!

Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:01 pm

I really dislike how the term weekender gets thrown around.

A weekender to me is a pop top van with no kitchen.

I see a lot of people dubbing their regular GL tin top vans "weekenders" because they have a fold out bed or a home made interior just to add an extra zero to the price.

but then again, maybe I'm a hypocrite because I call my syncro a westfalia and its a home made westfalia..... but I ain't selling it and when I do it will be priced accordingly.

Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:18 pm

OK - here we go:

Problem is, WE'RE probably the ones using the term weekender incorrectly (even me)...the hardtops you can sleep in were the first true weekenders, starting in 1985.

READ ON:

WEEKENDER
VW first offers the "Weekender Package" in 1985, ONLY for hardtops:
"Folding rear bench seat with storage compartment, engine compartment cushion and center seat with folding backrest"
Options from 1985 brochure: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/85vanagon/page11.jpg

Described slightly different in 1986: "folding bed, engine compartment cushion - cloth only" - again ONLY as an option on hardtop models.
I haven't scanned in my 1986 brochure, but here are the identical options listed in 1987 brochure: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/1987_00_vanagon/Seite13.jpg

POPTOP
Before 1986 there was only one camper model; "Camper"
- what we now often call a "Full Westy" w/poptop bed, sink, stove, fridge & cabinets.

Starting in 1986, this was model was renamed the "Camper GL"
- same features as the previous "Camper".

In 1986 the "Camper" model became what now is sometimes incorrectly called a "weekender":
- that is, poptop bed, built-in closet & overhead storage, fluorescent interior light, curtains, hatch door screen & skylight...PLUS...
2nd battery, "jump" seat behind driver's seat, 110/12-volt "icebox", folding side table, 3-across folding bench seat & (OMG) THREE built in cup holders!

Who knows where this incongruity crept in...I blame GoWesty!

This article attempts to explain it, but glosses over many important differences from year to year and even uses the term "Weekender" (incorrectly) to describe the base model Camper...
http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=1138

I know after I read that several years ago, I started looking for a poptop "weekender"...

Or maybe I'm confused again...??? :wink:

Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:34 pm

Welcome, nice lookin van you got there.
I agre with the Vanagon GL idea. Somebody pulled the original bench seat and put that one in there. Which is good cuz now you don't have to bother with it. Looks like you've got quite a bit of storage as well.Right on! What are you plans for her?

Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:35 pm

80 and 81, some Westy poptop models had no stove, no fridge, 3 person bed/bench.

84 Wolfy hardtop model sold with true bed, curtains, side windows with screens.

85 Wolfy poptop no kitchen model, first year

I consider any hardtop with bed to be a weekender, with the 84 Wolfy hardtop as the first afaik.

Mark

Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:59 pm

just when I thought I had it (models) all figured out. The only thing I know for sure is that I owned a 1984 wbx Westy Vanagon GL Wolfsberg Edition and now I own an 1983.5 (former wbx now Jetta diesel conversion) Vanagon L Riviera model. I'm going to keep it simple from now on. Is it a Vanagon with or without a pop top!!! :lol:

Wed Mar 23, 2011 3:41 pm

We only got a few of the models.

There are more configurations and they depended on what M codes you ordered.

Most vans in the US were bought off the lot and hence you got what the higher ups thought you needed.

I am told by a VW old timer that the special 89 models were ordered ala carte. VOA manager said those would never sell. They became quite popular as we know.

I was just a few years out of college when the Westys came out and I was too taken by GTIs to notice the Vanagons.....Oh my, how we change...

Wed Mar 23, 2011 3:47 pm

dhaavers wrote: OK - here we go:

Problem is, WE'RE probably the ones using the term weekender incorrectly (even me)...the hardtops you can sleep in were the first true weekenders, starting in 1985.

READ ON:

WEEKENDER
VW first offers the "Weekender Package" in 1985, ONLY for hardtops:
"Folding rear bench seat with storage compartment, engine compartment cushion and center seat with folding backrest"
Options from 1985 brochure: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/85vanagon/page11.jpg

Described slightly different in 1986: "folding bed, engine compartment cushion - cloth only" - again ONLY as an option on hardtop models.
I haven't scanned in my 1986 brochure, but here are the identical options listed in 1987 brochure: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/1987_00_vanagon/Seite13.jpg

POPTOP
Before 1986 there was only one camper model; "Camper"
- what we now often call a "Full Westy" w/poptop bed, sink, stove, fridge & cabinets.

Starting in 1986, this was model was renamed the "Camper GL"
- same features as the previous "Camper".

In 1986 the "Camper" model became what now is sometimes incorrectly called a "weekender":
- that is, poptop bed, built-in closet & overhead storage, fluorescent interior light, curtains, hatch door screen & skylight...PLUS...
2nd battery, "jump" seat behind driver's seat, 110/12-volt "icebox", folding side table, 3-across folding bench seat & (OMG) THREE built in cup holders!

Who knows where this incongruity crept in...I blame GoWesty!

This article attempts to explain it, but glosses over many important differences from year to year and even uses the term "Weekender" (incorrectly) to describe the base model Camper...
http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=1138

I know after I read that several years ago, I started looking for a poptop "weekender"...

Or maybe I'm confused again...??? :wink:

Now you got me confused as well...

I have always thought the Weekender was similar to the european Multivan. That is, full width fold down rear seat, table and rear facing jump seat(s). Starting in 85, it was (partly) based on the 82 - 83 Westfalia Sport Joker layout. Rear cabinets and poptop were optional extras.

But now you say that the Weekender was actually VW's name on the regular 7 seater Vanagon with the fold down rear seat and engine compartment cushion as well...

So any Vanagon with provisions to sleep, but not cook is a weekender?