TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:03 am

Hi, i was wondering if these vans are rare in America? I live in the uk and have one. Have yet to see another. Noticed a few on this forum (inc some poor guy who's just had a crash in his :cry: )
So are they pretty common in the States/Canada? Would be nice to have a record of how many there are

mine

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us :D

Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:11 am

They are pretty rare and desirable here. I think we need to make this a picture thread though to fully document the Weekender Syncro.

Nice color and postal flares on your van by the way, very clean look.

Paul

Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:28 am

I want one.

Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:31 am

thanks, the flares are factory fitted due to it being a 16", very similar to the postal ones. Picture thread is a good idea, i'll change the title a bit.
Not too sure what i'd prefer to own, full on westy or or weekender. Both have their pluss's an minus's.
I'll see if i have some better inside shots.....

Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:41 am

lloydy wrote: Hi, i was wondering if these vans are rare in America? I live in the uk and have one. Have yet to see another. Noticed a few on this forum (inc some poor guy who's just had a crash in his :cry: )
So are they pretty common in the States/Canada? Would be nice to have a record of how many there are

The Westy Weekender Syncros are rare in America. We only got them in 1986 and 1987. The full Syncro campers were available in 86, 87, 89, 90, and 91 so there are a lot more of them. I don't know the number sold. I don't think VWoA kept information that specific.

Yours looks great. Is it a genuine Syncro 16 with factory fitted Westfalia conversion?

David

Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:47 am

D Clymer wrote:

Yours looks great. Is it a genuine Syncro 16 with factory fitted Westfalia conversion?

David
Thanks, yes its a genuine syncro 16, and factory westy. I'm just sorting some pics now

Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:59 am

I own what's called a dove blue metallic westy syncro weekender with a blue interior but unfortunately I've never been successful at posting pics on theSamba. But I believe all the westy syncro weekenders sold in US were deemed 'Wolfsburg' and have the round wolfsburg badges on each side of the nose. Also, almost all had the brown interior.

I don't believe I've even seen a westy weekender syncro 16" before in US.

Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:06 am

To be honest, i thought they were more available out there. Mines a 1990 model, registered in '92. Done a fair bit to it, to make it more camper friendly. Managed to get hold of westy Lpg tank, and piped it up to an internal quick release fitting, so the kitchen pod i got can be moved in and out quickly, ebberspacher fitted under rear seat, and two leisure batteries connected to a sterling charger.
Debating on whether to fit a complete westfalia interior, but kinda think it would be a shame, if they really were produced in such limited numbers.
Anyway, a couple of interior shots

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Fri Aug 19, 2011 3:08 pm

There was one for sale on CL here in Virginia just a few weeks ago. Looked pretty decent with just a little rust. If I wanted/needed one I'd have grabbed that one.

Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:00 am

i just finished converting my 1991 syncro westy to a "weekender ", for me i wanted the extra inerior space etc....i'll post some pics when i get a chance

Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:05 am

Mick Ord wrote: i just finished converting my 1991 syncro westy to a "weekender ", for me i wanted the extra inerior space etc....i'll post some pics when i get a chance
Hehe, if you were closer we could have swapped interiors

Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:57 am

I have a very rough '86 Weekender Syncro (LH1V Savannah Beige Metallic). I bought in locally and it's always been a Canadian bus. It has the corduroy cloth interior.

I'm currently restoring an '88 Syncro Westy and am strongly leaning towards installing a '91 Multivan interior.

Sat Aug 20, 2011 7:24 am

Nice van!

Can you post more pics on the kitchen pot you have?

Sat Aug 20, 2011 7:28 am

targis58 wrote: Nice van!

Can you post more pics on the kitchen pot you have?

Yes please!
I'm going to build a similar to my Multivan, would be nice to have a look at an existing one.

Sat Aug 20, 2011 9:19 am

Give us a couple hours and I'll post some up.........

Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:14 am

here's the unit. You can see it has a two burner hob and sink on top, and the lid opens up into two small tables.
If you open up one side it has a fridge/electric coolbox (18l) opening up the other side you have fresh water and waste water tanks (9l each) It used to have a little gas cannister fitted inside, which i didnt like. So i replaced it with some gas hose which i inturn connect up to a quick release point either in the van or outside.
Any more specific pics, let me know

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Quote: I have a very rough '86 Weekender Syncro (LH1V Savannah Beige Metallic). I bought in locally and it's always been a Canadian bus. It has the corduroy cloth interior.
I'm currently restoring an '88 Syncro Westy and am strongly leaning towards installing a '91 Multivan interior.

whats making you choose the multivan interior over the full camper one?
Oh and you'll have to find us a cheap ontario syncro for sale :lol: i'm usually out there once a year

Sat Aug 20, 2011 11:27 am

I love the weekender package a lot more room.

I use engle for fridge

for stove i use snow peak backpack stove

for water i use msr dromedary 10 ltr bag

for BBQ i use cobb grill which fits under the jump seat.

all these items take little room can be stowe away under the jump seat. no need to lug around 700 lbs of kitchen sink and fridge stuff.

Sat Aug 20, 2011 12:09 pm

I know what you mean kitchen wise, but that unit fully loaded is about 28 kilo. I reckon your engel fridge weighs near that. Plus the wife is pee'd off enough that I sold the 2WD camper to get this van :lol:
Plus having two kids, its handy having a proper unit, and its a one man lift to get it in and out.
Nice looking van by the way, aren't you selling it?

Sat Aug 20, 2011 2:21 pm

lloydy wrote:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Quote: I have a very rough '86 Weekender Syncro (LH1V Savannah Beige Metallic). I bought in locally and it's always been a Canadian bus. It has the corduroy cloth interior.
I'm currently restoring an '88 Syncro Westy and am strongly leaning towards installing a '91 Multivan interior.

whats making you choose the multivan interior over the full camper one?
Oh and you'll have to find us a cheap ontario syncro for sale :lol: i'm usually out there once a year

Versatility mostly. I've had numerous Westys and traveled more than most in them and I just simply prefer the day to day utilitarian MV/Weekenders over the full Camper. They're roomier and lighter and simply have more space. I'm not knocking Full Westys by any means - its just simply a preference on my part.

Sat Aug 20, 2011 2:27 pm

lloydy wrote: here's the unit. You can see it has a two burner hob and sink on top, and the lid opens up into two small tables.
If you open up one side it has a fridge/electric coolbox (18l) opening up the other side you have fresh water and waste water tanks (9l each) It used to have a little gas cannister fitted inside, which i didnt like. So i replaced it with some gas hose which i inturn connect up to a quick release point either in the van or outside.
Any more specific pics, let me know

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Quote: I have a very rough '86 Weekender Syncro (LH1V Savannah Beige Metallic). I bought in locally and it's always been a Canadian bus. It has the corduroy cloth interior.
I'm currently restoring an '88 Syncro Westy and am strongly leaning towards installing a '91 Multivan interior.

whats making you choose the multivan interior over the full camper one?
Oh and you'll have to find us a cheap ontario syncro for sale :lol: i'm usually out there once a year

Okay so did you make this unit or buy it already finished? I would really like to have one for my weekender.
Chris