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Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:55 pm

I have a Syncro weekender, and can fill in some of the gaps on these for the US market.

The VW Weekender Syncro was only sold in the US for two years, 1986 & 1987. VW marketed these as half year models, so sometime you will heard them referred to as 86.6 or 87.5, etc., with the Wolfsburg Tag. These models came in Brown and the occasional Blue.

What makes other year models different? They either had a full kitchen or no syncro, simple enough. What makes a weekender? Most people agree on the forward-facing z-bed that folds into a full/queen, along with rear facing jump seat(s), a rear closet as well.

The 86 & 87 models are virtually identical, although the 1987 has the newer style A/C, and the A/C knobs mounted in the center of the dash, to the right of the radio. The 1986 A/C knob is farther to the left. I think that is if for things the eye can see. Oh, and only the 1986 has the biodegradable cloth material. The 87 had a nicer cloth on the chairs.

When I was first looking for mine, I was documenting what I was finding out there. I think the numbers for me at the time were around 10 Full Camper Syncros for every 1 Weekender Syncro.

Officially, I found that 1986 Imported to U.S.=13,475, but this is all the 1986 models. 1987 Imported to U.S.=9,401, once again, vanagons total.

I remember reading somewhere that around 14k Syncros were imported in all for the 86-91 years. Anyway, doing some real generic math based on wacky assumptions, maybe there are around 1,500 in the US? Does anyone have actual data on the production numbers?

Mine is the classic model that you will see in both years. Brownish Gold exterior and brown interior. Single rear facing jump seat with plastic panel book storage. It seems about 50% of them have a rear locker. Mine does, and so do most of my buddy's vans. Second to the brown color paint is probably the maroon, and then white, although I cannot confirm the white is an original color on that model.

At the Syncro Solstice this year, I have the data somewhere, but of 40 vans registered, roughly 2/3 were Syncro, and among those, there were only 2 Weekenders.

A couple of pics of my rig:

Those pix break my heart. It does not exactly look like that right now.

Wed Aug 24, 2011 1:06 am

You haven't had a crash in yours as well have you? If you have, I hope you get it back on the road.

Sat Aug 27, 2011 10:16 am

Mine's an '86 model "Wolfsburg" Syncro almost identical to Classicvibe's. Corduroy interior, AC controls on the left side of the steering wheel, original working icebox, power mirrors, rear wiper, rear locking diff. It had the clock instead of a tach until I swapped the instrument cluster for a later one. Now I have the tach and digital clock with my original Syncro speedo. :)

I have two buddies that both have Wolfsburg's as well. One is a white '86 2wd with no rear wiper, non-power mirrors and I think? early style AC, manual trans, originally had tan corduroy but the PO recovered the interior. I think his also has a clock, no tach.
My other buddy converted a Syncro weekender in to a full camper so very little of the interior is still original. I think his was originally an '87 so it has later version AC and was white with blue interior. His also has a rear locker, power mirrors, and I think a rear wiper.

Sun Aug 28, 2011 10:35 pm

Nice looking bus! Starting to like that colour a lot.
Mine after playing in the mud

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Got some great video to post when it's edited down. Had a day out with the all wheel drive club at a tank proving ground.. Lots of winching/towing/wading/wheel lifting! :D

Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:50 pm

lloydy wrote: Nice looking bus! Starting to like that colour a lot.
Mine after playing in the mud

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Got some great video to post when it's edited down. Had a day out with the all wheel drive club at a tank proving ground.. Lots of winching/towing/wading/wheel lifting! :D

Lloyd, just saw your bus in VW Camper magazine. Congrats! I can't believe you want to sell it... :(

Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:05 am

thanks, i dont really want to sell, but...part of me will always want a full camper. A couple syncro's have surfaced which could fit the bill, so i thought i would see if there is any interest in mine, and there has been some. (just waiting to see if anything concrete happens)
But i don't need to sell, which puts me in a good situation as i will only let it go for what i think it is worth. Otherwise i will keep it and carry on enjoying it, as i really do like it, and the family love it
Haven't told the kids yet, they will kill me if it goes :lol:

It's also on another website now, one listing all interiors year by year (mines 1990, i must be famous as mine is the only one with my name in the title 8)
http://www.camperinterior.webfotos.co.uk/html/camper_interior_westfalia_t25_.html

Sun Jun 23, 2013 5:38 am

Thought i'd update this a bit as the van looks a bit different now, what with lift kit, alloys, lights ect...

Quite happy with the look of it now

Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:58 am

vwcampin wrote: Happy and sad...hopefully there eventually will be a good follow up picture.

Better than ever

Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:06 am

Hey! Good news! =D>

Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:18 pm

More recent picture after several upgrades!

Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:54 am

Nice, really do like the bronze colour. Really do envy the rust free conditions you have out there, mine goes in for a LOT of bodywork later on in the year

Mon Jun 24, 2013 11:58 am

Here's a few of mine...

Bill

Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:09 pm

thanks for the pics...

you guys make me drool... a couple years a go I came across a blue Syncro weekender... it came from Colorado with painted over rust and a not so good engine... as I am from So Cal. rust is a no-no.. so I didn't buy it... a weekender Syncro is still on the top of my list.. a 2wd weekender is second...

Mon Jun 24, 2013 4:27 pm

My Wolfsburg Weekender is a late model '86 2WD, manufactured in July of '86. It has the brown corduroy seats, but the '87 A/C which has the forward cowling and the switches to the right of the radio. It also has power mirrors and rear wiper. I purchased it new and it has 144,000 miles on it. If it were a Syncro, it would be perfect. I guess I could convert it.

Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:10 pm

:( :( :(

Tue Jun 25, 2013 12:32 am

[quote="Reventlos"]:( :( :(

Holy hell! On both pics...!!

How did the flight go?? And whos car was that?

Tue Jun 25, 2013 2:20 am