1984 VW Vanagon Riviera

[DrVanagon]

Picked up my first Riviera. I've had 2 tin tops and a Westfalia, but I think I really like this setup. Basic RV parts are used that are easy to find online for super cheap.

My story: It was flipped to me by a friend and I bought it for 3k. It needed a water pump (20 minute job) and exhaust system was not necessary, but I did have a gowesty SS system on hand. Put some new shocks on it and bled the coolant system....now she drives long distances with zero problem. That's saying a lot for Alaska.

The counter was chipped, so my wife and I used some left over butcher block to make a new counter.

[D Clymer]

Looking good! I've always had a soft spot for ASI/Riviera campers, partially because they were built here in the Pacific Northwest, and also because of all the thoughtful extra storage spaces in the cabinets. Yours is kind of a rare one because it's built from a deluxe GL van instead of a basic model. If you look at the 1984 ASI brochure, they list it as an actual "GL Camper." Looking forward to seeing more updates on this.

[levi]

What an excellent buy at 3,000

...and power to spare so you can tow the trailer.
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[DrVanagon]

I added some LED Headlights and met a Riviera Twin in Seward AK last weekend.

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[jlrftype7]

[DrVanagon]

I really like them. I especially like the fact that the amber ring blinks with the turn signal. Overall, for $100 it's a great upgrade and incredibly easy to do.

[DrVanagon]

I wanted to update my van build. I redid the inner portion of my pop-top. The fiberglass was cracked and kept getting worse, so I made a new one out of some 2x4s, 1x2s and some oak plywood. I burned the wood, sanded and clear coated to match the butcherblock counter I made. Also added some LED lights and changed all the hardware in the pop-top to Stainless Steel and replaced the missing hardware (almost half). See below.

[danfromsyr]

wow, that looks quite nice.. nicely done..

I'll be re-doing mine over this next winter.

[jlrftype7]

I wasn’t sure how I’d like the burning ceiling, then once you clear coated it, enough contrast happened that it really made the charred wood pop.
Sort of a swirl now that isn’t the same as when it was still raw wood...
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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[DrVanagon]

Decided to do a driveway paintjob as this think has about 30 layers of rattle can on it. Didnt turnout all that bad.

[Ahwahnee]

I can't believe you didn't remove the windows.

Just kidding, nice work and a camper you have made very much your own.

[joetiger]

Looks great! What kind of paint did you use?
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Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

[4Gears4Tires]

That turned out great! Same 3 color paint job I want to do. black, beige, white! I think it looks so cool on a vanagon.

Did you use rhinoliner? It looks textured.
_________________
'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[DrVanagon]

I actually cut the seals to reveal the lip and taped off the windows. Then replaced all of the seals after (week later).

I used raptor liner after sanding with 90 grit and the tinted I used was shoreline beige.

Below are some photos of the new rubber jeep hold downs I used to keep the top down and not squeak. I bent the brackets the other way to work with my application.

[Aryana]

Paint looks great!