Any regrets from removing original Westfalia interior?

[mikemtnbike]

I've been drawing interiors for the last 10 weeks as I recuperate from a major injury. I have a tintop that I converted to a poptop myself.

I can't imagine tearing out a factory interior and putting in something custom, unless I was a cabinet maker or similar. It's totally functional and there, but that's just my opinion. I like easy buttons, would buy a good condition factory interior in heartbeat and would pay good money for it.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[craegandbritt]

[Steve M.]

[covelo]

I have a 1980 with an original full camper interior and if I could only keep one thing it's the swiveling passenger seat. I had a 1972 camper before (with the kitchen behind that seat) and the difference in spaciousness alone is worth having the swiveling seat, even if you never sit in it that way. Not looking at the back of a seat while you're sitting or lying in the back of the van makes it less like a car and more like a little cabin.
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'80 Vanagon Westfalia

'72 Bay Window Westfalia (with 2L AVP engine and dual solex carbs) -- sold in 2009

[MarkWard]

Ease of engine access. One day you’ll be on the shoulder and need to have that access. Otherwise all your crap ends up on the floor and or the shoulder.

Sleeping. When I look at small conversion vans. A permanent bed that can be left made. Making a bed every night blows.

Don’t block the side door entrance. On a cold windy rainy day, you want to be able to slip in and out quickly.

Leave the floor clear behind the passenger seat. When we stop, the passenger seat gets turned around. That’s my spot. My wife gets the back seat and the dog gets the floor or the very back.

If you are solo, you have way more options.

I know folks live in these, but traveling is more our speed. Every week it gets a little smaller. You don’t do anything without an announcement first. “ I’m going to put my socks on” takes on a whole new meaning.

We love traveling and camping, but there’s nothing like the feeling of laying in bed knowing the full bathroom is steps away.
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☮️

[dobryan]

[RidinRetro1973]

[RidinRetro1973]

[Jeffrey Lee]

[Honuak]

Over the years I have slowly modified the existing Westfalia cabinets. At first I chopped the closet down to window height and removed the AC (live in Alaska). A few years ago I deleted the entire rear closet giving us the whole width of the van for sleeping. The rest of the cabinets are still there but I removed the rear swing out table a long time ago. With a mattress topper the area over the water tank is level with the rest of the bed giving us a queen size bed area. We have found this to be a huge improvement. Cant even compare to the stock setup IMHO. We don't need a closet, when in transit gear goes in duffle bags that can be shifted when camping. The stock setup was not really comfortable for more than one person.
SAMBA!