1981 Volkswagen Vanagon

This 1981 Volkswagen Vanagon was acquired by the current owner in 1993 and modified with an air-cooled 3.2-liter flat-six and five-speed G50 manual transaxle sourced from a 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera to use as a tow vehicle for a 911 race car. The van is finished in yellow over a brown vinyl interior, and equipment includes 16″ Mercedes-Benz wheels, aftermarket headlights, a sunroof, custom bumpers, Bilstein shocks, front bucket seats, and a Kenwood head unit. This modified Vanagon is now offered by the seller on behalf of the current owner with a Carfax report and a clean California title. The body was refinished in yellow under current ownership and fitted with custom steel bumpers. Additional equipment includes a sunroof, aftermarket headlights, window tint, a receiver hitch, and a Carrera badge on the rear hatch panel. The Carfax report describes damage to the rear end from a 2012 accident. Eight-hole 16″ Mercedes-Benz alloy wheels are finished in black and wrapped in 205/55 Michelin Defender tires. Bilstein shocks have been added, and stopping power is provided by front discs and rear drums. The front bucket seats are trimmed in brown vinyl with striped cloth inserts. Equipment includes three-row seating, a heater, an aftermarket shifter and knob, rubber floor mats, and a Kenwood head unit. Instrumentation includes a digital clock, a 100-mph speedometer, a tachometer with a 5,200-rpm redline, and a six-digit odometer showing 344k miles. The factory 2.0-liter flat-four was replaced in 1993 by the current owner at Swiss Motors in Culver City, California with an air-cooled 3.2-liter flat-six reportedly sourced from a 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera. The engine was said to be rebuilt at 233k miles, and maintained by the current owner, the proprietor of Swiss Motors. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Getrag G50 five-speed manual transaxle that was also sourced from a 1988 911 Carrera. Additional photos of the underside are provided in the image gallery. A 2001 California Bureau of Automotive Repair Information Label is affixed to the firewall and describes the car as a 1981 Volkswagen Vanagon with a “1988 Porsche 3.2L” engine. The Carfax report includes the aforementioned damage entry and shows history in California. Filed under: vw