1988 Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro Westfalia 4-Speed

This 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro is a Westfalia pop-top camper powered by a replacement 2.5-liter flat-four mated to a four-speed manual transaxle, locking rear differential, and a driveshaft decoupler that allows for rear-wheel-drive. Additional work since the seller’s 2003 acquisition includes repainting the van in blue, installing a GoWesty engine management system, and fitting an Old Man Emu 2″ suspension lift. The van is also equipped with front and rear hitches, 15″ alloy wheels, front disc brakes, a side awning, dual swing-out arms on the rear bumper, mosquito netting, a kitchenette, a fold-out rear bed, swiveling front captain’s chairs, an auxiliary heater, and an aftermarket head unit and sound system. This Westfalia is now offered with manufacturer’s literature, service records, a Carfax report, and British Columbia registration. The van was recently repainted in blue, and rust was repaired around the windshield wipers and sliding rear door. Exterior features include GoWesty bumpers, a roof-mounted storage box, a replacement acrylic pop-up tent, a Catalina side awning, purple-tinted windows, an exterior table mount, shore hook-ups, a rear hitch, and dual swing-out arms mounted on the rear bumper with a spare carrier and a shelf. front skid plate GoWesty 15″ alloy wheels are wrapped with BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires, and a matching spare is mounted to the swing-out rear carrier. The van is equipped with an Old Man Emu 2″ suspension lift and larger-than-standard front disc brakes. The lower control arms were replaced with GoWesty components in 2019. The cockpit is equipped with swiveling gray cloth captain’s chairs, and appointments include air conditioning, all-weather floor mats, and a Kenwood CD player, and aftermarket speakers. Accessories mounted on the dashboard include a solar panel, a cellphone holder, and a USB charger. The cruise control system is inoperative and there is tape on the right side corner of the dashboard. The living quarters are equipped with a rubberized floor cover, storage cabinets, and a bench seat that folds into a bed. A second bed platform is housed in the pop-top and reached via a telescoping ladder. The kitchenette includes a sink, refrigerator, two-burner propane stove, swing-out table, Propex 6500 auxiliary heater, sliding window screens and privacy curtains, and residential-style power outlets. There is a safe mounted under the rear bench. Instrumentation includes a 180-km/h speedometer, a tachometer, gauges for fuel level and coolant temperature, and a central digital clock. A ScanGauge monitor for the GoWesty engine management system is mounted atop the dashboard. The odometer was replaced at 200k kilometers and shows 160k kilometers (~99k miles), which is said to represent the distance driven under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown. The 2.5-liter waterboxer flat-four was sourced from GoWesty and is equipped with a stainless steel exhaust system. The engine was installed in 2008, and the pistons and cylinders were replaced in 2018. A GoWesty engine management system was also installed at that time. It adds coil-on-plug ignition and replaces the ECU, idle control unit, fuel injectors, and throttle body as well as the MAP, oxygen, and knock sensors. Service in 2023 included changing the oil and replacing the drive belts, alternator, and main and auxiliary batteries. Power is sent to the rear or all four wheels through a four-speed manual transaxle, a replacement driveshaft, a GoWesty driveshaft decoupler, and a locking rear differential. Heavy-duty rear axle shafts were installed in 2007 and the clutch was replaced in 2018. The seller notes a rear axle oil leak. The Carfax report shows no accidents or damage and lists history in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and California. The report also notes a mileage inconsistency in 2003 and a potential odometer rollback in 2014. The van does not have a title as it is registered in a province that does not issue them. It is being sold on its British Columbia registration.