Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

1978 Vw Volkswagen Westphalia Kombi Camper on 2040-cars

Year:1978 Mileage:163000 Color: I painted in
Location:

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
Transmission:manual 4 spd
Vehicle Title:Clear
Engine:2000 cc fuel injected
VIN: 2382002587 Year: 1978
Drive Type: rear wheel
Make: Volkswagen
Mileage: 163,000
Model: Bus/Vanagon
Trim: westphalia
Condition: Used: A vehicle is considered used if it has been registered and issued a title. Used vehicles have had at least one previous owner. The condition of the exterior, interior and engine can vary depending on the vehicle's history. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections. ... 

For sale is our beloved SunnyClara.    It is with a lot of regret that she is going to a new home, but we just don't drive her around everywhere like we used to do, and she deserves better.  We've been the owner since 1997.  I have done all of the work personally and I drove nearly all of th 60k miles since we've owned her.  You can call me at 269-365-4982 to discuss.  Clara is great for a daily diver but awsome for a full restoration since everything is there and not lost to a junkyard.  I urge you to see the 5 minute picture montage at


MECHANICAL
Engine rebuilt about 60K ago.  Has all the original fuel injection (don't ever replace it!) plus a stash of expensive used fuel injection parts, see the youtube.  No leaks, or at least very very minimal.  All stock, except I replaced the points with pertronix.  I also added a multiple spark discharge for better fuel economy.  It could easily be made stock again, but really why?  The cold start thermo-sensor failed one day and I replaced with a push button switch on the dash.  It was a quick repair that worked so well I just left it.  Exhaust is solid although the heater boxes are trashy.  Brakes fine.  The vacuum boost to the front discs works perfectly.  Clutch/transmission all solid.  All lights, wipers work fine.  Gas gauge broken, though; it needs the unit behind the speedometer replaced.  Tires fair/poor.  Suspension all solid, front and rear.  Steers fine. One of the ball joint bootseal was torn, and my standard practice is keep it wrapped in plastic and full of grease and it will last forever.   Before me someone added a "cruise" control, but really it is RPM control.  Works fine on long straightaways like out west, but a little fast then slow then fast on the hills.

EXTERIOR
I painted in 1998.  Original color is that dull beige.  
The new color is "Saturn Gelb" from 1975 VW color charts.  At that time I welded a small corner beneath the left rear light.  You can see in the montage there is rust through just ahead of the rear tires but the car is not rotten.  All of the windows/doors work perfectly, and the doors lock with the key.  There is a trailer hitch too. 

INTERIOR
Front seats are tired and from a Vanagon.  I have the original seats to be rebuilt.  Radio is junk.  Notice the very custom leather half wrap on the steering wheel to lean on during loooong drives.  Has a nice lighted tachometer that I added where you otherwise might find a clock on some models.  That middle seat can be removed, or turned to face front/rear.  The shallow cupboard stores lots of stuff of course.  The canvas top is not perfect but no rips or anything, more like road wear and tear.  The carpet is not original.  The rear seat is.   Some special stuff like a custom drink holder and front footrest/junk tray just make it more enjoyable to drive. Also the youtube shows the awning I added, makes camping on rainy days so much easier.  IMO Awnings are more convenient for a little campfire than is a tent.

ORIGINAL INTERIOR
The original interior can be re-installed with just a few screws and bolts, but then... that custom middle seat barely fits.  The fridge I never loved, kids would just leave it on and kill the spare battery.  I must say the stove and sink were really handy, especially if traveling just two or three.  I miss them.  For me it was a toss-up between kid seating vs. a sink......kids won.  From the montage on youtube you can see I have lots of OE items like the storage/step, the trampoline, all the window screens, curtains, front and rear table etc.

Thanks for looking.  I'm guessing we might not be able to get all of the extra stuff inside the bus if you drive it away, so bring an extra vehicle like a minivan, or SUV.  No warranty implied, as is where is.

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Foreign automakers pay from $38 to $65 per hour to non-union workers

Sun, Mar 29 2015

As leaders for the United Auto Workers gather in Detroit for their Special Convention on Collective Bargaining to work out the negotiating stance for this year's new labor agreements with the Detroit 3 automakers, what they most want to do is figure out how to eliminate the two-tier wage scale. However, the lower Tier 2 wage has allowed the domestic automakers to reduce their labor costs, hire more workers, and compete better with their import competition. As it stands, per-hour labor rates including benefits are $58 at General Motors, $57 at Ford, and $48 at Fiat-Chrysler – a reflection of FCA's much greater number of Tier 2 workers. The Center for Automotive Research released a study of labor rates (including benefits) that put numbers to what the imports pay: Mercedes-Benz pays the most, at an average of $65 per hour, Volkswagen pays the least, at $38 per hour, and BMW is just a hair above that at $39 per hour. Among the Detroit competitors, Honda workers earn an average of $49 per hour, at Toyota it's $48 per hour, Nissan is $42 per hour, and Hyundai-Kia pays $41 per hour. The lower import wages are aided by their greater use of temporary workers compared to the domestics. Automotive News says the ten-dollar gap between those foreign camakers and the domestics turns out to about an extra $250 per car in labor, which adds up quickly when you're pumping out many millions of cars. That $250-per-car number is one that, come negotiating time, the Detroit 3 will want to reduce, as the UAW is trying to raise both Tier 1 and Tier 2 wages. Another wrinkle is that the domestic carmakers are considering the wide adoption of a third wage level lower than Tier 2. Some workers who do minor tasks like assembling parts trays kits and battery packs already make less than Tier 2, but the UAW will be quite wary about cementing yet another wage scale at the bottom of the system while it's trying to fight a bigger battle at the top. News Source: Automotive News - sub. req., BloombergImage Credit: AP Photo/Erik Schelzig Earnings/Financials UAW/Unions BMW Chevrolet Fiat Ford GM Honda Hyundai Kia Mercedes-Benz Nissan Toyota Volkswagen labor wages collective bargaining labor costs

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Volkswagen adding R-Line trim to Touareg, Tiguan for 2014

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