1970 Volkswagen Westfalia Camper Restoration

For years, this unmolested 1970 Volkswagen Westfalia Camper sat in the driveway of the original owner's house. Although surprisingly complete and mostly rust-free (gotta love that dry SoCal weather), this tired Westy hadn't been driven in years and was slowly rotting away. The lucky new owner of this project bus, spotted it one day on his way to work and excitedly stopped to check it out. The owner wasn't home so he left a note on the front door. After repeated attempts over several months, he was finally able to persuade the original owner to part with the Westy for a reasonable sum. The owner even threw in the original manuals and invoices that came with the bus. At first, it seemed like this was an amazing "barn find" Westy that just needed a thorough cleaning. But once the new owner started tearing into his new purchase, reality started to set in. Virtually every body panel was dented, including the vulnerable nose, and the paint was oxidized down to the primer. The pop-top's gel-coat had weathered down to the fiberglas, and the tent was rotten and full of holes. After coaxing, the engine turned over for the first time in 20 years, but issues with the clutch and leaking brake cylinders meant no one was going to drive this VW for a while. But the bus was all there and had not been abused, so the new owner began an intense 4 year project to completely transform this Camper back to its Westy Glory! After lots of bodywork, all new single-stage paint inside and out, a restored pop-top and tent and much more, this Volkswagen Camper is now better than new. But the most amazing feature of this Camper are the cabinets, which were expertly built by the owner from scratch! Check out the photos below and follow this amazing restoration!

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1970 Vw Westfalia Camper Restoration
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Front End Damage
1970 Vw Westfalia Camper Restoration
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Poptop Gel Coat is Shot
1970 Vw Westfalia Camper Restoration
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Dent in Left Corner
1970 Vw Westfalia Camper Restoration
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Flatbed it Home
1970 Vw Westfalia Camper Restoration
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Original Westy Cabinets
1970 Vw Westfalia Camper Restoration
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Original Westy Interior
1970 Vw Westfalia Camper Restoration
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Pull the engine
1970 Vw Westfalia Camper Restoration
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Original Engine Out
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Pounding Out Rear Corner
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Rear Corner Ready For Filler
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Side Damage Cutout & Crimped
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Gluing up Orig Patch Panel
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Patch Panel Screwed in Place
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Patch Panel Screwed in Place
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Weld in the Side Patch Panel
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Patch Panel Ready For Filler
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Side Repair is Looking Great!
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Front Damage Repaired And Primed
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Start To Remove Windshield
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Front Nose Damage Repaired
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Right Side Repaired & Primed
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Rear Damage Repaired & Primed
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Left Side Repaired and Primed
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Right Side Final Primer Coat
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Right Rear Quarter Primed
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Front End Primed W/Guide Coat
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Rusty Windshield Frame Rebuilt
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Rusted Floor Boards Repaired
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Left Rear Qtr Primed w/Guide Coat
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Rear Quarter Primed w/Guide Coat
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
New Pearl White Factory Paint
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
New Paint - Still in Paint Booth
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Damaged Left Side Looks Great Now
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
New Paint, Driver's Floor Board
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Painted Passenger's Floor Board
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Painted Walk-Thru Seat Backs
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
New Paint, Right Front Corner
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Front End Damage Is All Gone!
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Repaired & Painted Windshield Frame
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Flat-bedding The Painted Bus
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Painted Bus is Back Home
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Headlights & Turn Signals Back On
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Front Rubber Floor Mats Back In
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Restored Cab Area Looks Great
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Windshield Finally Back In
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Front Bumper Painted & Installed
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Original Poptop Tent Is Trashed!
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Clean Up Poptop For Painting
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Restored Westy Luggage Rack
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Rear Bumper Painted & Installed
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Start Installing New Poptop Canvas
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Test-Fit Rear Interior Pieces
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
New Cut-Down Side Cabinet
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Westy Z-Bed Is Now Installed
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
New Westy Cabinets Fit Perfectly
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Formica Top With "Diner" Edge Molding
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Varnish New Westy Stove Cabinet
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
New Trick Westy Swing-Out Stove Cabinet
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
New Westy Interior Almost Done
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Damaged Rear End Looks Great Now
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
New Westy Cabinets All Done
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Check out Camper Ceiling Plywood
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Ceiling Pop-Top Tent All Done
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Westy Camping at the Beach
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Westy Camper Too Nice to Use
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Westy Camper is Finally Done!
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Finally Camping in the Westy
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Trick Swing-Out Stove Cabinet
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Huntington BeachCruisers Meet
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
Surfing Trip at O.C. Beach
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
With Orange & Blue Side Tent
1970 VW Westfalia Camper
With Pop-Top and Side Tent

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