Volkswagen Caravelle 2.6

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For most of us the weird and wonderful world of Volkswagen campers truly is another planet, one upon which we can only look with a mixture of bemusement and amusement. To most of us this Caravelle camper is just another variant (that’s almost a joke) of the latter day camper, yet to the knowledgeable, it is a rare and precious thing.

It is, in fact, a Type 25 built by Volkswagen South African factory for home consumption. It differs from the European-built job by having slightly deeper rear sliding windows, improved air intakes and ventilation and no aerial on the front panel. Oh, and a 2.6-litre 5-cylinder Audi engine that churns out 135bhp and 147lb ft of torque.

This 1996 Caravelle was bought by its South African owner and saw only light use over there before he shipped it over here two years later. In 2004 he sold the Caravelle, at which point it had covered just under 43,000 miles.

The new owner fitted lowered springs and a Porsche steering wheel and the current owner has fitted some neat Fuchs-style alloys wheels to continue the theme. This Caravelle came with a high standard of finish from the factory and cannot be compared with your conventional European offering. It has air-conditioning as standard – essential for trekking across the Veldt and pretty handy when you’re stuck in a traffic jam on the Bodmin bypass, too.

The clock currently stands at 108,740 kilometres which the current owner believes to be correct, but there is no documentary evidence to back this up, although the overall condition of the van supports this figure – it is only 2,954.38 miles a year, after all.

The Caravelle has been part of a private collection and has not been on the road since the end of 2012. There are, in all, four recorded keepers. The van was featured in Volksworld Camper & Bus magazine (issue 4 2006), a copy of which accompanies the van as well as its original handbook, service book and one old MOT.

N738 YNT is a rare, upmarket Type 25 with an attractive engine option and has seen relatively little use. It should only need light re-commissioning before it is ready for some serious use. There are some useful spares supplied with the van.

AMENDMENT: This is a 5 cylinder