They may not be exactly your cup of tea, but Syncros are like Faberge eggs; you just have to accept that somewhere someone wants to pay a lot for it. Today’s lacks the camping ability of the Westy, but makes up for it with outstanding mechanicals, the heart of which is a Subaru SVX 3.3l boxer six. Add on some bigger brakes and transmission mods and this box-on-wheels must move pretty well. With 115k miles on all pieces, this is a great van.
Click for more details: 1991 Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro on The Samba
Year: 1991
Model: Vanagon Sycnro Wolfsburg Edition
Engine: 3.3l Subaru SVX flat-6
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: ~115,000 mi
Price: $32,500
1991 Wolfsburg Syncro SVX
Price: 32000
This 1991 Syncro SVX is in Very Good overall condition.
The engine, chassis and body have about 115K miles.Stainless Steel Headers w/ Magna Flow muffler, New A/C compressor, New Audi 288mm Big Brakes, Old Man Emus, Class 2 hitch. The transaxle was rebuilt at 90K miles(2008) with taller 3rd and 4th gears and a driveshaft de-coupler was installed.
This Syncro will be sold soon.
It’s not quite a dream-mobile without the pop-top, but it would also be significantly more expensive with the “Westfalia” tag. $32,500 is rich, but it’s a strong engine in a great looking Vanagon. I don’t think the seller is wrong in that the Syncro will be gone soon.
-NR
Someone at VW knows the value of these things. There was good prospects at Geneva 2014.
http://blog.caranddriver.com/volkswagen-multivan-alltrack-concept-a-torquey-german-camper-van-we-want-2014-geneva-auto-show/
“… but makes up for it with outstanding mechanicals, the heart of which is a Subaru SVX 3.3l boxer six…” ??
If you’re going to do it right, put a 911 engine in it.
… maybe we should put a Seiko movement in a Rolex…
WHY NOT A FERRARI FLAT 12, IT’S HORIZONTALLY OPPOSED.
Come on. I love the 911 idea and have a friend waiting to do that to his Westy with a ’74 911S engine left by his dad, but the Subaru is a great option and a much better value proposition than a Porsche engine. I love vans, but I’m pretty sure that is the first time a Vanagon has been likened to a Rolex.
The biggest reason to go Subaru over Porsche (besides the Porsche engines being prohibitively expensive): Porsche engines don’t fit! Unless it’s being installed in a single or double cab which have taller engine bays, the rear deck lid has to be raised several inches to clear the intake manifold. That sacrifices much of the functionality gained by putting the engine in the rear in the first place, so for most van owners on a quest for more power, the Porsche is a non-starter.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of the Subaru conversions either. If I still had my Weekender it would get an Audi 5 cylinder as it is the most factory-like conversion possible (Vanagons came from the factory with 5 cylinders in South Africa).
By the way, when these VW’s were new, my dad had a new 911 engine installed in our orange weekend Vanagon Westfalia, to go to the beach house.
Don’t know what adjustments were made to make it fit, but the thing was fast and sounded really good.