Archives for posts with tag: Syncro
I just spotted this VW Type 2 T3 Syncro DoKa via Expedition Portal. The ad states that it started life with a 1.9-liter gas engine and was “properly” converted from 2wd to 4wd. The engine is currently out of the truck and the seller is offering buyers a couple of different powertrain options: a 1.6-liter JX gas engine or a 1.9-liter AAZ turbo-diesel with a Giles injection pump, K14 turbocharger, and ARP engine fasteners. Also offered, is a locking front differential in addition to the locking rear. The truck has also been treated to a full repaint and a new suspension. It’s reported to have covered only 80,000 km.
I love these drop-side transporters. This is a 3-door DoKa model. No build year is given but the seller states that it’s over 25 years old (making US import unproblematic). This mostly likely means it’s a 1985 model, which was the first year of the Syncro and the last year of the 1.9-liter engine, according to my research.
A lot of these trucks led hard lives. It’s nice to see one in such good condition.
The truck is being offered in Bright’s Grove, Ontario, Canada for $18,500 as is, $25,000 with the 1.6-liter JX and lockers, or $30,000 with the 1.9 diesel.
More photos after the jump.
Links:
The ad on The Samba
Wikipedia, Volkswagen Type 2 T3 article
The Syncro Story
Photo: AutoBild.de
Check out this nicely done VW Syncro turbo-diesel, with locking differentials. It was given the expedition-vehicle treatment for a German TV show and features built-in, PC-based navigation and multiple cameras for capturing the off-road action.
Here’s a link to the translated article. And here’s one to the image gallery.
Link trail: AutoBild
Do you have a VW Syncro (or other European 4×4)? If so, you can take it to Syncrofest, happening Thursday, April 19th to Sunday, April 22nd at Hollister Hills SVRA, about 40 miles southeast of San Jose. The site says they’ll have driver training and skills tests. Camping will be $40/vehicle or $10/vehicle day use.
Registration is now open.
What happens when a 4×4 makes love to a Rabbit? You get the VW Golf Country 4×4. According to an older Bring a Trailer article, only 4000 of these were ever produced and none of them were officially imported to the US. This 1990 model, however, is reported to have legal residence in Sacramento, California.
It’s available on ebay for another couple of days for $12,500. That said, a 1991 model sold in Canada for US$ 6750 a couple of years ago, so you may have some room to bargain, if you’d like to use this thing to fahrvergnügen to your ski haus. Read the rest of this entry »
We’re back from following the footsteps of Mark Twain through the eastern Sierras (more on that in future posts). After having set the tent up for the fourth night in a row, the conversation turned to self contained 4-wheel-drive camping vehicles. The VW Westfalia Synchro came up. Only about 1500 of these rare, 4×4 campers were sent to the US between 1986 and 1991 and prices have risen into the $40k–$50k range for clean examples and into the $80k range for restored ones. Back at home I wondered if anyone still produces a small 4×4 camper that could be considered a spiritual successor to the old Syncro Westy.
My research turned up the Fuso Earthcruiser from Queensland, Australia, the spiritual home of off-road travel. The Earthcruiser is built on a Mitsubishi Fuso light truck chassis and features turbocharged diesel engine and a pop-top camper. Four-wheel-drive systems vary depending on the buyer’s specifications. The available 5-speed manual transmission is mated to a 2-speed transfer case and offers traditional 4-wheel drive. The available 6-speed automatic offers all-wheel drive and a single speed transfer case. Either spec includes a limited slip rear differential. 37″ tires are standard and enable a 3-foot (900mm) fording depth. All that and it’s still compact enough to fit in a standard shipping container.
Inside the Earthcruiser offers about 80 sq. ft. (7.5 sq. m) of sleeping, cooking, showering and living space. The vehicle also includes 23.8 gallons (90l) of water in two tanks. Not only can the water system purify water from any nearby stream, it can provide hot running water and showers (indoor or outdoor—your choice) with a Webasto diesel hot water heater. This same heating unit heats the interior air and, on the North American model, also heats the house batteries and water tanks, a boon for winter camping. As far as electricity goes, a solar panel-assisted electrical system will power the living space for up to ten days (given clear skies). After that, it’s simply a matter of topping up the house batteries with the engine alternator.
The Earthcruiser is available in the US for $220,000. While it’s not quite the spiritual successor to the Syncro on price, it does seem to step up the old Westy’s game quite a bit.