South African RHD 191~72 VW Type 2 Westfalia campervan for sale

[NASkeet]

I have just come across a South African RHD 191~72 VW Type 2 Westfalia campervan for sale, on the British Early-Bay forum as follows:

https://earlybay.com/threads/wanted-lhd-westfalia-...ost-643381

Judging by the road-tax disc in the bottom corner of the front windscreen, which expired at the end of September 2014, it might not have been used on the road for circa 9½ years. For the past several years, display of a road-tax disc has not been required and vehicles manufactured and/or first registered more than 40 years ago, are eligible for classification as an Historic Vehicle, which would be exempt from road-tax.

It's probably of 1972 model-year, manufactured in late-1971, but it could possibly be a hybrid model, with 1972~79 VW Type 2 rear-quarter panels, having larger air-intake vents and rectangular rear-light clusters, incorporating tail/brake lights, reflectors, direction-indicators and reversing lights, which I would personally regard as a desirable upgrade!

The combination direction-indicator & headlamp dip-switch is of the 1973~74 VW Type 2 pattern, so it might be desirable to further upgrade the vehicle with the matching combination windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switch and retain the dashboard mounted, combination windscreen wiper & washer rotary-switch for a rear-window wiper & washer system.

In common with North American specification, 1968~79 VW Type 2s, those of South African specification seem to LACK the headlamp-flasher facility, which requires the 5-terminal relay and some additional wiring.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=327513

I would be VERY CONCERNED about the location of the Camping Gaz 907 or 904 butane cylinder, which MUST be in a downward-ventilated locker, sealed-off from the remainder of the vehicle interior!!! The cylinder is unsecured and the flexible "synthetic-rubber" gas-supply hose would be susceptible to chafe & perforation, which would result in a gas-leak. I think all of this would be illegal under Gas Safe regulations, and even if not, would be extremely likely to void one's motor insurance policy.

https://registeredgasengineer.co.uk/gas-safety-for-caravans-and-motorhomes/

https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/media/3171/caravan-and-motor-home-gas-safety-fact-sheet.pdf

https://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/ocs/400-499/440_34.htm

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l56.htm

https://www.superwarm.co.uk/do-you-need-a-gas-certificate-for-your-caravan-every-year/

https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/gas-regulations-for-campervans.386478/
_________________
Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.

Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper

Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)

http://www.vwt2oc.net

[NASkeet]

I also noted that this example of a South African RHD 1971~72 VW Type 2 Westfalia campervan, lacked an elevating-roof bed of any type; having neither a folding-cot (i.e. folding stretcher bunk) like the North American & European specification vehicles, nor a rigid-based conventional bed with hinged pillow-section like the British specification vehicles.

When researching caravan & motor-caravan LPG (i.e. butane & propane) gas-appliance installation regulations, I discovered that the publication featured at the following link, included a picture of what appears to be a LHD 1968~70 VW 1600 Type 2 motor-caravan or campervan with an elevating roof.

https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/media/3171/caravan-and-motor-home-gas-safety-fact-sheet.pdf

I am aware from my participation on the South African Air-Cooled Volkswagen Club’s on-line forum, that at least some South African VW enthusiasts are resentful, and feel they are being robbed of the locally-produced, RHD – right-hand drive Volkswagen heritage, by “unscrupulous” exporters / importers seeking to make a sizeable profit by buying up relatively cheap, “rust-free” VWs in South Africa and selling them abroad; principally other RHD countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia & New Zealand, where classic air-cooled VW campervans are still popular.
_________________
Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.

Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper

Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)

http://www.vwt2oc.net