California and Atlantic spec. |
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Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Topic: California and Atlantic spec. Posted: 26 Jul 06 at 22:33 |
So, seeing as I just got an Atlantic I seem to be all enthusiastic about Westies all of a sudden, having a scout about there seems to be very little info about these vans, so, lets have a brain storm and write some stuff down and stick it in the "Useful Threads" bit when it looks something like.. So, If you went to a VW dealership in Europe, and asked for a campervan/wohnmobile then you would get a Westfalia. VW made the basic van, then it was sent to Westfalia werke to be finished off, Westfalia made the interior conversion. Up 'til sometime in '88 you would get a "Joker" or a "Club Joker", the Joker being the normal camper, the Club Joker being the higher spec camper, the biggest noticeable difference being the double glazed windows in the rear (Identified as they are plastic and bubble out) After '88 you would get either basic "California" or the slightly higher spec "Atlantic", Both available in pop top or high top form. Both conversions are badged as "Vanagon" Both the conversions came with the following. As far as I know there are NO Right Hand Drive California or Atlantic models. Onboard Gastank. The "California" is the basic camper and sports the following...
The "Atlantic" came with the following over the common items. Double glazed "bonoflex" acrylic double glazed windows. Options. Alloy wheels. If you scroll down this page till the codes starting W, you will get a list of numbers, for what came with what. If anyone can be arsed to do the California and Atlantic ones that would be good. Eg, California pop top came with options... la di da etc..
If anyone has anything to add please do so..
Edited by Baxter |
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calvin
Yardie Joined: 09 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 957 |
Posted: 26 Jul 06 at 22:53 |
Cool. Now there's gunna be someone as interested in finding bits for these beasties as I have been over the past 7 months!
I dont know much about the Atlantics (other than I now know yours is obviously better equipped than mine ) but i can confirm that mine is equipped (as standard, wasnt touched before my greasy mitts) as follows: Opening window behind cooker (slider) Petrol Eberspaecher heater with thermostatic control Lots of insulation in the engine bay (not sure if thats more or what!) Eis-Ex LPG jet heater system (not used mine yet) Alternator i'll have to check on. Curtains in grey / red (barely noticeable) check. (i guess you assumed these were present). oh, and mine's a 1989 LHD. So, does your water tank depth gauge work? Mine says its always full and i cannot work out what the rod in the tank does as it seems completely diss, yet there's no way of dismantling it.. Nice bus tho - glad to hear someone with cred giving these the we love ours and sprogs from very small size love the trips too. Edited by calvin |
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Ever tried eating a clown? They taste funny.
'89 2.1 Westy California darn sarf, Sussex. +++ Still looking for good OSR big bumper corner section PLEASE! +++ |
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Schimke
Groupie Joined: 08 Mar 06 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 253 |
Posted: 26 Jul 06 at 23:04 |
Cool information, thanks. I would bet that the opening window behind the cooker would be a welcome addition on certain days. |
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Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Posted: 26 Jul 06 at 23:05 |
I've always liked them, just never been able to afford one, since the sale of the green van then I could, as it wasn't much more, and in comparison....
I really don't see the point in buying a converted builders van for around 4-5 grand (No disrespect but Liesuredrives, Autohomes, EMC, Danbury, Devons, Vikings don't have a patch on Westies and Im not just saying that because I have one!) VW commisioned them, VW sold them, through their deealer network, they hold their prices for good reason, they are proper! |
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calvin
Yardie Joined: 09 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 957 |
Posted: 26 Jul 06 at 23:27 |
oh, and you can toast quite successfully:
inside on the hob, or outside on the LPG barbeque - did yours come with the outlet for that on the LPG tank - is that standard? |
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Ever tried eating a clown? They taste funny.
'89 2.1 Westy California darn sarf, Sussex. +++ Still looking for good OSR big bumper corner section PLEASE! +++ |
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Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Posted: 26 Jul 06 at 23:27 |
Germany.
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Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Posted: 27 Jul 06 at 00:13 |
They all have the external gas outlet, Im just on with translating the instructions into English as I have the original German booklet. Im gunna get all the confusiong bits together so they can be downloaded, I have instructions for the control panel on the fridge already. They all have "Eis-Ex" or De-Icer, all it is is that it's a small heating element that heats the gas when it exits the regulator to stop it turning into a liquid and letting the cooker give off 4 ft flames (as happened to us in Chamonix and minus 10 while cooking pasta in the awning |
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calvin
Yardie Joined: 09 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 957 |
Posted: 27 Jul 06 at 00:16 |
ooooh - now that sounds "interesting"! I thought it might be standard fitment, hope my other points are of use. Are your double-glazed panels glass on the inside like usual vans, or is it a complete sealed unit (therefore lighter than glass?)? |
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Ever tried eating a clown? They taste funny.
'89 2.1 Westy California darn sarf, Sussex. +++ Still looking for good OSR big bumper corner section PLEASE! +++ |
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Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Posted: 27 Jul 06 at 00:19 |
Fully acrylic! Other words, plastc! |
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cooky73
Yardie Joined: 15 Sep 05 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 320 |
Posted: 27 Jul 06 at 13:31 |
mine has the non-digi eber heater & sunroof as well does this mean we can have a "campers" section like on 80-90 now? my depth gauge is kaput also tell you what - you could make a killing selling them you could also sell covers for the gas controls as well - they are a bugger to get hold of! I have got the joker manual in English and it seems the same get one of those toast thingys from argos - they are fantastic! what engine is it Simon? Edited by cooky73 |
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2003 Westy California TDi
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T2Andy
Groupie Joined: 02 Nov 05 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 76 |
Posted: 27 Jul 06 at 13:40 |
OK mine is as per your Californina list except that is has the Diesel Eberspaecher, it has sliding windows behind the cooker and in the sliding door. What I like about it is that all of the camping stuff works, the control panel, Eber, Water tanks etc. Fridge lights on Gas within a few seconds, all of it, that's quality for you. The only things I need to sort on mine is the Heated Rear screen and Wiper have had the wires chopped through, either by the tailgate or someone and the Rev counter is missing the plug to connect the printed circuit. |
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1990 1.6TD Westy California Hightop
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malverner
Groupie Joined: 31 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 83 |
Posted: 28 Jul 06 at 00:32 |
Good choice of van Simon we've had ours over 4 years....best T3 campers Detail wise... Atlantics have a thicker grey carpet than Californias Tinted glass in cab Bog box with matching cloth You can open the wardrope cupboard with the swivel out table in its storage place (early Westies you have to move the table to open the cupboard) Removable popper curtains for cab/permanent curtains behind front seats Poppers for removable tailgate mozzy net Quality build.... |
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terryvanman
Groupie Joined: 28 Jun 06 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 232 |
Posted: 28 Jul 06 at 08:49 |
Hello
I had a california,,,,it was probably one of the best in the country. Totally mint condition
I went off to the USA for a weeks holiday when i got back,,,,,,GONE,,,,,,, some lowlife had nicked it &nbs p;
I found out from a neighbour that it had been lifted up onto a low loader at 4 AM and they just drove off with it. It had a steering wheel clamp and the alarm was going as it was taken away,
these vans are so sort after and fetch high prices as spare parts in europe. Mine was one of 4 taken in the london area that week...please make sure you take full precautions.
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new heart...new van...new man
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David Pickles
Yardie Joined: 23 Jan 06 Location: West Yorkshire Status: Offline Points: 291 |
Posted: 28 Jul 06 at 11:34 |
You could buy a right hand drive westfalia in the UK. Westfalia did make them. They were brought in by a few different companies at different times. I have the details some where including road tests. I don't think the later Californias or Atlantics were ever made in RHD for the UK. although there was a UK agent for Westfalia called RN Engineering who would convert a van to a California with new genuine bits. I have the price list from them. So the must be some RHD Californias but not factory built. |
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1990 1.9td SYNCRO DOKA
1988 1.6td SYNCRO AMBULANCE 1989 2.1i LPG Camper |
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Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Posted: 07 Oct 06 at 18:22 |
That doesn't look like a California to me. It is a US import and has different hook up etc to the European models, It also has a cab luggage rack, again as far as I know they didn't come with those. It has electric mirrors too, again California didn't come with those, it has side marker lights... not in Europe... That looks like aUS import Vanagon that someone has added California decals to, that van is much higher spec than a California. |
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CaliforniaDream
Yardie Joined: 07 Mar 07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 838 |
Posted: 25 Apr 07 at 01:20 |
I think you may have missed the biggest difference and the reason Westies are often in better condition bodywise. As I understand it, Westfalia didn't base their version on the transporter van, they based it on the Caravelle. This may not appear to make much of a difference but when you consider that all the windows were factory cut, shaped and treated plus they have sliding openers etc they are more user friendly and less prone to rot. Martin |
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On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep Brown eyes are lost afar now sleep xxHayleyxx |
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dub dub campers
Yardie Joined: 18 Apr 07 Location: Mid Wales Status: Offline Points: 901 |
Posted: 25 Apr 07 at 08:06 |
My Question is to Baxter as he seems to be the man in the know, were the extra's on the Alantic's ever fitted to the California's as i have had a couple of California's with locking rear flap, opening window behind cooker, eberspaecher heater, electris windows, Would these be factory fitted extra's or would Mr/Mrs bloggs buy a California as it was cheaper then buy the extra parts they wanted on the van and fit after market,
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dub dub
Stuart Roper, Lampeter, Mid Wales 07966 270767, dubdubcampers@aol.com |
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Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Posted: 25 Apr 07 at 20:18 |
Locking rear flap was a option on anything, not only Westies. California's have a sliding window behind the cooker anway, the California glass is meant to be some special pilkington stuff, green tinted. Eberspacher, funny, I see some with and some without. I presume they came without and having one was an option, as was the electronic timer thingy. Electric windows were an option on anything. |
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chickenkoop
Yardie Joined: 23 Feb 07 Location: Coventry Status: Offline Points: 505 |
Posted: 28 Apr 07 at 13:01 |
westy california I've got, but the heater is a Truma-e. works off the engine and lpg, these van are 19 years old and the layout is still right for today, the germans do think ahead.
Edited by chickenkoop |
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98, karmann Colorado,
89, T3 westy california Brickin it in Cov. |
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Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Posted: 07 May 07 at 19:42 |
Non California and Atlantic chaff deleted to keep the thread about what the topic title was! Any more drivvel will also get the chop. |
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