Volkswagen Kombi conversion

By Lionel Mussell

The proud owner of a Volkswagen Kombi campervan, bought new in 1975 and still going strong after 380,000km, Fred Bruton was so impressed by its performance that he felt he would like a more modern unit, but didn’t want to pay too high a price.

That’s what started him looking for a good-condition, second-hand, turbocharged diesel VW Transporter.

Fred’s search led him to Melbourne’s Cheapest Cars in Moorabbin, Vic. He has glowing praise for its professionalism and customer service and told me that nothing was too much trouble for them. Coming from a man who spent much of his working life as a taxi owner/operator, this is praise indeed.

Having acquired a suitable vehicle, the next step was to find a company that would carry out the conversion – Fred found the ideal solution at Shiralee Motor Homes at Rowville, where Leigh Watson and his team specialise in custom campervan and motorhome conversions of all vehicle types.

“It’s beyond my wildest expectations,” Fred exclaimed when he rang me just before the conversion of his VW T4 delivery van was finished. He added jokingly, “Don’t tell them I said that, or they’ll put the price up!”

This is because similar conversions by some companies using a new vehicle as the base could be expected to cost around $60,000 to $70,000.

In the beginning, Leigh and Fred sat down and discussed the project in detail – having spent so many years in the Kombi campervan, Fred had plenty of ideas he wanted to incorporate and these quickly became the basis for the conversion.

No frills
The van’s rear seat, with seatbelts that can be used for another two passengers, converts simply to a full-size double bed.

Leigh has perfected the operation of the seat/bed and the whole structure is made of strong steel. The seat props up to get to the generous storage underneath. With the seat up, you can still open the cupboard door under the kitchen work bench – Leigh has cleverly shaped it to clear the seat.

No space has been wasted. There’s a roomy wardrobe at the rear on the driver’s side, plus underfloor storage accessible from the back through two doors. The house battery and its charger are kept under here and you can get at them from the top for servicing.

The van has a very neat control panel for the electrics, with fuses and switches all ready to hand without having to search in dark recesses.

A little meter shows the state of charge of both batteries, which is a good safety precaution. A small unit just inside the side-entry door doubles as a seat for Fred’s visiting grandchildren.

During conversion, one of the first jobs to be done was the cutting of a large hole in the roof, where the pop-top roof is fitted. It gives very adequate headroom and could be converted to sleep two smallish individuals.

Cooking isn’t too elaborate: a methylated, two-burner stove saves the need for LPG plumbing and for carrying an LPG cylinder. A small sink and nicely finished bench completes the kitchen arrangements and a 12V Waeco compressor-type fridge will keep the food fresh.

Fred told me that he was most impressed with the high standard of workmanship seen throughout the conversion.

The fit and finish were excellent, as were the upholstery and curtains, which ensure complete privacy at night.

Leigh told CW that Shiralee staff make everything themselves “in-house”.

The plain lines of the ordinary delivery van were broken up by specially designed decals with tones to match the interior upholstery – these add a touch of class to the looks of this ‘born-again’ campervan.

What did it cost?
The whole outfit looks just-bought, of course, everything behind the seats is new from the floor up, and the cabin looks fresh as well – just what you would expect for a van that hasn’t done much over 100,000km.

Fred estimates that the whole project cost just a little over $40,000 – a far cry from the cost of a new unit that I mentioned earlier.

He has certainly proved his point that people with limited means can still own an excellent campervan and get out around our wonderful country without breaking the bank.

Shiralee Motor Homes: 1/26 Laser Drive, Rowville, Vic; (03) 9764 8822.
Melbourne’s Cheapest Cars: 648 South Rd, Moorabbin, Vic; (03) 9556 0777; www.melbournescheapestcars.com.au