Lot Ended
Description
VW Caravelle 2.6-litre
Rare high-performance
Caravelle; South-Africa spec car with factory Audi 2.6-litre five-cylinder; well
sorted; 139bhp dyno test
This
Type 25 was built by the Volkswagen South African factory for home consumption.
There are thought to be no more than 10 examples of the South African VW
T25 in the UK which came fitted with the desirable ADV code Audi
5-cylinder 2.6i engine. It also has A/C (currently requiring regassing),
electric windows, central locking, eight seats and a certificate from VW
South Africa claiming the vehicle is unable to meet the UK emissions standards
for 1996 so is exempt from emissions testing to the 1996
requirements.
The model featured the sought after square headlights and
super rare South African-only lower grill and remains in great shape with
only very minor surface rust in a few areas thanks to its years in the hot and
dry African climate.
This
1996 Caravelle saw only light use in South Africa before its owner
shipped it over here. In 2004 he sold the Caravelle, at which point it had
covered just under 43,000 miles. It was subsequently owned by the editor of
Volksworld.
When
the current owner acquired it, the bus had already been fitted with lowered
springs and a Porsche steering wheel to which have been added some neat
Fuchs-style alloy wheels to continue the theme. He has subsequently added a
correct South African sourced exhaust manifold and a bespoke
full stainless exhaust.....and lowered it a tad more.
He also
found and fitted correct clutch master and slave cylinders as well as giving it
a major service which included all filters and fluids replaced, new rear wheel
studs, new front wheel bearings and replacement of corroded power steering
lines. To cap it all, a new a/c compressor was also sourced from South Africa to
the exact spec required. Finally, he has upgraded the ECU to a Megasquirt 2
system which has given the very healthy dyno reading of 139bhp...a touch more
than quoted by the factory.
The clock currently stands at 121,000
kilometres (76,500 miles) which the current owner believes to be correct, but
there is no documentary evidence to back this up, although the overall condition
of the van certainly supports this figure. He has covered about 12,000 kms since
he bought it and the van has an MOT until 13th October 2020 - its first test in
7 years so it is now back up to how it should be.
There
are, in all, five recorded keepers. The van was featured in
Volksworld Camper & Bus magazine (issue 4 2006), a copy of which
accompanies the van as well as its original handbook, service book and one old
MOT. The vendor has removed the cooker unit and turned it back into the full
eight seat Caravelle it started life as.
N738
YNT is a rare, upmarket Type 25 with an attractive engine option and has seen
relatively little use and a lot of recent care and attention.
For
more information - contact Matthew Parkin 07813 936698
* All charges are subject to VAT