Elite Dealer

1987 Volkswagen Vanagon

Michigan

$13,495

1987 Volkswagen Vanagon

Vehicle Details

Make

Volkswagen

Model

Vanagon

Year

1987

Mileage

220,297 miles

Body Type

Van

Transmission

Automatic

Engine

2.0L

Description

1987 VW Vanagon Project it is a Wolfsburg Limited Edition, grey in color, with a 2.1L engine that was rebuilt at 187000+ miles. The speedometer stopped working around 187000 and was fixed a couple of months after the engine was rebuilt. The mileage on the van is now 220297.

The vanagon is an automatic transmission with power windows, door locks and mirrors (the electrical needs to be looked at). It is a Weekender Package which consists of front bucket captain seats, two rear facing bucket seats (which are removable), fold down table, rear bench seat that folds down into a bed and privacy curtains. It has aluminum allow wheels (14x6) with LT195/75 R14 tires.

My Father-in-Law bought the van new and it was passed on to us as our family grew. We have most of the paperwork back to the original receipt. The vanagon is running but has an electrical issue that will kill a battery.

It also has some dings on the body with a little rust. The vanagon had an air conditioner unit in it but was not kept charged and due to the age and dryness the part that ran the length of the van inside fell (we still have all the parts to restore it). The vanagon was stored for 6 years and we decided to try one more time to get it back on the road.

But after other issues in taking care of our house we determined that it is time to let it go and let someone else work on it. The body is in good shape with a few dings. I was planning on working on it and bought a few parts and oil with filter but got too busy taking care of other things.

It is a good van when running. Fuel filter and pump replaced Starter replaced Steering gear replaced Power steering hose replaced Wheel alignment Four CV joint kits Both Front break disk and pads replaced Both wheel bearing – rear inner and outer replaced Transmission serviced Drive belts replaced Runs but needs work May need to be towed due to it has a water leak and starts running hot. Clean Title Please Note The Following **Vehicle Location is at our client

Classic Volkswagen Vanagon Buyer's Guide (T3, 1980–1991)

Full guide
E
Emily Chen
JDM Classics
1980–1991
~4 min read
Updated Apr 2026
The Vanagon is not a Bus β€” it's a smarter, more capable vehicle that happens to carry the same counterculture credibility. The Syncro 4WD and Westfalia camper variants are the most sought-after configurations, and values have tripled in a decade.
This guide covers
βœ“ 12-point inspection checklist
βœ“ Common issues & what to avoid
βœ“ In-person inspection guide
βœ“ Market pricing by year & condition
βœ“ 5 FAQs answered
βœ“ History & fun facts

Volkswagen Vanagon Market Overview

Based on 31 Volkswagen Vanagon listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

31
Listed Now
$20,121
Avg. Asking Price
1977–1995
Year Range
Price Position on Our Site β€” Average Range
This car: $13,495
Low: $6,895 High: $82,995
Transmission Distribution
Automatic 23% ◄
Manual 65%
Condition Distribution
Excellent 3%
Good 16%
Fair 3%
Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 31 listings →
πŸ’°

What is this car worth?

Check sold prices for the 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon

Valuation Tool β†’

Classic Volkswagen Vanagon Buyer's Guide (T3, 1980–1991)

People who haven't driven a Vanagon often assume it's just a newer Bus. It isn't. The T3 Vanagon is a fundamentally different vehicle β€” water-cooled from 1983 onward, wider track, more rigid body, dramatically better handling, and genuinely livable as a daily driver. The Westfalia camper conversion and the Syncro 4WD variant have built dedicated followings that have pushed prices to levels that would have seemed absurd a decade ago. The buying challenges are real β€” the early water-cooled engines have specific failure modes, and rust is still present β€” but a properly sorted Vanagon is one of the most genuinely useful and characterful vehicles in the classic segment.

What to Check Before Buying

Oil cooler check β€” Coolant reservoir for oil (brown/milky) and dipstick for emulsification β€” immediate deal factor
Floor rust inspection β€” Pull all mats β€” check under front seats and rear cargo corners for rust
Cooling system β€” Verify thermostat, hose condition, coolant color β€” overheating kills these engines
4WD function (Syncro) β€” Test all 4WD modes and rear diff lock engagement specifically
Westfalia furniture inventory β€” Verify all original cabinets, refrigerator, stove, sink, and pop-top components
Pop-top seal β€” Inspect fabric for tears and seal for leaks β€” leads to floor damage
Lower rear body corners β€” Inspect for rust at lower rear corners and rocker panels
Gearbox shifting β€” All gears should engage cleanly β€” grinding on 1st or reverse is synchro wear
Temperature stability β€” Drive 20+ minutes β€” should stabilize and hold steady at operating temp
Door seals β€” Check all door rubber β€” leaking seals cause floor rust
Fuel system β€” Check for rough idle or stumbling β€” vacuum leaks or sensor issues
CV joints (Syncro) β€” Listen for clicking on full lock turns β€” worn CV joints need replacement

Common Issues

Oil cooler failure on 1983+ engines is the most serious mechanical issue β€” cooler sits in the coolant circuit and when it fails, oil and coolant mix, leading to accelerated engine wear. The 1.9L is more prone than the 2.1L. Cooling system maintenance must be current. Floor rust from water intrusion is common in wet-climate cars. Pop-top seal leaks on Westfalia models cause floor rust if unaddressed. CV joints on Syncro models wear with off-road use and require periodic inspection. Fuel injection on later models can develop vacuum leaks causing rough running.

What to Look For

Check coolant reservoir for oil contamination and oil dipstick for emulsification β€” oil cooler failure is common and expensive, deduct full repair cost from any car showing symptoms. Inspect all floor areas under mats, especially under front seats and rear cargo corners. Check lower rear body corners and rockers for rust. On Syncro, test all 4WD modes including rear diff lock β€” confirm functionality. On Westfalia, inventory all original furniture, refrigerator function, pop-top mechanism, and all seals. Test pop-top fabric for tears and leaks. Verify gearbox for clean shifts and absence of grinding. Monitor temperature on a 20-minute drive β€” must stabilize and hold. Check all door seals for integrity.

Price Guide

Syncro: driver $35,000–$55,000; show $60,000–$80,000+. Westfalia non-Syncro: driver $18,000–$32,000; show $38,000–$55,000. Westfalia Syncro: $55,000–$90,000+. Standard 2WD: driver $10,000–$18,000; excellent $22,000–$32,000. Air-cooled 1980–1982: $8,000–$14,000 driver. Always deduct full cost of oil cooler replacement ($1,500–$2,500 all-in) from any car showing contamination symptoms. Westfalia completeness adds meaningful value β€” stripped or partial Westi worth considerably less.

Did You Know?

Only about 9,000 Syncro Vanagons were ever produced for the North American market β€” making them genuinely rare. The Syncro's 4WD system was engineered by Steyr-Daimler-Puch, the same Austrian firm behind the Mercedes G-Wagen drivetrain. The Vanagon was sold in South Africa as the "Microbus" in updated form beyond European production end. The Westfalia camper layout was designed to convert from daily driver to self-contained camping unit with sleeping for four adults in under one minute.

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