VW T2 Bay Window
Irish Buying Guide

The VW T2 Bay Window is the most coveted campervan in Ireland. Air-cooled, iconic, and now genuinely scarce on Irish roads — a good one commands serious money and rewards serious attention at inspection time. This guide covers everything you need to know before buying.

Overview

The "Bay Window" nickname comes from the curved, one-piece windscreen that replaced the split two-piece screen of the earlier T1 (Splitscreen). Built between 1968 and 1979 across multiple factories, the Bay Window was sold in Ireland both as a commercial panel van and as the now-coveted Westfalia factory-converted campervan.

Not all Bay Windows started life as campervans. Many of the campervans you'll see advertised in Ireland today started as panel vans or microbuses and were converted — sometimes excellently, sometimes not. Knowing the difference matters for value and authenticity.

The original Westfalia conversions (the "Campmobile" in the US, the "Camping Bus" in Europe) are the most sought-after. They came with a pop-top roof, a fold-out rear bed, a small kitchen unit, and a wardrobe — all original VW-approved fitments from the Westfalia factory in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany.

Key variants

The Bay Window came in many forms. For campervan buyers in Ireland, these are the ones that matter:

• Westfalia "Finland" conversion (1968–1979) — the original factory conversion. Pop-top roof, integrated kitchen unit, fold-out bed. The highest-value variant. Look for the Westfalia badge on the pop-top and the original cream-coloured interior units.
• Dormobile conversion — a UK-based conversion company that produced high-quality factory-standard conversions for the UK and Irish market. Slightly less valuable than Westfalia but still desirable.
• Devon conversion — another UK converter popular in Ireland. Devon campervans have a distinctive interior style and are valued by a dedicated community.
• Post-sale conversions — vans converted after purchase, ranging from excellent to terrible. These can be good value if the conversion is well-done; they need more careful inspection.

Irish prices in 2026

The Bay Window market has appreciated significantly since 2020. Here's the honest picture for Irish buyers:

What to inspect before buying

The Bay Window is a simple vehicle mechanically, but rust is its nemesis and it can be devastating. Spend at least two hours on a proper inspection. Bring a torch, a magnetic stick (magnets don't stick to filler), and ideally an experienced T2 owner or mechanic.

The underside — the most important check

Get the van on a ramp if at all possible. The floorpan, sills, and jacking points are where structural rust hides. On the T2, the floorpan can be replaced, but it's an enormous job — a bad floor can add €10,000–€20,000 to restoration costs. Check:

• Front and rear jacking points (often bodged with fresh underseal to hide rot)
• Outer sills along both sides (can be solid-looking on top, rotten underneath)
• Floorpan under the driver and passenger seats, and behind the rear seat
• Battery tray area (acid damage common)
• Engine bay floor and around the fuel tank

Classic rust spots

Every Bay Window has rust somewhere. The question is where and how bad. These are the areas every Irish buyer should check:

• Bottom of the A-pillars — where the pillar meets the sill. Often hidden under rubber trim. Use a screwdriver to gently probe (with seller's permission).
• Rear corners of the body — lower corners of the rear panel, around the rear lights.
• Roof gutters — where water sits and rust starts invisibly.
• Door bottoms — especially on sliding side doors, which tend to collect water in the bottom frame.
• Front beam — the front suspension crossmember can rust from within. Tap it — a hollow sound suggests internal rust.
• Pop-top edges — the hinge area and the seal channel are prime rust starters on Westfalia conversions.

Mechanicals

The air-cooled 1600cc flat-four is fundamentally simple. It can be maintained by any competent classic-car mechanic — but not by most modern garages who've never seen one. Find a specialist. The good news: parts are abundant from suppliers in the UK and Germany, and the engines are very rebuildable.

Common mechanical issues to check at inspection:

• Blue smoke on startup — worn valve guides. Common, not a disaster, but indicates the engine hasn't been recently rebuilt.
• Running temperature — air-cooled engines can overheat, especially if the thermostat or fan belt are worn. Ask for a proper test drive, including a period at motorway speeds.
• Gear change quality — the four-speed gearbox can become notchy when worn. Third-to-fourth changes are the usual tell.
• Brakes — drums on all four wheels until late in production. They work, but they're not powerful. If the van pulls to one side under braking, budget for a full brake rebuild.

Parts availability in Ireland

Good news and bad news. The good news: the global T2 community means parts supply is excellent from UK suppliers like Just Kampers and VW Heritage. Most mechanical and body parts can be sourced and shipped to Ireland within a week.

The bad news: post-Brexit, everything from the UK now attracts customs duty and VAT. Budget an additional 20–25% on UK part prices. For a big restoration, source parts in bulk to reduce per-shipment costs.

Irish-specific note: there are no longer any T2-specialist garages in Ireland that we're aware of as of May 2026. The nearest with real T2 expertise are the VW specialists in Belfast (accessible from the north) and the cluster of classic-VW specialists around Cork and Dublin who take on T2 work alongside other classic VW models. See our conversion specialists directory.

Importing from the UK — VRT and duties

A significant portion of T2s in Ireland have been imported from the UK, where the supply is larger and prices have historically been lower. Since Brexit, importing has become more complex. Here's the current picture:

• VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax): Calculated on Open Market Selling Price (OMSP). On a classic vehicle, this can be substantial — budget 20–30% of the UK purchase price. Use the Revenue VRT calculator (vrt.revenue.ie) before committing to a purchase.
• Customs duty: Post-Brexit, a 6.5% import duty applies to vehicles from the UK. Combined with VAT at 23%, buying a €30,000 UK T2 can add €7,000–€10,000 in duties and VRT.
• Vintage vehicle exemption: Vehicles over 30 years old may qualify for reduced rates. Check the current Revenue guidance as this changes.

See our full VRT and importing guide for step-by-step detail.

Classic campervan insurance in Ireland

Standard vehicle insurance policies don't work well for classic campervans. You want an agreed-value policy (which pays out the agreed value in case of write-off, not the depreciated market value) and ideally limited annual mileage terms that reduce your premium. See our full classic campervan insurance guide.

Verdict

The VW T2 Bay Window is one of the few vehicles where the phrase "investment" isn't entirely delusional. Good examples have appreciated steadily for twenty years and show no signs of stopping. But they are expensive to run, expensive to restore, and require specialist knowledge.

Our recommendation: unless you have deep pockets and patience, start with a T3 or T4 to get the feel of classic-VW ownership. If you're serious about the T2, buy the best example you can afford — a cheap project will cost you far more in the long run than a slightly more expensive solid van.