1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro w/Subaru SVX

First off. some photos:

http://subagon. com/best/frog-van/

Also. if you friend Joe Baker/Subagon on Facebook you will see other photos and I'd be happy to send more.

I also hear you can find photos on different sites. people often take pictures on my block. at gas stations. in the shop. on random streets and post them.

The biggest annoyance about the "Frog" is all of the attention it gets. the thumbs up on the road. the people stopping at my house and everyone that has ever had a VW bus story.

The story behind it:

I bought an 81 VW Vanagon (air cooled) in Tuscon in 1999 and exclusively drove it until I had to start driving my kids which is when I bought a Subaru Outback (and kept the Vanagon). I thought how great it would be if I could combine the power and reliability of the Outback with everything a Vanagon has to offer which is when I came across Subagon (it took me a very long time to find them) and did just that (combined the two) and a whole lot more.

The 81 was air cooled with 70hp and all the things that 70hp come with. plus I didn't feel all that comfortable putting kids in it.

The Frog has it all. The plan was to build a completely multi-use vehicle: comfort of the Vanagon with the reliability and "family-essence" of the Outback. I also planned and did use the Frog as an office. more on that later.

Below are a bunch of things about the Frog:

·       86 Syncro Weekender: super rare and sought after (way more than the Camper) – no “closet” in back. just pop top. pull down bed and built in fold up table

·       95 Subaru SVX engine -- they use these in airplane for the reliability -- plus now I have 260hp

plenty of new components on the engine: I have basically rebuilt and replaced anything that wasn't new or in perfect condition – like (I strongly encourage interested parties to speak directly with my mechanic):

o   air intake.

o   expansion tank.

o   hoses.

o   valves;

o   Subagon big front brakes

o   South African Grill and High Powered lights

o   Battery isolater

o   head gaskets;

o   spark plugs;

o   cooling system;

o   New timing belt;

o   New water pump;

o   Old Man EMU suspension;

o   Drive shaft decoupler

o   belts.

o   headers etc (you will see if you or a mechanic looks at it).

o   muffler (from van cafe - quiet and looks good)

o   I've also upgraded the starter -- GoWesty said they were the best so I put it in. turns over every time

o   All new CV joints and two new front axles with an extra in the van just in case you are surfing in Mexico and need a fix

I also have just about every add-on:

·       On-board compressor: I use it for everything from pumping basketballs to my tires and friends tires -- hidden nicely under the bench

·       propex heater and thermostat: immediate warm up. perfect for winter surf when taking wetsuit off or working from van in a cold day

·       solar panel and inverter: when sunny it powers my computer and phone all day. when it is rainy or night i would plug my Honda generator

·       new stereo with iPod hookup: good speakers as well

·       new starter (always turns over) http://www. gowesty. com/ec_view_details. php?id=23528&category_id=&category_parent_id=

·       cruise control: it is a bonus on those empty highways when you set it at 70 and just go

·       4 rear three point seat belts - 2 are on bench and 2 are on jump seats -- the bench seats are removable

·       2 jump seats (super rare)

·       hot foot shut off -- the heat works great. sometimes it is too great. so during the summer I shut off the heat completely and only fresh air will blow in -- if you have a Vanagon you know what I mean. this is a big job so it is nice to have

·       Tire swing with full tire: haven't had to use. but nice to have a full size spare. the spare compartment can be used for storage if you want. I use the tire swing more to dry my wetsuits than anything

·       Hella lights: super insanely bright

·       New cooling system (not AC. cooling car)

·       Temperature guage (you don't want to overheat)

·       New fans

·       front bush bar: kinda only use it to climb and get stuff from luggage

·       Fiamma awning: seems silly at first but if its a nice day and you will be there for more than an hour pull out the awning and a couple of chairs!: http://www. gowesty. com/ec_view_details. php?id=23446&category_id=&category_parent_id=

·       New upholstery

·       12” rock chip guard: my old Vanagon got dinged up there. this stuff is what they spray the beds of pickups with

·       all new interior: maybe it isn't functional but it makes the van look new

·       New pop top: when you open it up the van gets big -- when you open the windows and keep the screens up it is super comfy with great breezes.

·       I had this extra Dynamat packing throughout to make it as quiet as possible -- it is super quiet for a Vanagon: I even had a super heavy rubber mat for the back over the engine compartment for added quiet. this one makes the most difference

·       Heavy duty rubber matting throughout: spills. sand. whatever can just be brushed out

·       Its a Syncro with a decoupler (on the fly 2WD to 4WD): means good gas mileage (18-20 on long drives at 65 in 2wd and the best 4wd vehicle you can imagine!)

·       Check out YouTube for Syncro vids. it is insane (the German military built it and they are super sought after especially since we don't have that many in the US)

·       2" lift: it is kinda high. but you get used to it and it still handles great

·       South African Grill with high powered lights: basically the round lights and ones that work well

·       Tinted windows: it is beyond looks -- keeps it cooler and I like the privacy

·       Custom graphics: the Frog decals plus

·       Privacy curtain http://www. gowesty. com/ec_view_details. php?id=23600&category_id=57&category_parent_id=

·       Bug screens for slider and rear door: if you open the pop-top. open the slider and open the rear gate you have a bug free place to eat and hang out

·       GoWesty luggage rubber tie-down: that compartment stores a bunch with this you can throw stuff in it and drive. I mostly used it for my solar shower though.  http://www. gowesty. com/ec_view_details. php?id=3664&category_id=&category_parent_id=

·       Swamp cooler (inverter/12V) http://www. swampy. net/ -- the best swamp cooler - it's what FBI and police use -- no AC but this thing works great. Fill it will a couple of bags of ice and you don't need to run the engine to stay cool (throw your food in there and you have an ice box and an AC.

·       Truck side view mirrors - look cool. but never move like most Vanagons

·       Hi-jack jack: you need this and this is the best. I also have the attachment you can use in sand/dirt/snow etchttp://www. gowesty. com/ec_view_details. php?id=4229&category_id=&category_parent_id=

·       Thule bike rack: two bikes. any bikes (I would lock my beach cruiser up and drive everywhere. it is rock solid : http://www. thule. com/en-US/US/Products/Bike-Carriers/Hitch/917XTR-T2

·       Yakima Roof rack: I used it for boards but these Yakima racks are super flexible

It has pretty much everything.  

I would typically take my bike and two boards and drive to a different surf break to work and surf during the day. If it was cold I'd use the Propex heater. If it was hot I'd get some ice and use the swamp cooler. I'd power everything with the secondary battery and solar panel. When we didn't have sun I'd use my little Honda generator. My desk was the fold up table and bench seat. I'd usually pop the top but the breeze and light. plus I could move around. stand and even hop up for a nap. Phone via cell and Internet via thumb drive. I'd ride my bike to get lunch or maybe surf. come back and shower off with the solar shower I had stashed in the luggage rack. Sometimes I'd open the slider and the awning and work outside. but usually I liked the quiet and privacy in the van.

Why am I thinking about selling it? No one wants me to sell it. I am thinking about it because I changed jobs and never get to use it for why I had it built and am driving all over for work (sales). the van gets around 18mpg and I don't want to beat on it driving on the bad NY roads. I was hoping to beat on it driving in the sand but that won't be happening as expected.

Anyway. the cost: $65. 00. Sounds like a lot. but to have it built/outfitted you are definitely well over this. plus. and maybe more importantly all of the kinks have been worked out. It baaically has a new everything. If you are serious about buying one of these you either know what I mean. or should do some more research.

I have my work done professionally at http://gtprecision. com/index. htm.

 
The van can be shipped. we would just have to make arrangements. But if you are on the East Coast you are in luck as I think only a couple are here.

If you seriously interested. I wouldn't wait too long as the more I write about it the less I want to sell it and something like this doesn't come along very often (if you thought you saw this ad a couple of months ago you did. someone was about to buy it but had some health issues preventing him. I am guessing it won't last all that long. )

Please. only serious inquiries.  

Tim

Also published at eBay.com

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