California Westys: Where Old is Brand-New Again

On an industrial lot along Broadway just past the 125 freeway, there’s a field of Westfalias—those Volkswagen camper vans that haven’t been imported into this country since 1992. There must be at least 30 in various stages of restoration. Some have just arrived, “looking like crap,” in the words of California Westys owner Cesar Torres. Others have been stripped down to a shell. A few vans are almost ready to begin their new and improved lives.

The VW camper vans are a throwback to a time when you could head for the mountains or Baja, pull into a campground, pop the top, and be instantly set up to enjoy the outdoors in your little apartment on wheels. The Westy featured ample space for sleeping, shelving and cabinets for storage, a sink, and even a stove, but was still small enough to maneuver like a car. At the time, we would have said “cool” when describing the camper.

The successor to the already popular VW Bus was the Vanagon, aka “Westy.” It was introduced in 1979 and sold quite well, although many owners (and the drivers following them uphill) complained it had too small an engine. When styles and tastes shifted about 20 years ago, VW stopped selling Vanagons. Today, the vehicles are in such high demand that a fully reconditioned 1987 Vanagon Full Camper Syncro recently sold in California for more than $86,000.

Torres said he has not sold one in that price range yet, although he does offer restored Vanagons for sale. He explained that about half the vans on the lot belong to his customers, and the other half are ones he bought to bring back to life. Chances are they won’t be there long—once they are ready, that is. Torres told me that sometimes the process for one van, from start to finish, can take up to six months.

Torres showed me one Vanagon nearing completion that will sell for around $35,000. Everything on the vehicle was brand new, including the wheels and bumpers. They even added a sturdy (and more powerful) Subaru engine to the underpowered van. It was strange, looking at a 25-year-old camper van that was bright as a brand-new penny and ready for the showroom floor.

All I could say was “cool.” I want one.

This is exactly the type of smart business Lemon Grove should be encouraging. California Westys is reusing and recycling on the highest level. You want green—this is green. Plus you get to recreate and have fun with an old friend that has been painstakingly brought back to life. This is a better idea for today's weekend outdoor explorer than buying a sterile-looking, polyurethane-smelling camper built in Indiana.

California Westys is located at 8373 Broadway in Lemon Grove, between Mason Drive and Quarry Road. The business is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Check out their extensive website, or give them a call at 619-518-7050.