1967 Volkswagen Split Window Riviera Camper Bus

Description for Volkswagen Bus/Vanagon 1967

This Volkswagen bus was imported by our family from British Columbia in 2009 and has only been driven about 100 miles since then, o it needs a tune-up and a new battery.
It was featured in a story in Volks World Camper and Bus Magazine in 2014.
It's been a fun vehicle and we intended to restore it a little at a time, ut never really had the time and money to restore it completely. So, e've decided to sell.
Exterior Features:
Split Windows (Rare: 1967 was the last year of the Split Window. Riviera Campers with Split Windows were only done from 1965 to 1967) See history of the Riviera Campers Below*
Safari Windows (Driver's Side Window is Cracked)
American Eagle Empi Wide Five Wheels
Also comes with Enkei Flat 4 Wheels (see photos)
Bridgestone P205/75R15 Tires (see photos
Interior Features:
Original Dash
Original Ice/Cold Box with Water Storage and Pump (has extendable side counter)
Pull-Out Couch/Bed
Storage Loft Above the Couch/Bed and Storage Below
Storage Closet with Original Mirror
Accessories:
Original Blue and White Striped Side Tent (see photo)
Interior Hammock/Child's Cot
*History from the Riviera Registry:
The history of the Riviera camper goes back to an age-old problem facing VW dealers in the 1950s and 1960s. "Gosh. we really want those Westfalia campers. but the factory won't give them to us until we also buy a bunch of those panel vans!" Riviera Motors was based in Beaverton. Oregon. about 10 miles outside Portland. The Volkswagen Distributors and Dealers in North America booklet. dated January 1965 lists Riviera Motors' address as:
Riviera Motors Inc.
1737 S. W. Morrison St.
Tel. CA 6-3831
Some of the earliest and best information on the origin of Riviera campers comes from Fred Stormer and Charles Lukey. courtesy of the type2. com archives. Fred Stoermer writes:
"Riviera Motors was the Beaverton. Oregon based regional distributor of Volkswagens. At some point they decided to contract with ASI (Automotive Services. Inc. ). based in the Vancouver. Washington area. for Type 2 camper conversions modeled after Westfalia Campmobiles. Why Riviera decided to do this is a puzzle. because Campmobiles sold like hotcakes in the Pacific Northwest. "
Charles "Luke" Lukey responds:
True - they sold so well that Riviera Motors could not keep their downstream dealers supplied. VW offered the following take-it-or-leave-it deal: You get X number of Westfalia campers when you buy Y number of pickups and panel vans.
This posed a problem to Knute Qvale. owner of Riviera Motors. VW pickups and panels were slow movers. prone to "lot rot. " Knute knew a cabinet maker named Lasko and assigned him to design and build a camper conversion that would work with the VW panel. He then imposed a new regime on his downstream dealers: You get X number of Westfalia campers when you buy Y number of my "Riviera" campers.
The dealers were hesitant at first. but once they'd seen the workmanship of the conversion. they got on board. This was in 1965.
So the first Riviera conversions began in 1965. But there's documented proof of Riviera campers made from buses as early as 1963 and perhaps even 1958! In the case of the 1963. it was delivered into the east coast and presumably came west before being converted into a Riviera camper. Does that make these "early" campers any less Riviera than one built in 1966? Of course not. But if you are looking to buy a Riviera camper or establish the history of your camper. remember that official production began in 1965.
1965 through 1967. Three model years of split window buses that became Riviera campers. Sadly. no one at Riviera Motors nor ASI (so far as we know) kept accurate records of Riviera production numbers. Look over any confirmed Riviera and you won't find a body badge or ID plate anywhere. It's very disheartening as a Riviera owner to be unable to say "This here's Riviera #456. " or something of the kind. We simply have the ability to say "This is a Riviera".
While Riviera produced camper initially based on the Westy campers. you can tell there are some very unique differences. If you're wondering what those are. check out the guide here on the site. A handful of Riviera camper were also fitted with Sportsmoblie pop tops courtesy of Travel Equipment Corp. in Elkhart. Indiana. As of yet. I have never found any original literature pertaining to the early Rivieras. I cannot imagine that a dealership would market a camper without doing some promotional work for it. but the only literature out there that I have seen is for bay window Rivieras.