The DFW Car & Toy Museum in North Fort Worth is showcasing a fully outfitted 1977 Volkswagen Type 2 Westfalia Camper Van, a pop-top bus finished in retro green and equipped for mobile travel. The vehicle combines 1970s design with mechanical updates that make it usable on the road, a combination that speaks to the enduring commercial and cultural pull of the classic camper van.
The Westfalia is powered by a 1,970cc air-cooled flat-four engine with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection, paired with a four-speed manual transaxle. Recent mechanical work includes a cleaned fuel tank, replaced injector seals, refreshed gaskets and a full brake system overhaul in 2024. The van's exterior was refinished in green with white bumpers, and its pop-up roof was repainted and reupholstered in 2023. Features include jalousie windows, a shore-power connection, child's cot mounts and 14-inch powder-coated steel wheels with VW-stamped hubcaps.
Inside, the camper offers a sleeping loft, a folding bench seat and bed, a sink, a two-burner stovetop, an insulated cooler, a swing-out table, privacy curtains and power outlets. Plaid-trimmed bucket seats and green interior accents complete the look, while a Pioneer CD stereo with Bluetooth adds modern audio. The mechanical odometer shows 13,000 miles, though actual mileage is unknown.
Ron Sturgeon, collector and founder of the DFW Car & Toy Museum, framed the vehicle as a symbol of independence. "This Westfalia is the definition of freedom on four wheels," Sturgeon said. "It has everything you need to chase sunsets and live the classic van life dream, all wrapped in an iconic design."
The announcement matters beyond one museum exhibit because vintage camper vans occupy a rare position in the vehicle market: they are collectible assets and functional consumer products at the same time. Well-maintained Westfalias appeal to buyers who want a turnkey travel vehicle rather than a static showpiece, and the museum's emphasis on mechanical readiness signals how restoration quality can influence value in the classic-vehicle sector. For the museum, the van is also a visitor draw. The institution, formerly known as the DFW Elite Toy Museum, relocated to a 150,000-square-foot facility at 2550 McMillan Parkway in Fort Worth, where it offers free parking and admission along with secure climate-controlled car storage and event space. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and details are available at dfwcarandtoymuseum.com. By placing a road-ready Westfalia among vintage vehicles and rare toys, the museum ties nostalgia to a practical question for collectors and travelers alike: whether an icon of the open road can remain both a memory and a machine you can still drive.
