These May Be the Best Classic VW Van Conversions I've Ever Seen: Suicide Doors and Trucks

Folks, Maria Bonita Garage (MBG), seems to be a crew based out in Brazil with love for the one and only VW bus, no matter the "T". Why bring this team's work to light? Just take a look at the images in the gallery and then leave your comments with a conversion that looks better than what you see here. I can safely say that you'll be pressed hard to find a better execution.

Let me start off by bringing to light one of the most recent works posted on MBG's Instagram page, that T2 with a turquoise two-tone paint job, rooftop tent, wooden cargo rack, and rims to match. Take a nice long look at how this bugger presents itself closed or in its on-road form. It just looks so damn clean! This T2 is even smiling in regards to looking so dang good.

That windshield looks like it sweeps clean across the side of the van, with curtains hanging over windows, letting you peek inside for a moment. The rooftop tent can be spotted above the roof, letting those who know precisely what's hidden inside. If that didn't hint at what this VW camper can do, the cargo rack is a clear indicator.

And then, out of nowhere, this bugger explodes into one of the cleanest units I've ever seen! Once parked on the side of some road or a beach, this Type 2 opens its suicide side doors to reveal a wood-filled interior with a feature distribution to put Airstream or Winnebago to shame. Even the doors I mentioned have some functionality, one of them being equipped with what appears to be spice or wine bottle racks; it all depends on what sort of adventurer you are. Best of all, an outdoor countertop can host an umbrella for shade while you're whipping up something to eat. No awnings here; after all, let's keep things classy.

But, it's once you've entered the camper that you'll really understand why I fell in love with this customs garage. From the first step into the unit, you'll find yourself standing in the living room/dinette/bedroom. Yes, it's all jumbled together, but in the cleanest fashion possible, with some functions being accessible due to modular furniture. Then there's the "upstairs" bedroom, that tent, perfect for spending the night looking at stars up above or just scoping out the surroundings from above ground. The only space that's missing from this conversion seems to be a bathroom, but that can easily be taken care of with a portable toilet and outdoor shower; there's plenty of space to bring such extras along.

As I explored all that this crew has to offer and how they do things, I discovered T1s following a similar layout, with minor differences to the overall design. Some include another roof rack and eliminate the tent, while others showcase different lighting styles, fabrics, and building materials. Others are a bit more extreme, with conversions resulting in what appears to be a T2 truck. Genius!

How much is something like this going to run you? Well, it depends a whole lot on the sort of attention your unit has or if it's one that MBG crafted first and then put up for sale. But, the turquoise unit I described in the previous paragraphs sold to an owner in Miami, Florida, for a cool $28,300 (€26,000 at current exchange rates). That's it, and this includes "all import duties and shipping costs." Sign me up! Another owner even had one shipped to Sweden and others to Germany. I even saw something about France on that Instagram page. In short, if you're a VW van lover, this may be the sign you've been waiting for to make that childhood dream a reality.

Heck, take a moment to imagine waking up on some shoreline or edge of a lake and seeing the morning sun rising out of the water. All the while, you're kicking back in bed with your loved one next to you, and a cup of coffee is brewing on the electric cooktop you brought along. Go ahead; take a moment to soak in the peace and sounds of the world around you.

I started this piece on Maria Bonita Garage telling you about how this crew puts out some of the best conversions I've ever seen, and for me, that's true, especially once you consider just how much a completed work costs. As for those of us that can't quite afford such a camper just yet, we can use MGB's completed works as a clear example of a classic done right.

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