The BF Surfer is a vintage camper van that appears in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online.
Design
Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online
The van's design is heavily inspired by the styling of the VW T1 (Type 2) Bay Window and Splitscreen vans. The front section (front end and front doors) resembles the VW T1 Splitscreen van, the second section (sliding doors) resembles the VW T1 Bay Window van, the third section (square window and flat metal behind) resembles the VW T1 Splitscreen (excluding the runners for the sliding doors) and the fourth section (rear end) resembles the VW T1 Bay Window van.
The van is depicted with a seemingly wide bodywork and relatively short wheelbase, similar to the Grand Theft Auto: London rendition. The front end of the van is rather curved and features a small chrome bumper, fitted with a small guard and a license plate on the centre. Slightly above the bumper, there are dual chrome sections housing dual circular headlamps, with the inner ones placed further to the front than the outer ones, while the BF logo can be seen on the centre. Around the middle section, there are additional amber indicators with chrome detail around, while the upper area is occupied by the dual windscreen, the chrome rear-view mirrors and the black wipers mounted on the outer-lower sections below each windscreen glass.
On the sides, the vehicle assumes a more simplistic profile, featuring a slightly flared profile on the rear arches. The doors are relatively large and feature chrome door handles, while the rear section has black door railings and vented sections for the engine. On the cabin area, the vehicle uses large rectangular windows and square-shaped windows on the portions beside the rear doors, as well as small inner separations on the front door windows.
On the rear end, the vehicle features a large upper compartment door with a rectangular window on the upper half and a small chrome handle at the bottom, as well as a second compartment door apparently intended for the engine (though not visible when open), having a chrome handle and the badges at the bottom. Beside the engine compartment, there are chrome vertical sections housing circular tail lamps, with the upper ones being the main/brake lamps and the lower ones the indicators. The area below the lower compartment is occupied by the central license plate just below it, as well as the small chrome bumper at the bottom. A single exhaust tube can be seen on the driver side, just below the bumper.
The Surfer may spawn with an optional roof rack and, sometimes, a surfboard mounted on the same. In the enhanced version, the interior and dial set are similar to those used on vehicles like the first generation Burrito and the Boxville.
The Surfer is one of a few cars in that can be found as a beater - a rusted out version of the original car that has a worn bodywork, rusted out textures over the chrome parts and slightly deformed license plates. The front indicators are white instead of amber (possibly worn-out), while the rear license plate is mounted directly to the bumper. In the enhanced version, the vehicle has a worn-out interior and dial set derived from the Journey.
On the clean variant, the stripes on the front end and the sides, the cabin area, the door hinges and the engine bay are painted with the primary colour, while the body is painted with the secondary colour. On the beater variant, however, the colour distribution is swapped (primary on the body, secondary on the cabin, stripes and engine compartment), and the door hinges remain the same, due to the worn textures. The clean variant uses five-spoke aftermarket rims with similar details to the "Muscle Freak" muscle wheels, while the beater variant uses plain rims similar to the "Classic Rod" wheels, albeit with a silver protruding centre.
Current Design Gallery
Performance
Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online
The Surfer is very slow due to its small engine. However, acceleration is not that bad, and handling is average, but overall, it is sluggish and is not a good choice for pursuits due to its weak resistance against heavy collisions and struggles to evade cars that gets in the way. The beater variant has higher ground clearance compared to the clean one, making it a good vehicle on bumpy, flat terrain. However, it is significantly inferior in terms of overall performance.
Both variants of the Surfer have a small engine on the rear that powers the rear wheels through a 4-speed gearbox. The engine sound is the same used on the Injection and the Dune Buggy, although it does not rev as high as the aforementioned vehicles, likely due to the limited engine power.
GTA V/GTA Online Overview
| Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engine | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
Fuel Tank Size (litres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 62 / 100 | 4 | N/A | RWD | 2500 / 5512 | 65 |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Cannot reach | 59 / 95 | 4 | RR | RWD | Cannot be observed | Cannot be observed |
 |
Speed | 53.655136% | ||||
| Acceleration | 25% | |||||
| Braking | 10% | |||||
| Traction | 46.969696% | |||||
Modifications
Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online
| Category | Modification | Cost (GTA V) | Cost (GTA Online) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armor | No Armor | $100 | $200 | |
| Armor Upgrade 20% | $500 | $4,500 | ||
| Armor Upgrade 40% | $1,250 | $7,500 | ||
| Armor Upgrade 60% | $2,000 | $12,000 | ||
| Armor Upgrade 80% | $3,500 | $21,000 | ||
| Armor Upgrade 100% | $5,000 | $30,000 | ||
| Brakes | Stock Brakes | $100 | $200 | |
| Street Brakes | $2,000 | $4,000 | ||
| Sport Brakes | $2,700 | $5,400 | ||
| Race Brakes | $3,500 | $7,000 | ||
| Engine | EMS Upgrade, Level 1 | $900 | $1,800 | |
| EMS Upgrade, Level 2 | $1,250 | $2,500 | ||
| EMS Upgrade, Level 3 | $1,800 | $3,600 | ||
| EMS Upgrade, Level 4 | $3,350 | $6,700 | ||
| Explosives | Ignition Bomb | N/A | $5,000 | |
| Remote Bomb | N/A | $7,500 | ||
| Horns | Main article: Los Santos Customs/Horns | - | - | |
| Lights | Headlights | Stock Lights | $100 | $200 |
| Xenon Lights | $300 | $3,000 | ||
| Neon Kits | Main article: Los Santos Customs/Lights | - | - | |
| Loss/Theft Prevention | Tracker | N/A | $2,000 | |
| Full Coverage | N/A | $1,375 | ||
| Respray | Main article: Los Santos Customs/Respray Colors | - | - | |
| Sell | Sell Vehicle | N/A | $1,100 | |
| Suspension | Stock Suspension | $100 | $200 | |
| Lowered Suspension | $500 | $1,000 | ||
| Street Suspension | $1,000 | $2,000 | ||
| Sport Suspension | $1,700 | $3,400 | ||
| Competition Suspension | $2,200 | $4,400 | ||
| Transmission | Stock Transmission | $100 | $200 | |
| Street Transmission | $2,950 | $5,900 | ||
| Sports Transmission | $3,250 | $6,500 | ||
| Race Transmission | $4,000 | $8,000 | ||
| Turbo | None | $500 | $1,000 | |
| Turbo Tuning | $2,500 | $30,000 | ||
| Wheels | Main article: Los Santos Customs/Wheels | - | - | |
| Windows | None | $100 | $500 | |
| Light Smoke | $200 | $1,500 | ||
| Dark Smoke | $450 | $3,500 | ||
| Limo | $700 | $5,000 | ||
Image Gallery
Special Variants
Grand Theft Auto Online
- NPC-modified clean Surfers may randomly spawn on the city (usually near beaches).
- A uniquely colored Surfer is scripted to spawn in Setup: Signal Intercepts, once at least one player has reached the first objective. It is unobtainable. (See Trivia)
Locations
Grand Theft Auto V
- Standard
- Spawns on the side of a road, along with a Radius in Blaine County.
- A uniquely colored Surfer is seen abandoned near the Sandy Shores Airfield on Smoke Tree Road in the Grand Senora Desert, near Harmony and Sandy Shores during the abandoned vehicle Random Event. When approaching on foot, an unknown man will hit the protagonist with a Stun Gun. The player can obtain this by either towing the van, or killing the enemy. As Trevor, using the special ability so the Stun Gun has no effect can make the latter option much easier.
- The Surfer's clean version can also be found randomly near the first bridge north of Fort Zancudo. Coming up from the south side of the map, drive through the tunnel under the fort, and the player will come to a right-left series of turns in the highway; after these turns will be the bridge. A dirt trail branches off the eastern side of the road, marked by a roadside parking lot and a shack. Turn down it, and follow the trail as it wraps around back under the bridge. The dirt path lets out onto a beach with a party going on. If no cars appear at first, keep driving and they should spawn. If the Surfer does not spawn, get back on the road and drive a good distance before returning. Repeat as many times as needed and one will show up. This is also a good way to get the Journey, the Sandking SWB and the Regina, which all spawn here more commonly than the Surfer.
- Beater
- Can be found parked on the east-side of Dignity Village. A Sadler can also be found nearby.
- In the parking place of the abandoned motel in Sandy Shores.
- Parked behind Ursula's house near the El Gordo Lighthouse.
Grand Theft Auto Online
- Standard
- Can be bought at Southern San Andreas Super Autos for $11,000.
- Can be found near the Del Perro Beach, outside Burton's Los Santos Customs or at the beach in North Chumash, usually pre-modified (enhanced version only).
Rewards
Grand Theft Auto Online
- In the enhanced version, the NPC-modified Surfer nets the player a very small value of $2,850 in Los Santos Customs.
Trivia
General
- This vehicle is named "Surfer" because its inspiration, the Volkswagen T1, is famous for its association with the 1960s surf culture. In reference to this, it often spawns with a surfboard on the roof.
- The default radio stations for the Surfer are:
- Clean: Blue Ark.
- Beater: Non-Stop-Pop FM.
Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online
- When damaged enough, the sliding doors open outwards like normal doors, even though there are door railings on the sides. In addition, it cannot carry passengers on the back, similar to the Youga.
- A red Surfer appears in the game play video for Righteous Slaughter 7.
- The clean Surfer has a lowered suspension compared to the beater Surfer. This causes the license plate to clip through the geometry on rough terrain.
- Similar to the Journey and Youga Classic, the Surfer has an anachronistically modern interior, fitted with a plastic steering wheel and dash, even though it is a '60s van.
- The modified Surfer vans in lime green are likely a reference to the "chartreuse Microbus" mentioned in the C.W. McCall song "Convoy", which can be heard on Rebel Radio.
- During Signal Intercepts, after reaching the Deluxos a blue-and-white Surfer will drive past. This is a reference to the 1985 film Back to the Future, as in that film shortly after the DeLorean time machine is revealed the two main characters are attacked by Libyan terrorists driving a blue-and-white 2nd Gen Volkswagen T2.
- Curiously, despite the van and its driver not being marked as hostile, it is a valid target for homing missile lock-ons before Lester Crest orders missions to the player, and also counts for the "Number of enemies killed" statistics in the leaderboards screen.
Bugs/Glitches
- On the clean Surfer, the door hinges, door key holes and upper rear compartment handle do not move with the corresponding vehicle doors, due to these being assigned to the
chassisvehicle component, resulting in the hinges not moving with the doors and the key holes/upper rear handle to float mid-air. These issues are not present on the rusty variant.
See Also
- Camper - A similar vehicle which was previously a camper van.
