McHenry said..
More pics please!!
You asked......
Looked at a few, typically been by the beach a fair part of their lives, rusted throughout.
Found this one locally, semi retired VW mechanic selling it, attracted initially by it being automatic, less daunting for 23 year old Louise to drive - she wants to do an east coast road trip in it this summer.
Interior best described as "original"
Apart from the shag pile....
And the seats - struggle to fit my svelte frame behind the wheel.
Did some research, the camper conversion done by "Swagman", who went out of business after a short run it seems.
Love the Escort Van option!
I did learn from that that the big cupboard door doubles as the table.
Solves a table storage problem, and moves outside the van too!
On this visit to the seller with daughter Louise, we named the van Sam after the sellers dog, so bargaining power from here was limited.
Mechanic picked it up for a check over - all these are sold unregistered / unroadworthy unless you move to stratospheric dollars.
In addition to the auto, external oil cooler.
Some surface rust but free of structural rust, the deal was done, and the roadworthy process started.
Nothing major, apart from brakes, shockers, tyres, lights, instruments, seats....
Got involved in a lot of on line VW part shopping.
Lights basically disintegrated when touched.
Non working indicators, wipers, interior sort of fell out as approached.
I've never been a fan of custom numberplates, but our new Victorian 1BB 2FU plates weren't going to look right on this.
Got in to another on line world, amazed at what kids with Commodore wagons pay for the plates I can't figure out.
Something fairly simple in old fashioned colours.
Parts started to arrive and get fitted, but frustratingly slow.
Some bits arrived, the cost of which proved you shouldn't get too drunk when on line shopping....
Interior looking sadder as the door cards basically gave up and fell out.
Seats that came with it are about as wrong as you can get, way too big.
Originals impossible to buy, have some second hand from a later van making their way to me from Gosford.
For registration, it is, or should I say He is, as Sam The Van has a name, it is classified as a 2 seater.
So the back seat seatbelt had to go, but then we decided the whole seat better go.
Progress seems to be backwards rather than forwards.
New front door cards and hardware cheered things up.
New steering wheel has made its' way on too.
So with no sound deadening, no mats, wrong seats, non cancelling indicators, wipers that blow the fuse if used, Sam got registered.
Louise a happy daughter.
I managed to find some awning bits that fitted the 1974 Swagman Camper.
I've been driving Sam for the last couple of days while my Kombi gets serviced.
Loving it.
I'm pretty happy too.
