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VWt Issue 146 (Digital)

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16 Articles

GOING, GOING, GONE... Hello and welcome to the July issue. I’ll start by admitting that I am currently in a state of trauma. Which, as I am about to explain, is due to not one but two factors following the sale of my 1985 Westfalia. I’ll confess that while I love buying cars, I’m not keen on selling them so I wasn’t looking forward to parting with my T3 having poured my heart and soul into getting it back on the road and enjoying three years of very slow but entirely trouble-free family adventures in it. Still, I took some pics, wrote a description, and bravely put it onIine. In France (where I live), T3 Westfalias are like hen’s teeth, so despite asking far more than it would have been…

Bridging the gap between the flair of the ’80s and ’90s and the craft of today’s builders is the extra bravery when it comes to cutting stuff up and modifying it. Sure, builds in Europe from that period were the first to usher in tasteful and well-thought-through mods – rather than the tasteless flared arches and raised suspension of the ’70s – and that in itself meant some cutting and welding; welded up trim holes, targa tops and suicide doors were all common mods. But heavily modified suspension and body drops didn’t get a look in. The ’80s and ’90s was an era unafraid of judgement, where the value of expression soared above the value of currency, and the phrase “too good to cut up” was unheard of in the…

MORE SECURE BUYING – FOR FREE! The first ever free car history check is launched We’ve all seen them on our socials. A Transporter up for sale that seems too good to be true that either doesn’t exist, doesn’t belong to the person advertising it or simply isn’t what it says it is. The savvy among us will be suspicious, smile knowingly and ignore. However, there’s a chance a prospective buyer, bowled over with enthusiasm about getting their first VW Van, could be snared in and taken for a ride. Down the very bumpiest of roads, inevitably. Of course the safest course of action when buying any secondhand vehicle is to carry out the necessary checks before taking things any further to confirm its provenance. Commonly this will involve paying…

Would you risk your life for a 60 second adrenaline rush? Seems pretty risky for such a short endorphin hit. But for 57-year-old IT telecoms specialist John Andrews, it’s a gamble he’s only too happy to take, and on a surprisingly regular basis too. Now, John isn’t some fan of Russian roulette and he doesn’t get his kicks from any form of illegal narcotic, as his totally legal high is achieved through altitude. Or more precisely, a rapid reduction in altitude. You see, John is an avid skydiving enthusiast and his awesome two-tone T6.1 Transporter has been built to allow him to travel the country in comfort and indulge in his extreme pastime in style. “I did my first parachute jump back when I was in the army,” remembers John…

AUTOGLYM WHEEL CLEANER Wheels and windows, that’s what they say makes a Van look smart. And we couldn’t agree more. Making the clean wheel part a lot easier, Autoglym has launched the all-new Advanced All Wheel Cleaner, a colour-changing wheel cleaning product which utilises powerful, pH neutral active ingredients to safely and effectively remove ferrous brake debris, embedded dirt and other contaminants from all lacquered wheel types. Compared to many established ‘colour bleed’ products, Autoglym’s new foaming formula clings more effectively to the wheel surface to increase contact time, delivering an effective clean while reducing the need for agitation with cleaning tools. Advanced All Wheel Cleaner contains active ingredients that react with any ingrained metal particles – turning a deep red as they do so – and lifting them away…

“I sold my last Bus, ‘Kermit’ – a 1990 Autohomes Komet – in the summer of 2015 as I wasn’t using it,” begins Kevin, a 48-year-old sales director from Woodbridge, Suffolk. “After showing it and getting it featured in Camper&Bus magazine, I was almost too scared to use it,” he adds. “Oh, and it also helped scratch an itch I had to get a Porsche and selling the Komet funded the purchase of a 2003 986.2S 3.2 Boxster which I loved and owned for the following six years.” As time went by, however, despite getting the Porsche, the desire to own another VW Camper slowly gathered momentum with Kevin. “After a divorce and finding a new partner, Sam, I tentatively suggested another T3 / T25 as a leisure vehicle. However,…

SOME LIKE IT HOT

After many years spent camping around Wales, Steve Tinsley and his wife Jill finally decided to enter the VW Transporter scene 10 years ago. Although their T5 was a great start, its replacement in the shape of this fully kitted out 253bhp T6 with looks to match pushes things to the next level. Steve and Jill have been married 27 years so it’s fair to say they’ve got to know each other pretty well. In that time, they’ve also enjoyed and endured many years of camping under canvas together which is always a surefire test in any relationship. After holidays roughing it, the natural progression towards a far more comfortable bed for nights away ensued, “We’d noticed a rise in popularity of campervans, especially those wearing a VW badge,” Steve…

SOME LIKE IT HOT

SHOP TOUR DANBURY

Hi Simon, tell us when Danbury started, where it was initially based, and who was involved? When did you move to your latest premises and how many are in the Danbury team? SIMON: Danbury Motorcaravans was formed in 1964 and named after the village in which it was based. The brand has had several owners over the years and was purchased in late 2020 when it became Danbury Campervans Ltd as part of the Vanworx group. We began production of our latest Surf model in 2021 at our premises in Bridgwater. We’re a team of six people. What are folk prioritising in the way of VW Campers right now? Style/image, practicality, reliability or is price more important these days? SIMON: I find that our customer base are purely focused on…

SHOP TOUR DANBURY

Cabin Fever project Caddy – pt7

With the Only Charged Dubs independent rear axle and air ride due any minute, along with the Air Lift front struts, we deduced it made sense to wrap up the rest of the Caddy’s interior while we waited. We have already located the Air Lift ‘FLO’ seamless air tank and dual compressors inside, with everything plumbed in and ready to connect to the remaining air ride system as soon as it arrives. SITTING COMFORTABLY? While in particularly great condition for its age, especially given the mileage under its belt, it’s safe to say Project Caddy’s stock interior just didn’t fit with the Race Support theme we were going for. A quick call to our friends at Corbeau Seats soon saw us surfing their website in search of suitable seats that…

Cabin Fever project Caddy – pt7

T5 TURBO TANTRUMS

IAN’S OLD T5 Just to recap, I bought a SWB 2.5 Multivan from Germany a few years back when it had a meagre 106,000km (65k miles) on the clock and went on to make pretty good use of it thereafter. A habit it had been harbouring, and something I’d generously overlooked from day one, however, was an intermittent rough idle. It used to run fine for ages, pull strongly, and basically do everything a 170bhp 2006 van should. Then, for no obvious reason apart from trying to heighten my anxiety levels, it would splutter like an unfit Labrador on 40 a day at tickover. Oh, and this would coincide with a pungent unburnt fuel smell from under the bonnet which would soon work its way into the cabin. It was…

T5 TURBO TANTRUMS

JENNY’S ANDREW’S CADDY MAXI

It’s been a long time coming, and with a couple of dry days in the forecast this month it was finally time to machine polish the Caddy. I always thought the Caddy was fairly clean, but it was only after reviewing the photos that I realised how bad it was or just how complacent I had become with its condition… It was growing moss; the roof was green!! I was a little concerned about a few areas on the Van before machine polishing it, it had some serious buildup of contamination which I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to break down and a lot of stone chips on the bonnet which had gone through the paint. One area I was really hoping I would be able…

JENNY’S ANDREW’S CADDY MAXI

The 1965 15-window Kombi we have here, nicknamed ‘Candy’, belongs to Darren Bliss. He’s the fella that reimagined it in its new custom form on these shores… for, in a previous life, this Bus used to sell bananas in a São Paulo market. “She came over from Brazil in 2016,” Darren explains, “and the big restoration began straight away. We set about making her look like a proper Splittie again, rather the drab grey workhorse she was in South America selling bananas at the fruit markets. I managed to find the previous owner on Facebook and get photos and history on her, which really helped to give her a personality. I’ve always wanted a Splittie too, and one I could modify – so taking on an ugly duckling was right…

CRAFTER ROADTRIP

My favourite way of crossing to Europe has always been Harwich to Hoek; for our Crafter roadtrip we chose the night sailing so got to the port at 8.30pm, were loaded an hour later and were ready to set sail at 23:00. We checked out the restaurant just to get a drink but before we knew it we were ordering fish and chips followed by Dutch apple pie which was delicious. Well, we were on holiday after all! After disembarking the next morning we headed inland towards Gouda. Staying off the motorway gives you the chance to explore so we decided to meander our way to Rotterdam with its many bridges and waterways. It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit. The Netherlands has some great little picnic spots once…

CRAFTER ROADTRIP

JUNE 6th – 9thALIVE & V-DUBBINHaughley Park, SuffolkAliveandvdubbin.co.uk 7th – 9thBRISTOL VOLKFESTBirches Farm, Bristol, BS48 3RN www.bristolvolksfest.co.uk 8th – 9thPLAYERS CLASSICGoodwood Motor Circuit players-show.com 9thCAMPERS & COFFEEHellngly, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 4DScampersandcoffee.co.uk 21st – 23rdVANLIFE FESTScampston Hall, Malton, North Yorks YO17 8NGvanlifefest.co.uk 22ndDRIVE YOUR VW TO WORK DAY 28th – 30thEUROPEAN BUG INChimay, BelgiumEuropeanbugin.com JULY 5th – 7thVANS IN THE VALLEYGrinton, Richmond, N YorksVansinthevalley.com 12th – 14thBUS & BUGFESTKilbeggan, Co Westmeath, IrelandClassicvolks.com 12th – 14thDORSET VOLKSFESTWareham, DorsetDorsetvolkfest.co.uk 12th – 14thVOLKS WEALDPenshurst Place, PenshurstVolksweald.co.uk 18th – 21stDUBS AT THE CASTLECaldicot Castle, MonmouthshireTicketorders.simpletix.com 19th – 21stBUSSFEST 2024Topcamp Onsakervika, Oslo, NorwayNt2k.org 25th – 28thDUBBED OUT FESTIVALThe Royal CheshireShowgroundDubbedoutfestival.co.uk GET ADDED Got a meet or event that should be in here? Drop us an email to ian.cushway@kelsey.co.uk*Please note dates and venues are subject to…

Your world, your life... YOUR VANS

WAYNE THOMAS, 2016 T32 T6 Hi VWt, I am Wayne, I am 50 and work for Taylored Campervan Conversions in Barnstaple, Devon as a campervan technician. I’ve always had a love for VW campervans since I purchased my first Bay Window when I was 18. My passion for VW buses also comes from my love of the ocean and wanting to learn to surf, which I haven’t done yet although it remains one of my life-long ambitions! I moved from the Midlands with my wife and two teenage daughters to the North Devon coast 15 years ago and we have never looked back. We now have grandchildren born in this beautiful place, they all have a love for the outdoors and spending time at the beach. I’ve also managed to…

Your world, your life... YOUR VANS

WE WANT YOUR TRANSPORTER!

Own a super-tasty Transporter, Crafter or Multivan and want it featured in these very pages? Then show us what you’ve got! Please e-mail a good selection of images that show the exterior and interior of your van to ian.cushway@kelsey.co.uk along with a spec list and add the subject title ‘Feature me VWt’. If we like what we see, we’ll get back to you ASAP about the possibility of a full VWt magazine feature shoot. So, what are you waiting for? Get snapping and show us your van, we’d love to see it!…

WE WANT YOUR TRANSPORTER!

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