Posts
The van is an ex-demonstrator from Heritage VW in Bristol and it is a natural for conversion. It is loaded with all sorts of extras, DSG gearbox, comfort pack, load deck floor, satnav, multicomputers, trick mirrors, colour coded bumpers and mirrors, and the 140hp 2 l diesel. The 180 hp (Sportline type) motor is group 15 insurance! This motor slips right down the ratings but still goes well and cruises all day at 160KPH where permitted. It even has fancy 'see round corner' lights that are fascinating in the dark!
And parking sensors! cor!
First, the bulkhead has to go.
This is how VW supply vans
So the pop-top has to be added. To stand up inside means you are out of the ghastly rain and wind when pulling on your trolleys.
The MAD Workshop in Bristol fitted this and they do a good job. Expensive but worth it.
Part of the concept is to have individual front seats that swivel. So the twin passenger seats go.
Sportscraft are the best swivel bases, so in they go. They don't rattle.
The concept is to be able to swivel the front seats and create a lounge when stationary.
Of course when motoring there are 2 captain's luxury seats for serious touring.
The van interior is replaced with insulation and cloth facings. The rear seat folds down into a smart bed.
Furniture, leisure battery, mains hook up and fridge are fitted.
Believe me you do not need a sink and electric pump for water and drainage.
But if you have a warrantee problem take it back to the main dealer. Here we are at Heritage Bristol fixing a problem that could be serious. But I will wait and see how things go. The guys and gals at Heritage Bristol are great and intrigued by what this old codger is doing with their ex-demonstrator.
What they don't know is that I am an ex-General Motors vehicle designer and have been involved with the design, development and support of many types of commercial vehicle, going back to the good old Bedford CA van! Ha, how many campervans did they make on the old CA van chassis. The Bedford plant at Dunstable used to be the largest commercial vehicle factory in Europe until, ho-hum, our politicians, unions and management decided to fight to the death over British Industry.
Step inside. There is more room than might be expected.
Have a beer from the fridge. Yes its a Waeco drawer fridge, and it works, not like many of the cupboard variety....
The bed pulls out on sliders. Smart beds in Wrington made it specially.
Nice one Martin!
Table deployed.
Front lounge. Nice curtains, Rezza.
If it is really necessary a cooker can be fixed to the furniture, but believe me all you will do is boil a kettle or in extremes heat a pan of tinned stew.
Neat and tidy, ready for business/
Yeah, look at the Reimo Multirail, VW bike rack, door window deflectors, mudguards and the sliding window that does not leak.
With the bling grill, sidebars and yet to be added door handles the rig is ready for Europe.
I call the bonnet bra the 'Wonderbra'....just enough to do the business, plenty of interesting stuff over the top!
But I do not believe in 'slamming' and I will only fit big wheels for show back in the UK. The tyres currently fitted are £50 a pop and do very nicely thank you. A set of 270x40x20 Jade Rs are something else...and I am not sure the puncture repair guy in Split would have spares when push comes to shove.
The stylists who 'slam' their vans and reduce the ride height and ground clearance really defy the laws of Physics. When I was a young suspension engineer we used to admire the French who designed loads of suspension movement into their vehicles and got a smooth ride (Renault 4, Citroen CV). So to deliberately cut the suspension from what it does seems to promote style over function and that is not in my nature.
Anyway, next stop Belgium, heading for the Mosel, the Romantica Strasse, Julian Alps in Slovenia, the Dalmation Coast and Dubrovnik.
1 comment:
nice pics in the sun at priddy, shame the bar staff in the new inn weren't as nice!
Post a Comment