Once the inner structure is sorted and solid, it is time to put on the outer sill replacement panel. First job is to get












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Time to buckle up…
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2,300+ mile Outer Hebrides road trip
Adventures on Harris and Lewis
In what seems an on-going quest to hunt down even the smallest areas of rust that need sorting, another small area is found hiding
Another small section of a closing panel needed some attention, so the rust affected area was neatly cut back to solid OG metal and
The rear wheel arch/closing panel was looking a bit thin/perforated so would need sorting out. First step was to cut out the affected area
As part of the bare metaling process of the VW Early Bay Westafalia Camper some , how should I put this, ‘interesting’ previous repairs
OK, having finished the corner section, time to continue with the rest of the lower window frame. Each small step taken is another on
‘the longest journey begins with a single step’ (Attributed to Lao-tzu (c 604-c 531 BC), founder of Taoism) Sometimes you need to keep this at
Working up from the drivers side short sill at the back, the rear window area had been bodged, this was apparent even before we
Little things The guys at Southern Kombi Parts certainly have an eye for detail! Another small area in an otherwise good solid, OG panel
OK renovation fans, time to get some more solid metal back into place! Having cut back the rust affected areas in the middle window
Onto the rear corner of the middle window, when the glass was removed, the inner recess of the frame area had some perforations and
The short outer sill at the back (drivers side) was a bit thin/perforated in places, so needed replacing. Once the damaged are was removed,
They’re not the best equipped, the fastest or the most comfortable campers out there. They’re quirky to drive and the technology is dated and sometimes a challenge to use. An odd choice for my classic camper van then!

To me, none of this really matters though. It has its own unique character and story. Without doubt, it’s my fave vehicle ever! People wave at you whilst you’re driving around. You stop places and have complete strangers come up and start conversations with you about it. So many stories, from so many different people. It does way more than merely just get you from A to B.
Yes it’s cool. No I’m not going to paint it!
This is a standard reply to one of my most commonly asked questions. The bus was made in Germany in 1963/1964. It is still mostly original and solid in all the right places! Sure, the paint is faded and worn through in areas. That’s to be expected after all these years. Especially if you spent most of those early years in sunny California. You only get original once, and this bus shows its age with pride!
Keep up with the latest adventures…
Road trips around the UK and Europe, car shows, special events and just keeping everything working as it should be. There’s a bit of something for everyone to enjoy…
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