first and the last MOT for a little while? With all the forthcoming changes to the UK MOT system in relation to how some vehicles over 40 years old (on a rolling basis) could now be made exempt from MOT testing from 20 May 2018. However, typically my MOT expired on the day before the Ben Pon … Read more
Change happens Funny how sometimes you can look back on a year and think you’ve not done a lot. As 2016 morphed into 2017, I was beginning to think exactly that. It was only when I started to put a small nine (3×3) image montage together for my Instagram #topnine2016 post that I realised this was not … Read more
Paint preparation OK, so with the bus roof gutters cleaned right back to bare metal to remove any rust, it was now time to treat the metal that had been affected by rust with some Granville rust cure, prior to getting them painted in grey primer. Seeing the gutters all cleaned up and in primer is … Read more
Rust or patina? Know thy enemy, and for most people who own vintage VW’s (or for that matter, any other classic car) rust can be public enemy Nº 1, well I say for most, but there are some who it might be more a lifestyle choice! War on rust Whilst doing some more research on … Read more
Looking a little worse Working under the bus, I was admiring just how solid the original metal was, and what amazing condition the original paint was like in the wheel arches. Things could have been a whole lot worse when you start cleaning and stripping things back. However, one of the guys at Resto Classics … Read more
Work progress Whilst I was out having fun and enjoying seeing all the different buses on display at the SSVC organised Brighton Breeze event, it was good to know that my bus was in good hands with the guys at Resto Classics who were busy making a start on getting the underneath cleaned up and trial … Read more
This year as I was wandering around admiring the various vintage buses on display at Brighton Breeze, I was struck by the number of different roof top conversions there were. Having the ability to stand up and move around inside, or having additional sleeping or storage space would be a real asset, plus depending upon the type … Read more
Project winterisation begins Unfortunately, it’s time to take the bus off the road briefly and get the underside cleaned up and protected against the UK weather. Along with the future protection of the bus, I was going to use this opportunity to upgrade the front braking and steering system. My order of the Epoxy mastic … Read more
For me, you can’t really beat the look of a genuine age faded, battered, original paint ‘survivor’ bus! 🙂 Mine had the original paint combination of L472 (Beige Grey) over the bottom half of L53 (Sealing Wax Red) and I just loved its Californian aged look of authenticity, it makes me smile every time I see it! 🙂 It’s interesting seeing the faded and … Read more
Original underneath Underneath the key structure of the bus is amazingly clean and solid (one of the primary reasons I bought it in the first place!), so this will be the first thing I want to make sure is preserved and protected. Protection from the elements Living on the south coast of the UK is … Read more
Pop-out windows Whilst the bus was getting the broken clutch cable replaced, the guys at Resto Classics very kindly let me use some covered space to tackle a couple more outstanding jobs I had to do. With their previous help, I had managed to replace the front windscreen rubbers, rear tailgate window rubber, both sets of … Read more
Hidden away One of the worries I had when contemplating getting new window rubbers fitted, was what unexpected surprises might be hiding underneath the old perished rubbers? That plus the quintessentially rainy English winter weather! I really did not fancy getting stuck outside with the glass out and the rain pouring in! So it really … Read more