1965 VW Splitscreen Campervan

Just watch & learn (not that I need to teach you anything at all) but you can never have enough projects 

Wow I cant imagine how you can make one of these even slower! Looking forward to the updates

2 projects! will be watching with interest!

Err and the rest... 

I really must update the other threads as things have been happening on those as well despite mild distractions of work and trying to move house. One day I'll learn... maybe.

No mucking about with this one now is there!

Some of the new vans are incredible on fuel. However the amount of electronic gubbins that need to be replaced to get a dashboard light to stay off are horrific. ( One of Fords offerings,35k miles....£3500 in sensors to pass a MOT).. Definitely a case of hire a van when needed, and let somebody else have the pleasure of paying for it when it goes wrong....😊

looks pretty sound around the roof? if there wasn't something original left it would be like knitting fog!

It's been a while and the camper has been patiently waiting it's spot in the limelight, however a couple of weeks back a text arrived... time to book a day off work 

Last week therefore saw some much awaited logistics on the VW bus front and its liberation from the barn where it's been stored since last October. The minor issue, we'd moved 150 miles away in the meantime!

So last Wednesday after work I pulled the trailer out and hooked it onto the discovery ready for the journey south and a night back in my old childhood bedroom (awww), alas on hooking the trailer up I had an issue - no side lights... and those that did work, such as the indicators, worked in places they really shouldn't have... hmmm 

Casting my mind back I remembered it was 'borrowed' by someone with a much more modern vehicle (one fitted with a 13 pin plug) and so I suspect some re-wiring was carried out unbeknown to me, there were also some 'modifications' made to a couple of the rear lenses. So much for a simple hook up and go! Time for some fault tracing and repair, luckily I keep spares handy.



Thanks to my multimeter dying right at the opportune time it was a game of 'attach and see' which eventually ended up with the right result, although I still didn't have side lights on the N/S, as it was getting late that was going to have to be a job for another time, the O/S with passing traffic is normally more important so I could live with it as it was. So a bit later than planned it was time to hit the road


Luckily for me it was a lovely summer's evening and perfect for a drive, must confess I rather enjoyed it, and as I neared my destination the moon even came up to light the last leg (many, many bugs were harmed that eve!)


After working from a new location on Thursday (this new remote working has its advantages), I headed over to the barn to load the camper where it was previously kept company by these two


before heading back to extract the aforementioned spare parts and panels that had been squirreled away in wardrobes and under beds ready for an early start the next morning


Thankfully the early start meant that the M25 was kind and I was soon at my first stop at Beaconsfield to load up on breakfast and LPG... except they've done away with the latter so it was going to be a trip on the more expensive fuel instead. It later turned out that nowhere near Birmingham had any either due to a shortage of lorry drivers at the mo (who knew) so Shell's finest was the only option.


After some good fun on the roads between the M42 and on my way to Bridgnorth I finally arrived at mpr 's (Midland Performance and Retro) just before 10 and unloaded the van, where it joined a younger sibling as well as Jonny Smith's Allegro project and numerous others that the guys have there - they work on some eclectic motors! 


Mike had previously got in touch when he heard of the ongoing saga about two years ago, but it then took me that long to extract it from the previous 'restorer', Mike and his team also came highly recommended by a certain chap with an affliction for Rover SD1s, the most famous being his police variant they painted for him. After previously being mucked about it was a no brainer once we'd had a chat and figured out that we had the same vision for the van, then it was simply a case of timing.

Anyway shell unloaded and parts sorted, it was time to head south once more as I had another shell to collect and a delivery to make the following day to a certain johnnybravo for a little challenge grumpynorthener has set him involving these, or more specifically parts of them


More on the camper as and when things develop

This weekend saw an early start and a trip over to Shropshire to deliver the next round of parts, fingers crossed we see the formation of a game plan and some tangible progress.

Speaking of which, despite leaving at 6am, being there by 9.40 (stopped for breakfast), a catch up then project tour, and then another 3hr trip back, we were home for lunch by 2, meaning further progress on the MG... but more on that over on that thread.

Sorry for lack of pics, few other clients' cars in and so always a little wary of sharing images, but there were some familiar motors including a small brown japanese pickup truck other members may be familiar with, a certain allegro of youtube channel fame as well as some other interesting bits of kit.

More soon (hopefully!)