RUSTYLEE
Well-known member
Ok after much thought and head scratching I have decided to sell my 1968 Dormobile camper, she was first registered on 11/03/1968 so is quite an early model and has only had 6 previous owners. I purchased her on 30/04/2006 and have had many trips down to Devon and Cornwall from Leicester with no problems at all, it never missed a beat. Used to be a daily runner but since getting a new job further from home it became a bit costly to run every day and became a weekender and holiday van.
Now for the boring list of things done/ fitted since I have owned the van. I do have all receipts for parts and work carried out-
- Reconditioned imported (USA) front beam fitted with height adjusters
- New track rods, drag link, steering damper, ball joints
- Reconditioned steering box (megabug)
- New braking system including master cylinder, drums, shoes, pipes, flexy pipes, cylinders
- New rear adjustable spring plates (creative engineering)
- New wheel bearings, oil seals
- New exhaust rear box, tail pipe and fitting kit
- New carburetor
- New tappets, rocker covers
- New ignition coil (bosch), leads (bosch), plugs (bosch)
- New battery (bosch)
- New alternator conversion including stand, tin wear strap and belt
- Aluminium side step fitted
- Front mesh visor fitted
- Aluminium cab door shades/ visors
- Rear roof rack with 1960’s lucas lamp used as reversing light integrated
- New roof bellows (camper shop)
- New clutch kit fitted
- Woodrim/ chrome steering wheel and matching window winders (flat4)
- Used front cream leather seats taken from a rover
- Temperature sensor and gauge fitted (vdo)
- Clock fitted (vdo)
- Large rev counter fitted on top of dash
- New shock absorbers front and rear
- 2x 3 point seat belts and 1x lap belt fitted in rear of van (C&C)
- Rear seat belt anchor points replaced and strengthened
- New full width rock n roll bed trimmed in green and cream (KW conversions)
- New cab carpet in oatmeal
- New floor laid in rear with cream and tan chequered tiles also matching in walkthrough area
- New complete set of curtains
- Electric hook up fitted with power breaker sockets X2
- All wires under dash tidied or replaced and made safe
- Side and rear jail bars fitted
- Fuel cut off valve fitted
- Battery cut off switch fitted
- Replaced pancake air filter with original stock air system
- New front headlights (bosch)
- New rear lights
- New fuel pump
- New top quality door mirrors fitted
- Amber front fog light fitted
- 3x raydyot adjustable spot lights fitted to front
All of these items were fitted or replaced just for peace of mind or just because I wanted too. It has been maintained by Carl at Pirate VW in Loughborough and Simon at Absolute VW in Donnington. The van has never broken down I am a believer in†new is better than old†rather than “if it’s not broke don’t fix itâ€. I was told that the engine which is the original block was reconditioned when in the hands of the previous owner, it never misses a beat and has never failed so I have no reason to doubt this.
As most vans of this age it is not perfect and there are still a few things that would need doing in time although it is ready to use as is.
- When we had the rear rock n roll bed fitted and flooring we didn’t get round to putting nice covered panels to match in, although I have a full panel set ready to be covered and fitted.
- When the engine was last taken out for the alternator conversion one of the exhaust clips moved and now the exhaust blows slightly and there is sometimes a rattle. This is an easy fix but never got round to sorting it….
- There is something electrical slowly draining the battery. Everything works electrically, this problem came when I had the steering box fitted which is strange as there is no electrical components on it…… maybe a dodgy earth…. I have had a battery cut off switch fitted which solves the problem and also acts as an immobiliser.
- I had 2x window seals replaced due to small leaks but didn’t get around to doing the rest, again I have the seals to do this and they will need doing in time but no leaks at the mo.
- Both bottom rear corners could do with replacing if a respray in carried out. The paint is not concours but as visible on the pics comes up really well with a polish I kind of like it not perfect but each to their own….. It’s not really a ratty van, too good for that category in my eyes.
- The rear engine lid/ cover maybe too badly corroded to be repaired along the bottom but I have a rust free imported replacement that just needs painting and fitting.
With a bit of time and patience this will be a sound van, all the inner panels are waxoiled and underneath is really solid. There are no major rust issues. I have tried to be as honest as possible as I know there are a lot of rot boxes out there, and we looked at loads before finding this little gem. After looking around at what these vans are selling for I am none the wiser as they vary so much. So I am going to say first offer over £7000 buys the van. I am in no major rush to sell it but it would be nice to have my driveway back…..I have most parts that have been replaced in the garage and if I get a good price then I will throw in a lot of camping goodies too, awnings etc Please ring me with any questions MATT- 01455289171 / 07971956960 MOT until middle of june, taxed till may but that’s free any way so no worries.
Cant post any pictures through early bay for some reason so email me and ill send them direct, it says no pics bigger than 256KB and all the ones i have are well over this size...... [email protected]. Sorry about this ill look into it.......
just to add as i cant sort out the pictures yet the van is lotus white over java green, i have been told this is a one year only colour.....
Now for the boring list of things done/ fitted since I have owned the van. I do have all receipts for parts and work carried out-
- Reconditioned imported (USA) front beam fitted with height adjusters
- New track rods, drag link, steering damper, ball joints
- Reconditioned steering box (megabug)
- New braking system including master cylinder, drums, shoes, pipes, flexy pipes, cylinders
- New rear adjustable spring plates (creative engineering)
- New wheel bearings, oil seals
- New exhaust rear box, tail pipe and fitting kit
- New carburetor
- New tappets, rocker covers
- New ignition coil (bosch), leads (bosch), plugs (bosch)
- New battery (bosch)
- New alternator conversion including stand, tin wear strap and belt
- Aluminium side step fitted
- Front mesh visor fitted
- Aluminium cab door shades/ visors
- Rear roof rack with 1960’s lucas lamp used as reversing light integrated
- New roof bellows (camper shop)
- New clutch kit fitted
- Woodrim/ chrome steering wheel and matching window winders (flat4)
- Used front cream leather seats taken from a rover
- Temperature sensor and gauge fitted (vdo)
- Clock fitted (vdo)
- Large rev counter fitted on top of dash
- New shock absorbers front and rear
- 2x 3 point seat belts and 1x lap belt fitted in rear of van (C&C)
- Rear seat belt anchor points replaced and strengthened
- New full width rock n roll bed trimmed in green and cream (KW conversions)
- New cab carpet in oatmeal
- New floor laid in rear with cream and tan chequered tiles also matching in walkthrough area
- New complete set of curtains
- Electric hook up fitted with power breaker sockets X2
- All wires under dash tidied or replaced and made safe
- Side and rear jail bars fitted
- Fuel cut off valve fitted
- Battery cut off switch fitted
- Replaced pancake air filter with original stock air system
- New front headlights (bosch)
- New rear lights
- New fuel pump
- New top quality door mirrors fitted
- Amber front fog light fitted
- 3x raydyot adjustable spot lights fitted to front
All of these items were fitted or replaced just for peace of mind or just because I wanted too. It has been maintained by Carl at Pirate VW in Loughborough and Simon at Absolute VW in Donnington. The van has never broken down I am a believer in†new is better than old†rather than “if it’s not broke don’t fix itâ€. I was told that the engine which is the original block was reconditioned when in the hands of the previous owner, it never misses a beat and has never failed so I have no reason to doubt this.
As most vans of this age it is not perfect and there are still a few things that would need doing in time although it is ready to use as is.
- When we had the rear rock n roll bed fitted and flooring we didn’t get round to putting nice covered panels to match in, although I have a full panel set ready to be covered and fitted.
- When the engine was last taken out for the alternator conversion one of the exhaust clips moved and now the exhaust blows slightly and there is sometimes a rattle. This is an easy fix but never got round to sorting it….
- There is something electrical slowly draining the battery. Everything works electrically, this problem came when I had the steering box fitted which is strange as there is no electrical components on it…… maybe a dodgy earth…. I have had a battery cut off switch fitted which solves the problem and also acts as an immobiliser.
- I had 2x window seals replaced due to small leaks but didn’t get around to doing the rest, again I have the seals to do this and they will need doing in time but no leaks at the mo.
- Both bottom rear corners could do with replacing if a respray in carried out. The paint is not concours but as visible on the pics comes up really well with a polish I kind of like it not perfect but each to their own….. It’s not really a ratty van, too good for that category in my eyes.
- The rear engine lid/ cover maybe too badly corroded to be repaired along the bottom but I have a rust free imported replacement that just needs painting and fitting.
With a bit of time and patience this will be a sound van, all the inner panels are waxoiled and underneath is really solid. There are no major rust issues. I have tried to be as honest as possible as I know there are a lot of rot boxes out there, and we looked at loads before finding this little gem. After looking around at what these vans are selling for I am none the wiser as they vary so much. So I am going to say first offer over £7000 buys the van. I am in no major rush to sell it but it would be nice to have my driveway back…..I have most parts that have been replaced in the garage and if I get a good price then I will throw in a lot of camping goodies too, awnings etc Please ring me with any questions MATT- 01455289171 / 07971956960 MOT until middle of june, taxed till may but that’s free any way so no worries.
Cant post any pictures through early bay for some reason so email me and ill send them direct, it says no pics bigger than 256KB and all the ones i have are well over this size...... [email protected]. Sorry about this ill look into it.......
just to add as i cant sort out the pictures yet the van is lotus white over java green, i have been told this is a one year only colour.....
