1970 Panel van - How to find & add windows

[orr_niall]

Hi, I am toying with the idea of converting my 1970 LHD panel van adding 2 sets of rear and side windows to each side.
I have read a few threads and trawled google and YouTube but thought I would ask the people in the know.
Where do I start? Purchasing correct glass, seals, dimensions for the cuts etc etc.
I went to a local window fitting company and they won’t touch it, too fearful of being a few mm out and the seals not being water tight. Only option is to consider doing it myself and if the pro’s are dubious I want to know if it is possible and if it is worth it.
The van is an old west German fire engine, I don’t know if doing this will take away its character and devalue for the enthusiast if I do come to sell in years to come.
Any help and advise if much appreciated


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[K@rlos]

Don’t do it. Panels are getting rare now and they don’t look as good when converted as the windows will be flush fitting and not recessed like a regular bus. Personally I’d sell it and get an actual window type 2.

Just my opinion however, it is your bus after all

 

[holeydub]

Your best bet would be to sell it mate and buy yourself a microbus or westy etc and enjoy factory glass...

I would say it'd most definitely loose some value and narrow down potential buyers if you ever wanted to sell it on

 

[orr_niall]

Thanks for the thoughts. I am unlikely to ever sell as been in the family since 2003 and passed on to me only last year. I am trying to keep it as standard as possible. Might just keep it as it is, focus on what else needs done to get it back to 100% condition. As you say very rarely see any panel vans on the road these days. With kids however side windows would be nice.


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[ozziedog]

As above ^^^ really, most peeps aren’t keen on a converted panel van even though there were quite a few done by various converters back in the day. If you run it as it is and go to a few shows with it, then have a look around and see for yourself what they look like especially when stood next to a genuine panel and or a genuine factory windowed bus. I have a converted panel van but I took the sides out of a factory bus and fitted them with the genuine windows. I got a piccy somewhere of me at a show with one side of each.

Ozziedog,,,,,, But that’s just opinions though :mrgreen:

 

[vwcanuck]

Please keep your panel as is. As K@rlos said, panels are rare. I'm not a purist, but adding windows to a panel is the worst mod IMO. After having a 68 panel for over 6 years, I haven't seen another earlybay one on the road ... not one, and every other bus owner that I have met commented that they have never seen an earlybay panel.