1972 Cross over Devon Resto

[Daryl1]

Hi everyone, I started a thread on Volkszone but figured it would be good to put a thread on here about our new bay.

Having owned a Beetle for years and always wanting a bay, i thought they were priced out of my reach until I spotted an unfinished and relatively complete project for sale at a reasonable price.
I took delivery of our new Bay on Saturday, a RHD '72 Devon cross over.

It needs a load of work and i'm currently working through what it needs, although i'm in no rush so will take my time and try and get the best results that i can.

Front arch cut out

Small areas of rot to cargo floor

Wheel tubs need repair on both sides

Rear arch cut out ready for new metalwork

Took the windows out and all the frames need repair, the windscreen is worst.

Cab floors have been patched in the past, although I'll most likely cut these out and tidy them up.

Similarly, the seat belt mounts have been plated a few times. I'll cut these out and replace with new.

Rear corner cut out.

Its had outriggers on one side and the other side needs doing, along with some chassis repairs too.

Progress may not be too pacey as i'll be mainly working on it in the evenings when the kids have gone to bed.

I've resto'd a bug before but never had a bay, so any advice is more than welcome!
I'm going to be spending a lot of time on here i think, there have been a few bodged repairs on the van over the years and so i'll be needing some advice on certain things where traditional reference points have been lost etc.
Thanks for looking.
Daryl

 

[KevH]

Welcome to the forum Daryl, it is always good to see new buses getting attention, and you will find no shortage of advice here. Not from me, I hasten to add, I am a total numpty, but I am learning too.

 

[Daryl1]

Thanks
I searched DVLA and it appears this bus has been tucked away off the road since 2006 or so.
The resto has been started but there's some dubious overplating which i'll be deconstructing and looking at.
Its a bit of a learning process as although i did my beetle, my dad did most of the welding. I'm on my own with this one!

 

[Daryl1]

On Wednesday, once the kids were in bed i figured it was a nice evening so i wheeled the van out to do a bit more of the strip down.
Took the dash out to have a look at how bad the rot is around the windscreen.
I'm going to have to replace the inner scuttle was well as the outer.

If you're reading Mr Joseph McQuade, the good news is i found your Access credit card wedged in the dash vents, the bad news is it expired in September '81 so you might need to think about getting a new one

I also had a poke around underneath, the cab floors have been patched in the past, but the nastiness is still in place below

I've run out of welding gas at the moment, but hoping to start letting in some new steel in the next couple of weeks or so.

 

[68_early_bay]

Hi and welcome looks like you've got plenty of work to get on with


(and you can change your profile your not bay less anymore )

 

[Gwar72]

Welcome fellow Devon '72..!!

Look forward to watching your resto thread..!! Keep the pic's coming..!! 8)