Lee C
Well-known member
The time has come, after 3 fun years and several thousand trouble free miles, for us to part company with ‘Blue’ our 1976 VW Danbury Campervan. A sad time, as she has become ‘one of the family’ but, change is good, so we’ve decided to let her go and make new memories in the next chapter of her life. So here we go....
Blue is a VW Danbury Campervan Deluxe. Built in Dec 1976, as a RHD 2.0ltr twin carb deluxe micro bus, she was delivered to Danbury motor caravans of Chelmsford Essex. She was then converted to a 4 berth ‘pop top’ camper van.
Her original Danbury interior is still intact and in fab condition. Right down to the original cooker with instructions and plug for the sink. Even the cork bung for the drainage hole in the floor is still there!
The Danbury conversion consists of 2 small hammocks in the roof, suitable for 2 children. These are the original tartan fabric and in unused condition. Whilst ‘downstairs’ there are 4/5 seats, which can be arranged in a few different ways to accommodate many passengers, as well as being arranged as a ‘dining area’ around the original Danbury table. These seats then come together to form a generous comfortable double bed. Storage space can be found in the bases of all of the seats, one of which houses the cooker and gas bottle. The sink is removable to allow extra sleeping space, and to allow the use of the sink outside the camper (i.e. in an awning)
The seat covers, lino and curtains have been replaced. We tried to stay as close to the original colours/patterns as possible. The finished interior complementing the van’s exterior perfectly.
The first and only owner on the log book, before our buying her, was a Mr T H Carr.
Mr Carr (Henry) purchased Blue in Peterborough 9th March 1977. Henry was aged 77 at the time! He took great pride in maintaining Blue, having her regularly serviced at a local VW dealership, as her service history record shows. Then when he moved to a nursing home in Co Durham in 1994, he insisted that his beloved campervan went with him. He continued to have her serviced and repaired when required by Microblast in Newcastle, keeping any receipts and invoices. He also kept her tax discs, a few of which, we still have. We also have: the genuine Danbury Campervan brochure complete with operating instructions, VW instruction manual, VW service record, the old style pink V5, an authorised dealers booklet from October 1976, the original instructions for the Sharp radio cassette player, a camping and caravan site guide from 1978 and finally, various camper magazines from the early 70s.
Sadly, in 1997 Mr Carr passed away, aged 97.
Blue was bought by DJ VW shop in Tanfield, looking rather worse for wear. A back burner resto project started, and 10 years later we bought her as an unfinished project. During this time, the list of new panels include: front panel, O/S front wheel arch, N/S rear wheel arch and new sills.
When we bought Blue in 2007, we welded in 1 small section of the O/S front cab door bottom and also a few small patches in the floor. We then purchased a few lists worth of parts: including, all new brakes, heat exchangers, exhaust, service parts etc... keeping all receipts. We also set about the task of respraying her in original colours of L90D Pastel White and L57H Oceanic Blue. (hence her name)
We then spent the next 3 years having many an adventure with Blue.....LITERALLY living in her for a week, after giving up our house, to be told our new house was not ready, so off to Scotland we went, parking ‘home’ on the banks of Loch Lomond. Returning after a 365 mile round trip, to then move our belongings IN BLUE into our new house. Since then our trips have included locations such as Edinburgh, Biggar, Newcastle racecourse, Whitby, Redcar, Yorkshire, Malvern, Esher, New Forest and various V Dub meets from Leeds to Vanfest and many quaint little locations in between. In the last year we have used Blue to tow our 1979 Rapido folding caravan, allowing us to enter her in Show n Shine displays, for which she recently won an award.
Blue has attended a couple of family weddings, including our own where she ‘completed the picture’. She is a real gem, her age shown by a few rust bubbles on the cab steps and a couple of dents on the corners. Her only real hiccup to date was when she once decided not to start, which replacing the starter motor cured.
Blue has 11 months MOT and will come with 6 months tax.
She has given us many happy memories which we will treasure for years to come. She will be missed, but we rest in the knowledge that she will create many more.
Please get in touch if you have any questions about Blue. It means a lot that our girl goes to a good home, so serious enquiries only please.
I’ve been advised by my local VW shop and a handful of contacts on the VW scene that everything considered, she will make a family very happy for only £10,995 OIRO
Contact Lee on 07905523742 or email [email protected]
Here's the link to an album of pics:
http://s487.photobucket.com/albums/rr240/LeeCrammon/Blue-1976%20VW%20Danbury%20Camper/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
