Rich Oakley
Well-known member
I'm new here, so go easy on me! :lol: I've owned quite a few T2s over the past twelve years, but I do have a real soft-spot for early RHD, British Bays. I seem to have a knack for uncovering un-restored gems. Here's a few Danbury tales....
Early 2004, I spy an advert on the web for a 1972 Danbury Conversion. Advertised as 'original condition', I thought it had to be worth a look. I drove up from Brighton to Luton to see the bus. The owner had moved abroad, lost interest in the bus and left his family to sell it. My eyes almost started bleeding with excitement when I saw it. Totally original paint (except for the front panel), never welded and just 64000 miles from new. It was based on a Microbus. Although the original Danbury 'flek' pattern cushions had been recovered, the rest of the interior was near perfect, down to the original curtains and lino on the floor. I handed over the cash and trundled down the M1 back to Sussex. I think the van had had just three owners before me. It drove beautifully, although the oil warning light flickered on after a motorway journey. I got home, buffed up the paint, rebuilt the original engine, recovered the cushions and enjoyed its originality!
As found....
Chianti Red. Lovely!
We all love untouched bodywork...
Something wrong here, surely? No rust and original paint on a UK bus?
After a good old buffing, the paint came up a treat...
Interior...
Engine rebuild and spruce-up...
People will make my life difficult. I was really enjoying the '72 Danbury when I received a phonecall about a '71 Danbury in immaculate condition- would I be interested in viewing it? Usually, British vans described as 'immaculate' turn out to be real lemons, but I thought it would be worth a quick look. Jump in the car, drive from Brighton to Derby to check out the vehicle. On seeing this '71, my eyes actually started bleeding due to the excitement! Owned by the same old chap from new, the Kombi-based van was getting too heavy for him to drive so he purchased a Ford Fiesta. The camping interior had never been used, so was effectively NOS!! To say that this unrestored bus had been well looked after would be an understatement. I couldn't pick a fault with its condition. Needless to say, I brought this one home.
The original owner and his wife on the day I collected it...
Back at home with it's slightly younger brother...
"NOS" interior...
Original engine. Still perfect in every way after 102,000 miles...
Where do you go from there?? Well, the Red Danbury was sold soon after to a family in Eastbourne and about eighteen months later, the Blue Danbury went to make was for some other VWs (original paint 1957 RHD camper-nice, but not a Bay).
I was out of Danbury ownership until last Summer (2007). A van popped up in Reading with 120,000 miles on the clock from new, mostly original paint, unrestored, original interior etc. I occasionally work in Reading, so I thought it would be rude not to take a peek. It came home with me.
Not as perfect as the other two, but just as original. This '72 Microbus Danbury had been in the hands of a few, select owners- mostly family members of the guy I bought the van from. It had never been welded, but needed a windscreen surround repair and sliding door bottom repair- these have now been done. It aint perfect, but it's 100% Danbury! It will be heading off to a new home soon as I've found something VERY special. I'm sure the new owner (who is a true Danbury fan!) will keep you in the picture!
That's all for now folks! Maybe I'll cover my RHD Westfalia early Bay stories one day. :wink:
Early 2004, I spy an advert on the web for a 1972 Danbury Conversion. Advertised as 'original condition', I thought it had to be worth a look. I drove up from Brighton to Luton to see the bus. The owner had moved abroad, lost interest in the bus and left his family to sell it. My eyes almost started bleeding with excitement when I saw it. Totally original paint (except for the front panel), never welded and just 64000 miles from new. It was based on a Microbus. Although the original Danbury 'flek' pattern cushions had been recovered, the rest of the interior was near perfect, down to the original curtains and lino on the floor. I handed over the cash and trundled down the M1 back to Sussex. I think the van had had just three owners before me. It drove beautifully, although the oil warning light flickered on after a motorway journey. I got home, buffed up the paint, rebuilt the original engine, recovered the cushions and enjoyed its originality!
As found....
Chianti Red. Lovely!
We all love untouched bodywork...
Something wrong here, surely? No rust and original paint on a UK bus?
After a good old buffing, the paint came up a treat...
Interior...
Engine rebuild and spruce-up...
People will make my life difficult. I was really enjoying the '72 Danbury when I received a phonecall about a '71 Danbury in immaculate condition- would I be interested in viewing it? Usually, British vans described as 'immaculate' turn out to be real lemons, but I thought it would be worth a quick look. Jump in the car, drive from Brighton to Derby to check out the vehicle. On seeing this '71, my eyes actually started bleeding due to the excitement! Owned by the same old chap from new, the Kombi-based van was getting too heavy for him to drive so he purchased a Ford Fiesta. The camping interior had never been used, so was effectively NOS!! To say that this unrestored bus had been well looked after would be an understatement. I couldn't pick a fault with its condition. Needless to say, I brought this one home.
The original owner and his wife on the day I collected it...
Back at home with it's slightly younger brother...
"NOS" interior...
Original engine. Still perfect in every way after 102,000 miles...
Where do you go from there?? Well, the Red Danbury was sold soon after to a family in Eastbourne and about eighteen months later, the Blue Danbury went to make was for some other VWs (original paint 1957 RHD camper-nice, but not a Bay).
I was out of Danbury ownership until last Summer (2007). A van popped up in Reading with 120,000 miles on the clock from new, mostly original paint, unrestored, original interior etc. I occasionally work in Reading, so I thought it would be rude not to take a peek. It came home with me.
Not as perfect as the other two, but just as original. This '72 Microbus Danbury had been in the hands of a few, select owners- mostly family members of the guy I bought the van from. It had never been welded, but needed a windscreen surround repair and sliding door bottom repair- these have now been done. It aint perfect, but it's 100% Danbury! It will be heading off to a new home soon as I've found something VERY special. I'm sure the new owner (who is a true Danbury fan!) will keep you in the picture!
That's all for now folks! Maybe I'll cover my RHD Westfalia early Bay stories one day. :wink:
