Devon Moonraker Kombi With Double slider, who knows more ...

[GeoffP]

Hi Everyone,
I just purchased a LHD 1971 Double slider Kombi that was converted from new by Devon as a Moon raker. I'll post a few pic's later tomorrow.
I'm interested to know how many were made with the Double sliders. I've heard of a few but mostly later and yes this is a walk thru Kombi not a panel with windows
added.
The interior is somewhat there with pop top, cots, swing out cooking stove,table top that slides into the channel on the fender, Water jug cabinet and some various other cabinets (all rough shape)
I think I may go to a stock passenger bus setup and replace the interior, how desirable are these conversions?

And yes this was the one on the samba for a while ;-)

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds an unusual spec -not sure how many LHD's Devon converted being an English company, and double slider too -look forward to pics ...

 

[Danbury Doug]

I know of a few LHD Devons (certainly I've seen some late bay ones at least) but not a twin slider one.
Sounds like it was maybe a special order one?

I recall (If my memory serves me correctly) that Dormobile used to convert twin slider early bays for use as minibuses.

I also look forward to seeing pics of your Devon! 8)

 

[Guest]

Hi Geoff,

im a big devon fan. i can honestly say ive never seen an early twin slider moonraker :shock:

im interested to see how they tackled the table fixing and buddy seat?

start a thread in the gallery

 

[Clem]

I used to own a late bay double slider (ex panel) that had been through Devon from new, not as a moonraker though, I think they must have done some minibuses?

This van sounds very rare though!

 

[Danbury Doug]

I used to own a late bay double slider (ex panel) that had been through Devon from new, not as a moonraker though, I think they must have done some minibuses?

Very likely. Danbury were at it too, also converting late double slider panels into minibuses.

 

[GeoffP]

Alright here's some pic's and info.

This is it as I went to look at it in Washington state, From what I can tell it's been off the road since at least 2006 as that's when it was given a salvage title.

The guy I bought it from ran a VW repair shop and when he purchased it the Van had a Pinto 2.3L engine in it and a large scoop on the drivers side for air to the Radiator.

The interior is mostly there but like I mentioned before it's a little rough.

This morning I spent an hour and a half with a pressure washer getting the moss off.

The nose has been hit and has rust in the windsheild area but very fixable.
Here you can see the odd Miami Vice paint job it has...

The Van from what I can tell was originaly built for a US customer? The M codes show US spec options and it has many travel decals including California and Mexico (maybe thats where the "Vice" paint job was done)
I was thinking maybe someone ordered it for pickup in England then toured Europe and onto the USA?

Here's a few decals, anyone know the one on the right?

Here you can see the table mount on the fender

Here's the table and stove

The Jump seat

A bottle jack, a pc of wood and 5 min had the nose dent pushed out enought that it's not looking so sad.

The engine compartment needs some work as there was an inspection hole cut for the pinto engine conversion
That's it for now, Hmmm do I keep it a Devon or do the sunroof conversion that I always wanted?

 

[Guest]

interesting and bound to be quite rare. 8)

 

[GeoffP]

It also has the poles for the side tent but sadly no tent

M-Plate content
Model Type 2 (T2) mod. 231(0) :
- Kombi
- Sliding door right
- LHD
Chassis number 2312258400
Serial number 258 400
Modelyear 1971
Planned production date
Wednesday, 07 July 1971
Number for production planning
(temporary serial number) 7529
Type of engine Type 1 (AE) - 1584cc, 37 kw (50 bhp DIN)
Type of transmission Manual 4-speed gearbox
Paint color L90D - Pastel White

Interior color (doorpanels and seats) 51 - Dark Beige Leatherette

Destination England, Ramsgate




M-CODES

M-CODE Description Concerned models From chassis number To chassis number
520 With sliding door on left and right side 211-244

A02 Specifications for the USA
Collection of M-codes: M 020/026/089/102/206/506/511/524/525 (1971-1972) - 2x1 2 000 001 2x2 2 300 000
020 Speedometer and odometer in Miles 211-274

026 With activated carbon container for absorbing fuel vapour 211-274, California
2x2 2 300 000
026 With activated carbon container for absorbing fuel vapour 211-234, Japan
2x6 2 120 000
026 With activated carbon container for absorbing fuel vapour 211-234, Autralia
2x6 2 120 000
089 Laminated windscreen (1969-1979) - 2x9 000 001 2x9 2 300 000
102 Rear-window defogger 211-268

206 Inner rear-view mirror, anti-dazzle -
506 With brake servo and dual circuit brake warning light (LHD) 211-271

511 Padded instrument panel (LHD only) 211-271

524 Sealed beam headlamps, dual circuit brake control, back-up light and side marker reflectors (LHD) without emergency light system 211, USA, Canada
241, USA, Canada
265, USA, Canada
2x9 000 001 2x9 999 999
524 Sealed beam headlamps, dual circuit brake control, back-up light and side marker reflectors (LHD) with buzzer for ignition-starter switch 211, USA, Canada
241, USA, Canada
265, USA, Canada
2x0 2 000 001 2x2 2 000 000
524 Sealed beam headlamps, dual circuit brake control, back-up light and side marker reflectors (LHD) 211, USA, Canada
241, USA, Canada
265, USA, Canada
2x2 2 000 001
525 Three-point safety belts front, left and right and lap belts in passenger compartment 211-265, USA, Canada

 

[squareweave]

I went down with Geoff to pick this van up. I t truly is a cool bus. You need to show the some pictures of the OG primer on all of the inside panels as its still in great shape. This van is just like all bays it has has its small issues but for such a rare bird it is still nice and complete. If anybody can do this bus, Geoff is the guy. He has built a whole lot of killer rides including his Porsche powered 68 panel and the infamous Heb-Rod. What ever road this van goes down its going to be one to watch!!!!

 

[Guest]

gonna move you into the gallery as we are getting pic heavy, please keep adding to this as you make the repairs to this really interesting bus 8)

 

[junkyardjim]

Hi Geoff

Interesting bus, Its possible i will be meeting with an ex Devon conversions employee later this month ill ask to see if he remembers any twin sliders????

As for keeping the roof? personally i think this is pretty rare and maybe worth keeping as is, but at the end of the day
its your bus!

what are your plans?

 

[karlito]

i have just bought a 71 moonraker myself but not a twin slider.
Does yours have the two drawers in the back? If so i dont suppose you could take a pic at some point and pm it to me as they are the only bit missing on mine and i want to see what the hell they look like :msn4:
Keep it Devony mate, its a very cool looking bus,

incidently i also have a 79 twin slider that was converted from a panel van by devon to be a minibus.... not very interesting but i thought i would mention it!

 

[Analog]

those two decals look like maybe swiss and austrian?

the bus definitely looks better after the power jet blast, and the miami vice theme. nice 8)

and please keep the devon conversion

 

[GeoffP]

JunkyardJim, Keep me posted on what you find out from him.

Analog, I'm going to hold off a while before I decide what to do on it.

I've already had a few people contact me looking to buy it but I've always wanted a double slider so I don't know if I can let it go.

 

[squareweave]

NO, don't sell it!!!!

 

[junkyardjim]

Will keep you posted dude!

 

[crede999]

thats cool i love the wing mirrors , what are they ? anyone know ? oooh and the table on the front arch i love that too !!

keep us all posted with the progress

regards
chris

 

[GeoffP]

At the moment I have a few other projects to keep me busy but when I have some time I'll replace the small areas of rust and fix the nose. This will give me some time to decide what the final plan will be. I'm thinking in any case it will probably get a 911 engine like my 69 panel but most likely a 2.0 six with webers as I have a lead on one.

Who knows, I tend to change my mind a lot

 

[Guest]

i have just bought a 71 moonraker myself but not a twin slider.
Does yours have the two drawers in the back? If so i dont suppose you could take a pic at some point and pm it to me as they are the only bit missing on mine and i want to see what the hell they look like :msn4:
Keep it Devony mate, its a very cool looking bus,

incidently i also have a 79 twin slider that was converted from a panel van by devon to be a minibus.... not very interesting but i thought i would mention it!

ill send you pics of mine. When i bought it the van actually had an extra level of original drawers made in the devon factory that id never seen on any devon before.