do you remember your first time

[Danbury Doug]

Well I think my first 'attempt' would've been around 1972, when my dad bought his bay, but as I would've only been 6 at the time, I think he did most of the work! :lol:

My first proper go behind the wheel would've been around 1983, with the 'L' plates on, which I remember very well indeed, and then I was 'let loose' with my dad's bay being my daily, after I finally got around to taking the test 3 years later!

 

[Clem]

Mine was a test drive in an oldish ladies 69 Devon. Complete and original and in wonderful order. I didnt buy it initially as it was a hundred pounds over my budget at £1600. I did eventually think I'd push the boat out and have it, but it was a week later and it had sold ....

It was the one that got away, I guess This was 1994, mind.

 

[Trikky2]

Mine was a test drive in an oldish ladies 69 Devon. Complete and original and in wonderful order. I didnt buy it initially as it was a hundred pounds over my budget at £1600. I did eventually think I'd push the boat out and have it, but it was a week later and it had sold ....

It was the one that got away, I guess This was 1994, mind.

Wow that would have been a nice bargain. If only one could have known and bought ten of them :lol:

I am still amazed at the way bay values went through the roof. When I moved out here I took mine despite it being RHD because it was worth so little there was no point in selling it.

A also remember being puzzled when peoiple started waving - I kept thinking there was something wrong with my bus.

 

[steamo]

I'd owned one for 7 1/2 years before I'd even driven one. I first drove it in Jan this year I think here's a vid. No screen, no roof and no shocks made it interesting but fun.



About 3 months later and I drove it on the road for the first time to the MOT station - was a bit nerve wracking driving a it after rebuilding it over that length of time but aside from one rear handbrake mechanism not working properly, which I fixed then and there, it passed so I went for a proper spin. After hearing the stories about dodgy road holding and steering etc - I was a bit afraid that I wouldn't like driving it after spending so long building it. Glad to say I couldn't have been more wrong.

 

[RichardAlexander]

Hired one in last year, called Tilly, drove it down to cheddar, fell in love with buses years before, and finally picked up my own april 2012 from Ipswich broke down after 35 miles and was towed home courtesy of RAC. Got it running again and driven it every weekend since

 

[middi]

Another one who left it till later on in life before getting round to buying
Its a lhd so remember being all over the road Both hands clamped that tight to the steering wheel my arms ached as well as my neck. Missed that many gear changes and the kids didnt stop laughing at me all the way home Did wonder if i had made a mistake but that soon passed once i relaxed

 

[EarlyBay Bill]

Bought a microbus when 18 - my 2nd vehicle after a 1800 TC Marina Coupe (remember them?). Paid £725 for it in 1986 and sold it a few years later for about £1500. Think it's the only time I ever made money on a vehicle :lol: Reg was CPP185K, I keep meaning to check if it's still out there (a Crossover) but have never got around to it. Had a Fasty for a few years and then back to a bus earlier this year Happy Days In the process of getting approvals for building work at home - mainly driven by a desire for a larger garage / workshop. If it goes ahead perhaps I'll start a 'build thread' !

 

[Trikky2]

Bought a microbus when 18 - my 2nd vehicle after a 1800 TC Marina Coupe (remember them?). Paid £725 for it in 1986 and sold it a few years later for about £1500. Think it's the only time I ever made money on a vehicle :lol: Reg was CPP185K, I keep meaning to check if it's still out there (a Crossover) but have never got around to it.

Yes looks like it is

Vehicle enquiry
The enquiry is complete.
The vehicle details for CPP 185K areate of Liability 01 07 2013
Date of First Registration 09 11 1971
Year of Manufacture 1971
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1584cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status SORN Not Due
Vehicle Colour BLUE
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available

 

[Micko68]

The first time I drove a bay was driving from Edinburgh to Leeds.
Knew nothing much about them then, drove back with no tinware
at all, didn't even check the oil. Luckily it was winter, so didn't overheat on the way home.

Me and my wife laughed like mad children all the way home huddled
under a blanket, as it was freezing in the cab.

Being a bus owner has enriched our lives no end, we wouldn't be without our Early Bay.

 

[K@rlos]

When I read the title I thought yes I do and that I wish I didn't :lol:

I do however remember and don't regret driving my bay for the 1st time. Drove it back from Karmann Konnection in South-end when I was 18 on L plates with the old chap riding shotgun :mrgreen:

 

[trowel]

My first time was my mates red and white hand painted flash bus, that he bought for £350 (if only now adays), on our way to bug jam in 1992. Broke down on the M1 and none of us thought it was going to get fixed so he decided to finish the weekends supplies on the hard shoulder (nudge nudge). The AA came and fixed it, so I was voted to take us the rest of the way. Best weekend of my life, bought my van just after and still got it.

 

[Oh.go.on.then]

Bought and drove my first bay last December. An apparently fully restored 1979 Viking. Don't worry I sold it for a 69 early bay!

Drove the Viking home from Yorkshire to Worcester. 3 degrees C, no heating, wipers stopped working in fast lane of the motorway, one caliper sticking, wheel bearing sounding like an air raid siren. Broke my golden rule and trusted an eBay ad that said "fully sorted, get in and drive round Europe". Yes it was Christmas and there was drink involved while purchasing.

To top it off I couldn't get reverse in a petrol station as the gear stick had the wrong diagram on it. It wasn't much easier when I found where the gears really were.

It lasted four months before I sold it for Early Bay after realising that not all Bays are the same!

All part of the fun!