Earliest RHD bay - anyone know of any older ?

[flyingbusman]

Cheers for the offer bananacustard. I think i've seen you bus a couple of time too. If its the one i think it is, i had a really good look over it at VW Expo last year. I really like it. you can't beat original interior! Unfortunately your cooker cabinet surface sits a few inches higher then mine if i remember correctly but it is good to know that not all are red inside. If you get a chance to put up some pics of your interior, that would be great. Yours must be pretty early too?

Will try and get some pics of it up here when i get a chance.

And yes your right, i've been doing abit of trading at some of the South East shows. myself and a mate of mine have started up as Southern Kombi Parts this year, abit late in the day so we've got alot of catching up to do with everyone else.

Alzy, your right, it is pretty cool to think that you have something that is abit special but yeah its a bugger if things were made in limited quantity etc!!! Fortunately there are quite a few 68 parts available in the states, but that still doesn't help with Devon interiors or rhd bits.

 

[bananacustard]

I think I remember chatting to you about old Devons last year at VW Expo now. Mine is pretty early (19 Jan 68) so I'm sure the interior spec would be pretty similiar. If you take out the interior furniture you should look at it carefully for a date stamp. It was all inspected and stamped with a date before being installed by J.P. Whites. Many were converted quite a long time after they were imported and also customers could take their own vehicles there to be converted. Although mine was imported in January 68, it wasn't converted until September 69 according to the date stamps on the furniture. It would be interesting to see what date your furniture is.
Here's a couple of interior shots

 

[Guest]

thats very nice and in great condition custard 8)

 

[ruffindajungle]

Mine is not rhd, but appears to be rather early. The chassis number has been hacked out as seems to be the way in CA when stuff gets scrapped. However, two of the rims & the speedo have 10/67 stamped on them indicating October 67. Also, the best bit, the cab doors are stamped 2/67 and 3/67. That throws a spanner in the works as to how early production of parts began.......Hmmm.

Hmmm chassis numbers removed!!!
If I was buying a vehicle with any tampering round the VIN or chassis numbers, I would try and do some more investigating as ringing even occurs in the VW scene dude...
Though I'd rather buy a van that has had it's chassis number removed, then contact relevant authorities and have the chassis number reissued, than find the plates been replaced with an older chassis number.
I've heard of a few VW's that have been ringed and are on the scene!!!!disturbing.

 

[Clem]

Mine is not rhd, but appears to be rather early. The chassis number has been hacked out as seems to be the way in CA when stuff gets scrapped. However, two of the rims & the speedo have 10/67 stamped on them indicating October 67. Also, the best bit, the cab doors are stamped 2/67 and 3/67. That throws a spanner in the works as to how early production of parts began.......Hmmm.

Hmmm chassis numbers removed!!!
If I was buying a vehicle with any tampering round the VIN or chassis numbers, I would try and do some more investigating as ringing even occurs in the VW scene dude...
Though I'd rather buy a van that has had it's chassis number removed, then contact relevant authorities and have the chassis number reissued, than find the plates been replaced with an older chassis number.
I've heard of a few VW's that have been ringed and are on the scene!!!!disturbing.

Pete will confirm but I understand he bought the van fresh from import without numbers - the bus had had a front end knock in the states years ago, and would have been 'written off' at which points the numbers got removed. If that makes Pete the first registered UK owner then ringings out of the question ..... I think?

Good point about being cautious though!

 

[AndrewHS]

I can join in this thread! My panel OYR 285F was registered here in October '67. The M plate says the build date was August 23 '67. It is still in its original configuration and spec, but it is a different colour. I have owned it for about 20 years and for the first 15 or so it was my workshop van during which it worked hard for its living. Now it is in retirement and getting a thorough refit. You can see some pics on the 'panel van porn' thread in gallery, where it appears with a bunch of Tatras. The refit has been long and slow owing to too many other committments and distractions but it's not far away now..... I need my van!