factory windows or conversion ?

[gazmcrae]

is a 72 danbury camper classed as a (danbury) conversion or does it have factory fitted windows.this is confusing me as i thought all campers were "conversions" ie,westfalia,devon,danbury etc..i,m getting a bit worried for when my resto needs its window seals done and what to order.
gaz.
(i think this should be in technical.whooops.sorry)

 

[Justin & Muttley]

I don't think there are any hard and fast rules about this - well not with Devons anyway!
My crossover '72 Devon has factory windows, but my sisters '78 Devon is a converted panel van!
Easiest thing to do is check what sort of seals it has at the moment - are they moulded one piece or do they look like they're made from a single strip which is joined somewhere (probably at the bottom)? Do the seals look like they've got an insert in the middle?

 

[Mike F]

My understanding, and I may be wrong, is that vans with factory fitted windows had them because they were once microbuses. Other vans were once panel vans and so windows were cut out during conversion. The theory is that if you have windows it is best that they were always intended to be windows.

 

[Danbury Doug]

Hi gazmcrae. All campers are effectively 'conversions', ie they started out as either a panel van or a bus with factory fitted windows, which would then have been converted by whichever company.
Your '72 Danbury 99.9% definitely would have factory fitted windows, as Danbury always used buses with factory fitted windows up until the mid to late 70s when they started converting from panel vans.
HOWEVER, there could always be the exception! Are you able to put a picture up of your bus for us to help you confirm?

 

[Justin & Muttley]

Hi gazmcrae. All campers are effectively 'conversions', ie they started out as either a panel van or a bus with factory fitted windows, which would then have been converted by whichever company.
Your '72 Danbury 99.9% definitely would have factory fitted windows, as Danbury always used buses with factory fitted windows up until the mid to late 70s when they started converting from panel vans.
HOWEVER, there could always be the exception! Are you able to put a picture up of your bus for us to help you confirm?

Worth remembering too that many of these companies would convert your vehicle even if it was several years old! As PV's would have been cheaper than a microbus on the second hand market...

 

[Danbury Doug]

Adding to Mike F's comments, there were effectively three base vehicles for use as campervans. Panel vans were available, but obviously windows had to be cut into the sides. Next up was the basic Kombi, which was effectively a van but with factory fitted windows, but with nothing else in the back. The third option was the microbus/deluxe which had a higher spec than the Kombi, ie trim panels in the rear that matched those of the front doors, a factory fitted headlining throughout, and grab handles, aswell as other extras.
Different van converters had their own requirments which Volkswagen catered for. In the case of Danbury the customer had the choice of a Kombi based conversion (such as that which my folks bought new in 1972). For a little extra money you could specify the Microbus/deluxe version, which most of the early Danburys tended to be based on.

Later on in the 1970s Danbury and Devon conversions were based more often on panel vans (hence Justin and Mutley's sister's 1978 van being a panel van conversion.) Why this was so I'm not sure, but my guess is that the market was perhaps becoming more competetive, and so maybe there was a greater profit margin to had by buying cheaper panel vans and not passing the savings on to the customers? Or maybe demand outstripped supply? Not sure!

Anyway, hope we've not confused you more! :lol:

 

[VWAIRCOOLED]

You just need to check the second digit of your chassis number 1 is a panel van 3 is a Kombi which are the most poular if you search you can find out all the variants.

 

[gazmcrae]

cheers for the response guys.heres a foto of the rear o/s window.hope ive copied the right link for it as its my first foto-link.lol

 

[Danbury Doug]

Hi gazmcrae. All campers are effectively 'conversions', ie they started out as either a panel van or a bus with factory fitted windows, which would then have been converted by whichever company.
Your '72 Danbury 99.9% definitely would have factory fitted windows, as Danbury always used buses with factory fitted windows up until the mid to late 70s when they started converting from panel vans.
HOWEVER, there could always be the exception! Are you able to put a picture up of your bus for us to help you confirm?

Worth remembering too that many of these companies would convert your vehicle even if it was several years old! As PV's would have been cheaper than a microbus on the second hand market...

Yep, certainly this may be why later ones tended more to be panel van based, where perhaps the customer supplied the basic (and maybe more readily available) panel van to the converter, rather than Volkswagen supplying direct, or as J&M says, a panel van having a 'change of direction' in its life

 

[slammedkustom]

they are standard style window rubbers as they are recessed into the van, converted panel van have rubbers that stand proud of the panel, also true vw glass is flat, converted panelvans had curved glass.

on a side note many campers were based on panelvans as they didnt incur VAT which a microbus did :wink:

 

[Danbury Doug]

cheers for the response guys.heres a foto of the rear o/s window.hope ive copied the right link for it as its my first foto-link.lol

Yep, definitely factory windows.

Hope to see more pics of your van when you can. 8)

 

[Danbury Doug]

on a side note many campers were based on panelvans as they didnt incur VAT which a microbus did :wink:

Aha! Yep, that would explain it.

 

[slammedkustom]

if you were sending your bus for a conversion i guess most people would appreiciate the saving you would get by losing the VAT.
they never look as good as the recessed ones too :wink:

 

[Danbury Doug]

Yep I prefer recessed ones too. It also looks neater inside.

 

[gazmcrae]

cheers guys.now i know the rubbers can be ordered without any problems when the time comes.i,ll try n post some foto,s once the chassis is replaced and a few lower panels.oh and it looks as if the front bumper wants the rest of her lowered.lol.

 

[Mike F]

For a little extra money you could specify the Microbus/deluxe version

Very pleased to say my first owner paid up and looked big when he ordered a DeLuxe!

Good to see you back on here sk - where've you been dude?!!

 

[halfpint_fighter]

An advantage of a camper based on a microbus is that you get factory seat belt mounting points in the back...and the windows defo look better!

 

[Guest]

another question....

Were the rear quarter lights a factory fitted accessory or did all kombis/microbuses come with one piece glass?.

I was led to believe it was a Devon only addition put in at the devon factory? but i dont know.

Just curious if anyone knows

 

[VWAIRCOOLED]

I read an article in an earlier edition of volksworld camper and bus which said that it was hard going selling motor vehicles 1n 1973/4 due to a world wide oil/fuel shortage.So to make them cheaper for customers they would use panel vans.

 

[slammedkustom]

Good to see you back on here sk - where've you been dude?!!

busy busy busy, this self employed larks hard going! :lol:
im still trying to sort a date for your oil leak prob :wink: