My 1971 lowlight Danbury - The resto goes on!

[baybus70]

THE BUS AS IT'S BEEN SINCE I GOT IT!
Hi all,, thought i'd share my '71 model bus, named squige by the missus. My mate bought it and lost intrest, i picked it up for less than he paid and thought i had a bargain.How wrong i was!! Currently goin thru a full resto, will keep you all posted on it. It was dark red originally, Pretty certain cianti red as it's a '71, made in '70.- anyway bus turned out to be full of filler so is being rebuilt with nos panels wherever i can. Gonna slam the bus and keep it's Laurie Petit 1776cc motor. Watch this space! mmm fuchs or brms...
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How can somethin which looks so solid be so knackered!!!!!

INTERIOR SOON TO BE COMPLETELY RETRIMMED mmmm
THAT DODGY GRILLE HAS TO GO!

The bus getting some replacement cab doors in 2006!

Lots of good times had already! Bus always put a smile on my face!

1st signs of rot on arch...

WILL BE FINISHED EARLY 2008! I HOPE....


DONKEY NEEDS A SPRUCE UP! 1776 DOES'NT ARF MOTOR THO!AND RELIABLE BEING BUILT BY MR PETIT!


nos rear quarter just been fitted!

Replacing middle panel opposite sliding door too!

 

[Araon]

looking goodthere and welcome

 

[gninnam]

Doing a blinding job there 8)
Will be worth the work when it's done.
The red could have been 'Sealing Wax Red' or 'Chianti Red' (both quite dark).

 

[Haveacamper]

very nice job mate. just wondered where you got that middle panel opposite the sliding door from. really need one myself

keep up the gd work

 

[baybus70]

very nice job mate. just wondered where you got that middle panel opposite the sliding door from. really need one myself

keep up the gd work

Cheers dude! Panel is a left hand drive middle panel from schofields(gen vw) many hours of extra work have been spent carefully cutting out the swage bulge and grafting in a replacement from swage from a rust free van! A lot of messing about but you can't get right hand drive panels anywhere now so it's the only real option! Good luck!!! Alternatively convert your bus to a twin sliding door! Maybe not...

 

[Haveacamper]

so its a sliding door skin?

 

[baybus70]

so its a sliding door skin?

No it's a left hand drive complete middle panel.( would be fitted on a l.h.d van where the sliding door is on a uk bus) You can see the framework in the pics. i have modified the swage line coz the contour is different but thats it. Now i'm gettin confused!

 

[Haveacamper]

I see, its just been turned the other way. when you said about lhd, i was thinking its the skin off a lhd sliding door. oops, silly me

NaFe

 

[Guest]

good work so far, 8)

 

[baybus70]

AGGGGH! NEED TO REPLACE THE OTHER QUARTER PANEL NOW AS THERE'S A TON OF FILLER! THINK THIS BUS IS GONNA BE 95% NEW METAL! WILL ADD PICS SOON!

 

[Guest]

AGGGGH! NEED TO REPLACE THE OTHER QUARTER PANEL NOW AS THERE'S A TON OF FILLER! THINK THIS BUS IS GONNA BE 95% NEW METAL! WILL ADD PICS SOON!

ouch! :shock:

 

[Danbury Doug]

Good work you're doing there!

Looking forward to seeing more pics! 8)

 

[baybus70]

More pics! cab floor needs a samall amount of work where the heel rests. Front panel,discovered a few holes but pretty good in general! Loads of high spots on new middle panel but what dya expect from a brazillian panel! Swage line has been grafted in from a '79 bus, now all lines up well! Hopefully arches and cab floors next week as well as welding bulkheads back in! Target finish date March 2008!


Cab floor will need surgery!

Swage line grafted in from a '79


Windscreen surround rust damage is limited and looks worse than it is...but will need rust treatment.At least i can keep the original front panel! 8)

All treated, welded and ready for a skim!

 

[splitstar]

nice lookin bay u got there dude. same as mine, do u no what it is if u get me coz m registration form dont have it on

cheers

andy

 

[Guest]

nice lookin bay u got there dude. same as mine, do u no what it is if u get me coz m registration form dont have it on

cheers

andy

its a danbury conversion.

 

[gninnam]

I like what you are doing - a very good job so far 8)

Hope you don't get disheartend............ :wink:

 

[baybus70]

More cutting, welding, grinding this week! More rot revealed! And it wont be the last!
Front arch was cut away to reveal more rot!

[]
Rust free cali tailgate arrived today!Bargain for £50! :lol: :lol:

 

[Justin & Muttley]

Keep it up - you're doing a fantastic job! Some nice repairs there...

 

[baybus70]

Cheers mate! Its A great help hearin ppl's words of encouragement on ere!
I can see it all comin together now...Slowly!

 

[Camperdan]

Coming together nicely..... and fast too!

Top job :wink: