NZ Danbury - Aug '67

Digdug · Jun 15, 2008

Hey guys, sorry sold the Devon that was on Trade Me... :? Not sure if I'm happy or sad to see her go?

The Danbury - went out and checked over the panels on the van the other day, looks like only need a couple of dog legs, rear corners, battery tray and small sill sections in front of rear guards. Rest appears to be solid as. Front inner and outer panel are solid which is a right result,

this one is a bit special, will have to take my time and get it 100%. Got some photos but am in transit in so will load later...
Also pulled the engine, will do a strip down to check everything is ok, had a bit of a lag when we got him going...

BTLON · Jun 24, 2008

Awesome find, looking forward to seeing it at a future bulli when you get back.
Will probably catch up oneday at the workshop in "The Drive" one day.

clyde · Jun 24, 2008

Lovin this bus, wish i could stumble across something like this.

Digdug · Jul 24, 2008

So the front dog legs are a bit ratty but it looks like the sills are sound, had some repairs in the past but nothing major, I will do a proper job when we replace the doglegs.
[img]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk185/Digdug_album/July2008113.jpg[/img]
Took the front pan off expecting to see the usual rusted out inner front, absolutely stoked (bloody understatement) to see this, nothing but a quick rust kill and repaint required... All the bolts holding the pan came out clean and went back in the same, Think I will use the english plates when I show it, I can hardly wait to get back to NZ to start on him...
[img]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk185/Digdug_album/July2008110.jpg[/img]
If anyone has Danbury spares (Cooker and sink box) please drop me a PM...
See you at the shows
Cheers Deano

Guest · Jul 25, 2008

it gives you a lift when you see it as clean as that, nice 8)

Digdug · Aug 19, 2008

When we picked the van up they gave me a few photos of the van in Europe and the original owners on holiday in NZ ... I got the stripped sun shade and orange awning with the van...absolutely stoked!!!!!!!
[img]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk185/Digdug_album/HenryinEurope.jpg[/img]
I'm loving the green Variant - I wonder if its still about???
Cheers
Deano

Guest · Aug 19, 2008

thats a proper old skool tent, it could be right out of the Africa campaign

easy · Aug 20, 2008

That square is sick! :mrgreen:

Ace bus dood, loving the freshness of it 8)

Digdug · Jan 22, 2009

:lol: I'm back home in NZ, its sunny and warm and I get to play with my bus finally!!! 8) He is at home now and getting some much needed attention.

He is called Henry, has cleaned up well considering he has been parked up for 10 years.

It was a successful mission to the UK, I've got all the panels and parts (including the cooker and sink unit I was missing) that I needed thanks to everyone on the Earlybay site... very much appreciated. These bits arrive in about 4 weeks... untill then its clean and fiddle... clean and fiddle...

Stoked with the seats and door cards (bloody speaker holes), they look a million bucks. (I will have to replace the dash, armrest vents and seat mats at a later date)

I've dropped the front and rear bumpers, looks pretty good for his age.

I have stripped and cleaned the front and rear drums, the brakes look new and are mint and only needed cleaning and adjustment. The bad news is that the engine when stripped down has a stuffed case (broken bearing housing), I have found a hanger case to replace it. Luckily the pistons/barrels/heads appear to be fairly new...

Digdug · Feb 1, 2009

Finished cleaning the interior at the back, I've removed the cushions for recovering, not in original material but a rust red that matches the front seats well.... The curtains were stuffed, all perished and rotten so mother in law is stitching up some new ones...

I also got the grinder out and started on the drivers side rear sill and wheel arch, it's not too bad!!!

The plan is to get stuck into the rust this week... and a wreckers yard cruise for a few bits...

I got a broucher from Danbury from the old owners, I think it is probably one they produced for the "revolutionary new 1968 Volkswagen Clipper", Front page shows the sun shade, I checked it out the other day and it looks mint!!! /It also has an artists impression of the elevating roof, so possibly before they fitted one to a bay?

Digdug · May 28, 2009

Didn't take any photos (duh!!) but have cut out rust and welded in new panels... quick coat with the rattle can and looking OK.
[img]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk185/Digdug_album/0022.jpg[/img]
Parked him next door and tried out the sun shade... sweet.
[img]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk185/Digdug_album/002.jpg[/img]
Got the interior cushions recovered, not the original material but a near perfect match to the Indian Red front seat colour.
[img]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk185/Digdug_album/001.jpg[/img]
Looks pretty good, I'm a happy camper.
First trip was a drive down country, the VW Nationals about 400kms, the local crew and lots of beer!!!
[img]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk185/Digdug_album/046.jpg[/img]

type2mike · May 29, 2009

What did you use to clean your front seats? the before and after is amazing! I have a pair of mint but dirty front seats and they're really hard to clean and I don't want to damage them.

Digdug · May 29, 2009

Hey ya, yeah they came up a treat. I used upholstery cleaner and a soft nail brush to get into the weave, don't let it get too wet or soak to much, I kept doing a small area then wiped it clean with a damp cloth and dried it off. It does remove the oils from the vinyl so treat it with baby oil repeatedly until it stops absorbing it, this softens the vinyl and stops it going hard and cracking in cold weather... looks good too!!! It takes time but has done the job... The local crew reckon I could be a little OCD? :roll:?

Digdug · Jun 3, 2009

My mate rebuilt the engine and discovered that it is a 1684cc(?). It goes really well but the road speed is really shit, a top speed of 65mph, ringing it out. Any ideas on a good gearbox that would lift the top speed... someone suggested a 1302 box?

pando · Jun 10, 2009

get over it, it is single port, heavy footed kiwi buy t4 if you want to go fast :lol: .met you on friday on thunder road for a road race :lol:

Digdug · Aug 27, 2009

I'm planning a repaint, whats the easy way to get to bare metal in my garage? I reckon the front panel needs to be stripped, rest can be prep'd and painted!

nz71delux · Aug 28, 2009

Bro ,forget about the re paint, slam it ,5 inch narrowed beam, brms and small tyres

NO BIG TYRES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and Love the Patina for wot it is

Lev & Pando

Digdug · Jan 8, 2010

toastiemaker · Jan 8, 2010

First trip was a drive down country, the VW Nationals about 400kms, the local crew and lots of beer!!!
[img]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk185/Digdug_album/046.jpg[/img][/quote]

I'm stoked to see there is eb following back home!

easy · Jan 8, 2010

Hello mate looking good! I have serious Spare Wheel Cover envy! i so want a red one! 8)

NZ Danbury - Aug '67

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