toastiemaker
Well-known member
Hi everyone,
I've thought I'd kick off a thread to introduce myself & my bus. Most of you would have seen it before on here as resto tread by Pinhead.
I bought it off him around September last year and if I'm honest was a spare of the moment decision when the wife and I decided one night that we'd love to get an old camper. Its out of sheer luck that its an earlybay.
I basically jumped onto VZi and went through the classifieds. I found the link to the resto on here and decided that it was for me. The added piece of mind that all the nasty rust (and there was a lot of it) had been removed, plus the price was just too good to be true. I drove it back from Paignton with the hugest grin on my face.
My only experience with Bays campers was when my parents came to the UK for a holiday back around 1980 when I was about 18months. They bought an orange with white roof late bay to travel around the UK & Europe (Reg SYE 393R if anyone knows how to track them down). Obviously I don't remember much about it but I'm heading home to New Zealand (Yep I'm a kiwi) in about 2 days so I'll dig out the old pics and put them up here when I'm back.
To date we've taken it camping in the New Forrest & Arundel and also popped down to the Brighton Breeze, although we were rather late and some of the buses had left. But we won't be missing it this year. Its actually surprisingly comfy to sleep in. I just wish the bed was a bit wider.
Haven't done a lot to it since we bought it, but I have fitted a shorter pair of front shocks which work so now it doesn't bottom out and crunch when going over, well, anything. So that's nice.
On Saturday I drove it down from London to Poole and dropped it in to Leon at Concept Poptops. Great guy and looks to have done some cool tops. So it's now in to have new a canvas top, bunks and a sun shade sewn together. Going for a nice vibrant red so hopefully it doesn't look too shit. I figured its not exactly stock standard so an original dormy canvas was never really an option. On my way down I popped in to Nos VW to see Rusty & get some parts for the roof too. Another top guy.
Once I get it back its off to get the wheels blasted and powder coated in a red to match the roof and some nice chrome hubcaps which the wife kindly bought for my birthday. I've also got a nice shiny sunpro super tach & some other gauges to install at some stage as well.
I'd love to get some disks for the front & a twin carb setup for a little extra power (we struggle to hit 60 :lol: ) and I'd love to sort out 4th so that it cruises a bit better on the motorways but it all adds up and unfortunately National Lottery hasn't been sending me any emails.
Got a bunch of trips already scheduled for the summer. Brugges for the first May bank holiday, Norfolk area for the 2nd with some friends and then a nice 3-4week trip around France for the end of July.
If you see us at any shows this year come and say hello. I'm a friendly guy who doesn't know anyone in the scene.
Anyhow, enough talk. Some pics of our bus. Not to everyones taste, but its my baby & I love it!!!
early start Saturday for the trip to Poole
the loud interior (referring to the speakers & the cartoons)
head unit
engine
camping shot
here are a couple of it at Leon's prior to the roof being done.
More photos when I get it back.
I've thought I'd kick off a thread to introduce myself & my bus. Most of you would have seen it before on here as resto tread by Pinhead.
I bought it off him around September last year and if I'm honest was a spare of the moment decision when the wife and I decided one night that we'd love to get an old camper. Its out of sheer luck that its an earlybay.
I basically jumped onto VZi and went through the classifieds. I found the link to the resto on here and decided that it was for me. The added piece of mind that all the nasty rust (and there was a lot of it) had been removed, plus the price was just too good to be true. I drove it back from Paignton with the hugest grin on my face.
My only experience with Bays campers was when my parents came to the UK for a holiday back around 1980 when I was about 18months. They bought an orange with white roof late bay to travel around the UK & Europe (Reg SYE 393R if anyone knows how to track them down). Obviously I don't remember much about it but I'm heading home to New Zealand (Yep I'm a kiwi) in about 2 days so I'll dig out the old pics and put them up here when I'm back.
To date we've taken it camping in the New Forrest & Arundel and also popped down to the Brighton Breeze, although we were rather late and some of the buses had left. But we won't be missing it this year. Its actually surprisingly comfy to sleep in. I just wish the bed was a bit wider.
Haven't done a lot to it since we bought it, but I have fitted a shorter pair of front shocks which work so now it doesn't bottom out and crunch when going over, well, anything. So that's nice.
On Saturday I drove it down from London to Poole and dropped it in to Leon at Concept Poptops. Great guy and looks to have done some cool tops. So it's now in to have new a canvas top, bunks and a sun shade sewn together. Going for a nice vibrant red so hopefully it doesn't look too shit. I figured its not exactly stock standard so an original dormy canvas was never really an option. On my way down I popped in to Nos VW to see Rusty & get some parts for the roof too. Another top guy.
Once I get it back its off to get the wheels blasted and powder coated in a red to match the roof and some nice chrome hubcaps which the wife kindly bought for my birthday. I've also got a nice shiny sunpro super tach & some other gauges to install at some stage as well.
I'd love to get some disks for the front & a twin carb setup for a little extra power (we struggle to hit 60 :lol: ) and I'd love to sort out 4th so that it cruises a bit better on the motorways but it all adds up and unfortunately National Lottery hasn't been sending me any emails.
Got a bunch of trips already scheduled for the summer. Brugges for the first May bank holiday, Norfolk area for the 2nd with some friends and then a nice 3-4week trip around France for the end of July.
If you see us at any shows this year come and say hello. I'm a friendly guy who doesn't know anyone in the scene.
Anyhow, enough talk. Some pics of our bus. Not to everyones taste, but its my baby & I love it!!!
early start Saturday for the trip to Poole
the loud interior (referring to the speakers & the cartoons)
head unit
engine
camping shot
here are a couple of it at Leon's prior to the roof being done.
More photos when I get it back.
