1979 Bay Window Resto

Here is my VW rebuild, I bought it off the dreaded eBay in April 2009 with the intention of getting it finished for my 20th Birthday which was a few months later.

PART ONE:

It doesn't look too bad in the first photo's but it was really rough in places.



After 2 months I finally got the VW back to my house after it had been dumped down my Grans whilst I sold my Hillman Imp. With help from my Dad I started stripping bits off and revealing the horrors within:



The deformation panel was extremely rough, the VW was a basketcase job...



Literally taking chunks of filler out constantly:



New bit of metal made and welded into place:



New wheelarches were needed all around, as were sills and outriggers:

PART TWO:

It was at this point that I had a brain haemorrhage and ended up in the ICU at Bristol Hospital for a while, the VW was no longer my priority, especially with the next few months.

Before I bought the VW I was diagnosed with Leukemia in February 2009, the brain haemorrhage in August 2009 was a result to my treatment mixing with another type of chemo I was having in addition to an allergic reaction and a case of flu - basically, everything that could combine to go wrong did.

When I had the brain haemorrhage I also had a stroke and a seizure which meant I would have to surrended my Driving License. 3 months later my Doctor said that since it was a combination of different treatments and the fit was provoked by the haemorrhage I could get my License back early.

Not the case - the haemorrhage gave me brain damage that has affected my field of vision so I have been fighting to get my license back for 4 months now...

PART THREE:

So with no license I nearly gave up the build but have continued on:

With the new front panel welded in place, I used it as a quick photo opportunity, enough to put a smile on my face!



New rear corners, valance, battery trays etc were welded in - the van had been rear ended at some point and was out of shape, now fixed up thankfully!



Don't know how much Camping I can do in it when its filled with spares!



The whole sliding door mechanism was damaged or rusty, so this was fixed up:



Bits starting to go back on now:



After getting some studs through the post I fitted the Ford Granada wheels I had lying in the back garden:

Nice work on the bus dude.
Nightmare on your license. How's it going??

Currently waiting a response from the DVLA, I scored 119/120 on the latest Field Vision Test - they allow up to 9 missed points apparently as long as 4 points aren't within a certain area.

Signs are promising but I won't celebrate until the License is back in my hands.

JUST LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW... and the sliding door just fell off... insert rude words.

ChrisVW wrote:

JUST LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW... and the sliding door just fell off... insert rude words.

Sorry Dude, but that made me laugh!!

Mr Scoops wrote:

Sorry Dude, but that made me laugh!!

And me

Good luck on the licence front bud, o and pics of your mini collection is needed on your welcome thread please

Lol, what else have you fixed?? I would start worring now! lol

Nice work on the bus dude, it looks very simular to the one I dont speak about!! thats orange as well

I keep seeing "thats not mentioned" ... inside joke I presume, anybody care to enlighten me??

The sliding door hinge is the only thing to have broken and is the only piece we didn't fix ourselves due to the material. On closer examination the welds were really poor, couldn't tell from the outside.

Fixed now though

you have PM!!

good job bud

yep, good job nice bus ...........and good luck getting your licience ....


I'm not sure to worry about you driving behind me ....and going into the back of me, or in front and get hit by a door

nomates wrote:

yep, good job nice bus ...........and good luck getting your licience ....


I'm not sure to worry about you driving behind me ....and going into the back of me, or in front and get hit by a door

Coll resto pics me dear. Good luck with getting your liscence back, Ive got everything crossed for you.

Tan xxxx

good work there dude! Sure you'll rolling around in it soon enough

Took it for an MOT today, We knew it would fail but needed to see what the important things were as its under a month til first show.

Failed on 5 things which are all easily sorted

cool, good news bud

Hopefully see it at CTTP if ya going !

Passed the MOT no worries second time around, not put it on the road yet, will tax it on April 1st

good news mate, you will make ir to cttp

joker 67 wrote:

good news mate, you will make ir to cttp

Lol, nice sig shorty, its me doing the truffle shuffle!!

thats good news mate, hope to see it at cttp!

Gungemyster wrote:

joker 67 wrote:

good news mate, you will make ir to cttp

Lol, nice sig shorty, its me doing the truffle shuffle!!

it did remind me of someone i know

Almost ready for the last bit of painting, then its time to finish off the interior!

Still no driving license so I had to get my Dad to drive me around in it today - FIRST DRIVE!