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Thursday, 29 August 2013

The Pride of the Summer

Hello! As promised in the last post, I will open your eyes to one of the best van/bus/sleeper ever!
Here is the the 1965 VW T1 Splitscreen.
The perfect Weekend vehicle.
In their heydays, these beautiful buses, were a revolutionary design. They were built off of a bread van chassis and platform, they took the engines from the beetles, and then developed the shell from tin.
They have been used and abused, and truly tested beyond most vehicles today. The engines, at first begun to suffer continuous blowouts, as the air cooled system couldn't cope with serious heat. 
You should be able to read the date on the sketch. 1947. They had no idea in 30, 40 years time they would still be doing a fantastic job at creating these buses. 
If you have ever seen Jamie Oliver's Jamie's Italy TV series, All VW enthusiasts, will tell you that this was not a very accurate representation. His bus was not a happy bus at that moment in time. Sometimes, people have mood swings, and, yes, buses can too. I think. 


You may notice more of the VW's from the 70' to 80's. this is due to a massive revelation of the fact that thess buses are awesome. With Splitties selling for up to £60,000, it is understandable that people will choose the cheaper alternative. Enter the 1970's! With the latest release of the VW Transporter in 1971, they came up with another shape and size altogether. The Bay-Window. 
The perfect spot.















This was Fantastic! It wasn't just a van with a bed, you could get 6 people in side to travel in as well!
Plus the pop top, which meant an extra sleeping area, a bigger fridge and sink, and all in an affordable, robust, light-weight van that now came with automatic gearboxes! 
  
Jamie in Italy.

Now crowds started flocking to the beaches, knowing that they could spend up to a week living out of the bus!
Also, people started to take interest in shows and showing off what they did to their campers. These continue on to this day, More and more people get involved every year!


But not all is well. Some people have a habit of ruining these wondervans


How many campers can you see?




That. Is. Ugly.





Poor thing.

Too many of the old school VWs look like this now. With a little bit of time and money it could look good again.
I myself am still looking for one.
When I get one, I shall do a post and tell you my progress.

Well, I shall just have to wait.








Next, American Muscle! 

Safe travel!

Monday, 26 August 2013

Minis: Now and Then

Hello Everyone!

Today I am opening the doors into a world of Minis. Coopers, Cooper S, Countryman, Cooper D, Cooper SD, One, the whole lot. The world was taken by a storm when Austin pruduced this little car.
 I used to work in a garage that only did Minis. I personaly don't rate them, but some people do.
Celebrating 50 years on the road
Mini's have been around since the late 50's, and to be honest while they have got bigger they haven't got any better.  They were designed to be a family vehicle, Good MPG, And most importantly, Affordable. The only problem we have with the originals now, is obviously, with some of them from the 70's to when they stopped producing and sold to Bmw, is rust. The body work dosen't like the sea or the salt on the roads, so, If you do own one, in really good nick, take care of them, as body parts, decent grills and bumpers are becoming increasingly rare, in the quality that a lot of people look for.
   
Mini Mayfair


Now I could tell you all kinds of sob stories of how I wanted one, and I couldn't get one, but no, I won't bother. I don't have any to begin with!
No, I want a 1968 VW T1. Fantastic, brilliant, perfect, amazing, duarable, reliable, easy-to-work-on, hard-to-break, wonderful, good-looking Campervan.


Man, I'm spoiling it for you. I will go into detail on this in another post.





One last thing, if you need a good friendly service and and good rates, please vist this website and drop in and pay my friends a visit.               
BMW Mini Cooper 2013
Don't forget! Write to me at KamperKrazy@gmail.com with suggestions and tales you have had with cars and the work you have done!