VW splitty camper!

hopper1

I've just decided to buy & renovate an old splitscreen camper... :shock:
I've wanted one, on & off, for years, so now I'm making the jump.
God only know's what brought this on....
I'll be able to get changed in relative comfort, after events, once it's all done!
Unless it breaks down. I did consider a Scooby engine for it, too :shock: :twisted:

Just thought I'd share that with you all.

Too much time on my hands, I guess.

JohnnyAllez

I hope you like welding You`ll be too busy fixing a Splittie to ever go out cycling again :roll:

I looked at one, for a nano-second, then at Bay Windows, for a milli-second, then settled on a T25 Westy campervan instead, more driving, less fixing, and a LOT more practical. Have you seen the room in a Split-screen? Not much when it`s got a camper inerior in it.

Gazzaputt

I'd love to do the same but wife threatens divorce if I do

I'm thinking classic Alfa :twisted:

skyd0g

Nice one hopper1

Tempestas

I restored a Bay window panelvan last year, paid £2.5k for it and spent £6k on it....but it is spot on now. Buy decent panels and it will make the job so much easier! Lots of info on VZI worth reading too.

Have you bought it yet?

Only image I can link for mine is here..

http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/7097 ... 067750.jpg

Gazzaputt

Tempestas that is beautiful

hopper1

Gazzaputt wrote:

Tempestas that is beautiful

+1

Not got one yet, but very close now... Just got to get off this platform, today....

I like the lowered look, really sweet, that is.

And a Penny Farthing type bike on the back of the van in front of you...

hopper1

Tempestas wrote:

I restored a Bay window panelvan last year, paid £2.5k for it and spent £6k on it....but it is spot on now. Buy decent panels and it will make the job so much easier! Lots of info on VZI worth reading too.

Have you bought it yet?

Only image I can link for mine is here..

http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/7097 ... 067750.jpg

I've read quite a bit on vzi, also ssvc.org.co.uk.

For the camper I'm looking at, I'm thinking a budget of about £8k on top of the van. That should cover all! And I'm no welder.... But my mate is!

Tempestas

I allowed a budget of £4k and spent £6k....it was the finishing touches that added up and to be honest it still needs more tidying. But this will need to be done over time as funds have run low and the bank needs topping up :roll:

shame you are not closer as there are a lot of specialists around my way, Funkenblitz for engines and the slammin shop for getting the stance right, plus some great body shops.

hopper1

Tempestas wrote:

I allowed a budget of £4k and spent £6k....it was the finishing touches that added up and to be honest it still needs more tidying. But this will need to be done over time as funds have run low and the bank needs topping up :roll:

shame you are not closer as there are a lot of specialists around my way, Funkenblitz for engines and the slammin shop for getting the stance right, plus some great body shops.

I don't mind travelling to be able to use/see the right people.
The split I'm considering is this one!
When you've stopped laughing (seriously!), you can comment on it
The owner reckons about £7k on top of purchase should be about right... Hence me saying £8k! There is a lot of panels & bits included...
I like the idea of a split camper, but the panel vans look superb, if done right.
Yours is done right.. Love the colour, too.

Tempestas

Cheers,

That does seem quite reasonable but a lot of work for a first time resto, but saying that there are a lot of places to get the parts and help is always available online or via local clubs, the VW scene is very friendly.

I spotted this one last night http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=620696

But it is a LHD, but it would be a simpler resto. It is also a buyers market

I learnt from mine that buying a decent base would have been a better idea, since mine needed a new roof, new front, new doors, new arches, new side panel, new rear valence, new bumpers....new cab floor...so now it's quite 'new' now but still not straight...and it needs an engine rebuild...going for 1641 B&P and I have got a stainless exhaust and twin Solex carbs.

The only suggestion I can make is buy something you are confident of completing yourself, my next project will be a splittie panelvan for sure 8)

timb64

JohnnyAllez wrote:

I hope you like welding You`ll be too busy fixing a Splittie to ever go out cycling again :roll:

I looked at one, for a nano-second, then at Bay Windows, for a milli-second, then settled on a T25 Westy campervan instead, more driving, less fixing, and a LOT more practical. Have you seen the room in a Split-screen? Not much when it`s got a camper inerior in it.

+1

I spent about what you are proposing on fully fitted and functioning T25 high top-much more roomy and practical.OK I am budgeting for a similar amount to sort out bits of rust,electrics etc but not too bad for a 24 year old vehicle.

alan_sherman

Get a new one from Brazil. They still make the Kombi (Bay window version).

http://www.volkswagen.com/br/pt/modelos/kombi.html

pedylan

hopper1 wrote:

I don't mind travelling to be able to use/see the right people.
The split I'm considering is this one!
When you've stopped laughing (seriously!), you can comment on it
The owner reckons about £7k on top of purchase should be about right... Hence me saying £8k! There is a lot of panels & bits included...
I like the idea of a split camper, but the panel vans look superb, if done right.
Yours is done right.. Love the colour, too.

Thanks for the link. Do you have a link to a photo of the rest of the van?

Tempestas

alan sherman wrote:

Get a new one from Brazil. They still make the Kombi (Bay window version).

http://www.volkswagen.com/br/pt/modelos/kombi.html

Water cooled with a fugly front....also made from poorer quality metal so will not last as long as the original. A friend of mines wife bought one for her fleet of hire vans and it is showing signs of rust already.

hopper1

Tempestas wrote:

I learnt from mine that buying a decent base would have been a better idea, since mine needed a new roof, new front, new doors, new arches, new side panel, new rear valence, new bumpers....new cab floor...so now it's quite 'new' now but still not straight...and it needs an engine rebuild...going for 1641 B&P and I have got a stainless exhaust and twin Solex carbs.

The only suggestion I can make is buy something you are confident of completing yourself, my next project will be a splittie panelvan for sure 8)

Thanks for the link, but I would like to have a RHD.
I understand what you mean about good base. Your van needed almost as much new metal as the one I'm looking at!
I'd consider LHD for a panel van (not sure why!), maybe 'cos I'd have that a lot less standard...
I get confused when I think about the options too long! :shock:

Tempestas

Panelvans are a pain to park to be honest, I would like windows for parking but don't like curtains when camping...

Remember a LHD camper is higher and the main disadvantage of LHD is over taking, that doesn't happen often in a camper though

hopper1

Due you use the van for camping, then?
Or is it stripped out inside?

Tempestas

I have tongue and grooved the inside so it looks like a sauna...it has a full width rock and roll bed with an L shaped 4 seater settee when the bed is folded up. I have no cooking stuff though, I just buy disposable BBQ's as I wouldn't want to sleep in it after cooking

It's unfinished inside still, I need to fit some storage behind the front seats and it is going into the paint shop to have the cabin area stripped out and resprayed over the next few weeks.

wicked

Jeez that van must love potholes and speed bumps Tempestas!

I did a beetle years ago and never again, might as well set fire to the money.


Good luck. I hope you have a lot of patience!

stevekosky

I had one years ago. Quite useful, but like everything mechanical, time has marched on and there are a lot better things out there.

Life is too short to faff about with old machines.

I should think these days a cheap Berlingo/Kangoo has more useable space and then you can use the time you saved to ride!

hopper1

stevekosky wrote:

I had one years ago. Quite useful, but like everything mechanical, time has marched on and there are a lot better things out there.

Life is too short to faff about with old machines.

I should think these days a cheap Berlingo/Kangoo has more useable space and then you can use the time you saved to ride!

More space, maybe, but I wouldn't be seen dead driving one! :shock:

CHRISNOIR

I'd love a camper van. A few years ago me and the missus were given use of a fully converted Mazda Bongo and it was awesome. I've wanted one ever since.

balthazar

CHRISNOIR wrote:

I'd love a camper van. A few years ago me and the missus were given use of a fully converted Mazda Bongo and it was awesome. I've wanted one ever since.

I'm about to sell my Bongo...! Not converted though. Love it, but don't need it.

The Mechanic

My brother has a split screen camper. It is 1967, I think ,and is immaculate.

blackhands

That panel van would look good towing my Eriba.

Tempestas

It would struggle to tow anything to be honest :oops:

Must get the engine rebuilt before the season starts...