Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2022 i VWT Lifestyle

Passion is a much stronger concept than logic, and the world is all the better for it. That’s why you’re reading Camper&Bus rather than, say, Qashqais On Finance. And when Duncan Thorpe decided that a Split Screen Bus would be the ideal vehicle to restore and enjoy many years of family fun with, it didn’t matter that he wasn’t all that big on restoration and didn’t have any kids yet – these were just minor wrinkles in the overarching game plan. A 44-year old electrical engineer, Duncan’s been around engineering his whole life, and Volkswagens have always been a key element of his work/life balance. The daily is a T6.1 Kombi, and he’s owned a ’66 Herbie Beetle since 2005. “After attending shows with Herbie for many years, I started…

Raoul Verbeeman is a well-respected Belgian vintage VW guru who has restored (and owns) some of the rarest VWs in Europe. In fact, his obsession has almost become a way of life as he shares his home with his collection. Yes, it may look like a cool museum – and in many ways, that’s exactly what it is – however, with a bedroom and a small kitchenette attached, this is also a cool home! Sure, there’s a great fire truck, a rare VW Bug pick-up and a ’50s Karmann cabriolet plus a Tempo Matador (both of which Raoul is currently working on), but there’s also an impressive collection of rare parts (not to mention the occasional scooter and motorcycle). But, it’s this cute, coachbuilt ice cream truck which caught our…

There have, over the years, been some very weird and wonderful Volkswagen Type 2s – ones converted to cinemas, ones equipped with caterpillar tracks, even ones fashioned in the shape of coffee pots for promotional purposes. But when it comes to properly bizarre, how about the T1-based railbuses that could not only run on tracks, but could also spin themselves around on the spot, courtesy of an extendible pole. Welcome to the fascinating world of the VW Draisines… The word ‘Draisine’ comes from the early-19th century German engineer Karl Drais, best-known for inventing the bicycle in 1817. But he also came up with a device to record piano music onto paper in 1812, the first typewriter nine years later in 1821, and a pioneering meat grinder during the 1840s; what…

What Buses have you owned, do you have one at the moment? I currently own a ’57 Split Screen and T6.1 copper campervan. I have previously owned a T25, T5, T6 and a Brazilian Split. So which was your favourite? Both the ones I own at the moment to be honest. The Split Screen for the effort that went into getting it shipped from America to the restoration project to the end result. The T6.1 for the memories with my family that I am currently making. Where’s the weirdest place you’ve camped in your Van? No where really weird as such, but while in Wales some years ago, the weather was terrible and the wind and rain was shaking the Bus which was slightly scary. Have you got any oddball…

VW BUS FEST TICKET RUSH Within a week of tickets going on sale for next year's Bus extravaganza in Hannover, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles had chalked up a staggering 4,132 registrations of historic and current Buses. Those planning to bring their vehicles along include enthusiasts from all over the globe, including Australia and the USA. Indeed, VWCV told us they are expecting more than 6,000 VW camper vans at the festival from 23 to 25 June 2023 and it's evident the 'Bulli' fan community is truly international: tickets were snapped up by buyers from over 25 countries. Staggeringly, over two thirds of the vehicle pitches on the Hannover fairgrounds have already been sold. Said VWCV's Lars Krause: “We're overwhelmed by the response. Bulli fans are simply incredible! We are greatly looking…

As we all know, the VW Transporter has had to evolve radically over the years in order to keep ahead of the competition, and the longevity of each design and continuous sales success confirms VW is still getting it right. Incredibly, the T5 and its not so dissimilar successor have managed to notch up a production run of almost two decades combined. Values remain rock solid, waiting lists long and sheer desirability something rival manufacturers still strive to come anywhere close to achieving. That's why, given the chance to see two examples of the Transporter with a half century between them side by side, you get a chance to ring the changes and appreciate the evolutionary road its driven down. We were lucky to be given such an opportunity when…

BUS SHOW Known for a great many years as Volkswagen North-West (VWNW), but now simply as the Tatton Park VW Show, the event is one of several long-running regional events that owes its success to the combination of an eclectic mix of content and a great day out for all the family. Based at the Tatton Park country house estate, not far from the M6 near Knutsford in Cheshire, it combined a spacious and picturesque venue with sunshine all day long to provide a spectacle for VW enthusiasts and their families alike over the first weekend of August. A major part of its success is that it sees a broad range of all types of VW, old and new, classic and custom; this year even saw an original Disney ‘Herbie’…

HOW TO NEED TO KNOW Old Volkswagens gained a great reputation for reliability back in the day and, if you keep up with servicing and maintenance, they will generally go on forever. With a reputation for reliability however, most people think that their air-cooled VW will just keep on going without any regular maintenance. This is not the case. Follow these steps to lessen the possibility of breaking down by the side of the road. Thanks must go to Johnny from Vintage-Deluxe (www.vintage-deluxe.com), who was kind enough to let us photograph these checks on their ‘63 Westy. Tools required: ... 10, 13mm sockets; 21mm spark plug removal tool; feeler gauges; flat screwdriver; extension bar; ratchet; long nose pliers; test lamp Materials used: .. greaseSkill Level ........... 2 Time taken .........…

RIDGEMONKEY USB RECHARGEABLE HEADTORCH You can buy a headtorch from a pound shop these days. But we wouldn’t because they’re likely to be rubbish and you’d be wasting your money. Having just tried the VRH150 serves to strengthen our conviction because it takes the concept of a headtorch to a whole new level. Long gone are the days of having to worry about batteries because its high capacity 1400mAh lithium-ion battery is USB rechargeable. Plug it in for 3-5 hours and depending on setting, you’ll get up to 80 hours of light. Moreover, there’s a LED power display so you can see how much juice you’ve got left. But that’s not all. This one’s got five beam options, including a wide angle function as well as a green light setting…

Here’s the story behind what is set to become one of the most recognised Bay Window Buses in the world. Considering there were nearly three million built, that’s a pretty bold statement. But we have evidence. A simple ‘behind-the-scenes’ shot from this very photoshoot leaked out onto the internet and for a couple of weeks at least, owner Tom Goldsmith got to experience life as a Kardashian. Please don’t ask which one. “It was mad,” he says. “I had people from all over the world messaging me about it and asking all sorts of questions about how I’d done it. The funniest thing was that so many people thought it was Photoshopped, or that it was just a very detailed model.” I personally had to comment on the Facebook post…

Having spent the Covid-19 lockdown giving my VW 1.9 TD T4 a revamp with a fresh coat of pastel blue military grade paint and fitting an unintentionally high lift kit, it was time to get back on the road. With the global pandemic restricting travel abroad, me and my girlfriend, Lucy, took the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with Cornwall, taking four separate weekends to do the north and south coast. With a carefully planned itinerary and a goal to cram as much in as possible, each trip away felt fulfilling and rejuvenating. It’s this ability to make the most of weekends that makes me love vans so much! Spring in our step Despite being April, our first weekend away was blessed by warm weather which allowed us to get a…

OUR BUSES Owner info Name: Ian Cushway Job: Editor Fleet: VW Polo Mk6, VW Passat B6, 1985 T25 Westfalia Club Joker Jobs this month: replacing a duff tyre valve, enjoying touring Brittany These days I am a lot less of a hoodlum and enjoy taking it easy in my wheezy 1985 1.6D T25; not least because when travelling at 60km/h you get to see more of the beautiful Brittany countryside. That’s why, at the beginning of August, we decided to set off and explore some of the bits we hadn’t had the pleasure of visiting before. Understandably, before leaving with the family on-board, I wanted to do as much as I could to avoid any embarrassing mishaps on route. I’d recently changed the engine oil and filter (a doddle on…