To me SO73 says Westy. Yours isn't a Westy. The roof holes would be different sizes. The VIN number was cut out for a reason that really doesn't make sense. Ring ring Ring ring Sorry got to go, the phones ringing! ;-)
It brings me no joy to tell you they arent though. The hole on westies is the original one the factory used for the full length sunroof, and due to the weight of the roof I guess the weld in a brace midway ish. The actual hole finished just behind the front edge of the rear vents. The Devon roof doesn't go back that far, the hole is a few inches in front of that. Did you check the floor? As for Devon buying vans from westfalia....westies were more expensive I agree but why would they sell just one van to the competition? Surely Devon could have bought a van from the manufacturer cheaper? Whilst not impossible, surely improbable.
The sunroof hole was only used on the early front hinged westy. Later westy's post 73 had the rear hinged roof and used a much bigger hole cut out.
I mean the length of bus sunroof they used on the minibuses, it went from the B pillar back. Edit: just looked into it, info is that westy holes were cut and strengthened in factory just for westy roof, which were added by westfalia at their factory. They weren't used for anything else, including sunroofs.
I have been thinking about this bus. It doesn't have to have a been a Malaga or Oxford interior or even had a pop top roof fitted. The SO73 bit covered a lot of Westfalia conversions as I showed in the first page post. It could have been a simple day cab interior with no roof factory fitted. Helsinki or Offenbach even. The owner or dealer could then have booked it straight into Devon for a fit out either with the Westy interior or replaced it with a Devon interior. It is all feasible as these things did go on back then. I know this from the hundreds of vans and owners I have spoken to over the years. Devon were very approachable in their dealings with van owners from what I have been told. and very flexible regarding what they would and wouldn't convert. Personally I tend to think it is not a ringer, if what Matty says is right. I just wish there was more documentation saved with our vans. Why is it we saddos keep everything document related these days and the po's seemed to disregard them? I bet there are loads of old documents relating to our vans in people drawers and cupboards.
Weren't westy vans more expensive than any other though? Seems unlikely that anyone would order and buy an expensive westy, and then pay someone else to change it? I'm not saying it is a ringer by the way, and it makes no difference to me either way, I'm just not 100% convinced some of the "facts" line up. These things have been getting stolen for decades, so its not beyond the realms: They end up somewhere.
I think the Westy was expensive. About £1200 over a standard combi. But I also know the Devon wasn't cheap either. Gawd knows what people did with their money once the dealership sales guy got hold of a willing punter. It constantly amazes me when you listen to the history of peoples vans. Nothing surprises me now tbh. I would like to know more about this one though, it seems interesting and almost plausible.
As a side.. There was always a tell tale sign of a proper Devon roof fitted by Devon. They seem to have cut the hole out with a big can opener and never tidied it in most cases.
"Almost" being the operative word. One thing is for certain though; and that's we'll never know for sure.
Why would that tell you? If you could be arsed to write to everyone on it, and they could be arsed to write back, it may shed some light. It'd need a whole lot of "could be arsed's" though. Probably best left alone anyway.....
I found out loads when I got mine. I even had old phone numbers from dealers and the like. Worth a shot!
I know what you are saying, but there is a eliment of detective work required once you have the info. You can see things like colour changes. It usually tells you the initial dealership and some details of the sale partics. I had a detailed print out of the van specs by the first dealer. I then saw the colour changes and had addresses of the owners either side of the colour change and even some phone numbers. You get whatever they hold on record re ownership details and history when you get the stuff back. I could have traced all the owners,but cba'd.
I don't know what the issue is, it looks like a devon, the only difference is some letters and a number on a bit of paper that could be wrong, who cares ffs
I think Matty is interested in his bus and it's history. The paper may or may not be wrong. What's wrong with delving and finding out something interesting? He may have a ringer or a nice interesting van. No issues LC. Just curiosity.
I reck they got a westy bus and realised the interior was cluttered and not practical so took it to devon for a proper interior.
I am 100% sure it's not a ringer The m plate with the chassis number is in place the rivets and paintwork look undisturbed the info matches with build date the spec and the colour The speedo clock dates also match The rear chassis number was removed to fit a different engine the way it's been cut is in keeping with this The SO73 is in the VW model section not the m code section witch I think make it a factory specification so before it went to westifaila I will measure the hole tonight but looking at pictures it's close the hole goes from the b piller to just in front of the headbanger locker just before the roof slopes down The van is 1975 so has the later Devon roof with the 2 mushrooms on it and would be the same as the westifaila rear hinge one It could be just they have made a error on the certifate
This It makes no difrence i will still go camping in it as often as I can It's also my longest ever thread so is slightly interesting
