Devon Moonraker spare wheel holder

Does anyone know if this is an original Devon spare wheel holder or something fitted at some point later?

It's quite secure and less likely to damage the front panel to most, as it sits bolted on the bumper then screws to the front panel above the grill.

 

As far as I know, the Moonrakers originally had the spare wheel fixed at the back, not the front, so it is probably not original.

 

Fitted at the back seemed to be the usual place, though I've seen a few late Moonrakers like mine with a front fitted one, just not with a mount like this.

Will have to try and get the paint off what might be a makers label and see what it says

 

No, Devon only fitted to the rear

 

Between '77 and '91 someone changed mine then.

 

I agree, Devon would of needed to do a front respray after fitting that !

 

I'm assuming Devon sprayed the whole camper as it came out of the factory in Neptun Blue.

 

No they only converted the interior and roof.

 

Interesting, maybe it wasn't converted when new then

 

Yeah they'd do any van, seen early/cross overs with devon moonraker interiors plus panel vans which they only converted themselves in 78/79 with the sundowner

 

Mines a converted panel van that came out of the factory on the 13 Dec 1976, so if they didn't convert panel vans until 78/79 it must have been converted later.

 

No it was that they didn't convert panel vans themselves by choice until 78/79, they would convert anything you took them.

 

My Devon had the spare on the back, but I quickly moved it to the front for better engine access.

 

That's what I was meaning, as mine was made in Dec '76 they wouldn't have had it straight from the factory to convert but it was later taken to them.

 

A lot of people moved the spare to the front, as has been mentioned, because you couldn't open the rear door or engine hatch without lowering it. The clue is in the photo below, where Devon fixed the number plate and its light to the upper right instead of the usual place (which has no fixing holes in it) because the location intended by VW would be obscured by the wheel. Note also the brackets on the bumper and the holes just above the engine lid.

 

Don't think mine came with a rear mounted one, as I've no holes above the engine lid or brackets on the bumper, though the number plate was in the same place on the tailgate.

 

Makes you wonder why the didn't fit them on the front in the first place.

 

I purposely fitted one on the back as I didn't like it on the front, I think it looks neater and doesn't damage the front panel.
Engine access is fine it hinges down for quick checks or unbolt it 2 bolts if doing more work

My understanding was not all moon rakers had the rear mount as it was a optional extra

 

My devon moonraker (77) has the spare on the front , there is a cover built into the rear to cover the spare wheel well and part of the bed foam goes acrossthe whole width of the back (minus the side cupboard) covering it up