Meet Monica, our '79 riviera

Discussion in 'Show Us Your Ride' started by Beckybutty, Mar 26, 2016.

  1. I thought I should finally get round to starting a thread to remind us of the journey so far and to put the many pictures on. Here's one after a good clean and polish in the sunshine yesterday:

    [​IMG]

    She arrived in the UK on 15 November 2015 after a long journey from Oregon. Here's the sunny photo the seller took as she left Roseburg:

    [​IMG]

    And in contrast, the bleak November day that she arrived here:

    [​IMG]
     
  2. We received a box full of paperwork with her, going right back to when she was purchased from the dealer in 1979. The man who owned her wanted a tin top so he could fit garage her, and the interior is the riviera weekender package. He had air con, cruise control and a chequerboard table added (sadly no longer present).

    She lived in Oregon for a couple of years, then the family moved to California for a few years, then back to Oregon. From the huge amounts of paperwork we have, it's clear that she was well looked after and was taken in for repair as soon as anything was amiss. The owner passed away last March at age 85, and the bus was bought off the family by the owner of the garage that had been servicing it for several years. And that's how we came across her - advertised on here and pointed out to me by @Lord Congi

    For the first couple of months she sat in our garage and all we did was gave her a new battery, but we booked her into Volkshaus in Kenilworth based on a recommendation of a friend of a friend (and following a couple of chats with the owner, Bob) for a proper check over and any work needed to get her through her MOT.

    Bob attested to the care that had been lavished on Monica over the years, even knocking some money off the service because @radconsmoot had replaced most bits that needed it already so he didn't have to! We popped over to Volkshaus one afternoon and Bob let us have a good look at her while she was up on the ramps. Not great pics, but here she is:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The only thing Bob really had to do to get her through the MOT was the ball joints, so once we had the MOT done, he undersealed and cavity waxed her and changed the front seat belts and installed new rear belts. Then we brought her back home!
     
  3. She has been home a couple of weeks now, but yesterday was the first decent day we have had to bring her out and give her a good clean inside and out:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Looking lived-in already:

    [​IMG]
     
  4. My one good post/advice :thumbsup:
     
    paul2590, Flakey, Cov1987 and 2 others like this.
  5. More interior pics!
     
  6. The light hasn't been very good on most of the interior pics, but I'll try to dig out a couple of better ones:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  7. The above were taken the day she arrived - by the time I got home from work she was tucked up in the garage and it was dark. It was a couple of months before I got to see her in daylight!

    I started to get her ready for camping yesterday after the spring clean. I love these little drawers:

    [​IMG]

    And the essentials ready to go:

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2016
  8. I'm first guest as well remember.
     
  9. I remember, but you're not going to techenders are you?
     
  10. No in Portugal but going the one after so you can plan something special for me for that one :thumbsup:
     
    Beckybutty likes this.
  11. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    Good, I may go in the Landmark if you're not there so I won't be out accessorised:)

    @Beckybutty i remember seeing this van before you bought it. It's gorgeous. :)
     
    Lord Congi likes this.
  12. .
    Thought we were tight :(
     
  13. That gives me plenty of time to plan something 'special' then...

    Thanks, we love her already, really got lucky with her!
     
    Lord Congi likes this.
  14. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    Oops! My msg got lost by being written instead of spoken :). We could have had a gang is what I meant to say :beer::hug::D x
     
    Lord Congi likes this.
  15. come the next one after :thumbsup:
    If you don't I probably just bring the Devon as its got everything.
     
  16. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    That's one truly superb looking bus, the interior looks great. Woodgrain suits the body colour :D
     
    Beckybutty likes this.
  17. Very nice bus :cool:
     
    Beckybutty likes this.
  18. Lovely bus Becky, hope to see it for real one day!!!
    Also thanks very much for all the advice when we we're both importing at the same time last year!!!
     
    Beckybutty likes this.
  19. Hey @Lee C how's yours coming along?
     
  20. Looks Great Becky , the dream begins :thumbsup:
     
    Beckybutty likes this.

Share This Page