The story of Whomping Willow

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by damagedduck, Jul 23, 2012.

  1. HERE'S the story of 'Whomping Willow'
    I found Willow sitting a mate's junk lot,he scraps/junks old car & trucks, i called him & drive the bus around for bit, made the deal to buy it for $650 US {419 quid} he bought it at a scrap metal auction, as soon as i saw it --i knew i had to save it because my 18yr old son 'D.J' has always loved Volkswagens,(no idea why? :thinking: )
    So i get on line & Google 1970 VW bus & this site from the U.K is the first thing i find, "thelatebay.com"
    I lurk for a week or 2, i figure what do i have to loose? so i join---the folks on this site are quite MAD-- i tell you >:D ,all they do is talk about buses, :thinking:
    I made a photobucket album and use it as my signature but no one notices it! :-[
    Well this is the build of 'WILLOW' as my son "D.J" named it after we were working on the brakes & he was wiggling the steering wheel & it started to jumping forward like Ron Weasley's father's enchanted Ford Anglia! :))
    I will not post our first 125 pictures here ^-^ (but feel free to look at the album!
    )
    http://photobucket.com/VWbus4DJ
    Here's today newest pictures,i started to throw some paint on her today after sanding for 45-70hrs :'( after looking some of the bays on here i definitely got a head start over some here!





    here's what i would like it to look like when done (if ever!)

    AND yes this is a 'roll on paint job!' (very cheap!) 6-8 coats to go, :-
     
  2. bernjb56

    bernjb56 Supporter

    I looked at the album before - I like how pleased your son looks with his van. I had to make do with a Lambretta when i was his age !

    Looking good with some new paint on :)
     
  3. Nice bus dude and an amzingly cheap price
     
  4. well the update is i changed the flat tire,(after 5 days)

    well DJ decided to work on the front bumper while i was work.... :thinking:

    the must be 20 layers of paint on it!



     
  5. davidoft

    davidoft Sponsor

    cool bus, but get you boy to put on some eye protection, when those wires come of that wire wheel they are very very sharp and very very fast, i have had a few in my nose and lip and if it was an eye, it wouldnt be anymore
     
  6. Oh yes,he got a chewing for that! at least it has tight twist wire wheel on it,he didn't last too long since that scaler weights a metric ton & get hot after awhile,it's close to 40 years old :)) ....no fancy 'new' tools here!
     
  7. we threw some paint on the topside today,i think it's starting look good :thinking:

     
  8. very nice bus :)

    can't belive some one was going to scrap it :eek: ...........it was in better condition than my bus ;D

    K+ for posting
     
  9. looking good keep up the good work x
    ^-^ K+ for rescuing Willow x
     
  10. Nice one DD I would love to live somewhere that I could work outside on my bus without it getting wet ;)
     
  11. How cool is that bus? How cool to have a Dad who will rescue a bus. How COOL TO GET IT AT THAT PRICE!!!
     
  12. I saw the album a couple days ago. You're making great progress. (unlike some of these restoration threads where a year later we're still looking at daily, close-up, before & after photos of every nut, bolt and hinge, while the bus still looks unchanged ::) )
    You have a great looking bus and chose a fantastic shade of red for it.
    I love your cartoon image of your restoration goal. The white-walls with the red rims, along with the side-step REALLY finish the look. I hope you follow through with those. I look forward to seeing your progress.
    I hope you found the threads that cover the importance of proper reinforced tires and those pesky little engine fires we tend to run into.
    Just wanted to be sure you covered those before hitting the road. :thumbsup:
     
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  15. Well i threw some more paint at it,I'm up to 2 coats so far,6 more to go!



     
  16. Beautiful my friend , one beautiful bus ,well done you (and son!)
     
  17. Good find I like people who save old cars. :)
     
  18. looking good :)
     
  19. Wow it's been 2 weeks since i did anything with or to Willow- :-[ i need to wet sand her again & get the black stripe on her-paint the rims, make a rear bumper---
    now i know why i haven't done anything! ^-^
     
  20. I guess i better post some updates :)) last week end i threw some paint on (2coats)

    It bleeds [glow=red,2,300]RED[/glow]



     

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