Catriona the Campervan

Discussion in 'Show Us Your Ride' started by Peter Moncur, Jan 27, 2017.

  1. Catriona has come a long way in the last 2 years. Ironically most of the journey has been without her 135k flat four engine.

    Thought I would post some of the high and low lights along the way.

    Hopefully gaining some momentum for the final legs of this crazy restoration. If that's the right word as so much of her will be so different from the way Volkswagen intended. Heated electric RX8 seats for example.

    Before anyone points out how non-spec she is, just thought I would get in first and tell you she was a bit of a mongrel as long as I've known her. First and only bus I had looked at. Couldn't tell a westy from a Devon. So I purchased a bus that had a Devon interior and a Westy roof. Not even the correct Westy roof for her 1973 birth certificate, mind you. Haha

    But funnily enough like that stray dog that follows you home one night and ends up a lovable member of the family; Catriona's idiosyncrasies and uniqueness just make her so much more adorable as the years roll by.

    So without any further ado, some pics of her resto!


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  2. [​IMG]


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  3. [​IMG]

    First job, stripping her down and we cut into the front panel before shot-blasting to get all that nasty rust completely obliterated.


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  4. [​IMG][​IMG]

    Stage 2: Shot-blasting! Certainly made it a lot easier to see what metal was left. Haha


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  5. [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

    That's when I started to appreciate just how much the tin worm had been at work those past four decades.


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    Last edited: Jan 27, 2017
  6. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    good luck with the rebuild progress Peter!
     
  7. A big thanks goes to Ellis Dennis who did a phenomenal job with a his welding torch and started undoing all those decades of deterioration. [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]


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  8. The next enormous debt of gratitude is owed to Graham who undertook the Everest-like mountain of prep work to get Catriona into what has probably been the best shape of her life. No seams between panels for this sleek beauty. But you [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]cannot underestimate the attention to detail and sheer elbow grease this has taken.


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  9. I think madonna put it best: "like an engine, touched for the very first time", well something like that. [​IMG][​IMG]


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  10. And she won't get very far without her shiny new wheels. [​IMG][​IMG]


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  11. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    Very nice work :)
     
  12. Cheers mate. Still a lot to get done after the painting is finished. Planning on priming and painting next couple of weeks to leave her white inside and out. Then fit the engine, disc brakes and suspension before back to the paint shop for the metal flake on her bottom half.


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  13. [​IMG][​IMG]

    Going for a lighter shade with the flake than the testcard. That was over a black base coat. Picked up some new blue flake which I'm hoping will be the right shade sprayed over a blue base coat. So many combinations, but I shall know when we have the right one.

    Two tone with a possibly alpine white rather than the original pastel. Sadly it didn't seem to match the flake.


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  14. Thanks Merlin. Although as mentioned the guys who are most deserving of any praise are Ellis, Graham and Brian without whom, she would never be in the same universe, never mind ballpark as these pics.


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  15. Looking forward to seeing the end result Pete
     
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  16. Cheers Phooey, same here. Getting quite exciting now I can see the finish line in sight.


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  17. delilah

    delilah Sponsor

    What a fantastic job!!
     
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  18. Terrordales

    Terrordales Nightshift

    I'll be interested to see the finished product. :thumbsup:
     
    Peter Moncur likes this.
  19. Thanks guys.


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  20. Thanks mate. I will be sure to post as we go over the next few months.

    Planning a 250W solar panel for the pop top and 30 litre LPG tank underslung to feed the proper heater and gas hob.


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