Time to come out of the shadows and share a few photos of our new Aussie van that's currently heading this way. It's be a long process trying to find what we were looking for but finally settled on a bare shell from Australia. We've just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary so rather than a big party or expensive foreign holiday we decided to bite the bullet and make a long term investment that should give us what we are looking for. She's a rust free shell with minor blemishes, that's coming in with no engine or interior. She was hit by a falling branch in 1985, purchased with a view to repair but was stored away and the job never got started. The engine was robbed for another job and she has just sat waiting for us to come along and give her a new lease of life. So the answer to the damaged roof is to cut the top from a deceased van, ship it over to the UK and then transplant the pop top into position. The purchase, importing and initial work by SouthWest Splitz in Exeter. The interior work is being planned and I will carry this out myself once we get her home. Transplant roof loaded and ready for shipping. and into the container with another van and mini ready for the long trip to the UK. There has been some fun and games getting this far and I'll update some more details as things progress. Current ETA into Southampton later in May.
Coolio - your replacement roof has one eff off sunroof/gunturret hole in the front over the cab!! Check the mattress for large spiders too!
Stop stealing our vans ACT (Australian Capitol Territory) plates, providing it hasn't been at the coast much it should be fairly rust free.
Thanks for the comments, there has been huge disbelief that she's in transit and now really can't believe she's nearly in the country. I didn't fancy the "is she here yet?" posts that @Drifting Bear suffered so I started a blog that has a bit more info if anyone's interested http://anni-van.blogspot.co.uk/
Sorry I can't apologise , having looked at vans in this country that have really suffered with the weather and the effects of bodging previous owners a genuine van from down under seemed the only option as we wanted a keeper. I haven't heard of ACT before but that stacks up, she was stored in a yard near Canberra so doesn't look as though she has traveled very far.
Haha I hope it arrives soon and the shipping company are keeping you informed! Mine was well worth the wait... hope yours is too! Just wondering, as its coming from australia, does it have to be fumigated before it arrives? Luckily I didn't find any nasties in mine.
ACT is, to all intents, Canberra. The nations capitol, full of public servants & very little else. Although they do have some good museums & art galleries.
great news you've found one and its on its way looks like a nice project .....I'll be looking forward to your updates
How exciting. My last one was an ausie bay in the same colour... good solid buses from down under keep us posted and good luck. is the mini yours aswell?
I see the container is MSC...............I hope you dont have problems with that shipping line, they have a reputation for burning, sinking, and cracking in half!! MAKE SURE YOU ARE FULLY COVERED FOR ALL MARINE RISKS Tony
