Time for Rhubarb to act her age and get rid of that make up !

Rhubarbs future

Ok so i have a van that is now solid , roadworthy , taxed insured mot’ed and campable , she isn’t yet beautiful , well she is but only in the eyes of the beholder and the beholder has poor eyesight .

This year we have had the pleasure of camping in her , a forty year old camper with issues , it’s been sublime , after fifteen months of pure slog ; to be actually camping in her is bliss , But –

The previous owner , owners had a funny taste in aftermarket additions , Empi 5 spoke alloys , thirteen inch Empi steering wheel and monza four tip exhaust , they all look good in magazines and suit ratty type vans , but in my opinion make Rhubarb look like mutton dressed up as lamb .

An original vw Westfalia continental came out of the factory with stock wheels , steering wheel and exhaust , they were the cream of the crop and cost a lot more than other conversions on the market , in the uk we had 1600 engines and single carbs fitted , overseas they had far more choice , but in the UK 1600 was your lot .

Looking at my van in its present state i always think of it has not quite right , the mechanic who rammed a car into the rear bumper when the brakes were being done and bent it up didn’t do her any favours but that can be sorted , My issue is with this mutton dressed up as lamb look she ‘s sporting at the mo .

The old stock engine doesn’t need a great big noisy exhaust , i’d rather she purred along with that old familiar tinny sounding lump quietly propelling me along the black top , not some crazy roar that sounds as if shells are about to break free from the big ends , no she was made to glide not roar .

As for that excuse for a steering wheel , well what can i say , fitted to minis that rally ; great , fitted to my van it makes parking a adventure to say the least , coupled with wide tyres it certainly tests the old muscles , Naahh they all have to go and this coming winter pre paint job , they will , i have collected most of the original bits , i am still after a few more !.

Paint job , i am a little stuck on this one , part of me wants to do a Wilma72 and gut her trailer her to the garage i began my apprenticeship and let my old gaffer Ron loose on her , i wouldn’t have much change out of four grand , he is that good , part of me wants to strip her out and spray her myself in my garage but time and space might sideline that one , the likely scenario will be me flatting and priming her and having the bottom half done by my buddy down the road for a few hundred pounds and leaving the interior and top half until the following winter .

The stock look will be next years look for Rhubarb , but this year she can enjoy her last throws of youth

How she looks



The silly steering wheel



The grown up look

 

paint her Marino yellow...its the way forward ;D

 

Bottom half is being done the same colour as the seat vinyl , orangey red .