Hi all. Newbie warning so be gentle. I'm trying to discover exactly what conversion my van is. I'm not willing to rip it out to redo it without a general direction. I.e save the original or start from scratch. The bus came into the country late 71 and was registered feb 72. Left the factory as a micro bus according to chassis but has deluxe interior trim and the m plate details go cold after the usual UK spec extras and saying it arrived in the UK via Ramsgate!?!. I've got no other plates fitted to the bus after previous restoration. The other confusing issue is what appears to be Devon (pop top) roof vents that have been fitted to the tin top. Was this an option or has some one just cut holes for the sake of it? Sorry about the shoddy photos.
Homemade I'd say though perhaps parts of the previous interior were used? I quite like the seating layout, lots of it! As for the vents - I guess it got hot in there, maybe they sometimes left a dog inside, like people often used to do in the bad old days.
I'm starting to think it is a custom job. The lay out is clever and converts into a good sized bed with a peace of wood cut to shape stored behind the side bench. So then the space above the engine bay is kept as storage. It's so close to a Danbury with that option of lay out but nothing is on rails like Danbury interiors for different set ups.
I think its one of the Devon conversions? My Devon splittie used to have that configuration (very similar). Its over 40 years old you dont know what interior it came with originally or roof? People mess with them? Eitherway make it your own and enjoy it.
Its a lay out that actually works for us as a family at the moment but could do with a few tweaks to get the best out of it. I'm still undecided on the roof vents, they do function but just get a bit of getting used to in appearance. Stan do you have any pics?
looks a prototype bay ,moon hubs,low indicators,wrap around bumpers,wing mirror sideways.... Got a bigger picture of the bus?
Sorry it was a long time ago? Its one of these I think? Mine was a '64 model year.Good website for vw brocures: http://www.devonmoonraker.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bay/1964_Devon_Caravette.pdf Main page: http://www.devonmoonraker.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/OthersalesBrochures.html Look at 1971 eurovette etc Roof vents are good, for the 2 days we get hot weather you will thank it!
The thing that makes it look "wrong" as an interior designed for a bay is the way the cooker cupboard overlaps the slding door hole by quite a bit. I don't remember ever seeing another that fits like this. I'm not an interior anorak though, I like home brew ones best.
Great information. Thanks for that. So my reading through that lot it's looks like it's more Devon with extras than what I though as it being a Danbury with added devon parts. I don't half pick em !!!!
It is a strange unit. Holds the sink and hobs and has gas bottle storage in the cuboard below. I'm guessing the water tank would of fitted under the rear bench but that's long gone. That side unit is wasted space for me as we never cook in the van so would need to be adapted to a fridge or extra storage or drinks cabinet. Either way the lay out and style has grown on me. If I can manage to keep it looking period but functional and give the interior a freshen up I think it should go down well and hopefully confuse a few people (as it has me).
Isn't there a mystical underling of Devon that made more bespoke one offs but used the format close to the original. I'm sure I read something a while back. Could be myth, could be bull, I could of dreamt it.
Doesn't matter really. Manufacturers would have made bespoke adaptations on their designs under customer request? It was all handmade anyway so you coild change it? My interior was similar to yours in the Bay but I was not convinced it was the original from this van as was not screwed down anywhere ! I made my own but currently redoing it as materials let me down(laminate peeled away) I prefer to do my own as it fits our family needs but I am trying to keep it looking retro by using the Devon style alloy edging for doors cupboards etc.
