Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 121 i VWt

Hello and welcome to issue 121 of VWt magazine. Social media and the internet have changed the way we enjoy, consume and keep up-to-date with the what’s hot and what’s not in the world of VWs and vans. So much in fact, it’s impossible to keep up with it all, especially when you are a four-weekly released title like VWt. That’s why these days for us in the print business it’s not always about exposing things first, but about doing something more in-depth. Also, we’re a bit of a filter, as you don’t need to scroll for hours to get to the good stuff here, nope we serve it up and straight to your fingertips. Now, call me old fashioned, but whilst seeing nice images on a smart phone is…

It’s funny how many things from the air-cooled scene past and present seem to be flowing into the modern van scene. They say that there are no original ideas anymore – everything is a re-hash of old ideas – but if that idea is the first in a particular scene, then it’s original, right? Until recently, where the air-cooled scene is seeing a revival of the ‘80s custom VWs and attitudes, the classic VW scene had become a bit of a play it safe kinda deal, with people not wanting to stray from original paint colours and body mods becoming a bit of a no-no. It’s nice that the van scene is awash with creativity and it definitely makes it more interesting to be a part of.…

It’s time to welcome a new project vehicle on to the VWt fleet. A 2010 twin-slider Caddy Maxi panel van. First up, this van is technically owned by my better-half Jenny. However, although the Caddy isn’t mine, with the T5.1 off the road again (just a rear wheel bearing this time) I’ve been borrowing the Caddy where I can. In fact, before I got the T5.1 I was very close to getting a Caddy Maxi for myself. It’s not quite got the space of the T5.1, but the driving experience is great. That being said, it is very much a panel van at the moment, and it definitely sounds like it could benefit from the same sound deadening treatment my T5.1 had. The Caddy came with a load of history…

First up, apologies for the lack of action on the T5.1 front. The T6 ‘velle has been taking up what little spare time I do have, but that doesn’t mean the 5.1 hasn’t seen the light of day. The complete opposite in fact, as it’s actually done a fair few miles (for a change!) with recent trips to Vanwest, Cruise to the Prom and very recently Bristol Volksfest. However, there’s not been much action on the mods front, but the last few trips away have certainly got me thinking about what’s next for the ol’ girl. Recently when leaving a retail park there was a horrible metal dragging sound coming from under the van, which on closer inspection turned out to be a metal shroud that had worked itself lose…

When you consider this T5 is nearly 20 years old, it puts into perspective just how much work has gone into making it look this good. If we didn’t spill the beans, there’s really very little chance of you guessing its age. Even the dash has been updated with a T5.1 centre console. It’s all down to the skills and vision of 35-year-old owner of PM Tuning, Geno Mellici. Inspired by the JPL Automotive double cab build and the Transporter HQ single cab, Geno decided he wanted in. Not just any old in, he was all in. “I saw them in the flesh at Camperjam,” he recalls. “I immediately started looking for a donor when I got back from the show.” After already building a T5 camper to an incredibly…

HALF-TRACK FOX RESTORED VW Classic Vehicles has just finished bringing a unique 60-year-old vehicle back to life. The ‘Half-track Fox’! This T1 was produced in the Hannover plant in May 1962 and then sent off to its purchaser in Austria. After a short life as a normal T1, it was transformed at the hands of a resourceful Viennese Volkswagen mechanic into an Alpine specialist. Kurt Kretzner converted the Bulli into a T1 with four axles – two of them fitted with a chain drive mechanism and two steering the vehicle using double tyres. And thus, he created the most off-road-capable Bulli ever seen - Swamper crew eat your heart out! MAINLY MOTORHOMES MARKETPLACE A young motoring enthusiast has launched a new online platform for buying and selling campervans. Mainly Motorhomes…

It’s funny how things come in and go out of style and how ideas get adopted in the first place, then become popularised to the point that they are everywhere you look – the Smev/Dometic hob/ sinks and Waeco CRX50 are prime examples – I mean, there are dozens of manufacturers and tons of different models in their ranges, but everyone seems to choose the same make and model in this scene with very few exceptions. But what I’m talking about here are styles of interiors – fabrics, veneers etc. In the ‘60s and ‘70s it was real wood veneers and coloured fabrics in a mid-century style – usually, the rear seat cushions would have fabric on one side and vinyl on the other, so you could protect the fabric…

FULL SPECS: Full dimensions: W3240 x H2000 x D463mm 1 x Modular 5 drawer mobile cabinet, 646mm 1 x Modular 2 door floor cabinet, 680mm 1 x Modular 5 drawer floor cabinet, 680mm 3 x Modular wall cabinets, 680mm 2 x Modular 1 door tall floor cabinet, 600mm 1 x Modular hardwood worktop, 2040mm 3 x Modular back panels, 602mm 2 x Modular side wall single brackets 2 x Modular side wall double brackets VOSSEN HF-7 Vossen make some hot high-end rimmage and this latest offering is no different. Allow us to introduce you to the all-new Hybrid Forged 7 wheel, or the HF-7 to its friends. Derived from its forged counterpart the EVO-5R, the wheel features pocketed spokes, an aggressive split-spoke design and looks that’ll snap necks from a…

Have you found any positives from Brexit yet? Well, here’s the story of at least one although it doesn’t really benefit anyone living in the UK. It does mean we get to perv over this sweet van though, so it’s not all just about blue passports and banana-shaped bananas. Marco Dreves, head honcho at what is now Transporter HQ EU is the man behind the wheel of this ultimate company promotional vehicle. The van can be found parked up daily outside the new company base in The Hague, The Netherlands. With Amsterdam to the north, and Rotterdam to the south it is the perfect location for would-be customers to swing by and take a closer look at what is happening with Transporter customisation in Europe. And trust us when we…

If I could sum up VanWest 2022 in just two words, it would be good vibes. There was something about this show that just oozed all that is great about the scene. From the friendly faces on the gate as I entered Taunton Racecourse with a bang and a thud as the T5.1’s belly hit the floor – I really must remember I have air ride – to the happy show goers and traders. Everything was just nice, friendly and super chilled. It was also aided by the fact the sun gods truly shone down on VanWest. Weather really can make or break a show and with very high temperatures for May, it was like peak summer season, well apart from at night - as it was bloody freezing -…

Send us yours: Ever dreamed about seeing your van appear in the pages of VWt? Make that dream a reality! Simply e-mail a selection of good quality high-res images of your van to glenn.rowswell@kelsey.co.uk along with a full spec list and add the subject title ‘Your Vans’. But please remember, if you didn’t take the photos, you MUST have permission from the photographer to use the images in the magazine, and all images should be free from watermarks, by submitting an image you assume responsibility for any copyright infringement. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s see those project builds! t HOME COMING’S 2011 T5.1 BOX VAN, DUNSTER Hello VWt, growing up in the ‘90s we’d spend most weekends in Woolacombe, Devon, which was and still is very much a…

You have to love those crazy big stack exhausts. It’s Simon at Bevo Tuning who needs a special mention here though for really bringing them to life. Normally found messing about with high performance super cars such as Lamborghinis and Audi R8s, Simon put together a custom 150bhp map for the T5 with extra smoke (yes, Geno wanted smoke) and a hardcut limiter along with a few other bespoke tweaks to suit the build. Geno told us: “There’s no poke without smoke!”…

The interior on this van is cracking. The exterior points to all business as it’s very utilitarian – you’d expect to open the sliding door and be faced by a no-nonsense Stitches + Steel kind of setup but no. The combination of light wood, white and silver cabinets and the cool splashback with Bamboo plants on, as well as a ton of lighting, is very different from most modern camper interiors, where there’s generally a sea of grey blandness – especially many of the factory conversions on offer from various larger/more well-known manufacturers. Top work Yoann!…

Your dream garage is just a credit card purchase away. Check out Draper’s new 16-piece Bunker modular garage storage system. Stunningly designed to be installed inside any garage or workshop to create your ideal storage system and give you some serious bragging rights. We mean c’mon, just look at it! All the units are made from premium-quality steel and have a durable matt black textured industrial powder-coated finish. The floor cabinets are covered by a stylish hardwood worktop (stainless steel version also available) and provide incredibly versatile storage, featuring large cupboards with fully adjustable shelves and smooth soft-close drawers lined with lush foam to protect your tools. There’s also a mobile cabinet with five drawers whilst the fixed base cabinets have adjustable feet for optimal positioning on uneven floors. All…

You might think setting up a whole other company in Europe is a pretty drastic reaction to Brexit, but in fact it is almost the only way to continue to serve the wider market of 500 million people on our doorstep. Export regulations, paperwork, shipping costs and any other kind of red tape you care to mention make selling into Europe from the UK an incredibly expensive and arduous task. By setting up shop in The Netherlands, Transporter HQ have circumnavigated the whole issue and in doing so are bringing their considerable influence to our European cousins ensuring added energy to the modification of vans all over Europe. Check out www.transporterhq.eu for more info and to see their extensive product range.…

Introduced to the delights of camping by his dad at a young age, 32-year-old Ash Jones has gone on to build a career from his love for the great outdoors. “We’d travel to the Yorkshire Dales and my passion for exploring the countryside has remained with me since,” Ash smiles, “I later decided to combine my full-time work with my hobby.” It sounds like the ideal scenario to us and we’re sure there are numerous days where Ash’s role as an Outdoor Instructor doesn’t feel like work at all. “My driveway doesn’t let me park anything other than a VW on it” For many of those earlier years, Ash would rough it in a tent during his camping expeditions, but the desire to graduate towards the comparative luxury of a…

Idon’t think Carl would mind me saying that he’s a Volkswagen guy through and through – he had his Beetle – a ’62 - featured in Volksworld way back in 1997 and has continued his allegiance to the brand, even working for the Volkswagen Group UK. Lisa also has an old Mini, but for Carl, it was always the air-cooled cars that did it for him. He also has a ’65 VW Notchback with lovely patina that will be featured soon in Volksworld. But far from devoting all of his passion to the air-cooled scene and cars, Carl recently busted out this T6 Vanworx build on his Facebook and Insta – I noticed the number plate instantly from his old Beetle – because I’m an anorak like that – and…

JULY 8th – 10th DORSET VOLKSFEST The Showground, Worgret Rd, Wareham BH20 6AB www.dorsetvolksfest.co.uk 8th – 10th VOLKS POWER Redcar Rugby Club, Green Lane, Redcar TS10 3RW www.volkspower.co.uk 8th – 10th VOLKSWEALD Penshurst Place & Gardens, Penshurst, TN11 8DH www.volksweald.co.uk 9th DUBSTAVAL Irthlingborough Road, Finedon, NN9 5EJ www.dubsta.co.uk 10th GRAVITY SHOW NAEC Stoneleigh, Kenilworth, CV8 2LZ www.gravityshow.co.uk 15th – 17th DUBS AT THE CASTLE Caldicot Castle, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, NP26 4HU www.dubsatthecastle.co.uk 22nd – 24th BUG JAM 35 Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough, Northants, NN29 7XA www.bugjam.co.uk 29th – 1st (August) DUBTOBERFEST Cheltenham Racecourse, Evesham Rd, Cheltenham, GL50 4SH www.dubtoberfest.co.uk 31st ENDLESS SUMMER VW SHOW The War Memorial Park, Basingstoke, RG21 4AL @endlesssummervwshow AUGUST 5th – 7th DUBS SOUTH CAMPOUT Limekiln Lane, Dean, Southampton, SO32 1FY www.dubssouthcampout.co.uk 7th BEACH DUBBIN’ Southsea Common,…