Innehållsförteckning för August 2022 från VWT Lifestyle

It was cold on the rear apron at Sandown Park Racecourse in March. The sun had yet to rise very high in the sky and there was a chilling wind. Donning a dayglo tabard to avoid being run over, I’d unwittingly been drummed in to help marshal the early birds – show cars arriving on Friday prior to the weekend’s annual spectacular so they could be delicately pushed into place inside in time for the doors to be flung open the following morning. Thanks to Covid, it had been two years since the posh Esher venue was about to be swamped with enthusiasts coming to see the best, most prestigious collection of air-cooled VWs in the world, so owners were eager to turn up on time. A white T4 drew…

“I’ve always been a VW fan and have owned countless water-cooled German cars in my time, but had a long held hankering for an air-cooled Camper,” remembers 45-year-old medical sales rep, Paul Tyler. “I finally gave in to the urge in 2008 when my wife and I took a punt on a red and white Dormobile T2 with a side opening high-lift roof that we saw on ebay.” The Bus in question was a typical UK example of the breed, with the customary rust issues and a general need for some serious TLC. Having been owned by a surf fanatic previously, who had often used the van for trips to the beach, it meant that the regular coatings in salty sea water had only exacerbated the corrosion problem. “Up for…

HOW TO There’s nothing that lets a nice Bus down like dirty windows and scabby wheels. Indeed, an otherwise clean Transporter can easily be spoilt by rusty rims, the wrong paint combination, ancient tyres and mismatched trim rings which is why we’ve decided to show how to give your steel wheels a DIY makeover this issue. Incidentally, when it comes to tyres, Vintage Tyres (www.vintagetyres.com) are usually very helpful and supply a range of ‘C’ rated tyres to fit VW commercials. Of course, it makes sense to do your wheels first before getting new rubber fitted, so read on to find out how best to tackle them. 01 Remove Wheels To remove the road wheels, you’ll first need to remove the hubcaps. Most people use a screwdriver, which not…

Check out this bad boy. With two steerable axles at the front and a further two chain driven axles out back, this 60-year-old Bus will go just about anywhere. The rarity's up and running again after a full nut and bolt restoration by the good people at VWCV Classic Vehicles. In engineering terms it's probably one of the most unusual T1s ever made. Having left the Hannover plant in May 1962 it was then sent off to its new owner in Austria. After a short time as a bog standard Bus, it was transformed by a resourceful Viennese Volkswagen mechanic, Kurt Kretzner, into a go-anywhere Alpine holdall with four axles – two of them fitted with a chain drive mechanism and two steering the vehicle using double tyres. And thus…

We’re all familiar with LWB variants of the ever-popular T6 Transporter but have you ever wondered what it would be like if VW decided to ‘go big’ and build an XLWB model? The extra space would certainly come in handy while the standard width would usefully remain the same. When Lee Holland of Doncaster Van Conversions and Jo Riley of Jo’s Fab Lab met together over a pint, they came up with the radical plan to build something totally unique. Up until five years ago, Lee worked as an installation engineer on power plants but found himself in need of a change. “At the time I owned a Vauxhall Vivaro camper, if you could call it that,” Lee smiles, “I used the skills I’d learned working in power plants to…

It’s easy to take life and our health for granted until such a point when we are no longer in good health, or we have a family member with a serious health problem. Likewise, many take it for granted when they are expecting a child that their offspring will be born fit and healthy. I know only too well what it’s like to have a child born with complex needs and how difficult this can be, not only for the child but also for the parents and all of the surrounding family. There’s often a need to spend long spells in hospital, which can have a huge impact on families; coping mentally is really tough, especially as, whilst our NHS is wonderful in many ways in caring for patients, there’s…

What Buses have you owned, what’s on your driveway right now? I started off with a ’95 T4 Caravelle 2.5 petrol with LPG conversion which I converted to a full camper with pop-top, etc. It was a great Bus and we went all over France in it. I’ve also owned a ’02 2.5 T4 day van conversion that I used a lot for working away. I still miss that one! I currently own a 2013 5.1 Kombi camper. It’s basically a Swiss Army knife on wheels – it does everything I need it to. So what was your favourite? For looks I’d have to say the ’02 T4, but the T5 is way nicer to drive – so that takes my vote. Where’s the weirdest place you’ve camped in your…

ON TEST Having a telly in a camper is a tad controversial for some. After all, you buy a van to get away from it all, right, so why on earth would you go away and watch endless repeats of Eastenders? Well, there’s a well-versed reply to that. If the weather suddenly turns rubbish, cosying up watching Netflix until the sky clears is a good way to relax in your campervan. Moreover, even if you’re not averse to venturing out in a cagoule, it will prevent kids that are less enthusiastic about getting wet from moaning. Simply put, a TV will give you a few more options... And that’s where this 24in Smart android TV from Cello comes in. Having tried it ourselves, we can confirm it’s an absolutely brilliant…

Part of the excitement of owning a classic, whatever the marque, lies in the quest for information about its past, possibly illustrated with old photos. Even a few faded, dog-eared snaps can put a smile on an owner’s face. However, the current custodian of this Bus struck gold when he unearthed a gallery of images shot when it was brand-new, 62 years ago. And best of all, unlike most photos from that era, they were in colour! We met the caretaker of this fantastic piece of history – a Westfalia SO-23 – during Ohio’s VW & Porsche Reunion last autumn. The event held in Cincinnati always gathers a brilliant mix of Volkswagens, including a pack of Buses neatly parked together. Earl Haas’ Beige Grey and Sealing Wax Red ’60 Westy…

Over the years I’ve grown used to the disappointment. The pattern is often much the same. A fellow traveller approaches us in some far-flung layby, field or car park, evidently drawn by the pleasing combination of red T4 Transporter and green canoe. “Nice setup. Are you living in your van?” For a while we exchange tales of past adventures, trips yet to be made. I might hear about the camper they’re building at home. Then, at some point, comes ‘the’ question. “Is there a chance I could see inside?” I always feel a little sorry for them. As the tailgate starts to lift, or the side door begins its rumbling roll to the rear, you can see it all in their face, for a fleeting moment bright with expectation. “It…