Innehållsförteckning för Issue 113 från VWt

A few weeks ago, I was chatting to my better half, and we were discussing what a crazy year it’s been and how we were pretty amazed that we still hadn’t caught Covid-19, or knew of anyone close to us that had recently got it. Don’t get me wrong, we have, and still are being really careful, it comes with the territory when you have a little one. But we’d still been going about our business. Then, guess what?! Yep, the next week we got it. First my little one, then me, the missus and then my eldest. Yes, we’ve been vaccinated, but it was still horrendous. Luckily this time of year, due to the long dark nights and unpredictable weather we tend to be a little bit more organised…

It can be pretty hard to build something standout in this wonderful scene of ours; there are so many people from diverse walks of life in the VW scene, all with their own creative take on life; this is the reason why it’s hard to come up with something truly original. Let’s face it, is any idea ever truly original nowadays? We all build cars with a certain set of influences in mind as a virtual mood board when we set out to build and Paul Merrit from Hippo Campers in Andover is no different. Being that building campers is his business and adding that to the fact that he’s not a fan of building lowered campers, he had to think outside the box to build something that would work…

ODYSSEY ACTIVEWEAR Lightweight, breathable, quick-drying, and available in loads of unique designs. These performance jerseys from Odyssey Activewear are ideal for camping, mountain biking, hiking or whenever your clothing must deal with adverse moisture conditions. Their Camo Series has been completely created from scratch – not some generic, off-the-shelf camo pattern graphic - and each layer features a unique layout of abstract shapes, with different levels of detail. Grab a ‘sleeves-only’ camo style, or full print with a faded torso. Available in a variety of styles and sizes small to XXL. We can’t promise it’ll make you a master of disguise, but you’ll definitely look cool. Well, if anyone can see you. Price £40 www.odysseyactivewear.com THQ MUG Winter is coming, so it’s time to put away the chilled drinks and…

If you saw last month’s magazine, you’ll know I’m a very happy man, as not only have I finally snapped up some wheels but a very rare set at that, a stunning set of Rotiform FUCs, one of only three sets in a Transporter fitment that I know of in the UK. But, after my trip to Transporter HQ in Leicestershire and descendance back down from cloud nine the hard work began. It’s fair to say the FUCs did not like being left to the elements, especially unprotected as they’d started to pit, stain and tarnish from water spots. Plus, thanks to some left-over brake dust and road grime, there was lots of surface corrosion. Luckily it was nothing a bit of elbow grease and some Autosol wouldn’t sort out.…

FLAWLESS WE GET THE EXCLUSIVE ON ANDY RAPKINS’ BAGGED FASHION GREY ‘6.1-FACELIFTED T5.1.. AND TO THINK HE HAD TO ASK US IF IT WAS FEATURE WORTHY! Plus The world’s greatest feature vans, events, guides, news, products and more Transporter related tomfoolery than you can shake a dipstick at… Don’t miss it! To subscribe visit here: http://shop.kelsey.co.uk/subscription/VWT *Contents of the next issue may be subject to change…

It’s one of the things mums and dads with a penchant for a customised car fear the most. Once you’ve brought that little bundle of joy kicking, screaming and vomiting into your world, what are you going to do with that super impractical ride sitting on the driveway? For a start, you’re going to need some decent access to the back seat so a two-door hot hatch, or that slammed ‘67 beetle is most likely not going to cut it. Also, a quick ride around the block is a well-known remedy for a baby that can’t get to sleep. Firing up a raucous, burbling GTi bouncing around on maxed out coilovers is probably not going to help your cause either. It gets further complex when your family begins to outnumber…

NAVIS GP-7 According to the Chinese zodiac calendar, last year was the Year of the Rat - kind of figures really – and this year it’s the turn of the Ox. But for us, in the only calendar that matters, the one of smoking hot new rims, we think it’s fair to say 2021 has well and truly been the year of the Navis. They’ve gone from unheard ofs to heavyweights of the Transporter scene in a little over a year. First, we had the super-tough Twin-5 alloy wheel, then those sexy steels in the shape of the Holey and the Schmoov and most recently the mighty MAC-AT Swamper style wheel. And they’re back again, with their latest big hitting, all conquering design... ladies and gentlemen say hello to the…

It’s called the car scene, the van scene, the Volkswagen scene but they are all misnomers. What it really is, is a people scene. The cars and the vans are cool, but they are nothing without the people behind them. Dan Longhurst is one of the special people. Not only because he has been crushing it living with cystic fibrosis, but because of what he’s doing in the name of raising awareness and funding to research the genetic condition. Much of his inspiration comes from the American entrepreneur and founder of Beats Electronic, Jimmy Iovine’s words used in the intro to Dr. Dre’s song ‘All in a day’s work’ where he says “I always felt that I had to work harder than the next guy, just to do as well…

So let’s talk more about the stripes and how they suit anything from the 1970s. Chevy van: check. Bay Window Bus: check. Early MK1 Golf: check. Toyota Pickup? Let’s just say that my most recent project purchase is a white ’78 Toyota SR5 pickup with the grey and black factory stripe kit, so when editor Glenn showed me these pics I was instantly enthused by basically the same look as my truck on a T6… The original stripes are basically the reason I got into buying one of these pickups in the first place; oh so 70s and oh so cool. Glenn, I dare you (dare excepted – Glenn) to run a pic of my Toyota to illustrate my point.…

Winter can be a dreary time of the year, the long light nights are long gone, the expense of Christmas and all its festivities are creeping up. Couple that with the continuous coronavirus uncertainties, it’s very tempting to give up on improving your van and just forget about it until things get back to normal. But to us dedicated enthusiasts, our vans are much more than a simple means of transport; they’re our passion, our hobby, our way of life. And it’s precisely at times like these, when everything feels a bit grey, that we need our vans to give us that escape from all the doom and gloom of the real world and to give us something positive to focus our attention on. The great news is, there are…

The Mk7 Golf GTD seats in my T5.1 both look and feel incredible, especially after adding arm rests from a T6 to them (see issue 106 on how to do this). However, it’s not much good if they don’t line up with the pedals and steering wheel on the van! The Golf seat runners are a little wider than the T5 seat runners and subsequently the T5 base. In fact, the T5 runners / seat base are just under 80mm narrower than those from a Golf. They are also around 20mm longer front to back). You can simply put a larger piece of flat bar or box section over the base (with 40mm over each side of the base), however if you do this centrally because of the way the…

LOVING VANS TO THE MAX Hiya VWt, Thanks for inviting us on to your TRAX display stand at Silverstone. It was our first family show together, myself, my wife Kelly and our 2-year-old son Max who was very enthusiastic about helping with the cleaning on the day. We all had a great time, there was so much to see. Max loved the remote-control cars and of course the VW vans, which he is obsessed with, since he seems to think all vans belong to his daddy ha-a, I wish! It was great to see the cars on the track, especially as we have never been to Silverstone before. Thanks so much! Sam Huggins via Instagram VWt: Hey Sam, our pleasure! Looking at the photos it seems Max did a very…

As cool as the outside of this van is, I really like the upholstery treatment. It could have been a lot more in yer face, but Paul rightly erred on the side of caution and kept things subtle, with the logos only subtly stitched into the headrest of each seat, independent of the stripes on the seatbacks, which helps them to stand out. Having the design over a light grey background makes a direct link to the racing suit worn by McQueen in the film. If you’ve never seen it, you can rent the original 1971 version on Amazon Prime or check out the trailer on YouTube to see what I mean.…

A few years ago, before I worked at VWt I remember scanning YouTube, looking for videos to pass the time of day when I came across one titled ‘Lowdown Transporters BBQ’ by The Other Guys UK. I hit play, looking for my daily dopamine hit of Transporters, but the video started not as expected. There was no in your face YouToober shouting superlatives or some god-awful piece of generic dance music, nope, there was just a chilled laid-back beat, a trumpet, and the voice of Alan Watts who said the following: “When we finally got down to something, which the individual says he really wants to do, I will say to him, you do that and forget the money. Because, if you say that getting the money is the most…

What does your retirement look like? I mean, in your mind if you’re not there already. Wouldn’t it be great to build a company that was so successful that you could sell up at 55-years-old and not have to worry about working again? Pie in the sky, right? Well, not for Andy Kitcher. He played the game and won. Part of the reward is splashed across these pages, manifested as a brand-new conversion out of Ecowagon in Cornwall. It’s ok, we’re all jealous. You are not alone. Many of the early days of his retirement were enjoyed along with wife, Michelle onboard their 29ft day boat on the River Thames. “Boats – well, sailing – is another passion of mine,” says Andy. “I had the idea that we could sell…

JO BRAY HARME’S 2017 T6 Hey VWt, originally a nine-seater white shuttle Bus Matilda was created to give a Retro-Modern feel. The styling of the old classics with the reliability and safety of a new T6. I wanted a completely unique shaped seating arrangement incorporated with a Rock n Roll bed. At night this gives a wide, long bed area. The Skyline pop up roof sleeps two adults and the scenic zip option enables you to sit and chill there during the day. There is a mobile ottoman that makes up a U shape, but at night you can sit on the folded, double passenger seat to allow the bed to be pulled out. The seating is soft, two-tone real leather. The corner kitchen has a double hob, sink and…