Innehållsförteckning för Issue 152 från VWt

THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT... As I sit at my laptop writing this, I am left wondering where the year has gone? It seems like we didn’t really get much of a summer and from a personal perspective, when planning a weekend or daytrip away in my sorely missed ’84 Westfalia it was a case of checking the forecast on my iphone first before leaving the house. If the forecast looked rubbish, I’d take a rain check. Literally. To be honest, now the clocks have gone back, I’ve already started to focus on next year. Excitingly, by the time you read this I’ll have the keys in my pocket to the Night Blue T5.1 Caravelle you’ll have seen being worked on in our regular ‘Our Vans’ section. Having caught a train from…

You know what they say about best laid plans. Well, when it comes to restoring old cars, things going awry are often the least of your problems. Even those with years of professional experience under their belts can be all too easily lulled into a false sense of security by a shiny paint job, or the whiff of a fast buck from a bargain buy, only to have their plans of an easy life scuppered by the hidden gremlins that are revealed as the build progresses. One man who knows this story only too well is 33-year-old children’s support worker Patrick Evans. As a long-time fan of both classic and contemporary VW camper vans, Patrick – better known as Paddy to his mates – had always longed for a van…

Having bought his first T4 over two decades ago, it’s easy to see where Andy Stretton’s passion for Transporters began. And indeed, why he now heads up the scene’s go-to specialist, Transporter HQ. Yes, that’s right, the Leicestershire firm who’s website we all dreamily peruse for our next performance, handling or VW Transporter accessory. Anyway, the ID.Buzz you see here is theirs – it’s something they purchased new in November 2022 for Andy to get to know, so the company could work their magic developing fresh and exciting new products – and make it look even more cool, of course. Said Andy: “We got it because it has a VW badge and we love anything VW. Also, we could see the potential for the Buzz to become very popular to…

We intended to renew the DMF on our Caravelle this month, but it’s a full day (or more) in the workshop and we’ve not had ramp time available at the moment. We will cover this in the next issue. So, it gave me time instead to send our Caravelle T5.1 to the bodyshop for some small repairs and full respray of the rear tailgate. As you’ll all know, Transporters can come with two types of tailgate – either one large panel, hinged from the roof area or with twin barn type doors, opening outwards and hinged from the side of the van. There’s pros and cons to each but most people prefer the tailgate, not least because being so big it offers excellent shelter when it’s raining! I sent the…

Own a super-tasty Transporter, Crafter or Multivan and want it featured in these very pages? Then show us what you’ve got! Please e-mail a good selection of images that show the exterior and interior of your van to ian.cushway@kelsey.co.uk along with a spec list and add the subject title ‘Feature me VWt’. If we like what we see, we’ll get back to you ASAP about the possibility of a full VWt magazine feature shoot. So, what are you waiting for? Get snapping and show us your van, we’d love to see it!…

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ NEW CALIFORNIA SPECS CONFIRMED Described by VW as “The most versatile and innovative version yet of the brand’s most popular campervan”, it seems every aspect of the new California has been revisited, making it smarter, more spacious and even more sophisticated. At the same time, it’s still got a bit of cool, classic air-cooled vibe about it with with its two-tone paint finish. Buyers have the choice of Mono Silver/Energetic Orange metallic, Deep Black Pearl/Fontana Red metallic and Candy White solid/Starlight Blue metallic. And if none of those appeal, there’s 11 single-tone colour finishes as well. What’s more, the pop-up roof’s three-layer bellows can be configured in three colours – Toffee Brown, Glacier Blue and Basalt Grey to match so you could certainly conjur up something pretty snazzy.…

OUTBACK EXPLORER There are quite a few conversion kits for the Transporter’s rear flanks, but this one from Cambridgeshire-based firm Outback is quite possibly one of the most versatile. Best of all, it can transform your van in just 30 minutes! It’s the creation of Will Collier and Jack Schneider – two industrial product designers with a shared passion for vanlife – taking over two years of product development and fine-tuning to get it exactly as they envisioned. Said Will, “We really wanted to reshape how people think about their vans, for both work and leisure. Converting it doesn’t need to be a lengthy process, watching countless hours of YouTube videos and making constant trips to DIY shops. With safety at the forefront of everything we do, we designed a…

Lee Darch and Samantha Russell began their camping exploits some 25 years ago with a tent. Compared to the stunning, Indium Grey VW T6.1 high-top Transporter they own now, there couldn’t be a greater contrast! Converted from a Panel Van in just five weeks by Camperkraft in Cheshire, the couple are over the moon with their new campervan and can’t wait to put it to good use. “We bought our first tent back in 1996 when our first daughter was born,” Sam tells us. “By the time our second daughter came along four years later we’d enjoyed camping that much we decided to buy a bigger frame tent.” Compared to the more advanced canvas offerings today, a frame tent took some getting used to, especially when it came to erecting…

NOVEMBER 29th – 01 Dec CHRISTMAS CAMPOUT Croft Farm Water Park, nr Tewksbury Croftfarmwaterpark.com FEBRUARY 2025 18th – 23rd CARAVAN CAMPING & MOTORHOME SHOW NEC Birmingham Ccmshow.co.uk 23rd VEE DUB SHOW Stafford Showground ST1 0BDveedubshow.co.uk MARCH 2025 9th ULTIMATE DUBS Telford International Centre, Telford TF3 4JH ultimate-dubs.co.uk 23rd VOLKSWORLD SHOW South of England Showground, Ardingly, W Sussex TBC APRIL 2025 25th – 27th ALIVE & KICKIN Haughley Park, SuffolkAliveandvdubbing.co.uk GET ADDED Got a meet or event that should be in here? Drop us an email to ian.cushway@kelsey.co.uk*Please note dates and venues are subject to change. So please check website for latest details.…

There’s a lot to be gained from letting the professionals take the strain. While it may seem more expensive on the face of it, by choosing to use a trusted specialist, the years of knowledge and experience, not to mention the availability of appropriate tools and equipment they possess, can often mean the job is accomplished quicker, with less chance of problems and completed to a higher standard. After all, there’s nothing worse than getting halfway through a challenging task only to realise you haven’t got the right tool for the job. Then, to add insult to injury, you find the price of the tool is more than the cost of hiring a professional in the first place! Doh! However, while all this remains patently true, there are still those…

For as long as he can remember, Simon has been a huge fan of camping. Even stepping back as far as the late ’70s and ’80s, he still holds fond memories of nights away with his parents, usually in a trailer tent or caravan. As he reached adulthood, that tradition would show no signs of slowing down, “I met my wife, Lisa, in 1997 and introduced her to all the fun that could be had while camping”, he smiles, “along with family and friends, we’d spend nights away in one of our many caravans we’ve owned over the years”. In fact, only a few years ago, Simon and Lisa had managed to upgrade to a plush German-built Knaus Lifestyle caravan complete with breakfast bar and underfloor heating. Any thoughts of…

TransporterHQ’s Pre-Facelift BBQ was an event that brought together the vibrant and passionate VW Transporter community, specifically fans of the pre-facelift models. On a sunny afternoon, VW enthusiasts gathered to showcase their beloved vans, swap stories, and share their love for the iconic VW Transporter and it provided a fantastic opportunity for Transporter fans to come together, connect, and admire the variety of pre-facelift vans on display. The highlight of the day was the prize-giving ceremony, where some of the best pre-facelift vans were recognised for their style, craftsmanship, and individuality. A GATHERING OF CLASSIC PRE-FACELIFT VANS TransporterHQ’s BBQ was all about celebrating the pre-facelift models, and fans of the classic style were out in full force. Enthusiasts traveled from near and far to attend, bringing with them an impressive…

Your world, your life...…