Specification

Built On : 13th October 1964 ( 1965 Model year )

Left Factory : ? Awaiting details from VW Museum

Destined for : UJ - USA - Jacksonville

Model : LHD Devon Camper - Previously Microbus seven-seater - Walk-thru'

M Codes : 425 - Seat belts and mounting points
               002 - Preheat Flap Delete
               081 - Walk-thru' model
               091 - Whitewall tyres
               114 - 6 popout windows

Extras : Ambulance fan fitted to airbox in cab, ultra rare harp mirror arms

Original Registration number : 1DVJ136 Previously registered in Hawaii & Cali'

Date Acquired : 25th August 2003

Colour : Top - Blue White ( L289/17), Bottom - Sea Blue (L360/12)

Engine : 1600cc Dual Port Single Carb, K & N Filter, Piper stainless steel exhaust.

Transmission : IRS conversion using 1971 bay window parts, 1300 IRS beetle gearbox

Suspension : Creative Engineering adjustable rear spring plates, ride height adjustable front beam. Avo coilover front suspension and spax, fully adjustable, rear suspension

Braking : Stock 1965 front drum brakes, Bay window rear drum brakes, Copper brakelines throughout, Custom & Speed Parts (CSP) Dual circuit braking system

Interior : Devon Spaceway (walk-thru) camper conversion hand made due to LHD, full TMI interior, New headlining, Polished door sill plates, Chrome interior door handles, oil temperature and pressure gauges, Creative Engineering Jailbars, new repro interior rear veiw mirror, new Wolfsburg West grab handles and dash knobs, new rubber cab floor mat, new rubber pedal covers, fully restored stock steering wheel, Gene Berg shifter.

Bodywork : Full restoration carried out by previous owner, US spec bumpers, Creative Engineering deluxe trim, Creative Engineering front safari's, 6 pop-out windows, ultra rare harp mirror arms with polished mirrors, rechromed door handles, chrome jacking point covers, single key working all locks, custom CNC machined number plate.

Wheels and Tyres : Fully polished 14" Fuchs wheels with hand detailed centre caps. Yokohame S306 tyres - 165-60-14 front, 195-65-14 rear

History : From what I know this bus was shipped to Jacksonville FL then made its way across to California and was then finally imported into England sometime in 1998-1999. The previous owner Paul Grimley found it after spotting it in a small advert. It was in a pretty poor condition with dents and fairly heavy rusting to the roof and the gutters. The white paint it was wearing was poorly applied and there was a large red cross painted on the front. The inside needed work with pyschedelic material used as curtains and covers and was covered in 'California Drug Enforcement' stickers aswell as 'Pro Cannabis' stickers.But the underneath was solid so it was sold. On its strip down the roof was found to be far worse than first thought. The rust on the roof was so bad that Paul found a length of dexion welded on to prevent the rear hatch falling off!!

From then on the vehicle was fully restored into its present condition by Paul who carried out all the work himself. The whole process took 4 years!

The van has loads of special features that Paul has made and bought. Special parts include the exhaust which is a modified piper stainless steel item made for a bay window which has been modified fit. The interior is very special and is a custom made copy of the Devon interior. As the vehicle is LHD and Devon conversions were for RHD this had to be made using parts from a RHD vehicle and other panels made from white oak. The IRS conversion is also a custom made item with parts from a late Bay window. The trailing arms were cut down to size and and then Paul fabricated his own inner mounts to hold them. Since i've owned the bus the drums and centre hubs have then been redrilled for porsche pattern fitment.

For a full detailed write-up please read issue 6 of Ultra VW which has a full feature on the van! It even graces the front cover

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