At last! My '64 Split Panel!

[Retrobug]

from the top shelf Gavin!
She looks brilliant!
What do you have planned for her wheels?
Standard with hubcaps I hope!

[GavinHuart]

More...

[GavinHuart]

Last... for now.

[GavinHuart]

from the top shelf Gavin!
She looks brilliant!
What do you have planned for her wheels?
Standard with hubcaps I hope!

Thanks Retro bug! You'll see in the later pics that I have large-logo hubcaps on the 14" bus rims. Calooker organized the hubcaps, Pierre, the rims.

[Retrobug]

saw the later photos, had to mop my keyboard before it shorted out from drool!
Can't wait to see her in the metal!

[jolas]

great to finally see it on the road, well done to all involved

[MarshallGTi]

ek dink my broekies is nou bietkie nat........
looks really good and definitely some top notch resto work there. u must be smiling like a madman

[CooP]

Agree with Marshall, awesome job and stunning paint.

[MarshallGTi]

any updates?

[GavinHuart]

Hi MarshallGTI,

Not really, no. We did strip out and renew the RGB bearings entirely a short while ago but I think I may have mentioned that. If not, well... we did . The RGB oil leak was tended to as well so no more leaks . Then, about two weeks ago the bus had a standard service which I did with the help of Merlin. New fuel hoses, oil, filter, plugs etc. Bill has also let me know my original 34-3 carb' should be ready from it's rebuild any day soon so that's next to go on. It runs well on the adapted 32 carb' on there at the moment but not as good as it had before with the 34.

I need to take the bus to my upholsterer for a full front-to-back carpet set as well as have the head liner completed all the way through. The final leg will be to sound-deaden and panel the inside and have my brother create a semi-camper interior. All of that will only happen in quite some time.

The bus gets driven at least once a week to work and every weekend for fun and to help collect stock for my friends business. Yesterday we had it laden with stock for delivery at Discovery Health. It drives beautifully with load in it

I did sneak to Emmarentia Dam this past weekend for a bit of a laze about with some mates. There are a few shoddy pics attached

[MarshallGTi]

thats seems to be just about enough space for groceries methinks
bus looks great...

[retrovan]

Very, Very nice, well done, see you retained the "walk-through" Niiiiiccee.
Now the fiddling can start, that final though, that can take years to perfect.
Enjoy.
Herman

[karmakoma]

How did I miss the completion?! WOW, the bus looks FAAANNNTTTAASTTIC

Congratulations Gavin. Smiles all round I am sure.

[fig]

Awesome work Gavin. Your bus looks fantastic. It would be great to show it to the PPO (Pre-Pierre owner) and see their reaction.

This is how Gavin's bus looked two years ago at Vaal Ou Wiele:

[GavinHuart]

Wow! Showered yet again with compliments . Thank you guys

@ karma - Hahaha! You snooze, you lose . Seriously though, this was one of the most extensive "rebuilds" done in the shortest time that I know of. And don't think anything quality-wise was compromised . Pierre and his guys have been nothing short of fantastic! A pat on the back to me too, bigheaded as it may be, but I've gotten down and dirty on EVERY occasion to get this bus sorted. Pierre laughed many times at me when I left his place as it was only the whites of my eyes visible through the grease and grime

@ Retorvan - Why thank you I really like the walkthrough option . No, it's not "ideal" but I was left without much choice being nearly 7-foot tall and needing the seat further back . Either way, it's great and I saw the benefit this weekend being able to do the dash from back to front to change radio stations while lazing about at the dam . What I like about where the bus is now is that it's perfectly serviceable as is so the interior stuff in the back can be a work in progress. Since completion, I've had to use this bus to cart a massive old antique table, amongst many other cumbersome things, and it was an absolute pleasure! There's no denying; a Panel van is very handy .

@ Fig - Thank you for the compliments . Apparently Pierre did show a few of the pictures of it being panel beaten to the PPO (in George) who was very impressed . I'd like for the Portuguese guy, who owned it before the PPO, to see it. I'm convinced he was the one responsible for the gruesome foam-and-foiling !

I'm really enjoying this bus and drive it whenever I can! It's with me at work today . I do want to arrange with a friend of mine at Media 24 to take a few professional shots of both it and Daisy when she's completed. Watch this space...