1958 South African PG/SG - Help in finding her history!

[Will Weston]

Hello Aircooled SA,

DO YOU RECOGNISE THIS VAN?

This is a last ditch attempt to find the lost photos of my 1958 PGSG standard. In 2007 I purchased the van from Adrian Braham. He was a South African who ran a restoration firm "Classy Campers" in Western-Super-Mare near Bristol in England that imported van from South Africa.

I put a deposit on the van the day he put it up for sale, and arranged to stay at his place and help work on the van prior to its MOT. I was shown some amazing pictures of the van as it was found in South Africa. It was in the original owners back yard, from memory it was outside and waste deep in grass in the back garden of the first owners house in Durban. She was apparently an elderly lady who was frequently asked during the previous few years if she was interested in selling the vehicle.

After collecting the van, I never received these pictures. Unfortunately Classy Campers is now no longer open due to an apparent dispute/court case with a client.
After considerable research I think he now runs a business called JAS conversions, but he is simply impossible to reach. I have sent emails, letters (to his old address) and phoned the company over the last 5 years, and I have heard nothing. I don't think he wants to be found.

I am aware that Adrian used to use air-cooled VW SA. Recently I also managed to find one of his van scouts, Scott Wilson. Unfortunately he had never seen the bus before, but has promised to email around for me.

The old South African license plate to the van was IP103 952
Attached are some photos of the van being loaded onto the container and some of it when it was landed in the UK.

She is fully restored now, everything but the patina. A polished turd you might say.

If you recognise any of these photos/know of anyone who might, PLEASE RESPOND!

Happy Cruising!
:C )

[Klaus]

This is going to be fun....

Running for some popcorn

[fig]

Welcome to ACVWSA Will. And congratulations on your wonderful bus. PG/SG is my favourite colour combo and I've been looking for one for years.

You'll find (if you don't already know) that we saffers are very sensitive about all the dry buses that have been exported from here to the UK. As a result, both Ady and Scott are personae non grata here, although they probably both lurk under unknown user names. We won't get into the export debate here, but we won't hold it against you that you have one of "our" buses; we can see you are an enthusiast and that you've shown your bus the respect it deserves.

The original reg was TP, not IP, which stood for Transvaal Pretoria. I've never seen your bus so I can't help, but someone here may have tried to buy it from the PO and might give you more info.

A number of the UK exporters used a local (Pretoria) guy called Floris Coetzee as their spotter. He probably sourced this bus for them and may have taken the pics you refer to. I have no idea how to contact him.

Good luck with your quest!

[Will Weston]

Welcome to ACVWSA Will. And congratulations on your wonderful bus. PG/SG is my favourite colour combo and I've been looking for one for years.

You'll find (if you don't already know) that we saffers are very sensitive about all the dry buses that have been exported from here to the UK. As a result, both Ady and Scott are personae non grata here, although they probably both lurk under unknown user names. We won't get into the export debate here, but we won't hold it against you that you have one of "our" buses; we can see you are an enthusiast and that you've shown your bus the respect it deserves.

The original reg was TP, not IP, which stood for Transvaal Pretoria. I've never seen your bus so I can't help, but someone here may have tried to buy it from the PO and might give you more info.

A number of the UK exporters used a local (Pretoria) guy called Floris Coetzee as their spotter. He probably sourced this bus for them and may have taken the pics you refer to. I have no idea how to contact him.

Good luck with your quest!

Thanks for the help fig,

If I'm honest, I've really been avoiding posting anything about this bus to an SA audience due to the history of... well the whole thing really. But after a looooong time searching else where forums are pretty much my last chance. I don't want this to be a "look what I've got" thread to any readers as Im not here to brag. The UK and much of Europe has been importing vans over the last couple of decades like crazy, but for what its worth I'm grateful as this tin can was both my dream car and my first car!

The van used to be a member of the AA motoring club and has the 1950's logo and sticker for "Sud Afrika", There is an old dutch tax disc too. Along with a SA sticker of course. She's still South African in my books. Is there a registry office in Pretoria which may have a historical index I can look into?

This may seem like a wild goose chase, but do you know what Floris Coetzee looks like? There are a few face on linked in:
http://za.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Floris/Coetzee

[fig]

This may seem like a wild goose chase, but do you know what Floris Coetzee looks like? There are a few face on linked in:
http://za.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Floris/Coetzee

I have met him, but not for many years; I really don't remember what he looks like and I doubt he's a linkedin kind of guy. You might want to try the one who gives no personal info.

[fig]

The original reg was TP, not IP, which stood for Transvaal Pretoria.

Since the bus was found in Durban, another possibility on the reg is NP, Natal Pietermaritzburg.

Unlike the UK and Europe, our registration records contain almost no historical info, and what is there is usually highly suspect. The only info is "year of first liability for registration" and previous 3 registration numbers. No personal info on record except the current registered owner. Also, anything with the old black and white plates never made it onto the computerised record, so your bus never existed as far as the SA licensing authorities are concerned.

Another former local exporter who is closer to Dbn and Pmb is a guy called Justin Gossman?? I've PMed you his phone number.

[Jdt1976]

Will Adrian's cell number be of help or did you give up on that route?

[Will Weston]

Another former local exporter who is closer to Dbn and Pmb is a guy called Justin Gossman?? I've PMed you his phone number

Thanks fig,

You're a champ. I'll try and call Justin and see if he has any recollection. Thanks for the advise on the plates too. I've already emailed SA Number plate authority earlier today but I assumed from what your saying they will be able to do little to help. Lets see if the planets align...

(Heres she is today. Nice and dry and being looked after abroad)

[Will Weston]

Will Adrian's cell number be of help or did you give up on that route?

Shit the bed! Are you in contact with him?!

He dropped off the map for a few years but since I saw his name pop up in a T4/T5 VW mag article I've been ringing the business phone frequently to no avail.
I've managed to get a work email address for him from a receptionist, so fingers crossed this is his active email.

Do you recognise the van at all?

[Jdt1976]

Will,

I did PMd you all his details.
No, I am not in contact with him and don't know the bus. I am sure it quietly dissapeared out the country like most of the busses that gets exported.

Keep us updated...

[Will Weston]

Thanks Jdt,

I've been away the last few days but this is a serious lead for me. I'll try and give him a call over the next few days.
Thanks guys, Ill keep you updated if I find anything.

Regards -Willy

[fig]

I couldn't see the pics first time I read this post. Now that I see them the reg is definitely TP.