1965 Single Cab
It's a bit of a long story how we ended up owing this 1965 Swedish Single Cab. It is a 263 model - left hand drive with the chest door on the left.
It started with an email form my good friend Gary Bloom in South Africa, he had found a Fleetline and wondered if we were interested. Confirming we were Gary went to see the bus only to find out it was in fact a rust free 1965 RHD panel van. Again we confirmed we were interested and Gary set up the deal. Unfortunately after a couple months this fell through but as luck would have it Gary was told about a Double Cab for sale but we were pipped to the post and missed this too.
Around the same time I had been checking out the FBIVW's web page and specifically the 1965 original paint Single Cab. A quick email to Graham and we agreed a date to go over the bridge to see the SC.
We were very happy with what we saw and agreed a price. Graham then kindly delivered the bus to my Dad's home in Bristol. Graham has been very helpful through out the whole process and I would definitely recommend calling him if you are looking to buy a bus.
So here we go again, the 54 is on hold and all efforts will be focused on the SC. We hope to get it on the road this year, most likely for Vanfest, fingers crossed!
UPDATE 18 APR 2004
Here is a representation of the m-plate found behind the passenger seat in the cab of the Pickup.
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01 D - production date 1st December
415 - extended (long) load bed
for pickup
043 - complies with Swiss market regulations
SN - Sweden (North)
263 - single cab, LHD, locker lid left
2 - nitro lacquer paint finish
40 - upper colour: Dove Blue
40 - lower colour: Dove Blue
83 - trim colour: Mesh Grey
6 - 1966 model year
066806 - chassis number
UPDATE 23 JUN 04
The resto has begun on the long sill, inner sill and part of the floor edge has been cut out and replaced with good metal. A new piece of top hat, an outrigger and jacking point have been welded in at the rear.
Started to cut out the driver side inner and outer sills
UPDATE 12 SEP 04
More progress, after splitting the dog leg into three and welding in the front part, I cut and welded in the two other pieces and the cab floor panel I previously made.
Whilst I was working on the dog leg, Dad was hard at work cutting out the driver side inner sill and parts of the chassis rail etc. Fair play this is an awful job and Dad did top work.
UPDATE 26 SEP 04
Dad welded in the main chassis repair panel he had made and cut the top hat section to length, positioning the outrigger and inner sill.
I made a repair section for the bottom corner of the front panel and the bottom of the a-post and then welded this in. Next time I will be able to clean the welds and start to to fit the dog leg and hopefully the Schofield cab floor section.
UPDATE 03 OCT 04
We worked together today on the driver side dogleg and cab floor. Had to split the dogleg into 4 pieces we welded in the outer part and then cut, fitted and welded the other 3 parts. The cab floor is almost there, needs a bit more welding and then the welds will need cleaning back.
UPDATE 12 OCT 04
We weren't looking forward to repairing the front chassis member and top hat which sits on top of it. We took it in turn to cut out each side so there was only a small and very solid part of front chassis member left (where the heater pipe passes through).
We then took the new repair section we got from Dunc at eurobox-vw and cut it to fit. We left a 10mm flange which goes inside what is left of the original front chassis member, this gives it an exact fit and additional strength. I can't speak highly enough of the chassis parts we got from Dunc. We started using them on the BD and have continued to use them on the SC. I have also bought a rear chassis member for the Westy!
For the latest updates on our progress, click here.