| I owned my 1966 Devon for 8
years and we had many an adventure together.
During my ownership I was able to piece together her history.
I wrote to the D.V.L.A. who sent me details of the
previous 7 owners including microfilm of previous registration documents.
I then wrote letters to all 7 previous owners
most of which were returned marked 'Return to Sender'. However I did get
one reply from Brian and Pauline Lancaster and with the letter I got the
following photo's taken back in the early 70's. (Click on image to see
full size picture)
Brian and Pauline didn't like the colour of the bus
so they changed it to soft foxy brown and greyish green - cool! I
was amused to hear JDF 822D was called 'Bruno' in '72. It would seem he had
under gone a sex change and was affectionately called 'Lucy' by myself.
An unexpected bonus to 'Lucy's' history, revealed to
me by the Lancaster's was she was sold to a poet called Sheila Haigh.
Brian and Pauline lent me one of her publications. Sheila wrote about what
would seem to be her life in a hippy culture with many references to
Glastonbury festival in the early 70's - Far out brother!!!
I also wrote to Stiftung AutoMuseum, Volkswagen and
they sent me a certificate detailing the bus as it left the factory on
16.06.1966. Unfortunately the postal van carrying my certificate caught
fire and the original certificate was damaged!
I bought my 1966 Devon from Peter, a work associate of
my Dad's. When Pete bought the bus he carried out quite extensive work to
get her back on the road. Some of the work was carried out by my Dad.
Little did he know some 3 years later I would be the new owner. When I
bought her she had the wrong wheels, front seats (Ford), missing shaving
mirror and no rear bumper, all of which I got from the 1967 Devon van I
bought for spares. Unfortunately at the time we thought the '67 was beyond
saving - and we bought that '54!!!
When Peter bought the bus she was bright red! The
colour having been changed from the soft foxy brown and greyish green by a
previous owner on 28 May 1983.
We have come along way since buying my 1966 Devon,
learning various new skills. We have replaced the floor in the rear
compartment, replaced the front valance and inner box section, rebuilt the
reduction boxes, replaced the dog legs, cab floor and wheel arches -
thanks to Classic
Volkswagen Restoration. Over the years I've
lost count of the times we've pulled the engine out for one reason or
another it just goes on and on - that's why I love split buses!
Here are a couple pictures on the day I bought her.
Since I meet my wife Rebecca, we
did a lot of travelling and holidaying in my
1966 Devon. Mainly to Devon and Cornwall for the
surf. We even got to Ireland and spent 10 days touring - well recommended,
especially the Guinness.
On buying my 1965 SO-42 and after a lot of
consideration I decided I would have sell my
1966 Devon. We had a lot of interest about the
bus. The selling of 'Lucy' as she was affectionately known was a two part
deal, one the buyer had to want the bus and two, we had to want the buyer
to own the bus!
Well I can honestly say we were very happy with new
owner Russell Ellis and know he will continue to treat her with love and
appreciation she deserves. Here's a few snaps of Russell and myself and of
Lucy as she makes her way to her new home, goodbye old friend....
Finally for now I just want to say a big thanks to
my Dad who helped me keep my bus on the road for all those years -
cheers Dad mines a lager!!!
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