TheSamba.com :: View topic - Just spotted on SSVC, Barndoor archeology....

Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:38 pm

http://www.ssvc.org.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=35155

dunno if its already on here, this fella already saved a slick 52, now he's got his teeth into summat a bit more intense....

expect this sucker to be running sooner than he says. that shit'll buff out for sure. 8)

Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:45 pm

edmundo wrote: http://www.ssvc.org.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=35155

dunno if its already on here, this fella already saved a slick 52, now he's got his teeth into summat a bit more intense....

expect this sucker to be running sooner than he says. that shit'll buff out for sure. 8)

Man that shit must of been in a creek bed, look at all that mud around it :shock:

Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:47 pm

Grave robber!

Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:48 pm

looks restorable to me. First start with a shovel! :D

Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:55 pm

its a bugger, i work all day everyday out in the woods and i never come across 4window bd's buried up to their roof with trees grownin out the top.

*sigh*

Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:02 pm

How how in the hell did that thing get buried up to the damn roof? :-s

Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:10 pm

Here's the latest from Mark....

52panelvan wrote: Thanks

Well Made it back last night, had an amazing trip, met some fantastic and very hospitable people and had some trips out in some very early vans too.
Many many thanks to the Gents over there. I know they will read this and the other pair who were on a mission of a simular kind.
My new 51 is just a monster(well may be just in my eyes :D ), im over the moon with it.

Ok here are some more pics of the van as found....and a bit of its recovery a month or two back for the people who like pics...

This is the hacked in back window and the mud coming through, the glass had broken under the pressure. All the windows have had lovely aluminium surrounds made and a harboard covering.

The trees growing on its roof

The kit

The rescue and its rescuers

The way home, did 1994 miles to collect it

Also i got all the history and how the van was found etc, the first company on that sheet who bought it a few months after it was made was a logging company and it turns out its doubled logo'd as they had logos on it too which you can see in places, then Kempes had it in 58 and painted up as you see it now.

My main worry - the roof turned out to be fine as the gutters are straight as new both sides and there is no rot at all in the roof line inside or out. The roof basically for the most part just popped out
Cab X parts are very good and also almost unbelievably the front panel and A posts are perfect, and even the bottom of the original A post are there which is almost miracle stuff and alot of the inner and outer valance although it will have to be changed. Front doors are very good considering, and the sides are not too terrible.
The Centre front chassis is Bad but not as bad as the 52 and looks to be fixable which is nice as its the very early style as does the beam, all the centre of the chassis is toast under the cargo floor, not one part usable. The rear torsion tube looks ok over the double section but the rear part of the chassis rails look not so good and very bad by the battery trays.
The back floor panel to engine bay is not good and also the rear wheel tubs are bad espesially on the pass side but on the plus side the back corners and engine lid do look like they will straighten ok - hopefully.

The guys abroad put in a frame under the van to stop it from collapsing to get me home which held just fine.

The Plan now is to make a huge jig using the 52 chassis then remove all the 51 chassis shot blast it all repair the front and rear sections, slot them in the jig and then put the rest of the frame together. Repair the body and pop them together. All that driving gives you alot of time to think... :D

Will probably start it next year..
Cheers

Mark

Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:50 am

Awesome find... 51 Non rear window Type 213 panelvan!!

Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:27 am

wow awesome, if anyone hasnt done it yet, click on the ssvc link.

Si.

Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:14 am

Damn thats awesome and to think that there are a whole lot of them out there like that just waiting there turn to get noticed

Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:18 am

You better buy a shovel Rich.

Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:23 am

jasonvw wrote: You better buy a shovel Rich.

Why :?:

Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:39 am

Very cool! I like how they added headlights for the tow home.

Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:47 am

Not sure if any of you guys know that the owner of this bus has already ressurected a 52 panelvan from the forest...

From this

To this... (at bad camberg)

Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:20 am

Well atleast its in good hands 8)

Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:01 am

cool story and good find..

Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:45 am

That is so cool, keep the pics coming!!!!!!!

Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:36 pm

I saw that barndoor live at the founders place. It is a super cool van with super cool logos but man, the chassis is the worst I have ever seen on any bus. It will be a challenge to puzzle it together. Mark can do it. I thought my barnddor was bad... :shock:

Go Mark Go!

Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:51 am

I think this has got to be one of the best VW find stories of all time. Just to think, a few more years this thing would have been completely buried and gone forever. I am amazed that the rust and cave in pressure isnt worse than it is. I hope you keep the progress pics coming.

Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:45 am

good score mark!!
those straps round the back end did it no favours but thats nowt for you...