TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:29 am

...where is it now and what is the VIN?

I have got some very old pictures of this bus and would just like to understand were this "ex-famous" BD DeLuxe is now..

Must have been one of the very first vintage car restoration blogs ever on the internet...that thing.

Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:54 am

Guy named Paul owns it now
Lives South Hampton, UK
VIN is 20-107934, Dec 1954

Paul started his own thread here, but it hasn't been updated for a while
Perhaps Paul will chime in, & give us a status update
http://www.ssvc.org.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=31593

Quote: Must have been one of the very first vintage car restoration blogs ever on the internet...that thing
Thom's original blog, started in 1996 or so
http://vintagebus.com/54rhd/

SplitPersonality wrote: I have got some very old pictures of this bus
Can you share them

Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:08 am

20-107934?

Pics from Tonny's excellent site, www.barndoor.dk 8)

Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:10 am

Ah, didnt see that RS had already popped the VIN up... :oops:

Thu Feb 25, 2010 5:47 pm

Hi everyone :D ......only taken me 4 years to register :oops: :lol: ...its still tucked away nice n safe /....however we really are going to be able to get on with the bus VERY soon......... It will be worth the wait for that first drive :lol:

This is my Dream bus but as with life Dreams dont always work out the way you plan them sometimes !...When i first got the Bus i was suffering with a serious back problem so just couldnt do anything, then there were delays getting the welding sorted out etc....she s all solid and has been primed up and stored away for the last 2 years or so :oops: :cry:

I run my own Business and sadly Was also with a franchise company ... told to expand to 2 units etc..Credit crunch hit sales dropped etc etc Then One year ago We had to go into liquidation :cry: ....Worst losses were the landlord followed by us as we still had to pay out for the loss of bloody earnings to the franchise company!! :evil: ..35K in Lawyer fees too :evil: ..... i stood up to the franchise and didnt just roll over and give in as what they were doing and way they were treating us was just 100% WRONG!

we have walked away with our heads held high but this has obviously meant the bus has had to wait :roll:

Any way enough of all that horrible stuff!!...... I have a house that is being sold over the next 6-8 weeks so will be able to spend "carefully" a small amount of money and get the bus underway again :lol: :lol: :lol:

the garage its in needs clearing over the next 3 to 4 weeks to its new home so i promise i will post up some new pics...dont get too excited though,.....the only difference is that its not got rusty holes in it!..just in primer so not much to shout about yet! :lol:

i have been real down in the past and now that ive explained why its not on the road yet you will understand why i have not been doing updates :cry: ...not through lack of trying.....

Anyway sorry im goin on abit now.........THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN :lol:

Paul

Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:52 am

Good luck!

Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:28 am

Scotty wrote: Good luck!

cheers :D ........luck is slowly changing for the better.......

Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:50 am

Nice one Paul! 8) Best of luck with the project, Ive also got a RHD '54 deluxe project, mines benind the back burner somewhere at the moment though, just collecting bits! :lol: If you need any help, or want to know where to find deluxe bits, just ask, I work in Bath, so not too far away! 8)

Fri Feb 26, 2010 6:10 am

Great that you didn't give in and sell the bus with all the financial hazzle mentioned ! =D> A guy from Memphis with his fat sideburns sang around '65 : "you gotta follow that dream, wherever it my lead..." :wink:

Fri Feb 26, 2010 6:25 am

Cheers :D ........it may of taken me longer than i was planning...and still will.... but im not one to give up easily.... especially on the van 8) .. i think it would of actually made me feel even worse if i couldnt keep hold of her

I always tell myself things could always be worse...we still have a roof over our heads n health and thats more than some........

the Vans with me for the long haul :D .......really looking forward to getting started on her again as soon 8)

i will post some pics of her when she moves over to her new home 8)

Fri Feb 26, 2010 8:41 am

WOW.....congrats and I am looking forward to your progress. I was going to buy it when it came up for sale on the samba but I dont remember why I did not. Now I regret it :evil:

Fri Feb 26, 2010 8:59 am

come on Rich, pull your finger out :)
i want you to get a barndoor deluxe to see what you come up with

Fri Feb 26, 2010 9:04 am

If i did get one......it would be all stock 8)

Fri Feb 26, 2010 9:54 am

Rich's 50 wrote: If i did get one......it would be all stock 8)

What? Rockstock, I don't think that was his "finger in" but a thermometer in! Rich must not be feeling well talking nonsense like this.

Sun Mar 14, 2010 3:10 am

well as promised heres a few pics when we moved the van yesterday from its old garage

God i cant wait to drive this :D

not been moved for years

and one getting ready to do some more miles :lol:

As soon as the house is sold i will be able to get some serious progress made towards the mot and driving her ...worth all the wait over the years :roll:

Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:18 am

I cant wait to see the progress 8)

Thu Mar 25, 2010 5:58 pm

Wow, that brings back memories!

I barely got 10$k for that thing when I sold it - and it took a while to get that. Of course that was before the Barndoor Boom.

Tue Mar 22, 2011 2:27 pm

Deluxe 54 wrote:

Please tell me you aren't planning on fitting that aluminium side step Paul :o

Tue Mar 22, 2011 3:52 pm

Bin 'jammin' wrote: Deluxe 54 wrote:

Please tell me you aren't planning on fitting that aluminium side step Paul :o

:lol: That was give to Pete when we moved the van, he said his brother wanted it :shock: :lol: