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

Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:08 am

Awesome!!

I cant believe it was in THAT good of shape, to have been buried that long...

Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:07 am

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

maybe someone didnt like it!!!! :lol: :lol:

Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:41 am

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

maybe someone didnt like it!!!! :lol: :lol:
Or someone got a new shovel for Chrismas and wanted to try it out. :D any more post on the bus?

Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:23 am

Thanks Gents,

To be honest i dont know exactly how the van got covered but it may be possible that i can find out a bit later on. The van was a fair distance from the access road too! Like you say someone didnt want it anymore thats for sure!

The van upper frame has survived well amazingly, no rot in the roof line inside or out, and the upright posts are not too bad all round, front end body work is excellent. Chassis is bad but all the important bits are there and fixable i hope. nize summed up its chassis condition very well in his post, but hopefully it should not take too long to reconstruct exactly as it should be using as much of the original as reasonably possible.

The van currently is sat on a steel frame to get it home else the body would have fallen on to the wheels with the trip home.

As far as more any more news, i posted a video of the lift out the wood on the ssvc but i have had to put the van into a garage since its return which is a real shame but i hope to start it may be in November, with possibly starting the chassis before hand so pics of the brown carnage that is the chassis coming soon.

Oh and fantastic find yourself bubba with that very early 50, look forward to see the resto shots when you get it.
Dave the rear damage was already there, i would imagine from the vehicle that pushed it to its resting final spot in the woods.
It will be in Germany in 2009 but hopefully i will have it finished and testing it by late in 2008 :) ...

Mark

Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:44 am

Great story, any new pictures?

Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:16 pm

oldoval wrote: Great story, any new pictures?

Check out the link at the start of this thread, Marks been adding updates and pictures to the SSVC thread 8)

Sat Feb 28, 2009 5:34 pm

Just a quick update on here a year later - Its nearly done welding wise (a few more days), hopefully on track to make Hessisch - Just

Cheers
Mark

Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:09 am

it´s always nice to see progresspics of your bd´s mark!

i love your work!! 8)

Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:42 pm

Cool, thanks for the update.

It looks like the cargo floor is next?

Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:29 pm

Sick work. Do you have a build thread, or pics of all that as it progressed?
Id like to see that man. Keep up the love. These bus's deserve it. :D

Sun Mar 01, 2009 7:54 pm

please read the first post on the first page of this thread :roll:

Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:19 pm

:oops:

Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:23 am

EverettB wrote: Cool, thanks for the update.

It looks like the cargo floor is next?

Very soon, i have a 1 remaining heater cable tube to fit, the 3 supports on the rear axle tube to do and really i would like to get the new bulkhead in first (which i dont have yet) to make life easier when i slide it into the bottom of the b posts incase i need to adjust anything.
There is some rear arch repair work to do and odds and sods here and there.

Overall there is a few days worth more of welding/ playing with it. The front beam is going for shotblasting this week hopefully and then i have some work to get it unstuck when it comes back (lower torsions arms are stuck and sheared bolts etc), i have fixed one front spindles ages ago and am going to start the other tonight. This remaining one is in poor condition but it is saveable.

Then its the slow process of assembly and making it all work. Someone kindly years ago cut the wiring out of the cab and engine bay so i have to repair that which i started at looking at the cab end last night.
The good news is that as far as i can see and correct me if im wrong, early cloth wiring looms have only solid colours so easier to match.

I will post the odd update on here too as i get nearer the end.

Thanks Johnny and MM, im following your resto too Johnny 8)

Cheers

Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:54 pm

Bump
Sorry I'm just tired of having to search the second page of the forum for the thread :oops: darned public access computers. Lots of interesting updates on the panel in the last couple of months, good to see it finally on the road again.

Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:46 am

Hi,

Yes i finally "finished" it, well i finished the chassis - still loads to do but its back together, passed its MOT etc and completed its first long run last night about 40 miles. It drives really nice, exactly like it should - so iwas really happy with that.

There is along way to go on the body, especially the doors and the rear of the van but i will get to that next winter now - im just going to enjoy it this summer. It will also give me chance to find some of the finer detail parts.

The interior is mostly finished - i worked out the rough dimentions from pictures and i managed somehow to persuade my Dad to do the wood work for a Camping box which he has made a cracking job of.
I had the easy task of repairing some of the lining in the van (from when the windows were added). While its not finished (should be this Week) we fitted the box on the weekend and i worked on making the metal work for the box (hinges, handles, table props from pictures ) and while thats not going to be totally finished either for Hessisch we shall have enough interior and body work to hopefully make the journey comfortable and somewhere to live for the trip.
We hope to go to Hessisch then return to Harnosand in mid Sweden and to Kempes EL (still going) and the place in the woods it was found in then drive slowly back home to the UK- its a big ask of the van but hopefully it will be a bit of fun and a holiday. Worth a shot i guess :)

Here is a picture of it after it passed its UK Mot test a couple of weeks back, after its first 2 miles on the road, after 48 years being off it. Its had a few updates like 16" wheels etc added since. I will put a few pics of the interior later this week on the SSVC.

Hopefully - fingers crossed see you in Hessisch.

Cheers

Mark

Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:56 am

This just made my day. :) thanks for that.

Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:07 pm

Absolutely amazing work!.....That bus was in better shape to begin with than half the project buses in the Northeast U.S.A that weren't buried!!!!!

The majority of us would have used it for parts though sadly, glad it fell into your hands.

I have to ask, how hard was it to get a title for it? And how hard was it to pass MOT, I hear its really strict over there.

Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:29 pm

Thanks.

I had no problem with the MOT or getting the Title.
In the Uk which is really strict - the Mot just looks at the structure, stopping and steering basically on something like this. As i had been through it the Guy doing it was really happy. But saying that - There were a few sharp edges that had gaffer tape over them :D

In the UK to register a vehicle, IF you have the original Documents from the country of origin then you can get a title asap. In this case and my 52, i only have copies as the originals are Archived in Sweden and are not allowed out. A birth certificate from VW is not proof alone (at the end of the day any one can buy any birth cert from VW), the DVLA wanted to inspect the vehicle to prove the vehicle exists and is what you say it is. Apparently on average is about 1 in 10. Its a Ball ache but you drive it up there, the man checks the VIN plate and chassis number and then they issue you with all the paperwork and you are legal.

My biggest worry was that the inspection date would be after Hessisch ,(you have no choice and cannot change inspection centres after its booked) and i wouldnt be able to take it which is why i had the mad panic to MOT and get it inspected.

I have worked on it everyday since - im working on it now infact - i just stopped for a Beer thats all.
Im rapidly learnt that building a van and getting it MOT'd and running is one thing, making sure its ready for the 2500+ miles run in (it will only have run about 50-60 miles on it by the time we leave as im out of town for 4 days from thursday eve over this last weekend :cry: ) - also for 2 people to live in it for 2 weeks across 6 countries is entirely another .... Still its a laugh - hopefully :)

Cheers

Mark

Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:34 am

Great resurrection, fingers crossed for your trip.
and have FUN ! and a few cold beers, CHEERS !

Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:16 am

At Bad Camberg this year. So cool to see it in the flesh, so to speak.

Don