15 replies to this topic

['Chop']

Hi all,

 

Thought I'd start another build thread on here as well as the mini.

 

Let me introduce 'Gertie' She's a Mk1 Bedford CA Dormobile, not too many left nowadays.

 

I bought her about 6 years ago as a complete camper, having been laid up since '83.

 

I was looking for something to convert or maybe a real shed of a Veedub Splittie but found her on Ebay.

 

Went to have a look, fell in love and agreed a price within an hour. The elderly chap said he wanted me to do her, so I hired a trailer and went down a week later to pick her up.

 

The paintwork had been redone Bert, (the old boy) had resprayed her and done a few mechanicals but unfortunately suffered 2 stroke in quick succession and said he'd never finish her.

 

My intention was to tidy up the paintwork, tinker with the mechanicals and use her that Summer.......

 

However, In my usual fashion, I got too involved and she soon became a full nut and bolt resto.

 

Bare metalled her, welded up a few bits, and stripped EVERY component.... Spot the bodged cracked block repair in one of the photos....

 

Anyway, a few photos (in no particular order) I won't post everthing as I have over 400 photos!!!

 

 Shop comp 046.jpg   155.83K   11 downloads  Shop comp 001.jpg   170.81K   9 downloads  Shop comp 005.jpg   151.73K   23 downloads  Shop comp 007.jpg   157.89K   6 downloads  Shop comp 017.jpg   34.33K   1 downloads  Shop comp 021.jpg   147.27K   5 downloads  Shop comp 016.jpg   28.05K   3 downloads

['Chop']

Few more......  Shop comp 006.jpg   31.55K   4 downloads  Shop comp 110.jpg   153.9K   5 downloads  Shop comp 026.jpg   164.22K   3 downloads  Shop comp 048.jpg   161.28K   7 downloads  Shop comp 068.jpg   158.75K   3 downloads  Shop comp 079.jpg   169.17K   5 downloads  Shop comp 020.jpg   158.25K   3 downloads  Shop comp 015.jpg   151.84K   3 downloads

['Chop']

The chassis after a few hours of scrapping 50 years of cr*p off.

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After 2 months of evenings work (yes, 2 MONTHS  ) of bare metalling, rustproofing, priming and topcoating, the chassis was done. Sprayed 5 coats of topcoat on and polished it back (can't see on this photo whether it's the finished article or not)

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 Shop comp 044.jpg   151.1K   4 downloads The mid roof paint removal.

 

 Shop comp 088.jpg   153.31K   5 downloads The mice have had a nice camping holiday!

 

 Shop comp 116.jpg   156.94K   8 downloads Found a previous 'repair' under a shedload of filler.... now sorted, think it might be in an earlier photo.

['Chop']

This is what she WILL look like one day.......

 

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[Tamworthbay]

My mate had one of these at Uni about twenty years back. It only seem to break down when it was raining. I can't remember working on it in the dry. Great things and not the silly price premium of a vw badge.

['Chop']

My mate had one of these at Uni about twenty years back. It only seem to break down when it was raining. I can't remember working on it in the dry. Great things and not the silly price premium of a vw badge.

I think Gertie would have let me down if I hadn't scrapped of the filler and paint which was covering the bodged repair on the welded engine block. It was well hidden under the manifold so you couldn't see it until the engine was stripped.....

 

I had her running for about 20 minutes, by which time the block had got nice and warm.... then the 'fillered' core plug popped out and dumped the coolant on the floor.... PANIC then commenced

 

Now done a proper repair and sourced a spare engine and 'box just in case.

[cradley-heathen]

that is super cool!

 

i really like these, my best mate had a bedford CF a couple of years ago, which i know isn't anything like as retro as a CA, but i loved it as it was so rare now, and it was totally mint too!

 

does your CA have a big lift up engine/tranny cover inside the cab that you can lift up while your driving along?

 

cant wait to see how this comes together, and its such a nice change from a bay window vw!

[sonikk4]

Loving the block repair, now that engine bay is crying out for something slightly more modern and powerful though. Not a bent 8 but something with a bit more grunt.

[cradley-heathen]

yes, a modern turbo diesel would be great, you could cruise on the motorway at 75mph and get to the coast in comfort, and style!

['Chop']

that is super cool!

 

i really like these, my best mate had a bedford CF a couple of years ago, which i know isn't anything like as retro as a CA, but i loved it as it was so rare now, and it was totally mint too!

 

does your CA have a big lift up engine/tranny cover inside the cab that you can lift up while your driving along?

 

cant wait to see how this comes together, and its such a nice change from a bay window vw!

Yep, There's a photo of the dash/ engine cover hole and arches in acid etch.

 

It's weird, you can get to plugs, dizzy, fuel pump from the inside and rad from the outside through a tiny bonnet which is about 18'' wide and 6'' deep. Then there's a bigger bonnet which attaches with Dzus fasteners. I thought the fasteners were a newish idea.

 

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['Chop']

Um....... a friend has a 3.5 litre auto Rover V8 with loom etc.

 

He says I can have it

 

But I reckon the 30 odd HP 1508cc engine will prob go back in.... Just don't get behind me on any twisty country lanes

 

There isn't even a 0-60 time for the standard vehicle... I wonder why????

['Chop']

Got all the paint sorted now...... shedloads of BS381 Eau de Nil (pale green) and OEW for the roof and side flash....

 

Every component/ accessory is late 50s/ early 60s and has taken about 4 years to collect....

 

Even got the genuine picnic set/ early '61 Gaydon Melmex melamine/ period cutlery/ radio/ fabric/ workshop manual/ sales brochures.

 

Should be a real period piece

 

 Picture 197.jpg   161.02K   9 downloads 4 years of collecting, piece by piece (autojumbles/ car boot sales/ Ebay)

 

....and it ALL matches the paint perfectly... I matched the paint to a melamine plate

Edited by 'Chop', 15 February 2014 - 09:11 PM.

['Chop']

A few more photos mid strip down

 

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['Chop']

Gertie on acid (etch)

 

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['Chop']

....and at that 'in the buff' stage

 

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