Aircooled Crazy Ramblings of an obsessed man

My wife has done another amazing set of Christmas Cards this year. Check them out on www.ceinwen.co.uk or Amazon (search for Ceinwen Campbell)
In 1931 Aldof Hitler commissioned the first ever "Peoples Car". This car, the "Beetle" continued in production until 2005.
Ferdinand Porsche designed the Beetle
The Type 2 T1 van was conceived by Ben Pon a Dutch businessman who initially sketched his idea for a commercial van on a notepad in a business meeting in 1947.
The early VW Type 2 T1 vans are often called "Barndoors". This term refers to the large rear engine lid.
The Type 2 vans are sometime referred to a "Bulli" vans. Bulli is German for Ox. This nickname was earned due to its 750kg and later 1 tonne carrying capacity.
The Type 2 T1 van continued in production in Germany from 1950 until 1967 when it was transferred to Brazil.
The Type 2 T1 was powered initially by a 25hp 1200cc Boxer engine. Later the capacity increased to 1500cc in 1962.
The Type 2 T2 was introduced in 1968. This was a complete redesign a new full width windscreen which became known as the Bay Window by enthusiast.
The Type 2 van is known by various names including "Kombi", "Bulli" and "Rugbrod" (a Danish term for bread).
The Type 2 T2 van was equipped with an aircooled 1600cc 48hp engine then later with a redesigned aircooled engine from the Type 4 car in capacities of 1700cc, 1800cc and 2000cc.
The first camping interior in a VW camper was the "Camping Box" which was commissioned by a customer and produced by Westfalia.
The Karmann Ghia was conceived in 1953 with the first models coming off the production line in 1955. The last model came off the production line in 1974.
The Karmann Ghia was produced in relatively few numbers in its 19 year life span. 363, 401 Type 1 Coupes and 80,899 and Convertibles were produced. The Type 13 Razor Edge had 42, 498 units built and shipped.
The Karmann Ghia was designed by Mario Boano at the Ghia in Turin Italy with the prototype built and displayed to Dr Karmann (of Volkswagen) in Paris in 1953. The prototype is in the VW museum in Osnabruck.
The Karmann Ghia was originally powered by a 1192cc Beetle engine with a whopping 30bhp (ooo feel the power - not). By 1974 the car sported a 1600cc engine.
The Karmann Ghia had a hand built body with seams filled with pewter to give it the sleek desirable body.
The Karmann Ghia mechanicals are borrowed from the Beetle with a large number of parts being interchangeable.
I am a bit of a VW nut and have been for a good number of years.

This site is a collection of bits and pieces of information I have collected over the years. I have a few articles about my VWs both past and present, some "How To ...."s and a collection of plans and VW parts and tinware (mostly mechanical bits and pieces, primarily Type 4 engine bits (cases, cranks and con rods etc). There are lists and photos but they're not exhaustive - please ask if you can'y see what you're looking for.

I drive my wife around the bend with my VW obsession but after years of being ground down she has finaly joined the club, sort of…….. Check out her site www.ceinwen.co.uk and you'll see what I mean.

I do a bit of website design for friends and knocked up one for my VW fanatic mate Coco. Check out Cocos Kustoms website. I know you'll love his bus.

My Cars and Vans

1973 Westfalia
This was the van that rekindled my memories of growing up with VW campers in Australia.

I persuaded my wife it would be cheap and reliable way of holidaying ...(hmmm)... and it started my current obsession. The bus was very ropey but got me around Europe - just. This is the only picture I have of the old girl.
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1975 Viking
This was the bus I never should have sold according to my wife.

It was a very well restored 1800 Viking conversion. I sold it to a lucky chap in Edinburgh who still loves and cherishes it.
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1962 RHD Hitop Split Windscreen
This is the one I think I never should have sold.

It is a very rare hitop model (only about 80 still exist) made even rarer still because it was RHD. I never restored this as funds and time were not available because of a house extension. It sat in the drive for over a year and eventually my wife told me to sell it and buy something we could use.

This van now lives in Japan.
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1975 Australian Bay
This is the bus that took me 3 years to restore.

By the time I finished I was hooked on it and would have loved to keep it but I was also addicted to the Syncro. Sense over ruled heart and I decided to keep the Syncro.

The full story is on this page.
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1973 Australian Westfalia
This bus I should never have bought.

It was a lot of work to get this one restored and out the door. It was a lot worse than it looked and even needed a new pop top roof. It was bought to make a bit of cash but ended up costing me cash.
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1986 Syncro Panel Van
This is the bus that converted me.

I bought this one until the 1975 Bay was finished but I ended up keeping it instead. There is a full write up here.
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1990 14" Reimo Syncro
This was the van which was a very lucky find.

I had a brief liaison with this immaculate RHD Reimo converted Syncro. It was beautiful inside and out and ran like clockwork.

I parted with it only because I had the chance of the VR6 Syncro I now have.
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1986 VR6 Syncro
This is the van I drove a thousand miles for.

My latest toy and one I intend on keeping hold of....probably....

You can see a full write up here.
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