Thanks to Irv and his incredible network of contacts and having sworn off doing another basket case restoration, let alone a Barndoor, an un-refusable offer came along for a project for HO21.

The project is a 1954 Deutsche Post Kombi. It was found by the Bavarian Pickers - they have a great short video of its extraction on their YouTube channel you can watch here

https://youtu.be/B-RLsLlrulE



These guys find some amazing vehicles.

The history that I know of is that the bus was decommissioned from the Deutsche Post service and repainted to be used by another (as yet unknown to me) company before being parked in a garden and used as a Long term play shed.



As the deal was done at start of lockdown it’s sat for some time in Germany but finally last Friday thanks to Martin at Revs it arrived in Barrow in Furness.

Arrival at Irv’s

It’s fair to say this bus has led a pretty hard life. Replies to the posts on social media are hilarious. Anyone who knows Irv and his work know that though it’s no walk in the park this bus will look amazing when it is done. The plan is to do a sympathetic restoration keeping as much OG metal and paint as possible - fitting a period correct 20- engine (any leads welcome!). Luckily there are large number of the needed suspension and interior parts left over from the last project which can be used but doubtless a lot of the difficult to find and expensive parts will be on the shopping list. Rear lights seem to be the worst offender for cost v value.

Anyway, the pictures will do the talking

They've done a good job of removing the red paint job and knocking some of the roof out, that looked really bad.

Glenn Yale wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 03, 2020 6:46 pm

They've done a good job of removing the red paint job and knocking some of the roof out, that looked really bad.

They did an incredible job from where it started. The roof is pretty bad especially in the rear right corner.

That paint stripping is incredible.
Must of just jet washed off. Otherwise that’s weeks worth of hours and exceptional fine detail.

lowdown dirty rat wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 03, 2020 8:30 pm

That paint stripping is incredible.
Must of just jet washed off. Otherwise that’s weeks worth of hours and exceptional fine detail.

Here are some more pics pre paint strip.

Wow looks like you've got your hands full well worth saving though

Buzzers

vwbuzzers wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 04, 2020 11:47 pm

Wow looks like you've got your hands full well worth saving though

Buzzers

Oh yeah, rushed off my feet sending instructions to Irv

A panel list is being out together and we are on the hunt for a period correct engine. We want to keep this bus as original as is possible.

I have front and rear seats from the last build but the middle one I have being RHD is no good. I think we have 2 gearboxes, 2 front axles and a lot of the other parts but I’m sure there will still be a long parts list.

I can't wait to see this! IT is going to be awesome and so glad another is being saved from the scrap yard in the sky! Awesome. Keep us posted.

A large donation was made this week to the Gerson retirement fund!

On the hunt for a correct 1954 20- engine if anyone has any leads please let me know.

Looks like a great find. Congratulations on the acquisition and good luck on the journey. I do love a Bundespost van

kilgore wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:09 am

Looks like a great find. Congratulations on the acquisition and good luck on the journey. I do love a Bundespost van

Thanks, I wasn't planning on doing another but this came up and I couldn't resist. It should be easy relative to the show bus and a walk in the park compared to your Samba!

I took a drive up to Barrow in Furness last week and checked out the Postbus. Contrary to my last post, this won’t be easy. It’s pretty bad. I have been having massive panic attacks but Irv is relaxed of course.

I mean where to begin??!

The goal is to save as much original metal and paint as possible. The bullet holes are of course staying . A lot of the panels will be unpicked to get repaired and straightened out before re-fitting.







Anyway it’s in good company for now.



Will post up again when work starts.

This is going to be great watching this come together! I love a stock build