Hi everyone,
Thought I'd start a thread to detail the restoration of my 1966 Devon Caravette now that work has started. Russ at Just Dubz is doing all the work, he'd already done a few smaller jobs which I was very happy with and I have seen the amazing work he did on a Samba last summer.
The story behind the van is quite interesting - I bought it blindly on Ebay last June. Russ picked the van up and got it MOT'd - I still hadn't seen it and his description of "not too bad for that sort of money" didn't really instill me with too much hope. However when I got back for my summer (I live in Singapore and only spend a few weeks in July and August in the UK) I was very impressed with what I had bought. Our house is in Leighton Buzzard, but we spent the summer driving to and from my parents place in Swanage, Dorset where we spend most of our time and went to Bug Jam for the first time in 15 years. I was loving my van!

Here is "Daisey" - as the paperwork is labelled - back in Leighton Buzzard after 42 years


Most interestingly I found a box under the seat with a ton of paperwork - this included the original log book showing the camper originally being sold by Camden Motors in, of all places, Leighton Buzzard! So 42 years on it found its' way back to Leighton. There were also a lot of records from previous owners, detailing services, a new engine in 1976, and lots of SSVC newsletters.
Not knowing which way to go with restoration - i.e. completely stock or a few modifications - I have decided to do everything as per original for phase one.

In Swanage at my parents place

I've been trying to find out as much as I can about the Devon conversion which I think is a great camping set up. What I have discovered is there are a fair few parts missing from the van, although most of the important stuff is in place. I have placed a wanted ad in the wanted forum, but it's going to be tough to get it all together from the looks of things, although I am talking to a few members about bits and pieces.

So this is how things looked from the outside upon arrival for the resto......

And the inside.....













And the 1500 motor

Russ and Mike have cracked on with the strip down - he now has the worlds largest collection of ziplock bags full of Devon screws!

Really nice bus mate. And Devon conversion, the best by far in my opinion. Good luck.

What a History!!!! Great Bus and I am with Lozza, forget the rest Devon is best

Lovely van - we found an original 67 last year and we love it. Devons are indeed the best - yours looks pretty well intact. The wood was originally french polished so with a good sanding and some new shellac on it it will look great. Keep the pics coming please!

Thanks for all the comments. The van is not in bad condition, just the victim of some small low quality repairs in the past. The interior is pretty good, I'm missing the water tank, cooker shield and crockery unit which are not easy to find although Delux67 might be on the case with the water tank, fingers crossed. I fond a whale pump on Ebay thanks to Jonnolly.

The goal is to have it ready for our summer trip in the middle of July - i.e. Bug Jam.

Does anyone know the flooring used in Devon's originally. I was hoping to lay down something which would insulate well, but obviously I need to be careful not to raise the floor height - my table already didn't fit into the slots and that was just some lino on top of ply on the floor.

Any ideas anyone??

Looking good bathtubs, looks like someone replaced your floor with lino. Originally they had the mosaic pattern or the 9" Marley tiles. Mine had the tiles, and i'm getting new ones sent over from Madmatz (ebony and charcoal) as couldn't find the right ones here. What's your exterior colours?

if im not mistaken that lino is original flooring it was in my devon,but pm Ian A67MAN he will

know for def

mark you also have e-mail

delux 67 wrote:if im not mistaken that lino is original flooring it was in my devon,but pm Ian A67MAN he will

know for def

mark you also have e-mail

Oooh look at you flaunting that original floor and whale pump

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