Page 16 - Transporter Talk Issue 144

Transporter Talk No 144
MEMBER’S MOTOR
One Careful Owner For 44 Years!
Continuing the new addition to Transporter Talk magazine from the last issue, the second instalment features Club member Ian Crawford’s van “OTK 666J”.
OTK 666J is a ‘71 Bay Window, Danbury conversion with a tin top roof.
Ian bought his camper in 1972 with 9,381 miles on the speedometer for £1,270 and has a current agreed value of £14,000, not a bad investment! The speedometer now reads 92,249 miles, meaning that in 44 years of ownership Ian has covered an impressive 82,868 miles.
Ian’s camper has been garaged all of its life and every winter it is “Put to Bed” and then emerges again in April. Maybe this is how he has managed to keep the bodywork and paint completely original! The paint has never been touched up and there is no known rust. All door and window seals are also original, apart from the Windscreen and Tailgate seals as these were replaced when new glass had to be tted due to vandals throwing bricks! Ian’s secret to keeping the rubbers soft and pliable is Talcum Powder (don’t tell everyone!)
The 1600 AD Twin Port engine is still the original that was tted at build and it has seen some work carried out over the years. In 2000, Ian decided to t a re-conditioned 34 PICT 3 Carburettor as it would have tted originally and what a di erence this made to the running of the engine, starting rst time, every time!
The rst major service that the engine received was in 2001 at 60,547 miles. This service consisted of a top end overhaul with new valves, guides, push rod tubes, ywheel oil seal and a new clutch. Work was carried out by F Tuthill of Wardington.
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