Page 20 - Transporter Talk 146 - May/June 2017

Transporter Talk No 146
MEMBER’S MOTOR
Continuing the now regular feature to Transporter Talk magazine, this issue we take a look at Bex Randall’s camper, Florence. Here is what Bex had to say about VW Ownership and her van, “Florence”
I have always dreamed of owning a T2 VW Campervan, but until last year (2016) I had never been in a position to do so. Being a complete novice when it comes to anything mechanical (I can just about do the tyres and oil on my car), I soon realised that buying a T2 was a complete mine eld, for which I was woefully ill equipped. I wanted one that I could drive and enjoy straight away and not a renovation project, so it had to be in very good condition, both mechanically and bodywork wise. This meant I needed help; Hubbie is not mechanical either, so luckily my help came in the shape of a friend’s husband, who not only is a trained mechanic but owns his own racing car business (featured on Dragons’ Den), AB performance Ltd.
So in 2016, the hunt began in earnest and after several failed missions with Andy telling me “NO!!” because of rotten bodywork or needing too much interior work, I spotted Florence. She was for sale in Gloucestershire, a long way from home and too far to extend the good will of Andy to help inspect her.
From the advert and pictures, Florence looked perfect.
She was born on 01/09/1974 in Australia and only had one owner whilst over there. She was
originally an 8 seat micro bus, with an 1800 petrol engine but when imported to the UK in 2005, she had been extensively refurbished with fresh paintwork and an engine re-build with new twin Solex carbs. Florence has a no fuss camping set up, with sink, gas cooker, rock ‘n’ roll bed and 12v leisure battery. There were only two previous owners in the UK, making me her fourth proud owner.
In the interest of not wanting to buy a du er I decided to use the services of Type 2 Detectives in Burwell. They acted on my behalf and went to inspect Florence, carrying out a full external and internal examination. Paul’s words to me on the phone were “I’ve never seen such a good example of a T2 and if you don’t buy her, we will”. There was some work that needed doing and bearing that in mind, Paul negotiated a price at £21,500, £3,500 o the asking price of £25,000. The owner was very reluctant and sad to sell her, keeping her in a garage with a dehumidi er, but needs must. So Florence was brought back to Su olk by Type 2 Detectives on a trailer, where they then did some work on her. They completed full rust proo ng as her under carriage was perfect, rewired the choke, tted new shifter couplings, new front discs and brake hoses, new clutch conduits and a few other bits and pieces. Florence has the added
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