Van Buy

Dear Wheelspin

First, thanks for my first copies of Wheelspin, for once it wasn’t a bill through my letterbox.
Last year I was working in Cornwall for about six weeks, it was then I decided that I knew I had to have one, a Bus that is. Week after week I went through the local papers, phoning up each advert in turn and looking at the roughest examples of a bus full of rust and Hammerite, you know what I mean. Then the summer ended and so did the work, I came back to London and lived off Volksworld etc. Then driving around Edgware I noticed a house with several campers outside. I left a note and went home, the phone rang that evening, it was a dealer and the vans were for sale. I went round and had a closer look. There were three vans, one was LHD and I didn’t want it, one was a van, not a camper and the third I liked. It was a camper, a 1971 van with the small back lights. I wanted it, I gave it a test run just around the block, slowly, it seemed OK. We talked price and I paid £1400. It seemed worth it, I was blind! When I drove it home it wouldn’t do more than 35 mph and it was an 1800cc engine, I thought the bigger engine would be an advantage. It felt like the end of the world, what had I bought? I parked it up and left it for a month or two, just sitting there. I played with the roof a few times, and a neighbour who I previously hadn’t spoken to came across and said how he had a van once and how good they were. Anyway, last week I went back to Cornwall for some more work and I found a VW man, he has a garage with various cars and vans in pieces, the back half of a 911 etc. He must know what he’s doing, he had a pair of carbs and said I could have them for £40. I didn’t know if they were any better than what I had but I had to tr. When I came home I swapped the carbs over and what a difference. The bus really goes now, I have to change the fuel pipes as they leak but it’s so much better and I’m so pleased. I guess my point is who do you trust, the man with the bag of tools I guess. The van I have is a 1971 Dormobile PJE 522J. It’s green and white now and the engine is N0 AP030539. I would be interested if any of your members know the vehicle, or have had any dealings with a dealer in Edgware Road. I am sure I will be writing to you again for help.

Yours Sincerely, Martin Fisher