And so it begins.. First stage nearly done

[Rumour and Innuendo]

Well, we have had our Howie for four years now and being an old thing, he started to show his age. But we still love the old thing and can't see the point in spending many thousands of pounds on a newer motorhome. So we had heard of Custom Campers UK (Simon) who loves to restore the cabs on Talbots and after the quote, decided to go ahead and get him fixed.

Been in a week now and I should get him back on Thursday. Here is the story so far. Got the list of what had to be done.

Both doors at the bottom, one with rust holes. Repair
Scuttle Panel rotted. Cut out and replace
Windscreen frame strip and repair (Windscreen out)
Front Wheel Arches, repair or replace
Front Grill. Refinish and paint.
Front Bumper loose. Remove, paint and refix
Inner and Outer Sills. Total replacement.

Then after work started, more little problems, but what the heck, we started so we will finish. Once done, ito storage and do the back bit and inside, maybe fit a drop down bed!

 

[Podney]

Great start. Good luck!

 

[John.]

I'd love to fully restore a MH but in reality I don't think I ever will.

Looks like Howie is in good hands

 

[Conal]

Simon fixed my Talbot, it wasn’t as bad as yours but it is in safe hands.

 

[TheBig1]

that's a few thousand pounds worth of a rebuild

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[Rumour and Innuendo]

that's a few thousand pounds worth of a rebuild

Total price, £2150. Not what I would normally have done, but it is a van we like when ambling through Europe. And we decided that it would be nice to take it to some Steam Rally's and the like. The back end, we have no idea if we get someone to do it, buty I an pretty good with wood and the like so will play about myself. We have some wall panels already, just about replacing the framework....... We hope!

 

[Lenny HB]

Sounds like good value only a years depreciation on a new van.

 

[Mikey RV]

Nice to keep the ol ones on the road and cheaper for you than buying another. At least you know this one.

 

[mfw]

That looks a worthwhile spend of money has the garage replaced the cut out metal ( rust holes ) with replacement metal or just used fibreglass and filler - Keep the old girl going for a few more years looking nice anyway

 

[Cheshirecat57]

Sounds like good value only a years depreciation on a new van.

If only

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[Two on Tour]

Good on you, hope the old girl gives you many more years of fun and pleasure.

 

[bobandjanie]

Well done, I have friends that restore old vechicles, one we call a throw back, he is stuck in the past and would not own anything that you can't fix with spanners and a hammer.

I love looking round old càrs and motorcycles, and without people like you that would not be possible.


But.............. I kick myself every time thinking if only I left it in the garage, it would be worth a fortune now. Bob.

 

[Lenny HB]

If only

All we have ever lost on new vans.

 

[MisterB]

looks well worth the money, how old is your van?

 

[Conal]

mfw
Simon cuts out all the crap and uses metal to make it as good as new.
He has a website customcampersuk.co.uk with examples of his work. He is located on a farm in Arclid just off the M6 near crew.

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[gus-lopez]

Simon) who loves to restore the cabs on Talbots and after the quote, decided to go ahead and get him fixed.

I'm fortunate in that mine a 1990 Talento/Ducato has lived here all its life & is as it left the factory the day it was built. Underneath is exactly the same.When I bought it & took a friend with me who use to cut & shut them for recovery vehicles years ago in the UK, he couldn't believe how good it is both cab wise & chassis. Good luck with the repairs & long may it continue to travel.

 

[bobandjanie]

I'm fortunate in that mine a 1990 Talento/Ducato has lived here all its life & is as it left the factory the day it was built. Underneath is exactly the same.When I bought it & took a friend with me who use to cut & shut them for recovery vehicles years ago in the UK, he couldn't believe how good it is both cab wise & chassis. Good luck with the repairs & long may it continue to travel.

It reminds me of our youngest daughter, she converted a transit into a camper, and when we met up with her in Portugal one year, every transit she saw she had to look underneath and could not believe they were a lot older than hers and like new.
Our camper we just sold only had one winter in the UK, and the people commented how clean it was. Bob.

 

[cruiser]

It is nice to know that I am not the only one to keep a old Talbot on the road. I bought my Talbot back in 1990 . It still gets me to the Algarve and back. It has got a fuel problem at the moment. But hope to find some one to help . After Christmas. But we hope to see all those Talbots at some of the meets.

 

[filopastry]

Excellent to see older vehicles restored to health I'm sure it represents better vfm than forking out for another vehicle which may have more issues than yours. Lot to be said about the "devil you know". Sometimes recon that's the only reason 'er indoors keeps me around ... "better the devil she knows"

 

[jo10000_6]

I’ve been on Simons website - he sounds like a man that has a real passion for what he does.

I like that ....a lot.

I know he focuses on Talbot but I get the feeling anything classic (no computers) he will look at and I plan on visiting for a chat in the new year.

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[Ismbardbrunel]

15 quid for a copper sump plug washer ??.....oh my, he does have a passion....

 

[PhilG]

Our Express broke in half when they came to tow it away.. had some great times in it though

 

[jo10000_6]

Just wondered how the restoration is going ?

Jo