Camper and Bus show 2016. (part 2 of 2)

This week's blog is the 2nd instalment of the Camper and Bus show 2016 that was held over the weekend of 29th - 31st July at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire. I think I'm right in saying that the show is organised by the Camper & Bus magazine, and is actually held in the grounds of the majestic 16th century Eastnor castle, which provides a lovely backdrop. The show area was well laid out with many traders trading their wares and numerous activities going on all weekend to keep both the adults and children entertained. Over the years I had heard good reviews about this very laid back show but until now had never attended. This year I had a day free over the weekend so I decided to have a drive over and see what all the hype is about. As Eastnor Castle is quite a trek across country I decided to take the T4, rather than drive the microbus as the T4 would be much quicker and easier. The blog continues as I wander around the show looking at all the cool VW's.
To see all my other blog entries, go to ‘My Blog Archive’ to the left of this page. Simply click on an arrow for a particular year, then click on an arrow for a particular month, this will then give you a drop down menu for all the blog entries for that month.

This lovely gun metal grey 181 Trekker looked
immaculate. These were originally developed
for the West German Army back in 1968 but I
doubt the original ones ever looked this nice.

The 181 body sits on a type 1 Karmann Ghia
floor pan (which is wider than the Beetle). This
really was a nice looking car that looked better
for having a nice low stance.

You don't expect modern day comforts in a car
developed for the West German Army, but that's
 a small sacrifice to pay when driving around
in such a cool looking vehicle.

This stunning 1971 Westfalia was gorgeous. It
 looked like brand new and as though no expense
had been spared. I loved the fact that it was
 riding at stock height with painted steel wheels.

You can see just how clean this bus was from
this photo. The pop top canvas and curtains
looked great and matched the paintwork.

This red and white 1973 bay looked like a good
honest bus. It's unusual to see the belt line
painted in the same colour to match the roof,
but it worked really well.

The paint may have original as it was looking
tired, but kinda cool. This bus has had a subtle
lowering job which suited the bus.

The interior of this bus was really well fitted
out and looked great. I did like the body board
table and the custom units and matching floor.

This 1978 imported late bay had some wicked
stripes and colour matched wheels. Another
thing that caught my eye was the ladder on the
tailgate.

You can see just how cool those retro stripes
really are in this photo. This really was a nice
looking bus.

Regular readers will know that I do like to see
original stickers on imported buses, and this
bay had this National Coach Corporation badge
on the back. I'm not sure how they altered it,
but it would be interesting  to find out.

There were many traders at the Camper and
Bus show, this one had plenty of old Radio Flyer's
for sale. (they had another 5/6 out of shot in
this photo)

How about this for a super cool soapbox racer?
It looks like it's been based on a Beetle volksrod
and I think it's brilliant and so well built.

The hand fabricated body was awesome, and
the overall look was fantastic. I did like the
rust look and the hot rod style red steel wheels
with white wall tyres.

The interior consisted of a seat, and steering
that was it.

The rear end of this soapbox race car looked
just as good with the larger rear wheels and
the chunky tyres. I did like the mock exhausts,
fake rear lights and the painted Maltese crosses.

If you look very closely, you may just be able
to make out my camouflaged T4 in this photo.
OK so the urban camouflage doesn't seem to
work in a rural setting!, anyway here's my bus 
parked up in the grounds of Eastnor Castle. 

Just to prove that the 16th century Eastnor
Castle is in the background.

This pair of, sandrail / buggies (?) turned up
at the show and they looked great. I have a
couple of friends who go off roading in their
VW's, and I bet they would love these.

Consisting of a tube roll cage welded onto a
beetle floorpan with a couple of seats bolted
in and that was about it.

I did like the oversize chunky off road tyres
on this black one and the use of 2 jerry cans
as a fuel tank.

This red one had a very similar design but did
have some sort of roof consisting of a sheet
of vinyl fixed to the roll cage. These off road
vehicles do look like they would be great fun.

The pair of rear tyres bolted to the roll cage
are there not only so you have a spare, but
also to weigh the rear end down to provide
extra traction on the rear wheels when going
across a slippery / muddy surface

This lovely 1971 jet black bug looked great in
the sunshine. The black paint over very straight
body panels gave off a fantastic reflection.

I did like old retro roof rack and the contrasting
pink wing piping which matched...

...the wheels! The pink and white floral design
looked good.

This great looking high top T25 syncro ( I think)
was one of my favourite vehicles of the show.
I do like the thought of having a 'go anywhere'
vehicle like this and just heading off to explore
the big bad world.

This T25 had too many accessories to mention
but they all looked like they were there for a
purpose. 

The interior of the T25 was surprisingly very
well kitted out with a smart camping interior,
now that just makes me want to get something
like this even more! 

This gorgeous white over red early 1960's spilt 
screen Dormobile was immaculate. It looked 
as though it had just been restored as everything 
was like new. This really was a nice bus.

You can see just how clean this bus is, not to
mention just how straight the body is in this photo.
The striped pop top canvas looked great and it
was nice to see a Dormobile roof with all the
original windows still in as these often get 
broken and lost

The interior of this lovely bus was stunning, I'm
not sure if this is an original Dormobile interior
or not, but it looked totally original and 100%
complete, and I loved it.

The red check curtains and cushions looked
great against the red vinyl seat covers of the
original seats. 

The Camper and Bus show had such a great
diversity of Volkswagen's on show as this photo
shows. Air cooled and water cooled all lined
up next to each other. This line up was actually
in the Volkswagen only parking area. 

Split screens, Bays, Beetles, and T4 / 5's and
much more, what ever your into you'll be sure
to find it at this laid back show. 

An all blue line up of Volkswagen's at the
Camper and Bus show. A T4, T25 and an
old beetle. 

The blue line up continues with a 1969 early
bay and a 1978 RAT look late bay panel van.

The panel van looked great with it's faded sign
writing and roof rack. The patina paint suited
this bus and also looked great.

So that was part 2 of the Camper and Bus show
review. It was my first time at this show and I
was surprised just how laid back this show was.
The variety and diversity of vehicles was vast,
both air-cooled and water cooled and the facilities
were good , there were also plenty of traders 
selling all sorts of things at the show. I couldn't 
attend the show for the whole weekend
but from what I understand there was plenty
of entertainment for all ages throughout the
weekend. Next Saturday's blog review is
about the 'BeachBuggin' show so be sure
to come back next week.!

Camper and Bus Show 2016. (part 1 of 2)

This week's blog is about the Camper and Bus show 2016 that was held over the weekend of 29th - 31st July at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire. I think I'm right in saying that the show is organised by the Camper & Bus magazine, and is actually held in the grounds of the majestic 16th century Eastnor castle, which provides a lovely backdrop. The show area was well laid out with many traders trading their (mostly VW related) goods and numerous activities going on all weekend to keep both the adults and children entertained. Over the years I had heard good reviews about this very laid back show but until now had never attended. This year I had a day free over the weekend so I decided to have a drive over and see what all the hype is about. As Eastnor Castle is about a 90 mile trek across country from my home town I decided to take the T4, rather than drive the microbus as the T4 would be much quicker and easier.
To see all my other blog entries, go to ‘My Blog Archive’ to the left of this page. Simply click on an arrow for a particular year, then click on an arrow for a particular month, this will then give you a drop down menu for all the blog entries for that month.

The first vehicle to catch my eye was this super
low 1969 tin top early bay. This bus must have
 had air suspension to sit that low. The bus
 was painted in a bright green that almost
glowed in the sunshine, it also had a narrowed
 front beam that made the front wheels sit so
 far under the wheel arches. The truck style
mirrors, deluxe trim and roof rack helped this
lovely bus stand out.

The rear bumper was actually sitting on the
grass in the show and shine field. The big bore
exhaust exited through the rear bumper, maybe
the size of the exhaust is hiding something big
in the engine department..?

You can see just how low this bus sits whilst
parked.  

Parked next to the low green bay was this RAT
looking red early bay. This bus was equally as
low and again must have had air ride. This cool
bus may have had the RAT look, but it actually
looked quite solid.

This bus may of had the RAT look on the out-
side, but inside it was really nice with red vinyl
tuck and roll seating. 

The front panel of this RAT look early bay had
a story to tell. 

Looking into the engine bay, this bus is fitted
with a Subaru motor from 'Fellows Speed
Shop' who specialise in fitting Subaru engines
into early bays (and split screens I think) The
benefits of this are obvious, but less obvious
is it means you get a real heating system in
your bus! They can also upgrade the brakes
and clutch. These Subaru powered buses
really are quick, as you would expect!

Both buses parked up. You can just see how
low these buses are compared the the baby
blue bus on the left.

This double door panel van is quite rare and
looked gorgeous with it's patina'd Dove blue
(I think) paint. This bus also sat quite low
which helped the overall look of this lovely bus.

This old panel van may have had the patina
look on the outside, but on the inside it was a
different story. The red vinyl door cards and
seat bases were very neat and well done. 

The camping unit looked to a bespoke unit that
suited the van and again finished to a very high
standard.

A nice photo showing this buses lovely real
patina. The engine and engine bay were both
very clean and tidy.

Looking into this panel van through the open
safari screen windows, the red tuck and roll
upholstery looks amazing and almost too nice
to sit on!

This immaculate 1969  early bay really looked
nice and clean and super straight. This bus
really was in 'just like new' condition.

You can see just how clean and straight this
gorgeous bus is in this photo. It never ceases
to amaze me how owners keep their buses
looking so clean, especially when you consider
the lousy British climate.

The interior of this gorgeous bus was finished
to the same high standard as the exterior. 

Even the engine and engine bay were spotless,
it really did look as though you could eat your
dinner off of it. It amazes me how owners keep
the buses so clean I barely get time to wash 
my bus!

This lovely 1972 1300 beetle was another 
vehicle that looked so clean and it's no surprise
as this bug had a body off restoration back in
2012. The stunning Rover Kingfisher blue paint 
had been applied over super straight body panels. 

Again the interior was finished to the same high
standard. The MK1 Golf seats and matching door 
cards look great.

This lovely old bug really did draw the crowds
and everyone was admiring it. As I always say.
"If you've go it, flaunt it" and this bug certainly
had 'it'. The original 1300cc engine has now
been replaced with a more reasonable 1641
cc twin port motor with dual Webber carbs.

The gas burner wheels looked the perfect
choice to compliment this beetle's looks.

This super bright pink 1971 beetle may not
the colour choice of everyone, but I thought
it looked cool. (I have owned a two tone pink
Ford Popular hot rod in the past so I would
wouldn't I !! ) This pink beauty was actually 
very straight and clean.

This really was a nice clean honest beetle that
looked great in the sunshine at the Camper and
Bus show.

This 1969 gloss black early bay should have
won the most shiny reflection prize if there
was one, as the reflection in that perfectly
applied paint was amazing.

It's unusual to see a bay painted in a single
colour, normally the roof or bumpers are a
different colour, but this bay was all black, even
the windows and it did look really cool.

The only chrome I could find on this lovely bus
was the Radar wheels which complimented the
black paint perfectly. 

This gorgeous metallic bronze beach buggy
looked awesome. I think it's a MK1 GP body
that's sitting on a '72 floorpan. I do like beach
buggy's but living in the U.K and owing one
takes a hardier person than I am, as your
open to all the elements.

The MK1 beach buggy body style is a close
 relative of the original Myers Manx body, in
looks anyway and I personally think think they
 are the most well proportioned and best looking
 of the U.K built beach buggies.

A close of the gorgeous metalflake paint on
this lovely buggy. This is, in my opinion the
only paint finish to have on a beach buggy.

The interiors of beach buggies are normally
a bit bare due to being exposed, but the owner
of this buggy has added some style by matching
the silver padded seats with the alloy chequer
 plate flooring. 

The very stylish yet sparse interior looked great
and those seats and floor work so well together.

This white over cherry red 2003 type 2 Rio, 
late bay was on of the vehicles up for sale at
the show. It has a 1600cc engine and it is a
RHD model. It was extremely clean and very
well equipped.

The interior was just as immaculate as the outside
and featured a Webasto heater, microwave, T.V.
as well as a rock and roll bed and buddy seat
both finished in lovely cherry red and black vinyl.

The cab of this bay also had been made over
with the same matching vinyl seats and door 
cards. This really was a nice bus, that could be
yours for £30,000 ($39,500 approx)

From one extreme to another in the looks
department, but equally as nice is this RAT
look 1969 sky blue and white early bay. I did
like the overall look of this lowered bay, the 
full length roof rack and patinad' paint looked
just about right.

The rust covered damaged rear quarter panel
just added character to this lovely bus, and I
hope the owner doesn't repair and paint it as it
looks cool.

This white over green 1972 late bay caught my
eye, as it looked like a good honest bus. It didn't
have a flashy paint job and it wasn't in a show 
winning condition,but lovely high stance, and 
the sign writing along the sides of the bus were
enough to grab my attention.

I do like sign written buses, and this one was
no different. The hand painted lettering and
the yellow pinstripe around the front clip looked
really cool.

This really was a cool looking good honest
bus that stood out at the Camper and Bus
show. This bus was also riding at standard
height, which in my humble opinion is always
a good thing.

So that was part 1 of my review of the Camper
and Bus show. Part 2 will be next Saturday where
you can see more great buses and bugs, a really
cool Soapbox racer and so much more so don't
 forget to come back next week.