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Author: Subject:  The barndoor from the swamp
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posted on December 4th, 2013 at 05:49 PM
The barndoor from the swamp


Hi there !

So I thought it could be nice to have a Panel van to promote my website on meetings with a cool logo’d bus… so here is what i found ! :blush:

I knew this bus since 4 years and its now at home… what a satisfaction ! It’s an early-51 panel van without rear window.
It’s have not been used that much as the owner from the 50’s put it on his land to use it as a hunt cabin in 1965. They removed the rear axle and engine and put a big piece of metal under the bus and a hook to tow it to its resting place. I bought the bus from the last owner’s son, who still own the land.

I would need tons of pictures to show you everything, so i edited a small video with a few comments (I am more comfortable when i'am on the other side of the lens... but that was worth if for people who see the video only :? )

http://imageshack.us/a/img843/1613/1zxi.jpg
Here are some anyway ;)
The bus as we found it, stuck in 30cm of water and 10cm of ice :

http://www.airmapp.com/51panel/selection/1.jpg

Not a nice situation when you plan to leave the site 2 days after :

http://www.airmapp.com/51panel/selection/2.jpg

Especially knowing the bus is in a swamp, and that you have to cross it and a forest to reach the trailer. But still, that's a nice bus !!

http://www.airmapp.com/51panel/selection/4.jpg

http://www.airmapp.com/51panel/selection/5.jpg

So we quickly began to work on the bus to remove it from this swamp ! We began by breaking the ice all around and managed to pull the bus 6 meters back to a much dryer place, so we are sure we won't find it stuck in the ice again the day after.... (Actually it was all melted the next day).

http://www.airmapp.com/51panel/selection/11.jpg

We took the chassis parts separately from the body. It was much easier and safer... :D

Here is what we pulled out of the water.
What a great surprise !!

http://www.airmapp.com/51panel/selection/6.jpg

Once all the parts was removed, we prepared the lifting operation.
And then...

http://www.airmapp.com/51panel/selection/heli1.jpg

http://www.airmapp.com/51panel/selection/waiting.jpg

http://www.airmapp.com/51panel/selection/16.jpg

http://www.airmapp.com/51panel/selection/14.jpg

I guess that body shell was not a pain to lift for the helicopter !
http://www.airmapp.com/51panel/selection/13.jpg


It was a nice adventure, done in one week with my brother.
6 countries crossed, almost 6000km done… and the bus is now home. :P

I began to work on it last week end, so I have less than 5 months only to make it ready for the European Barndoor Gathering :roll:

Road ready or not, I will try to bring it there but I can’t imagine putting it on a trailer ! That’s quite a big challenge (I can’t work on it full time of course :roll: …) but I will do my best to make it happen :wink: .

You will be able to follow the progress of the restoration via the AirMapp blog, after registration on http://www.airmapp.com 

See you !
Florian
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posted on December 4th, 2013 at 07:21 PM



Great find & a great video, thanks for sharing !
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posted on December 6th, 2013 at 03:38 PM



What an effort!

Any old kombi is worth saving especially this piece of history.

Great work getting it home.




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posted on December 6th, 2013 at 04:13 PM



I wish you luck :tu::tu:

and hope you have lots of money for the project




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posted on December 9th, 2013 at 08:57 PM



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When you’re racing, it’s life. Anything that happens before or after... is just waiting.


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