'55 11 Window "Sheep Carrier" - Finding It
After coming back from the '09 VW Jamboree over the 21st-22nd March weekend I had an itching for another project. What I wanted was an early window bus but I didn't think that was likely, especially with my budget or lack there of. My missus had taken the '67 Panel on one of her chores around town and a couple of guys wandered up, as guys often do, and admired it. Then they commented that "so and so has one of these. Talk to Mike." That was obscure and so my wife found out who she'd been talking to and then, indirectly where the "one of these" was.
It turned it to live on the "Yurt Farm" at Mummel, 20kms west of Goulburn. The Yurt Farm is a property with lots of little circular buildings called yurts. It runs camps and has backpackers who work in the organic gardens and is generally a laid back place with people there all the time. I'd planned to visit a while back but after a frustrating day on Friday arvo I needed something positive and decided Saturday was the day. So I piled the kids and the wife into the '67 and we headed out there. We were greeted by Judith, who owns and runs the place with Mike her husband, and Fi, a friend of their's from Sydney. Like others they loved the '67 and it made the right impression. It helps not to look like you're after a quick buck. The Yurt Farm split was partly visible from the drive and so we quickly found it, 2 paddocks from the house and stuck deep next to a dam.
From a distance I was already taken as it had small hatch, one of my preferences, and didn't seem to have indicators. As I got closer though it seemed even older and I really began to get excited. Here it is as I found it.
When I took these pics I got REALLY excited. Have you picked why? Here's a hint......
Yep, factory safaris!! And one of the frames was still there and pretty much intact. The popout frames in the rear windows were also more or less intact. Then I began to look closer inside and at the rear.
An old style roof duct, chrome grab handles on the front passenger door and one of the cargo doors, small tail lights. It all pointed to a really old bus. Not a Barndoor but close. Unfortunately the roof has been damaged pretty badly and there is rust along each side close to the gutters.
Thanks to IN2VWS on DSK I found out it's a '55 11-Window made in March 1955, only a few months after the change from Barny production.
After seeing it I was seriously impressed and immediately approached Judith about buying it. She wasn't attached but was concerned about Mike's feelings. In the end he left the decision up to her as he didn't mind and liked the thought of it being saved. So she agreed to think on a price and get back to me. The haunting words "I'll check eBay to see prices" made my heart sink. As it turned out when she called me at 3pm on the Sunday the price was perfect. I went back out right then and there to pay for it and to take a few more pics of my new project.
As it happened there a great story about the things Mike used to use it for but I'll leave those for the video I'm going to put together. This blog's title is a hint. Next blog - pics and the story of the retrieval..........
It turned it to live on the "Yurt Farm" at Mummel, 20kms west of Goulburn. The Yurt Farm is a property with lots of little circular buildings called yurts. It runs camps and has backpackers who work in the organic gardens and is generally a laid back place with people there all the time. I'd planned to visit a while back but after a frustrating day on Friday arvo I needed something positive and decided Saturday was the day. So I piled the kids and the wife into the '67 and we headed out there. We were greeted by Judith, who owns and runs the place with Mike her husband, and Fi, a friend of their's from Sydney. Like others they loved the '67 and it made the right impression. It helps not to look like you're after a quick buck. The Yurt Farm split was partly visible from the drive and so we quickly found it, 2 paddocks from the house and stuck deep next to a dam.
From a distance I was already taken as it had small hatch, one of my preferences, and didn't seem to have indicators. As I got closer though it seemed even older and I really began to get excited. Here it is as I found it.
When I took these pics I got REALLY excited. Have you picked why? Here's a hint......
Yep, factory safaris!! And one of the frames was still there and pretty much intact. The popout frames in the rear windows were also more or less intact. Then I began to look closer inside and at the rear.
An old style roof duct, chrome grab handles on the front passenger door and one of the cargo doors, small tail lights. It all pointed to a really old bus. Not a Barndoor but close. Unfortunately the roof has been damaged pretty badly and there is rust along each side close to the gutters.
Thanks to IN2VWS on DSK I found out it's a '55 11-Window made in March 1955, only a few months after the change from Barny production.
After seeing it I was seriously impressed and immediately approached Judith about buying it. She wasn't attached but was concerned about Mike's feelings. In the end he left the decision up to her as he didn't mind and liked the thought of it being saved. So she agreed to think on a price and get back to me. The haunting words "I'll check eBay to see prices" made my heart sink. As it turned out when she called me at 3pm on the Sunday the price was perfect. I went back out right then and there to pay for it and to take a few more pics of my new project.
As it happened there a great story about the things Mike used to use it for but I'll leave those for the video I'm going to put together. This blog's title is a hint. Next blog - pics and the story of the retrieval..........
Add a Comment
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Comment by Andy Wood on April 5, 2009 at 23:42
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Ummm, hate to rain on your parade but she's going back to factory paint then getting a good buff and PLENTY of Anchor Wax.
The problem with the hippy paint is that it hides a liturgy of evils......bog, rust, etc.
There's no rust under the OG paint.
But there are some cool things that will stay.
She isn't getting a badge.
Where it was originally it protected the paint but surface rust developed in the holes.
So what there is now is paint where the badge was and surface rust where it wasn't.......sort of a silhouette of a badge.
That's staying.
The EJ25 is really the best way to go bulk HP without mortgaging my soul.......even more.
Besides, the guy who engineered my '67 Panel said that if I used the same braking system all he'd want was an additional cross member to fit a Subie motor.......he reckons its the motor they SHOULD have had.
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Comment by Joel French on April 5, 2009 at 22:30 -
Haha that sounds so good.
DO NOT GET RID OF THE FADED HIPPY PAINT!
Please :D
EJ25 wold be unreal !
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Comment by Andy Wood on April 5, 2009 at 22:17
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I'm going for a ratty look on this, but not just normal rat.........ULTRA RAT. I've pretty much scored another couple of popout frames that are redeemable and am also on the lookout for another factory safari frame. Factory and rat is the go. Inexpensive if possible is also a preference but the main thing is to keep as much of the "character" as possible. If I can it would be good to make this look almost as bad as the St George Panel but make it structurally strong and powerful. That equals zero rust and a Subaru EJ25 2.5l motor. I may even see if I can put a cage in it but I have to talk to my engineer.
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Comment by Joel French on April 5, 2009 at 13:01
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You lucky bloke
Haha look at the old hippy eye lashes around the lights.
She would look super good ratty as but with all chrome trimming :D
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Comment by Andy Wood on April 3, 2009 at 18:47
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Ho ho ho, how droll. Y'know, that joke is so bad I didn't even groan.........
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Comment by Pete Wood on April 3, 2009 at 16:30 -
baa baa....
wehheee, neehheeed, a lifffhhht. pleahees!
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Comment by Andy Wood on April 2, 2009 at 12:03
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I think you might hear me whinging for a little while until I get the front drum moving. Intend to hit it with an LPG torch this arvo to heat it up and brake that rust.
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Comment by Ash on April 2, 2009 at 7:19 -
Awesome work Andy. I don't think we'll be hearing much from you for a while...
© 2012 Created by Ash.
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