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 VWt ED’S SHOUT

ED’S SHOUT

Team VWt
Glenn Rowswell – Editor
glenn.rowswell@kelsey.co.uk
Instagram: @glennrowswell

GET IT SORTED...

H
Graham Morecroft – Art Editor ello and welcome to issue 129 of VWt magazine. I always find this period
of the year, well, a bit on the strange side. The festive period has come
graham.morecroft@kelsey.co.uk and gone, Spring seems a long time away and I find myself looking back at
Instagram: @initial_9 photos from the Summer wishing away the months until the lighter evenings
arrive. Ahh... warm sunshine memories.
But, then I remember that come mid-March, show season kicks into action with
the VWt stand at the VolksWorld show (see page 20 for a show preview) and there’ll
be new van builds to salivate over, people to see and plenty of laughs. If you’ve not
been, I highly recommend it. Yes, it’s mainly air-cooled vans and cars, but there’s such
a good vibe at the show and the level of the builds are inspirational.
Next, my mind turns to my T5.1 looking at me all unloved. Then, panic sets in as
I think, damn, I really better start some of those jobs I’ve been putting off all winter!
So, if like me you’re putting off that job or thinking I’ll wait until next weekend when
Sarah Halls – Head of Performance Ads it’s warmer, well, this is your alarm call. As Charles Dickens said: “Procrastination is
sarah@talk-media.uk
01732 446756

Until next time, enjoy the issue!

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

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g the stuff for the

at whilst walkin Pound Moto Organising...orld show
Being... shot easant hunters! rhomes VolksW
dog. Damn ph
VWt 5
VWt CONTENTS

10

VWt
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 VWt CONTENTS

72
T6.1: DREAM MACHINE 072
Through hard-earned savings, some inheritance, and
a little help from Ecowagon, the Green Family are
finally behind the wheel of their dream van...

54

SPECIAL FEATURE
ID.BUZZ TEST DRIVE 054
Volkswagen is reviving the spirit of the T1 Transporter for
the electric age – but was the ID.Buzz worth the wait?

062

OUT & ABOUT

18
VOLKSWORLD SHOW PREVIEW 000
The lowdown on VoWo ‘23

49
GO EXPLORE: ENGLISH COAST PATH 062
Pack up, drive off and go here
2023 SHOW CALENDAR 092
Find the best events here

80 86

98
OUR VANS OTHER STUFF
Andrew’s T5.1 LWB Panel 080 ED’S SHOUT 005 CLASSIFIEDS 094
Some babble from the bearded one Buy van, build van, sell van, repeat

31 NEWS
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YOUR VANS 086
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Lifestyle 036
VWt 7
VWt HOT VANS

Words Gordie Wollacott Photography Kieran Lucas

This year marks twenty years since VW phased out the T4

and introduced the brand-new T5. It looked nothing like its
predecessor with revolutionary style and performance. Now
considered something of a classic, the early T5 is still proving
its worth as a company van...

10 VWt
VWt HOT VANS

VWt 11
VWt HOT VANS
Retrimmed Vauxhall VXR
Recaro seats look the business

R
unning a company split between
the UK and the Netherlands has
certain logistical situations that
need clever solutions. Just ask Andy
Stretton, owner of Transporter HQ
and now also THQ EU. With the advent of
Brexit, selling parts into Europe from the UK
brought with it fresh headaches. The easiest
way to circumnavigate this newfound land of
red tape was to create a base on the other side.
The best ideas are always the simple ones. To
make things even more straightforward, rather
than build something entirely from the ground
up, Andy made contact with Marcos Dreves,
owner of a well-known tuning company in The
Hague known as Baas Custom Parts. A deal was
reached and BCP soon became THQ EU.
A demo vehicle was, of course, a
prerequisite. This was achieved early on with
the transformation of Marcos’ own T6 back at
THQ in Leicestershire. We featured the result
in issue 121. But what could be better than a
demo vehicle? How about two demo vehicles?
The writing was on the wall for THQ EU team
member, Emmerick, the original owner of this
early T5 (often referred to as a ‘pre-face’), as
soon as the new boss laid eyes on it. “It’s a very
well-known van,” says Andy. “Some vans just
have a distinct look and this one had it. A pre-
facelift commercial T5 is my favourite of all the
vans VW ever made. I wanted to take it as the
perfect base and just put the THQ stamp on it.
As always, things got a little out of hand!”
After some persuasion, Emmerick agreed to
sell the van and before the ink on the logbook
was dry it was back in Blighty. The role of the
van was to be two-fold. First and foremost as
a demo for Navis Wheels, now that THQ EU
is the official European distributor. Secondly, it
would be a permanent form of transport based
in Holland whenever Andy had to visit. “I spent
a lot of time driving back and forth to the new
warehouse,” he says. “It made much more
sense to have a vehicle base here, then I could
just fly out when I needed to.”
On the ferry back to the UK with the T5, Back at base, the first thing to be tackled
Andy sat down with his right-hand man (and was the removal of the fake side window glass.
Get your hands on a THQ knob THQ suspension guru) Mikey Roe and the pair “We got professional window fitters in,” Andy
at www.transporterhq.co.uk began to compile a list of modifications for reveals. “They do this kind of thing all the time
the van. What started as a simple project soon and have all the kit. They’d do a far better job
escalated. “Typically for us, things just got out than we would. Sometimes it’s okay to get
of hand,” Andy laughs. “The list was huge! some help!” As you can imagine, the bonding
It’s not that it needed to be done, it was just left quite a mess and so as well as taking on
stuff we wanted to do to put our stamp on it.” the rear wiper delete, Steve at Paintworx in
The style of the build was clear from the start. Loughborough also repainted the sides to bring
Taking inspiration from the fact the van had this panel back to its former glory. “While it was
survived the great facelift pandemic of 2010- with Steve, we had him texture paint the stock
2015, a retro vibe was forming with a touch of bumpers in black to get the commercial look,”
old-school styling. Aside from the suspension, points out Andy. “As I said, it is my favourite
the most radical modification is the rear wiper look and especially with the Caravelle bumper
delete. Hard to believe when the finished item this T5 was fitted with. It’s quite common over
looks like a full-on custom ride, but it’s true. This in Europe but you don’t see them so much
is where attention to detail trumps all else in the around here.” To complement the smoothed-
vehicle modification world. out wipers, the stock rear heated glass was
12 VWt
 VWt HOT VANS

“I wanted to take it as the

perfect base and just
put the THQ stamp on it.
As always, things got a
little out of hand!”

VWt 13
VWt HOT VANS

Colour coded Lupo steering

wheel adds to the retro vibes

removed and replaced with tinted Camper incorporate the pre-cut flooring from THQ and line. “The other issue with seats made for a
Glass windows. also a longer aftermarket rear threshold cover car with a central tunnel, like these and Audi
Despite already having a pretty decent air- that makes life easier when hiding your joins. wingbacks is that you don’t have any covers
ride setup, that too was overhauled. Originally Recessed spotlights in the roof not only look for the inside mechanism,” says Andy with
located in the cargo area, everything has now good but offer better lighting. the air of a true perfectionist. In this case, the
been moved underneath and replaced with The cab area has not been overlooked THQ team knocked something up on the 3D
a Solow-branded seamless five-gallon tank either. The Vauxhall VXR seats it was fitted with printer to hide the metalwork from sight. “For
and two of the quietest compressors on the have been reupholstered with new leather a last-minute job, it turned it well,” says Andy.
market, also from Solow. That left more room and GTD tartan by Hadley Vehicle trimming. “With a bit of fine-tuning, it could be something
for transporting parts in the now fully insulated These seats have a tendency to sit at the wrong we offer in the future.” The colour-coded Lupo
and carpeted cargo space. The details have not angle when fitted in a Transporter and so new wheel fitted by Emmerick stays put.
been missed here either with a new sidestep to bases have been fabricated to bring them in Of course, as well as being a comfy place
for Andy to park his derrière sur le continent
(sorry, I only speak a bit of French, no Dutch!)
this van was built to get the message about
A BRIEF HISTORY OF NAVIS Navis wheels out there. Nothing can do that
It’s always interesting to find out about the background of a company name. Navis was created better than some traditional style sign writing
to present a wheel offering from Transporter HQ specifically for VW Transporters. Correct offsets, emblazoned across both sides! “I just felt it
widths and - most important of all - load rating are staples of the brand. The name Navis even would fit well with the old school, vintage
refers to their ability to carry weight - translated from Latin it means cargo. It’s a theme that can theme of the van,” Andy explains. “We did
be found throughout the product range. The recently launched Lenta alloy means tough, whilst originally plan to do a subtle ghost effect, but I
the Gelida is Latin for frozen. It represents both the snowflake style of the wheel and also because think this works far better on many levels. The
anything that is frozen is harder. So... nunc scis (which is Latin for - now you know!). finished work is thanks to Signs and Graphics
UK in Hinckley.
14 VWt
VWt HOT VANS
Insulated and carpeted cargo
area boasts ceiling spot lights

VWt 15
VWt HOT VANS
The least shocking news about this van is that
it’s running on a set of Navis wheels. With the
whole range at his disposal, it must have been
a hard choice. “I just wanted something classic
to reflect the vibe of the van, and the Dome
wheels do that for me,” says Andy. “This is
the only set we’ve done in this bronze finish as
they normally come in black, but I think it really
complements the Grey paintwork.”
You can check out more on this build on the
THQ YouTube page. You can even share your
own views on it which is openly encouraged.
“We love to hear people’s opinions on what we
do, we’re not always right,” says Andy, humbly.
“I’ve seen people buying facelifted vans that
have then face-dropped them back. They get
such a positive reaction for doing that and I truly
believe they will become the next classics. If you
took an Early Bay and facelifted it to a Late Bay
it would be worth less money. People say we
are miles off that point but I’m not so sure. The
price of T5s is only going up and you can really
make a preface van look nice - you can even
make a standard, commercial vehicle look nice
as hopefully, we’ve shown!” t
OWNER:
Name: THQ/THQ EU
Instagram: @transporterhq
@transporterhqeurope
Hardest part of the build:
Removal of the fake side window
glass, it left such a mess
Favourite modification: The
custom bronze staggered 20”
Navis Dome rims of course
Lesson learnt from this build:
Resist the lift, keep it classic
2005 VW T5
MODIFICATIONS:
Engine: 2.0tdi
Chassis: SoLow air ride including seamless
five gallon tank and twin quiet compressors,
staggered 20” Navis Domes in custom bronze
8.5” fronts and 10” rears
Exterior: THQ T5 headlights, badgeless
grille, rear wiper delete, Caravelle front
bumper, bumpers textured painted black –
sides also repainted in Off-Road Grey, Navis
brand signwriting, clear red T6.1 style rear
lights, Camper Glass rear windows, black VW
tailgate badge
Interior: Retrimmed Vauxhall VXR front
seats, Lupo colour-coded steering wheel,
insulated and carpeted cargo walls, pre-cut
cargo area flooring, recessed ceiling spot
lights
Audio: Standard with iPod connection

“I’ve seen people buying

face-lifted vans that have then
face-dropped them back. They
get such a positive reaction”

16 VWt
 NAVISWHEELS.COM
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VWt NEWS
NEWS
All the latest from the world of Transporters & VWs...
BRENTACRE
INSURANCE
AT VWt
FESTIVAL
We’re very excited to announce that
Brentacre will be joining us at this year’s
VWt Festival as our insurance partner.
Brentacre offer Transporter insurance
under their popular campervan policy
where they offer specialist insurance
schemes for modified vans, professionally
OUR APOLOGIES TO THE ANDERSONS... DOH!
Got some news to share with the van clan? Send yours to glenn.rowswell@kelsey.co.uk
18 VWt
converted campers and home-built day
vans, they also have a Classic Scheme for
older Transporters. During the event staff
from Brentarce will be on hand to answer
all your general insurance premium related
questions and be available for one-to-one
advice on insuring your van.
The VWt Festival - the ultimate show
for all models of VW Transporter - takes
place at Kent County Showground on 15th
& 16th July. For more information see:
www.events.fastcar.co.uk/vwt-festival
Glenn the editor. Whilst editing the feature about
Alex Anderson’s awesome T6 that’s not only a
sick whip but also transport to a family of eight,
there was the nagging doubt of “I am sure his
family were on the shoot.” However, with deadline
pressing after the Xmas period and over 100
great photos at our disposal we proceeded with
the feature and sent the magazine to press.
Then, to our horror, VWt snapper Andrew
pipes up: “I’ll send over those photos of Alex
and his family, they’re all edited now.” Yep,
you’ve guessed the next bit... we missed the
all-important family photos! So, a big sorry to
the Anderson family – that’s Alex, his partner
Kayleigh and kids Charlie, Ollie, Ellie, Izzy,Tahlia
and Mason. Here’s a snap to hopefully make up
for it. As for Glenn the ed, we’ve sent him to the
naughty step, stupid boy!
camper_versions ®

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VWt NEWS

2023
VWt are thrilled that Europe’s coolest air-cooled VW
show VolksWorld is back at Sandown Park, Esher from
the 18-19th March. There will be hundreds of show
quality vehicles inside and out, club stands, traders and a
whole floor of swap meet tables.
Plus, there’s live music, other VW related amusement
and of course a bar. Why not come for the weekend and
camp? It’s the best way to enjoy the show and soak up
the atmosphere (and some beer!). Plus, you can bring the
family as there’s loads for them to do.

VWT DISPLAY CAR PARK HEROES

You will find us packing the Summer
Lawn with a collection of the UK’s best
Transporters. From previous cover stars
and feature vans to some special surprises
that will have your jaw on the floor. We’ll
have terrific T4s, tasty T5s and a load of
top T6s too.
BACK TO ’89
The Back to ’89 movement, and the man
behind the B289 club, Stu Betty, will be
presenting ‘10 of the best’ ex-show stars
and classic VolksWorld feature cars from
back in the day in the Esher Hall.
Meguiar’s will once again be awarding a
prize to the winner of the Car Park Show
’n’ Shine. Open to anybody that does not
have a car inside the main halls. There’s no
need to enter, or park in a special place,
just pull up and the judges will find your
car. A prize will be awarded at 4pm each
day.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO
KNOW
LOCATION:
Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, Surrey,
KT10 9AJ
OPENING TIMES:
Sat 18 March: 10.00-18.00
Sun 19 March: 10.00-16.30
ADVANCE TICKET PRICES:
• Adult day ticket: £17*
• Adult weekend ticket: £27*
• Adult camping add-on: £20*

INTERNATIONAL SWAPMEET CARRY ON CAMPING ON THE GATE TICKET PRICES:

Whether you’re searching for that
elusive item, or just like to browse, head
to VolksWorld’s famous international
swapmeet with over 100 tables of rare
accessories and parts on offer.
Make the most of it with a camping
weekend. With hot showers and the golf
clubhouse providing food and drink from
Friday through to Sunday. Book early as
plots are limited. Simply buy your camping
add-on on the booking page.
• Adult day ticket: £22
• Adult weekend ticket: £40
2x children aged 5-14 are free per
paying adult, additional children £5.00
each. Under 5’s are free
* booking fees apply

SPONSORED BY:

Book online via www.classicsworld.co.uk/volksworldshow/– ticket helpline: 07375 554420

20 VWt
VWt HOT VANS

It’s funny how people often move through the van ownership
ranks and onto different models. Here’s how Chris James
went from his T25 to this cool retro styled T4...
Words Mark Walker Photography Andrew Thompson

22 VWt
VWt HOT VANS

VWt 23
VWt HOT VANS
L
et’s face it, each generation of
van – T1 to T6 is pretty different
looking. Sure, there are some
big similarities between the Split
and Bay vans and the T5 and T6 –
despite Volkswagen’s assertions that the
T6 was a completely new vehicle, but each
model tends to have its own devotees. I’ve
owned everything from T1s to T5s and my
preference is firmly rooted in Splits and
Bays, with the Early Bay Window Buses
being my absolute favourite, as they have
more practicality than a Split but still have
cool looks.
Besides, more of the Bay Window Buses
were running around when I was growing
up than anything else and a few formative
experiences gained my unflinching
devotion, at least in the last 30 years. And
these experiences, for many of us, shape
what we drive and what we want to put our
time and effort into.
But I appreciate there are also plenty of
people around who buy into the ‘Newer is
better’ mantra; ask many T4 or T5 owners
what their dream van would be and I’d
reckon 80% of them would say a new T6.1,
with 10-20% on the fence about being loyal
to their current model or dreaming of going
earlier into air-cooled ownership.
And then there are the T25 owners.
Weirdly, the T25 has never really fit that well
into the enthusiasts’ lineup very well – in
my opinion at least. I’ve owned three in my
time – a Westy, a Caravelle and a Bluestar
Multivan but all were bought to sell on –
the looks, for me, meant that they weren’t
something that would pass the look back
test as I was walking away.
With some time gone by, I now
appreciate that some models – especially
commercials and Westy campers – can look
cool and I genuinely think the interior layout
and amount of space in a T25 Westfalia
is better than that of a T4 – I’ve owned
Westfalia versions of both – but I’m still not
24 VWt
rushing to daily drive one or to grow old
with one as a camper, even though after
decades in the wilderness of low prices
they’ve now found their value point.
The boxy shape of the ’25 has always
been pretty Marmite, but, for me, it’s the
engines that put the final nail in the coffin...
they’re just a bit crap in my opinion. Sure,
the Wasserboxer, especially in 2100cc form
would show a clean pair of heels to many a
sporty hatch, but they were fragile engines
and the diesel options wouldn’t pull the skin
off a rice pudding.
It’s the latter that made Chris James jump
ship from T25 ownership to the T4 you see
here, he wanted something a ‘bit more
practical’ read: easier to drive. Maybe he
was sick of the dogleg first 5-speed box
that always takes more effort to stir through
the gears. Whatever the real reason, he was
tempted to make the step up to a T4 and it
was the van you see here in these hallowed
pages that made the cut.
Chris takes no credit for the outside
appearance – it had already been ratted
and had the faux patina strips added by a
“These experiences,
for many of us, shape
what we drive and put
our time into”
previous owner called Steve on it when it
came into his life – the work was all done
by Mugford Rats. It was pretty basic on
the inside though and Chris knew when he
bought it that this would have to change.
Having dropped a load of – perhaps
controversial – opinions on the T25 already,
I’m now going to continue with T4s. In
my experience, based on the number of
T4 features I’ve written for this mag, full
professional conversions on T4s tend to be
quite rare these days, especially new ones,
i.e., people who bought a van that had
already been converted way back when.
Maybe it’s just been my exposure to
them, but a lot of T4s seem to get the
hydros/tiny Faulkner’s and basic budget
interior builds that I’ve seen, with relatively
few owners making a larger investment on
the inside and practicality for camping than
they do on the suspension… Disagree?
Drop us an e-mail and tell us your thoughts.
This could be because T4s fall more into
 VWt HOT VANS

A KING’S RANSOM
It’s funny how turning into one of the old
ward in the VW scene gives you a unique
insight on things. I remember when I was
one of the young kids in the scene and
wanted a T4 - when they were brand new
- but they were out of my reach price-wise.
It’s not just in the last 10 years that VW
van prices have been higher than what
you’d pay for another brand, but back
then at least the prices were a tad more
sensible. I bought a clean 4-year-old 2001
T4 panel in Indian Blue for £3800 back in
2005 and a clean red 2004 T5 panel for
£5000 back in 2011. However, inflation
means that both those vans would be
way more at today’s prices, but if you
compare what you’d pay for a 4-7 year-old
Volkswagen van these days, it’s a shocking
increase in prices, even compared with
inflation.

VWt 25
VWt HOT VANS
“Every van goes through that stage
when they’re old but not yet fully
recognised as a classic”
the budget category than all the other
models of van these days – every van goes
through that stage when they’re old but
not yet fully recognised as a classic and this
means they appeal to the crowd who want a
cool low budget vehicle that they can slam
on its arse.
With this in mind, Chris is dancing to the
beat of his own drummer a bit by going
for a patina T4 and then spending strong
money getting it professionally converted,
yet going for a lowered but milder
suspension build. I kind of like this – I’ve
always done my own thing and built things
because I liked them and not because they
were popular, so I kinda dig kindred spirits.
I guess a huge part of the reason that
we’re not seeing more high-budget
26 VWt
Dometic Smev 8821 single
hob & sink combination unit
professional conversions on T4s is that it’s
difficult to justify spending the money on
them when it’s not likely to add the resale
value on top to cover what you’ve spent.
I’m sure it would if you planned to own it for
5+ years, but the T4 prices are still at the
bottom of the curve right now.
Chris bucked this trend though and
booked it in with Spektrum Interiors to have
a full conversion done. This comprised an
Austops roof - which Chris really rates – and
a rock and roll bed from Fabworks, which
falls somewhere in between a ¾ and full-
width. It allows for some skinnier cupboards
down the side and is a great option for
people who want some storage, but don’t
have a ton of gear to cart around.
There are all the usual suspects inside
when it comes to appliances – fridge with
freezer box from Dometic and a single
burner stove with sink. When it comes to
the other tech involved, Chris didn’t go the
budget route either; the van has both a
leisure battery and 240-volt hook-up with a
roof-mounted solar panel running through a
Sargent power management system; there’s
no aux heater, but everything else is what
you’d expect to find in a build on a more
expensive – T5 or 6 – base van.
With the interior squared away by the
pros, it was Chris’ turn to get his hands dirty
by winding down the front height on the
bars and fitting adjustable height springs
on the back. Without this, the 16” old-
school Mercedes Penta wheels would have
looked more than a bit gash - I remember
in the ‘80s when people used to fit these
to stock height Bay Window campers and
MUGFORD RATS
Want to see what this T4 looked like before
it had the Mugford Rats treatment? Well,
you have no choice! Purists cover your
eyes, as it looks like it was a bit of a minter!
To see more about what’s possible with
a bit of imagination, sanding and some
Rusty Paint check out www.mugfordrats.
wordpress.com, but don’t pester them for
work as they’re no longer trading.
 VWt HOT VANS
Spektrum Interiors did the conversion
whilst Bromsgrove Auto Trimmers took
care of the retro styled upholstery

VWt 27
VWt HOT VANS
they looked terrible. They suit a lowered T4
though, especially with their angular looks
toned down with some gloss black.
The stock 2.5 ‘88’ TDI motor had been
mapped before Chris got it and he’s always
been pretty happy with the performance
it gives him – coming from a T25 with any
of the engine options to a mapped 2.5 was
always gonna make this feel like a sportscar,
let’s face it! He’s also fitted a Kenwood KDC
BT-720DAB headunit with VIBE Audio 6x9
speakers in front – nice and simple is all you
need sometimes.
Having got the van just how he likes it
has been bittersweet. Sure, he really loves
it and has taken a few trips in it, but an
enforced change in jobs means he’s now
looking for a car to use daily, meaning that
his beloved van must go in order to fund his
new daily driver. Boo! So, if you’re looking
for a cool sorted T4 with a pro conversion
inside, drop us a line at the mag and we’ll
put you in touch, as Chris doesn’t do
Instagram. t
28 VWt
2000 T4 888
MODIFICATIONS:
Engine: Remapped to 130bhp
Chassis: 16” Mercedes Penta wheels, Avon
ZV7 225/55/16 tyres
Exterior: Light green patina paint and stripes
by Mugford Rats, Austops pop-top, roof-
mounted solar panel
Interior: Full conversion by Spektrum
Interiors with upholstery by Bromsgrove Auto
Trimmers, comprising of Fabworks rock and
roll bed, Dometic fridge with freezer box,
Dometic Smev 8821 single hob and sink
combination unit, 240-volt hookup with leisure
battery, split charge and 150W solar panel
with Sargent power management system
Audio: Kenwood KDC BT-720DAB headunit
with VIBE Audio 6x9 speakers in front
WWW.AUTOFINESSE.COM
 •
• FROM

R
LV
SI

H A ITE
NT

E
O
BR

SB A K
O
GL

FRESH PRODUCTS
Top gear for your Transporter...
NAVIS LENTA WHEELS
Another month, another absolutely banging
wheel from the geniuses at Navis. We
seriously don’t know how they do it, do
these guys not eat or sleep? It’s one thing
releasing new wheels month in, month out,
but it’s not like they’re doing the old ‘this is
our homage to <insert classic wheel name
here>’ where you replicate a design but
make a few styling changes. Nope, these are
fresh looking, dynamically designed wheels
that look like nothing else on the Transporter
market. Proper job!
Anyway, we digress, you want the dets,
right? So, this is the all-new Navis Lenta,
with Lenta being the Latin for ‘Tough’. And
they’re not just tough by name, but also
tough by nature as they boast a big boy load
rating of 1050kg a corner. That’s more than
VWt PRODUCTS
enough not just for T32 Transporters, but
also their much bigger brothers the Crafter
and Man TGE.
Transporter HQ told us: “With the Lenta,
we wanted to do something different with
a focus on strength and depth. The solid,
flat face has been stepped forward to give
a deep concave towards the centre and a
dishy rim. We decided it was time to create
a wheel that suits that industrial commercial
vehicle style, while also being sharp enough
to suit a finely finished Highline.”
Well chaps, we think it’s fair to say mission
accomplished... again! Navis Wheels, VWt
salutes you!
Priced from £1100 (per set)
www.naviswheels.com
VITAL STATS: 
❯ Diameter: 20 Inch
❯ Width: 9J
❯ Offset: ET42
❯ Bolt pattern: 5×120 fitment only
❯ Centre bore: 65.1
❯ Colours: Gloss Anthracite, Gloss Black,
Satin Death Bronze, Gloss Silver
❯ Load rating 1050kg (per wheel)
VWt 31
Need some more bass in your life... and let’s face it, who doesn’t? Then
check out VIBE Audio’s SLICKT5A-V2 8-inch bass pack for the T5-T6.
Handmade exclusively in the UK, this Transporter specific under seat
bass enclosure is the result of months of R&D and fabrication work by
VIBE’s bass boffins as they looked to build the best Transporter bass
enclosure on the market.
From the unique design, to the angles and slopes, everything
has been especially developed for the Transporter seat base to fully
maximise the enclosure volume, thus allowing the best possible output
from the enclosure. With built-in feet which have been perfectly aligned
to locate on the seat base frame for a perfect fit.
This wizardry is then paired with VIBE’s special passive radiator

Price £500
www.vibeaudio.co.uk
MULTIVAN BILSTEIN
EVO S COILOVERS
Want your Multivan a bit lower to the tarmac and tighter
into the bends? Of course, you do! And, Bilstein’s state-of-
the-art EVO S street performance adjustable coilovers are
exactly what you need.
This brand-new aftermarket suspension offers lowering
up to 50mm (varies depending on equipment variant and
engine) and more dynamic dampening. The result, better
handling, and most importantly more smiles per gallon.
They also come zinc-nickel coated to protect against
corrosion and harsh winter driving.
Price £TBA
www.bilstein.com

32 VWt
 new type approved vehicles = Full campervan conversions
reimo roof & seat fitting service = electrical installations = lining and insulation work
If you want an adventure that offers freedom, comfort and security, look no further. At CMC we’ve been building market leading campervans since 1988 and our award winning designs
combine safety, comfort and style. Our innovative range of interiors made with highest quality materials, are Type Approved (new vehicles) & come with 3-year warranty.
All of our work is carried out by our highly experienced team of craftsman in the UK, utilising 30+ years of knowledge and expertise.

CONTACT US NOW....Booking Build Slots Summer ‘23

Visit us online

WWW.CMCCAMPERS.co.uk
VWt PRODUCTS

AUTO FINESSE VERSO

Verso is Auto Finesse’s APC hero in a bottle - that’s All-
Purpose Cleaner if you didn’t know – that’s perfect for
cleaning and degreasing a vehicle’s interior and exterior
surfaces... yes really! Verso can be used across carpet,
fabric, rubber, engine, door jambs, wheel arches, tyres
and more. If required, agitate with a detailing brush. If not,
simply wipe clean with a microfibre cloth or extract using a
vacuum cleaner. A must have for any detailing kit bag.
Price £10 (1-litre)
www.autofinesse.com

SSP T5 SEAT COVERS

Whilst show winning upholstery may be on your long-term wish list, the primary
concern for many is disguising those rips, stains and worn-out seats. The good
news is seat cover technology has come on a long way, and off the shelf ‘slip on’
covers, like these top-quality diamond stitched, leather-look covers from SSP can
really make a big impact for very little outlay.
With a choice of stitching colours (black, blue & red) giving the opportunity to
match your existing colour scheme, simply select the seat configuration you have
fitted – 2x single, or single and double (and maybe even grab the rear seat cover to
match?) and off you go! Compatible with side airbags and can be used on vehicles
with and without armrests in place.
Priced from £185
www.heritagepartscentre.com

VAN-X STORAGE NETS

These fantastic elastic storage pockets are perfectly
sized for maximum convenience. You can store
maps, phones, snacks and more whilst keeping
your van tidy and clutter-free. Come complete with
screws and flush caps.
Priced from £15
www.van-x.co.uk

34 VWt
 For more information go to www.wolfrace.com
Contact us on: sales@wolfrace.co.uk | +44 (0) 845 330 9896
Or visit your nearest dealer

WOLFRACE
ACCESSORIES

Wolfrace 71
50th anniversary wheel collection,
VOODOO URBAN RACER
Gloss Raven Black Polished, Gloss Raven Black Polished
with custom colours GlossRaven Black & Urban Chrome & Gloss Raven Black
8.5x18” 8.5x20” ” ” ”

MATRIX TALON
Gloss Raven Black, Gloss Raven Black Polished, Gloss Raven Black Polished Gloss Raven Black Polished, Gloss Raven
Matt Raven Black & Titanium Polished & Gloss Raven Black Black & Urban Chrome Polished
8.5x18” 8.5x20 8.5x18” 8.5x20” 8.5x18” 8.5x19” 8.5x20” 9.5x20” 9.5x22”

WOLFSBURG ASSASSIN
Gloss Black / Polished, Gloss Black Gloss Black, Gunmetal / Polished, Matt Bronze, Gloss Black / Polished
8.0x18” 8.5x19” 8.5x20” Matt Black & Gloss Black / Polished & Gloss Black
Gunmetal / Polished & Matt Black 8.0x18” 8.5x20” 8.5x18” 8.5x19” 8.5x20” 7.0x16” 7.0x17” 8.0x18”
Matt Bronze 8.5x20” 8.5x19” 8.5x20”

ASSASSIN GT2 MUNICH AERO X10

Gloss Black / Polished Matt Bronze (20” only) , Gloss Black Gloss Black / Polished Racing Black, Gunmetal & Silver
8.5x18” 8.5x20” & Gloss Black / Polished & Gloss Black All colours have a 5 year warranty
8.5x18” 8.0x19” 8.5x20” 8.5x18” 9.0x19”

WOLF OVERLAND EXPLORE SAHARA CANYON

Gloss Black, Gloss Black / Polished Matt Black / Matt Black / Matt Black Matt Black
Matt Black & Matt Black / Polished Black Rivets Black Rivets 8.5x17” 8.5x18” Chrome Rivets
8.5x20” 8.5x17” 8.0x18” 8.0x18” 8.5x17”

WOLFHART PREMIUM ECONOMY WHEELS BY WOLFRACE

JDM JDM BAYERN BAYERN CLASSIC TURISMO TURISMO

Gloss Black Matt Black Gloss Black Gloss Black / Red Lip Silver / Polished Lip Gloss Black Gloss Black / Polished
7.5x17” 8.0x18” 7.5x17” 7.5x17” 8.5x18” 7.5x17” 8.5x18” 8.5x18”

TUV CERTIFICATION
German TUV certification
on selected wheels
GO ONLINE MADE IN EUROPE UP TO 5 YEAR WARRANTY HUGE RANGE AVAILABLE INTERACTIVE GUIDE
Please visit your nearest All TUV certificated wheels On selected wheels Huge range of wheels Use our interactive fitment
dealer to view or purchase are made in Europe. when you register online available, see guide at www.wolfrace.com
Wolfrace wheels or go online www.wolfrace.com
at www.wolfrace.com for the full range
VWt PRODUCTS

LIFESTYLE
Cool stuff that will make your life better…

OUTWELL NIGHTLIGHT SYSTEM

Award-winning and rather clever Scandinavian camping brand, Outwell, has
revealed a superb new lighting innovation for its exclusive Imperial Air tents
and Superior Air Touring vehicle awning collections for 2023. Outwell’s unique
Nightlight System generates soft cosy illumination, allowing a camper to move
around and leave a tent or vehicle awning without a harsh light waking other
occupants - because no one wants to be that person that goes for a post-
Midnight pee and wakes up everyone. The gentle welcoming porch light also
highlights the main door zip for ease of access on return.
While the tents and awnings are prepared for ONS, the key to its operation
is the optional rechargeable power source cleverly located in a pocket at one
end of the modified HookTrack beading, which lights up the embedded fibre
optic element. The optional ONS Light Unit Set comprises two light units and
a coded remote controller. Each unit has a rechargeable battery that provides
six hours of light depending on conditions.
Priced from £94
www.outwell.com

BRO! PARK EDITION

HOODIES
Whether you’re walking the pooch, camping,
or just hitting the streets, the bro! Park edition
hoodie has got you covered. This super-cool ‘n’
cosy hoodie comes in a unisex oversize fit – in
sizes XS to 3XL – features a traditional style hood,
chunky drawstrings, lift-pass pocket and a zipped
kangaroo pouch with hidden zipped media pocket.
Keep warm, yet look cool, what’s not to love?!
Price £60
www.brocerystore.com

36 VWt
VW Transporter T5/T6 | Front Kit #78572 | Rear Kit #78672 | FLO Arride Billet Tank #15224
 For those who think a little lower

Legendary Air Lift Performance Air Suspension and state-of-the-art

Performance 3 control, now with FLO Airride billet air tanks.

Visit: airliftperformance.com to build your perfect system.

VWt HOT VANS

40 VWt
 VWt HOT VANS

SUPER-HERA
Named Hera after the Greek goddess of marriage, women and
family, this T6 has truly lived up to its name for the Maidment
family. It also disproves the myth that you must abandon your
cool van once a baby comes along...
Words Gordie Wollacott Photography Rich Pearce

VWt 41
VWt HOT VANS

T
here wasn’t a single aspect of
human life that escaped the reach
of COVID-19. Sport was decimated.
Music festivals failed to exist, and
it seemed everybody we knew
was supposed to be getting married in
2020! The number of wedding cancellations
could have been a different data point for
tracking the impact of the virus on the world.
Many couples compensated for the delay
in different ways. Our favourite so far has to
be the purchase of this 2018 T6, by the now
thankfully married couple Gavin and Megan
Maidment from Portsmouth.
“We bought the van in July 2020 after our
wedding had been cancelled for the third
time due to the various lockdowns,” reveals
Gavin. The search for the van was certainly TOP MOD: 20“ ROTIFORM
touched with serendipity. “Trying to find As is often the case in this magazine, the RSE STAGGERED WHEELS
the perfect van at the time was difficult and van didn’t look much like the literal goddess When you check out the list of mods this van has
involved travelling far afield in search of the strewn across these pages. Rather, it was received, it doesn’t seem to marry with the pictures.
ideal base vehicle,” he recalls. “I stumbled a somewhat humble panel van fitted with Yet park it up next to a standard Startline and they’d
across the advert for this van by accidentally side windows and an aftermarket rear bench look like they came from different planets. This is
typing ‘VW Transproter T6’ in the search bar. seat. In other words - the perfect base the genius of a subtle build. It isn’t in your face, but
This listing popped up and apparently, the vehicle. “My wife and I wanted something everything on it just works so well together. The icing
price had been reduced many times. How that we could use to transport our boards on the cake has to be those 20” Rotiform RSE wheels.
lucky was that? I’m normally a stickler for and watersport equipment down the West Staggered widths and the perfect tyre choice makes
spelling!” Country and still be able to stay in at the such a difference. Yes, we like this one very much.

beach when the surf allowed,” he says. “Of

course, the Transporter fits the bill perfectly.’
On the colour, he says. “I’ve always wanted a
Nardo Grey Audi RS6 which is a similar shade
to the VW Pure Grey. I see loads of T5.1s and
T6.1s in this colour, but very few T6s.”
The early focus was on converting the
Transporter into a day van configuration.
“The van came with a plywood floor, an
aftermarket rear triple bench, a double
passenger seat and bare plywood panels,”
says Gavin. “The first thing I did was install
sound-deadening material and insulate the
interior before carpet lining. This was actually
really enjoyable as I had lots of time to do
it during the lockdown period and YouTube
taught me loads!” The double front seat was
switched out in favour of a single-passenger
version to allow easy movement from the cab
to the rear and to give a more car-like feel.
“Meg was disappointed there wasn’t a vanity
mirror in the sun visor, so I found a European
driver-side version from Germany and fitted
this for her birthday,” says Gavin. Who says
romance is dead, eh? Lucky lady!
42 VWt
 VWt HOT VANS

“Marrying aesthetics with the reliability

of the chosen modifications was one of
the hardest parts of the build”

Even the shifter has Top-spec Alpine Halo 11 Air Lift management
been upgraded digital media station controls the lows

VWt 43
VWt HOT VANS

The non-folding aftermarket bench seat

had to go to accommodate an Ovano Switch
XL bed system for those nights waiting for
the perfect sets to roll in. “Ovano was a
company in its infancy at the time and I loved
the idea of their system as it was so versatile
with such a large loading area for all our
water sports equipment,” enthuses Gavin.
“We had to retrofit a factory VW folding rear
triple bench to make it work that we then “I think if you can design something that makes
had trimmed in Nappa leather and installed
by Bognor Motors. The combination gets a your life easier and better then that’s a great start”
lot of compliments at shows and meets and
I was even mistaken for an Ovano salesman is definitely a man who knows his product why it just looks so damn good. “Marrying
at The British Motor Show!” The front seats selection which is why I trusted him with the aesthetics with the reliability of the chosen
have been trimmed in the same leather and van. I’d definitely recommend his work. I love modifications was one of the hardest parts of
treated to GTI bolsters for added comfort. the custom A-pillar builds as they house the the build,” admits Gavin. “I think if you can
The inside is not only a comfortable place tweeters and mids perfectly whilst seamlessly design something that makes your life easier
to be but also an enjoyable one thanks matching the rest of the interior. The next job and better then that’s a great start.” It’s
to some choice audio upgrades. “I’m not is to add some more bass with a sub.” this thought process that led to a call being
quite an audiophile,” admits Gavin. “But I The constant theme that runs through made to the boys at Lowdown Transporters.
definitely like my music which is why I didn’t this build is simple, modern and subtly After smashing one too many splitters on
hold back on the install. Carl at Studio Incar aesthetic modifications. They are the reasons the bumpy roads to the beach, Gavin knew

Xxxx x xxx xxx x xx x xxxx x xx xxx xxx

xxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxx

44 VWt
 VWt HOT VANS
Ovano Switch XL gives Gavin,
Megan & Letty plenty of options

what had to be done. “The most recent, and

possibly my favourite of all modifications is
the SoLow x AirLift install. I wouldn’t have
trusted my van with anyone else but the
boys at LDT as they have been doing this
for years,” he says. It’s not just the kit that
has been installed, but the work behind it
that makes the real difference. A subframe
and engine raise, chassis notching, and front
hub mod have all been necessary to achieve
this kind of ride height whilst maintaining
drivability and comfort.
A year after the van was purchased, the

VWt 45
VWt HOT VANS
happy day finally arrived when Gavin and
Meg did the holy matrimony thing followed
by a tour of the south coast between
Hampshire, Devon and Cornwall. The good
news continued the next year when the
Maidments announced the birth of their
beautiful little girl, Letty, into the world; the
perfect partner in crime to share adventures
with. “All the modifications I had made to the
van in the past were with the view that we
would hopefully one day have children and
so would make our lives easier as parents,”
Gavin explains. “There was a time when I put
the van up for sale as I didn’t feel as though
I would be able to pour as much time into it,
but I was so thankful for the comments from
the VW Transporter community pointing
out that I would miss it and that it makes
the perfect family vehicle. The van has since
been removed from sale. I have no idea how
families with SUVs and estates survive!”
As if to confirm the decision, a recent NCT
class reunion had the other parents green
with envy. “The typical thing new parents
compare is what pushchair or cot they’ve
bought over the last six months or so,” says
Gavin. “We were the only ones explaining
about the difference air ride can make to
life with a VW Transporter! This really is the
perfect van setup for parent life.”
As a self-confessed Greek mythology nerd,
Gavin’s decision to name the T6, Hera after
the Greek goddess of marriage and family
has proven to be one of the most inspired
van names yet. t
46 VWt
OWNER
Name: Gavin Maidment
Age: 29
Occupation: Weapon Engineer,
Royal Navy
Instagram: @T6hera
First car: Volkswagen Polo
Dream car: Audi RS6 in Nardo Grey
Hardest part of the build: Pairing up
aesthetics with the reliability of chosen
modifications
Favourite modification: SoLow x
Air Lift install
Lesson learnt would pass on: Design
something that makes your life easier
and better
Future plans: Not selling it, learnt that
lesson!
“This really is the perfect van setup for parent life”
2018 VW T6
MODIFICATIONS:
Engine: 2.0 TDI, Pendle Remap from TH
Performance reaching 158bhp 320Nm torque
Chassis: SoLow air kit with Air Lift
management, SoLow x LDT bags and struts,
extra low rear bags, Air Lift 3P management
with 3/8 lines, subframe raise, engine raise,
chassis notch, front hub mod, 20” Rotiform
RSE wheels in anthracite with 8.5j front with
235/35/20 and 10j rear with 255/35/20
Exterior: Gloss black Sportline rear spoiler,
Sportline front spoiler and lower splitter with
Caravelle radar insert, trapezoid side bars, THQ
V2 headlights and THQ red sequential rear
lights, sequential side repeaters, H&R anti-roll
bar, roof rails with hidden awning rail
Interior: Self-built with large input from Bognor
Motors, Ovano, and Studio Incar, Ovano Switch
XL bed system, full Nappa leather 1 + 1 front
seats with GTI bolsters and arm rests designed
and fitted by Bognor Motors, Van Shades
window pods and blinds, spotlight LEDs
Audio: Alpine Halo 11 headunit, Hertz Mille
Legend ML 1650.3 and ML 280.3 speakers,
custom A-pillar build driven by an Audison
Prima Forza F8.9 bit amp with DSP fitted by
Studio Incar
Thanks: Bognor Motors, Ovano, Lowdown
Transporters, Studio Incar
Replace that big
MOT failure!

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ICES
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Transporter 1.9 TDI T4 1900 Diesel

£2125 T5 2500 TDI
£2299 T4 2500 TDI £3049
T4 2400 Diesel We can also supply parts £2675
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Valves Cam followers Oil pumps
All Engines supplied with a full written warranty. Please see our web site for more details.

t he e ngine s hop Specialists in Volkswagen and Audi Engines

Unit A2, Darenth Works, Ray Lamb Way, Erith, Kent. DA8 2LA
Telephone: 01322 350022 • Fax: 01322 350032 • Email: info@theengineshop.info
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VWt ROAD TEST

ELECTRIC AVENUE
After 20 years of teasing us with forward-looking concept cars, Volkswagen
is reviving the spirit of the T1 Transporter for the electric age – but was the
ID.Buzz worth the wait?
Words Alex Grant Photography Volkswagen AG

54 VWt

T
here aren’t many new van launches
that have caused as much of a stir
as the ID.Buzz. The latest addition
to Volkswagen’s electric ‘ID’ line-up
is a long-awaited reinterpretation
of the T1 Transporter. A car with the same
visual impact as the concept that unveiled on
a Californian beach way back in 2017, now
available at your local dealership.
It was bound to happen eventually.
Volkswagen revived the Beetle way back in
1997, then again in 2011, but both had the
compromise of stretching a rear-engine body
shape over a front-engine platform borrowed
from the Golf. By comparison, the ID.Buzz
feels quite authentic; its toaster-like silhouette
sits on a flat floor with an air-cooled motor at
the rear wheels, just like the T1 Transporter,
except this one runs on battery power.
Ditching the combustion engine is
VWt ROAD TEST
important. The ID.Buzz shares its EV-only
platform with the ID.3 hatchback, so the
battery is underneath the cabin between
the axles and split into modules like a bar
of chocolate, while the electric motor and
its single-speed ‘gearbox’ are small enough
to fit into a sports bag. With no bulky diesel
engine up front, most of the 4.7-metre
length is passenger space – for context, the
five-seat MPV and Cargo van have the same
wheelbase as a T6 Caravelle or Transporter,
but they’re 20cm shorter end-to-end.
That platform offers scope to expand the
line-up. The rake of the windscreen hints at
space for another electric motor up front,
which will give it four-wheel drive, and there’s
a longer-wheelbase version coming later this
year – initially as a seven-seater, followed
by the ID.California campervan in 2025.
Volkswagen can also slot some extra battery
VWt 55
VWt ROAD TEST
modules into the floorpan to extend the
range, but for now it’s got the biggest pack in
the line-up – as found in the ID.4 and ID.5.
Character is a pretty good foundation,
but the ID.Buzz isn’t a style over substance
machine. It’s spacious and generously glazed
with a raised seating position just like a
van (funnily enough) and sliding side doors
which, for a bulky bus like this, are genuinely
useful for tight parking spaces. At the back
there’s a huge boot with hooks on each
side, Velcro-latched luggage dividers and,
in the top-spec Style trim, a removable false
floor with space underneath. From boot to
windscreen, it’s packed with neat cubby holes
and with storage areas dotted throughout the
cabin, perfect for concealing spare takeaway
condiments, stray chips and lost toys.
Unfortunately, a lot of the 2017 concept’s
Transporter-like interior flexibility didn’t
make it to production. The rear seats are a
60/40% split bench with no central ISOFIX
hoops, they don’t rotate and can’t be
removed (unlike the Caravelle or Multivan)
while the sliding doors don’t have opening
windows, let alone electric ones. It’s a big
change compared to the swivelling captain’s
chairs Volkswagen usually packs into its van-
derived people-movers. The smaller, cheaper
and supposedly less well-packaged Touran
56 VWt
has more space for families.
Of course, no other people carrier feels
quite like this one. Most versions get an airy
off-white cabin with vividly coloured door
inserts that’ll bait anxious parents to carry
wet wipes all year round. The entry-level
Life trim is the only one available with a
black dashboard option, though it is at least
possible to spec a black steering wheel in the
top-spec Style.
Volkswagen has eradicated any trace of
animal-sourced products inside, and interior
trim options include fabric made from
recycled plastic bottles. Most of it – thankfully
including the steering wheel – is solid and
tactile, but the silver birch style dashboard
insert feels thin and plasticky. Overall, though,
it is a comfortable place to settle into for a
long trip.
That sort of journey is very plausible, too.
The single-motor version puts 204hp to the
rear wheels, which is nine times more than
you’d have got from the original Transporter.
It comes to life (silently) as you touch the
brake pedal then powers down as you get out
and walk away. Expect GTI performance in a
2.5-tonne MPV and you’ll be left feeling short-
changed, but there’s plenty of pulling power
for easy motorway progress and it’s lively
enough to find gaps in city traffic without
A BUZZ FOR BUSINESS
For all the history behind the Transporter, the Beetle
wasn’t conceived with platform-sharing in mind.
Dutch importer Ben Pon suggested a box van to
Volkswagen management in 1947, realising the kerb-
height floorpan and high ground clearance might
suit a box van. The ID.Buzz Cargo benefits from some
similar foundations.
There’s more to the commercial version than just
stripping the rear seats out. The Cargo has a three-seat
bench up front, a black dashboard that swaps fake
wood inserts for extra storage space, and a full-size
bulkhead separating that space from its 3.9m3 of load
area behind. For reference, that’s slightly larger than
the Caddy Maxi, at 3.7m3. It also gets the option of
side-hinged rear doors instead of the tailgate, which
are better suited to life as a workhorse.
It might look like a concept car, but Volkswagen
is serious about attracting business users. The load
area is wood-lined, it’ll carry up to 600kg, tow up to
a tonne, and there’s a neat under-floor compartment
for storing charging cables. Range depends on how
much weight is on board, but Volkswagen claims it’ll
travel 250 miles between charges and the near-silent
electric motor means it feels surprisingly luxurious to
drive. The downside? That tech doesn’t come cheap;
on the road prices start at £46,621. Ouch.
 VWt ROAD TEST

“Character is a pretty
good foundation, but the
ID.Buzz isn’t a style over
substance machine”

CONTINUING THE LEGACY

For 75 years, Volkswagen has adapted a single van platform to accommodate a cross
section of diverse customer needs. With the seventh-generation of its commercial
vehicle line-up, that bloodline splits into three very different vehicles. Bear with us here...
In name at least the ID.Buzz doesn’t have a predecessor, but it indirectly replaces
the e-Transporter, which was sold through dealers but converted to electric power by
ABT. The seven- seat Multivan fills the gap left by the Caravelle, bringing the UK in
line with what the rest of Europe calls that product, but the new one is built on the
Golf’s MQB platform and (despite the name) it won’t be used as a van.
So, what about the Transporter? The T6.1 Transporter lives on, for now, but the T7
won’t be a Volkswagen at all – it’ll be based on the latest Transit Custom and the two
vans will be built on the same production line. In turn, the latest Transit Connect is
a re-skinned Caddy, while the Amarok pickup is a Ford Ranger underneath. As the
only mid-size Volkswagen van developed in-house, that leaves the ID.Buzz as the
closest descendent of the T1.

VWt 57
VWt ROAD TEST

THE ROAD TO ID.BUZZ

MICROBUS (2001) BULLI (2011)

Unveiled during the heyday of New Beetle popularity and penned by the same
Volkswagen design studio in California, the Microbus was surprisingly conventional
under the skin. Despite being aimed at an American audience, it was the first outing of
the forthcoming T5 Transporter’s platform, powered by a 231hp version of the then-new
3.2-litre VR6 with a Tiptronic auto ‘box and with screens in every row. Novel, at the time.
Recognising that Europeans prefer smaller MPVs, the Bulli concept packed space for six
(in two rows of three) into a Polo-sized footprint. Designed with electrification in mind,
it was shown with a 115hp electric motor that could be paired with a petrol or diesel
engine to turn it into a hybrid. Clever features included a rear bench that would fold flat
to extend the load area, or tip backwards to make a bed – just like the T1.

BUDD-E (2016) ID.BUZZ (2017)

Revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show, the Budd-e previewed technology
that’s now starting to appear in production cars – mostly the transition from buttons
and handles to touchscreens, gesture controls and slider controls. However, it also
showcased the packaging possibilities of the EV platform now used in the ID models,
with a dual-motor all wheel drive and 92kWh battery offering a range of over 300 miles.
If the Budd-e was a showcase for the platform, then the ID.Buzz concepts – passenger in
2017, and Cargo in 2018 – were a clear preview of what would be getting number plates
a few years later. Although the autonomous driving technology, and eight- seat layout
with its rotating front row haven’t come to market, there’s a chance that the 374hp
powertrain and larger battery will arrive with the longer-wheelbase model in 2023

feeling breathless.
Patience is worthwhile if you need more
than that. The Transporter has had decades
of well-documented engine swaps to boost
the power – Porsche, Subaru and Tesla
donors among them – but nobody has wrung
any extra horses out of the MEB’s electric
drive unit yet. We’ll have to wait and see if
software upgrades beat Volkswagen’s own
engineers on that front. There’s an ID.Buzz
GTX in the pipeline which, hopefully, will
nudge performance a bit closer to the
concept’s two motors and 374hp instead of
stagnating at 299hp like the quickest ID.4
and ID.5. Fingers crossed.
In the meantime, it’s set up as a relaxed
tourer. The low-slung battery means the
centre of gravity is about as close to the
floor as it’s possible to get on a bus and,
even on the optional 21-inch wheels, it does
a respectable job of masking broken British
58 VWt
road surfaces. A lot of it feels very familiar;
the wheels have the common Volkswagen
Group 5x112 stud pattern and, with a 12-volt
electrical system on board, it’s as ready for air
ride as any fuel-burning car. Just sayin’.
For all the technology on board, it’s also
no more complicated to use. There are drive
modes prioritising performance, comfort or
efficiency, or your own blend of settings for
steering, throttle response, air conditioning
and the adaptive cruise control. Regenerative
braking, which uses the motor to slow down,
can be sharpened with an additional mode on
the gear selector but this isn’t strong enough
to bring it to a complete stop just by lifting
off the throttle. It can also gently apply the
brakes when it detects it’s approaching a
junction, that’s an acquired taste.
Importantly, it’s worth mentioning that we
saw an indicated range of almost 250 miles
after taking it on a mix of road types. That
might not sound like a lot, but it’s a decent
gap between comfort breaks and it’ll claw
back almost 200 miles in half an hour on a
high-powered chargepoint. The navigation
system can plan routes including the shortest
diversions and fastest chargers and, though
nowhere in the UK supports this yet, it’ll
automatically start charging at some units
without signing into an app or digging out a
contactless card. Positive steps for tech which
hasn’t always been straightforward to use.
Actually, the ID.Buzz’s biggest frustrations
are the bits it shares with fuel-burning
Volkswagens. The 12-inch touchscreen has a
tendency to lag and would be better if it was
angled towards the driver, the steering wheel
buttons are too sensitive and the sliders for
the heater controls have no haptic feedback
or backlighting at night. It’s an irritating set of
oversights for a company with a historic talent
for the finer details.
VWt ROAD TEST

VWt 59
VWt ROAD TEST
TECH SPEC: ID.BUZZ
ENGINE: Permanent-magnet synchronous
motor and single-speed gearbox, 77kWh
(usable) lithium-ion battery with integrated
cooling circuit, 170kW Combo 2 AC/DC
charging system

CHASSIS: Disc (front) and drum (rear) brakes,

21-inch ‘Bromberg’ alloy wheels with 235/45
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 EV tyres (£515)

EXTERIOR: LED matrix headlights, Candy

White/Lime Yellow two-tone paint (£2,790)

INTERIOR: Silver birch decorative trims,

stainless steel pedals, Miwo cloth upholstery

ICE: Infotainment Package Plus 12-inch

touchscreen (£1,560), Android Auto and Apple
CarPlay

PERFORMANCE: 204hp, 310Nm, 0-62mph

On the flip side, the ID Light at the base
of the windscreen is very clever – a strip of
“It’s a genuinely in 10.2sec, 90mph top speed CHARGING:
11 hours @ 7kW (0-100%), 30 minutes @
colour-changing LEDs that show the speed
and level of charge, which also works with the
useful family-mover 170kW (5-80%)

navigation system, sweeping left or right to

warn of any upcoming turns. Smiling emoji
with enough range to PRICE: £61,915 (£65,445 as tested)

faces on the covers for the trim screws and

the play and pause icons on the pedals show
make going electric
a sense of humour beneath the functionality. straightforward”
That streak of character is where the
ID.Buzz aligns most closely with the vehicle
that inspired it. It’s a distinctive daily driver
in a part of the market that’s often lacks
some personality and, despite some minor
shortfalls, it’s a genuinely useful family-mover
with enough range to make going electric
straightforward. t

60 VWt
VWt GO EXPLORE

GO EXPLORE:
THE EN GLA ND
COA S T PA TH
Projected to open in its entirety by the end of 2023, the England
Coast Path - tracing almost 2,700 miles along the entire coast
of England - will be the longest continuous coastal path in the
world. Vast sections of the path are already open, so from
breathtaking cliffs and sandy beaches to charming coastal
villages and fresh sea-to-table cuisine, you can get ready to
explore a new world along England’s coast.
The path aims to stay as close to the coast as possible,
meaning in many places you will be walking right beside the
coast. Where this isn’t possible the path heads inland, however
this is usually only for short distances. The open sections of the
path are well signed using the distinctive acorn way markers.
Away from the hustle and bustle of towns and villages you will
usually find the path has a more natural surface and some
areas will get muddy in wet weather, so go prepared and do
your research if you need a more accessible route.
Closer to civilisation you may find smooth surfaced paths,
and in towns and villages you may be walking on promenades
or pavements alongside roads.
For more info see www.nationaltrail.co.uk

Image: ©South West Coast Path/Roy Curtis

62 VWt
VWt HOT VANS

The ‘80s Called

We acknowledge this is a curious title for a feature on a modern-day van.
However, bear with us and read on to see exactly why Lloyd Aldred’s T5.1
immediately transported our Mark Walker back to the mid-1980s...
Words Mark Walker Photography Andrew Thompson

64 VWt
VWt HOT VANS

VWt 65
VWt HOT VANS

Retrimmed Recaro VXR seats are

the stars of the show... wait till

A
you see the backs though...

h the 1980s. Many of you beat of my own drummer a bit (no change
reading this will be too young to there), but I just knew what I liked, and the
remember it, so all you’ll really colour red was my favourite back then. I had
know about it is from snippets red jeans and jumpers, a completely red
you see on TV – Princess Di with bedroom – duvet, curtains, the lot – with
mad bouffant hair and shoulder pads and black ash furniture from MFI (remember
women in leg warmers come to mind. But those?).
that’s not what Lloyd Aldred’s T5.1 reminded So, when I first saw Lloyd’s van, the
me of... luckily! first thing that struck me was the contrast
The ‘80s – for me – was a pretty carefree between the deep – Guards red-esque
time, I must admit. We moved to a house – red paint and the black accents and it
in a (then sleepy) village and most of it was transported me back to that time in my life.
about playing out in the street on our BMX It wasn’t just me that had a penchant for
bikes and with Tamiya RC cars. The road red back then – take a look at the box out
was pretty quiet, so we’d build ramps in the accompanying this feature – but Lloyd’s van
street for RC cars and bikes and only have to
remove them now and again for cars to pass.
But another big memory for me of the ‘80s
are the colours red and black. Some of you
may have seen things on the telly – or were
there to witness – the time of the Yuppies
barking through brick-sized mobile phones,
with red braces and driving Guards red
impact bumper Porsche 911s – a hallmark
car of the time.
I remember occasionally driving past the
JCT600 Porsche dealer in Guiseley near
Leeds with my parents and stopping to
gaze through the showroom windows at
whale-tail equipped Guards red 911s and
Martini Racing liveried cars, all with the black
accented impact bumpers – so ‘80s.
I was always a kid who danced to the

20” Vossen CVT staggered

alloys are a lush addition

Everything is better
in carbon fibre, fact!

66 VWt
 VWt HOT VANS

“The seats were the

trickiest part of the build,
but they were worth it”

would have fitted right in back then.

But enough of my ramblings. Llloyd
bought the van back in 2016 as a panel van
from Leighton Vans – it was just under a year
old at the time and the 1980s were already
a distant memory. It had a bench seat up
front and a full bulkhead with ply lining; the
primary reason for buying it was so Lloyd
could transport his motocross bikes in the
back.
But, if you’ve been around the VWt block
a time or two, you’ll have already noticed
that this build follows many others, where
the vehicle started out as a tool to transport
people and stuff from A to B, but then

VWt 67
VWt HOT VANS

THAT ‘80S VIBE

I’ve talked (well rambled) about the ‘80s before and this month’s bee in my bonnet
is about the colours red and black and how they related to the car world in the ‘80s.
Of course, there are the impact bumper Guards red 911s, but there are also cars like
Colin Burnham’s Cal Look Beetle at Ritchie King or German Car Company/Karmann
Konnection’s guards red Karmann Ghia cabriolet (with red interior, no less). There were a
ton of red street rods back then too, such as the ZZ Top Eliminator car.

There’s awesome Vanshades

Window Pods all round

the bug bit and it ended up turning from
ordinary to extraordinary in no time at all.
Even though this van is now a far cry from
what was initially planned, Lloyd is quick to
point out that the other half of the initial
plan was day-to-day transport, and the van
has served as this throughout the last 7 years
of ownership, to the tune of 1500 miles each
month on his work commute. So, it has not
only well and truly paid for itself in that time,
but he’s also paid it back in spades with
making it feel a lot more special.
When two small kiddies came along,
Lloyd decided to change the use of the van
68 VWt
(parents don’t get much time for hobbies)
and converted it into a Family Kombi, for
trips out and some much-needed downtime.
It was during the conversion into a Kombi,
however, that the van really got its teeth into
him: “It was at this point that I got hooked
modifying the van and making it look the
way I wanted it to, so I could take it to some
shows” adds Lloyd.
First up was pulling out the bulkhead
– not the most fun job in the world if you
ask me – and fully sound deadening the
inside. I’m sure lots of fine cuts to the fingers
was one of the outcomes of this, after
which he soundly decided to despatch the
van to Celtic Motorhomes for the Kombi
conversion, including full carpet lining and
an audio upgrade, including a sub under the
driver’s seat and a Halo roof lighting setup.
From there, he just couldn’t stop himself,
adding the colour-coded ABT top grille,
honeycomb lower grille, Van-X colour-coded
side skirts with black strip and chameleon
ruby red windscreen tint with black sun
strip. There’s a ton of other stuff that’s
not immediately apparent too, including
electric folding mirrors with puddle lights on
the remote central locking and LED bulbs
throughout.
ABP shorty kit with Air Lift
management brings the
‘5.1 down to earth
Of course, no cool kid worth his salt
would do any of this and leave the loft
factory suspension struts, so Lloyd had a bit
of a head scratch between mild and wild
and chose the W over the M, ordering a
full ABP ‘Shorty’ air suspension kit with Air
Lift Performance management and some
black 20” Vossen CVT alloys in a staggered
fitment. To make full use of this and to
straighten out the curves, Lloyd also fitted
some Powerflex front A-arm bushes.
The inside also has its own fair share
of trickery, starting with a pair of Vauxhall
VXR bucket seats with custom carbon fibre
skimmed backs and a full custom retrim in
tan leather with diamond white stitch; the
passenger one being fitted with a Rusty Lee
swivel base. The rear T6 kombi bench was
trimmed to match, as well as the custom-
made gear lever gaiter. Lloyd told us: “The
seats were the trickiest part of the build to
 VWt HOT VANS

“I got hooked modifying the van and

trying to make it look how I wanted it”

VWt 69
VWt HOT VANS
get right – especially getting the bases to
work - but they were worth it.”
The aforementioned audio upgrades
come in the form of Audison 6.5 APX rear
speakers in hand-laid GRP pods, Audison
6.5 APK component speaker upgrade to
the front doors, an Audison 10” active sub
with volume control under the driver’s seat
and a Pioneer sat nav head unit with reverse
camera. There’s also a Rokk iPad mount with
Transporter HQ cap on the interior roof.
When it comes to lighting, Lloyd has
gone full-on balls out. There’s a Grey
Alcantara/Dinamica suede effect roof with
10 dimmable spotlights and a dimmable
Halo roof, door card LED lights, footwell
LED lights, LED colour changing Airlift
Performance logos in the front seat bases, as
well as LED lights and switch in the tailgate
and door cards.
Lloyd has also gone all-out with the black
interior detailing. The sun visors, centre light
console, sunglasses holder, grab handles
and interior light surrounds have all been
painted black. There are also plans afoot to
trim the bottom half of the door cards and A
& B-pillars in black suede in the near future
and add a Forty Winks bed to add to the
functionality of the van and round it off.
Lloyd also plans to add another set of
wheels into the mix too; as well as keeping
the Vossens, he plans to buy a new set of
Navis wheels, so he has two sets to choose
from. Other than that, he’s more than happy
with how it’s turned out and it works really
well both as a commuter vehicle and a family
wagon too, so there’s little chance of a For
Sale sign popping up in the window anytime
soon. t
70 VWt
We told you the backs
were rather special, wow!
OWNER
Name: Lloyd Aldred
Age: 37
Occupation: Civil Engineer
Instagram: @lloyd.aldred1509
First car: Renault Clio Sport
Dream van: T6.1 Sportsline built
exactly as I want it
Hardest part of the build: Recaro seats,
the carbon backs and trimming
Favourite mod: Air ride, just because
of how practical it is
Lessons learnt from build: Put air
ride on from day one
Future plans: New Navis Unknown
wheels going on very soon, suede the
door cards, A&B pillars and lower half of
dash and a Forty Winks Kombi bed
2015 VW T5.1
MODIFICATIONS:
Engine: Pendle performance remap
to 145bhp
Chassis: 20” black Vossen CVT staggered
alloys 8.5j fronts with 245/35/20 tyres & 10j
rears with 255/35/20, ABP air suspension
shorty kit with Air Lift Performance
management, Powerflex front A-arm bushes 
Exterior: LED bar front lights, DRL front
lights, LED Van-X smoked rear lights & 3rd
brake light, LED side repeaters, Transporter
HQ LED headlight bulbs, LED fog light
bulbs, LED number plate lights, electric
folding mirrors with puddle lights on remote
central locking, ABT top grille, gloss black
honeycomb lower grille, gloss black/red front
badge & rear badge, Van-X colour-coded
side skirts with a black strip, Chameleon ruby
red windscreen tint with matt black sun strip,
fully 2-staged polished and ceramic coated
with Carpro 3.0 and Carpro skin
Interior: Recaro VXR bucket seats with
custom carbon fibre skimmed backs, retrim
in tan leather with diamond white stitch with
rear T6 seats & gear gaiter retrimmed to
match, passenger Rusty Lee rear swivel seat
base, lined and carpeted, Kombi conversion
using genuine VW parts, 2x tinted fixed
side windows with Vanshades WindowPods,
2x fake rear quarter windows, tinted rear
window with Vanshade, grey Alcantara
/ Dinamica suede effect roof with 10
dimmable spotlights & dimmable halo roof,
grey Alcantara cab headlining with red stitch
detail trimmed to match the rear headliner,
carbon fibre multifunction steering wheel,
carbon fibre skimmed interior trim, LED door
card & footwell lights, LED colour-changing
Airlift Performance logos in front seat bases,
black-painted sun visors and centre light
console 
Audio: Pioneer sat Nav head unit with
reverse camera, Rokk iPad mount, Audison
6.5 APK component speaker upgrades to
front doors, Audison 6.5APX rear speakers in
hand-laid GRP pods, Audison 10” active sub
with volume control under driver’s seat, door
and doorcard sound deadening, fully sound
deadened & insulated
Policy benefits can include:
 Agreed valuations  Contents cover
 Limited mileage discounts  Total loss protection
 Breakdown cover  Club member discounts

Call our UK team on 0344 728 0353

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Authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
Trustpilot rating checked on 3rd November 2022
VWt HOT VANS

72 VWt
 VWt HOT VANS

Through hard-earned savings, some inheritance and a little

help from Ecowagon, Aidan and Siobhan Green are delighted
to finally be behind the wheel of their dream van...
Words Gordie Wollacott Photography Andy Saunders

VWt 73
VWt HOT VANS

You can’t go wrong with an

Ecowagon Expo+ package

T
he search for a conversion
company in the current UK
market can be daunting.
From one-man-bands to large
factory style, mass-production
companies; it’s as though everyone
is at it right now. “We knew that we
wanted a Volkswagen and to have it
professionally converted,” Siobhan
explains. “We spent months researching
different conversion companies when we
came across Ecowagon who had been
mentioned in a forum. Once we saw
their style of conversions and the ethos
behind the company we were sold. At
the time we were looking for a VW van
they were in high demand and build
times were ridiculously long. We were
fortunate that Ecowagon had already put
in an order for a number of vans, and we
were offered one to purchase which met
our specifications. Kenny and Jo were
great in advising us on what would suit
our needs. We had a very clear idea of
what we wanted and how we wanted
the van to look. Kenny and the team did
an amazing job and made our dream a
reality.”
Kenny Green, owner at Ecowagon will
be no stranger to regular readers and
they’ve done it again with another classic
Expo+ conversion designed specifically
to suit the Green family’s tastes. Siobhan
elaborates saying, “I loved that there
were so many colours to choose from to
personalise the interior of the van. It did
make it really hard to decide though! We
saw a lot of other conversions in which
the interiors were really dark which we
weren’t keen on, so we decided to go
for a neutral white and grey combination
with oak surfaces to keep it nice and
light. We especially love the leather
detailing we went with on the seats.”
Choosing finishes might have been
hard, but waiting for it to actually be
finished was harder! “It was definitely
the toughest part of the build,” laughs
Siobhan. One delay in particular moved
the completion date as Ecowagon waited
on parts for the VW approved VB air
suspension kit, but the wait was worth it.
“It’s really hard to pick a favourite part
TOP MOD: VB AIR SUSPENSION
VB airsuspension is an essential mod on many of Ecowagon’s top conversions. It can lift and raise the van to suit your
needs whether that’s going off the beaten track, going low to get under a car park barrier or to fit in a regular sized
garage. Its party trick is that at a push of a single button is can self-level on uneven ground. Genius!

18” Wolfrace Wolfbergs

are a classy addition

74 VWt
 VWt HOT VANS

“The main thing to remember is that

everyone’s van life journey is unique!”

Gastore external
outlet is super handy

VWt 75
VWt HOT VANS
Ecowagon have built
the Green’s dream van
“Our list of places to visit is never ending. We have
been inspired by so many people and their van
adventures across Europe over the summer”
of the van as we love everything about
it,” Siobhan beams. “But if pressed
we’d have to choose the air suspension.
Aidan loves the self levelling function
and preset driving modes. Together with
the modifications to the front of the van
with the grille, badge and lower splitter
it transforms the look. Personally, I just
love the fact I can run my hairdryer, hair
straighteners and coffee machine with
76 VWt
the upgraded inverter and the solar
panels which means we can go totally
off grid. I have my priorities straight!” As
well as her hair, by the sound of it!
The Green household have two
children, Ivy (8) and Jasper (5). As much
as Aidan had the dream, the reality is the
camper is for the family. Since collecting
the van from Ecowagon’s Cornish
workshop, it has certainly taken centre
stage in the family’s life. More recently it
brought with it a sprinkling of stardom as
the family featured on Channel 5’s Million
Pound Motorhomes (season 3 episode
2) as part of a piece on Ecowagon. “We
loved taking part in the series and being
able to support Kenny and the team,”
says Siobhan. “It was fun being able to
show off Tilly too. (Yes, the camper now
has a name!) It was nerve wracking for
both of us, but the kids were complete
naturals! Such a great experience and
one that we will never forget. The best
part was seeing the kid’s reactions when
seeing Tilly for the first time. Really
special memories that will last a lifetime.”
It’s always good to hear the views of
people who are new to the Volkswagen
camper world, and Siobhan comes with
some great advice for anyone thinking
of getting involved. “Joining the online
vanlife community is a brilliant place to
start,” she says. “You can find so many
 VWt HOT VANS
Neutral white & grey combo with
oak surfaces keeps it light inside

amazing people and their vans who

you can follow on Instagram for tips,
advice and inspiration. Research is key.
Take your time when choosing a base
van and conversion company and go in
armed with an idea of what you want
and need in terms of the conversion and
in particular the specification of the van.
Of course, the main thing to remember
is that everyone’s van life journey is
unique!”
In terms of social media, it’s always
good to put back in what you take out
and the Green family are doing just that
with their own account. You can join in
by following @tales_of_tilly_the_t6 on
Instagram. Discussing the VW community
further Siobhan says, “I know clubs are
a big thing, but I wouldn’t say we are in
any particular club as such. We are lucky
to be a part of a wonderful community of
like-minded families in the Vanfamtribe.
We went to the second Vanfamtribe
VWt 77
VWt HOT VANS
meetup that the wonderful Amy (@van_
life_family) arranged in September and
we had the best time.” They are also one
of the growing band of ‘Ecowagoners’
and were part of the massive display put
on by Kenny and his team at Busfest this
year. We look forward to this becoming
an annual gathering, maybe even it’s own
show?
The possibilities with this kind of setup
are endless with Aidan discussing a
desire to take in the British Isles and, in
particular the North Coast 500 around
the Scottish Highlands. “We are also
looking forward to exploring other parts
of the UK and further afield into Europe
with Tilly and the kids,” says Siobhan.
“Our list of places to visit is never
ending. We have been inspired by so
many people and their van adventures
across Europe over the summer. We are
hoping to do the same next year and
tick Holland and Switzerland off our list.
But who knows this might change, that’s
the beauty of van life and the freedom it
gives.” t
78 VWt
OWNERS
Name: Aidan & Siobhan Green
Occupations: AG: Support Walker
SG: British Sign Language Interpreter
Instagram: @tales_of_tilly_the_t6
Dream van: This one, our Tilly
Hardest part of the build: Waiting for it
to be finished
Favourite modification: Air ride and the
power inverter
Lesson learnt would pass on: Join the
online vanlife community for tips, advice
and plenty of inspiration
Future plans: Exploring more of the UK,
then Holland and Switzerland
“We had a very clear idea of what we wanted
and how we wanted the van to look”
2021 VW T6.1
MODIFICATIONS:
Engine: 2.0TDI 150bhp DSG
Chassis: 18” Wolfrace Wolfberg alloys in Black,
All Season tyres, VB Air Suspension with self
levelling and remote control
Exterior: LV S front chin and splitter, LV gloss
black badged grille & lower grille/inserts,
Transporter HQ gloss black VW badges, Black
Thule awning with integrated LED light, Thule
powder coated black 4 bike rack, VW gloss black
side bars, THQ LED smoked side repeaters,
Reimo Easyfit pop-top roof with upgraded
panoramic canvas, Phantom Tracker, 250w solar
panels
Interior: Ecowagon Expo+ interior package,
Bear Lock, VW California bed system on rails,
heated captain’s seats, Altro non-slip flooring,
Ecowagon custom thermal blinds and integrated
fly screens on side windows, Dometic Slimline
hob, Dometic 12v compressor fridge, dimmable
LED downlights, 168amh lithium battery, 2000w
inverter
Audio: Apple Car Play, additional Kicker rear
speakers
VWt OUR VANS
Andrew’s T5.1 LWB
Could this be my favourite modification to date?
Y
ou may remember a few issues back I spoke
about how the T6 dash was in but there were
a few issues and missing parts. After a delivery
from James & Freddy down at Cali Campers -
the Transporter breakers in New Milton - the dash was
complete. However, there was always going to be a few
little extra bits that were going to be needed to make
this mod finished and take it to the next level.
For some the next level maybe the comfort dash,
but I’ve always thought the larger cup holder area from
Volkswagen’s comfort dash gets in the way and the wine
bottle chiller is a little unnecessary for me.
The ultimate set up in a T6 for me is a combination
of the standard dash with parts from Van-X to create a
comfort dash hybrid! Van-X have created some brilliant
products which completely change the look of the cab.
All these parts take a very short time to fit - especially
for me seeing as I’m a bit of a pro at taking apart the T6
dash now. The one that makes the most difference I think
is the upper glove box, I’ve opted for the matte black
finish. Even with just this part fitted the dash looks far
tidier with lots of things now out of sight.
To step it up another lever it was time for the Comfort
80 VWt
Dash style lower trims. Now these are a clever little
addition, the lower trim that goes under the upper dash
is actually held on by magnets. This means I haven’t lost
the storage that was there, it’s just now hidden and can
be easily accessed by pulling off the panel.
The final part to top it all off is the, err... top dash lid
cover. This space on the standard dash is super handy for
storage, but in my van it was always a mess with loads of
stuff chucked up there. The great news is all that stuff
is still there, it’s just no longer visible thanks to this part
which has a great OEM finish to it.
I am so happy with these parts. I’ve done 60,000 miles
in this van now and to make the cab a cleaner, tidier, and
calmer place to be is a massive win. There are still a few
things to do including audio upgrades and cruise control,
but for now I’m super stoked on how it’s looking in the
cab... I just need to get the rest of the van up to the same
standard now, ha!
A big thanks to these two below, I have fitted lots of
parts from both of them so please, if you need used parts
for your Transporter take a look at www.calicamper.co.uk
and if you’re looking for new parts for your Transporter
check out www.van-x.co.uk. t
 ANDREW’S T5.1 LWB

Last time… in need of

some more panels Before, what a mess!

After, so much better!

Van-X glove box, lower dash OEM finish to the

trims and top dash lid dash lid cover

VWt 81
VWt OUR VANS

Woof! Bonnie the dog certainly

approves of the new tidy layout

2011 LWB T5.1

Owned since Sep 2020
Mileage: 256k

Spent this month:

Miscellaneous panels – POA from Cali
Campers
Van-X Glove Box - £145
Van-X Dash Lid Cover - £55
Van-X Lower Dash Trims - £160

Total: £360
82 VWt
VWt YOUR VANS

Your world, your life YOUR VANS

SEND US YOURS: Ever dreamed about seeing your van appear in the pages of VWt? Make that dream a reality! Simply e-mail a selection of
good quality high-res images of your van to glenn.rowswell@kelsey.co.uk along with a full spec list and add the subject title ‘Your Vans’.
But please remember, if you didn’t take the photos, you MUST have permission from the photographer to use the images in the magazine,
and all images should be free from watermarks. By submitting an image you assume responsibility for any copyright infringement. So, what
are you waiting for? Let’s see those project builds! t

PAUL CUTHBERTSON’S 2015 T6, WILTSHIRE

Hey VWt, check out my slammed 2015
T6 camper. I used to work with a guy
who had a Transporter and ever since
I’d always wanted to get my hands on
one, mainly so I could have the same
freedom he always spoke about to ‘just
go away’ whenever he wanted.
I bought my van two years ago as a
standard campervan with a brand-new
camper conversion, but it’s had a lot
of work since to get it to where it is
86 VWt
today. The biggest challenge with the
build was getting it low enough for my
liking... a lot of metal has been cut out
and thrown in the bin! All the work was
done by the brilliant Tom at Centurion
Motors.
My favourite thing about the van is
the attention it gets and the people
that appreciate the work that’s gone
into it. There are no major changes on
the horizon at the moment as the T6 is
where I want it. But I’m sure there’ll be
other things I want to do in the future.
For now, I just want to enjoy it and go
on more roadtrips like last year, when
we toured Wales for a week and visited
some amazing beach side campsites.
Instagram: @to_go_low
Top mods: Maxload air suspension,
Navis Holey Wheels, a lot of cutting
 VWt YOUR VANS

“My favourite thing about the van is the attention it gets and
the people that appreciate the work that’s gone into it”

VWt 87
VWt YOUR VANS

NEIL OWEN’S 2004 T5

Hey VWt, I am an avid reader and the upper sleeping platform front
thought it was about time I tried to get edge), battery cover, and of course
my van into the magazine. It’s a 2004 T5 the graphics you see front and back.
Startline 1.9TDI that’s been converted I’m a lover of the original T5 and have
from a good old builder’s van to a full stayed true to the cause even down to
camper by Welsh Coast Campers, it was the lights, my next modification is new
all done last year before I picked it up. It’s bulbs so I can actually see at night.
done just 79,300 miles from new with Well, I’ve rambled on enough, very
fully documented history and I’m only the easy when it’s your passion! I hope you
second owner. like what you see in all its white and
The engine is stage 1 tuned to 136bhp black glory, it’d be great to see it in
for economy and provides enough the magazine (which is awesome by Instagram: @neil_owen_74N
torque for hills. Externally it’s had new the way) but otherwise I hope you’ve Top mods: Stage 1 remap, 20” Twister
paint including the bumpers, side bars, enjoyed the read. alloys, Storm pop-top with scenic canvas
front splitter, rear spoiler and it’s also had
parking sensors, camper glass back and
sides, and been lowered 50mm over 20” “I’m a lover of the original T5 and have stayed
Twister alloys. Internally it’s had new seat
covers up front, the double seat spins
true to the cause even down to the lights”
and is on runners, a Storm pop-top with
scenic canvas, fully fitted cabinets with
a Dometic fridge and a hob/sink, leisure
battery and matching 3/4 rock and roll
bed. 
I may be new to vans, but not VWs,
having had a fair few, including a 1970
1302s and a 2015 Beetle which was Revo
stage 1 tuned, spotless and a lot of fun!
Having said that I should have made
the move to vans years ago, as I’ve not
stopped smiling since I picked it up. I love
detailing, so it gets a regular wash and
will soon be under the DA to improve the
quality of the paint finish.
I’ve also succumbed to the curse of
having a money pit and to date added
‘Golf’ door seals, front window seal,
new window winders, wind deflectors,
bonnet guard, rear bumper guard, L
section aluminium strip (to reinforce

88 VWt
 From ju

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LEE HERBER
> VAN HAVEN
T6.1 TTR-C UNLEASHE NSION
VB AIRSUSPE RIMS
VELLING PROJEKT S
> AIR SUSPENSION > AUTO-LE MONOTUBE TERRAIN
TYRE
> 17” TWIN
DRICH ALL- VERSION
> BF GOO CAMPER CON TOP
> NORVANSLIMLINE POP-
> NULITE

> ECOWAGON T6.1 EXPO+

> 17” KMC HOLE SHOT RIMS
> AIR RIDE WITH 30MM LIFT KIT
> HAND-CRAFTED EXPO PLUS
CONVERSION
£4.70
£4.70

#119 JUNE 2022

#120 JULY 2022

APE T6.1 CAMPER

KELSEYmedia
KELSEYmedia
KELSEYmedia

KELSEYmedia

+ ULTIMATE DUBS • GO EXPLORE • LATEST VAN GEAR • YOUR VANS + FULL METAL JUNKIES INTERVIEW • UK'S BEST CADDY • LATEST VAN GEAR + CC&M NEC SHOW REPORT • LATEST VAN GEAR • READER’S DRIVES + HARLEQUIN CADDY • TRANSPORTER COLLECTIVE MEET • LATEST VAN GEAR

Issue No.120 June 2022 Issue No.119 June 2022 Issue No.118 Spring 2022 Issue No.117 May 2022

To get your mitts on any back issues call 01959 543747

or hit: shop.kelsey.co.uk/issue/list/publication/VWT

VWt 89
 VWt GET FEATURED

Own a super-tasty Transporter and want it featured in these very pages? Then show us
what you’ve got! Please e-mail a good selection of images that show the exterior and
interior of your van to glenn.rowswell@kelsey.co.uk along with a spec list and add the
subject title ‘Feature me VWt’.

If we like what we see, we’ll get back to you ASAP to chat about a full VWt magazine
feature shoot. So, what are you waiting for? Get snapping and show us your Transporter!

090 VWt
 M1
STATUS
TESTED

UK’S LEADING POPTOP

SUPPLIER AND FITTER
T4 | T5 | T6 | Caddy Maxi
• Fastest-to-fit
• 5* customer rating
• Family owned and run business
• Custom moulded roof templates
• Highest specification canvasses
• 100% British made
• 120 fitters nationwide

NATIONWIDE DELIVERY
SEE WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY
WESTDUBS WESTDUBS40
GET IN TOUCH FOR MORE INFO
01886 884555 | t5vw@live.co.uk

WWW.WESTDUBS.CO.UK

WESTDUBS VW CONVERSIONS | UNIT 4C BRUFF BUSINESS CENTRE | SUCKLEY | WORCESTERSHIRE WR6 5DR

EVOLUTION IN MOTION INNOVATION NOT IMITATION

THE M1 TESTED SMARTBED RAIL SYSTEM THE M1 TESTED SECOND GENERATION SMARTBED EVO 2
PRACTICAL | VERSATILE | MOVEABLE PRACTICAL | STYLISH | INNOVATIVE

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE COMPLETE SMARTBEDS WWW.SMART-BEDS.COM

RANGE VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR GIVE US A CALL T:01934 862 686 E:info@smart-beds.com
 VWt WHAT’S ON

2023 EVENTS PLANNER

Pack up your van and hit the road. Here’s our pick of the best upcoming events
FEBRUARY 2023
CARAVAN CAMPING & MOTORHOME SHOW
21st – 26th
The NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT
www.ccmshow.co.uk
MARCH 2023
12th
ULITMATE DUBS
The Telford International Centre, Telford, TF3 4JH
www.ultimate-dubs.co.uk

23rd 19th – 21st

GTI FESTIVAL VW BREAKOUT
Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough, Northants, Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough, Northants,
NN29 7XA NN29 7XA
www.gtifestival.com www.santapod.co.uk
28th – 1st (May) 25th – 29th
VW CAMP OUT DUBS IN THE MIDDLE 8
Budle Bay, Nothumberland Ashdown Farm, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 7EN
www.vwcampout.uk
28th – 1st (May)
THE ONLY MEET IS ESSEX
The Orsett Showground, Essex RM16 3JU
www.vw-tomie.co.uk
18th – 19th MAY
VWT @ VOLKS WORLD 4th – 7th
Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9AJ DERBYSHIRE DUBS VW FESTIVAL
www.volksworld.com Wardlow, Derbyshire, SK17 8RW
www.derbyshiredubs.co.uk
APRIL 5th – 7th
6th – 10th VANWEST
CAMPER FEST Taunton Racecourse, Taunton, Somerset, TA3 7BL
Chester Racecourse, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2LY www.vanwest.co.uk
www.camperfest.co.uk 5th – 7th
VANLIFE FEST
VWT FESTIVAL
7th - 9th CARRY ON CAMP OUT 5 Kent County Showground, Maidstone,
South of England Showground, Haywards Heath, Scampston Hall, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 8NG ME14 3JF
West Sussex, RH17 6TH www.vanlifefest.co.uk events.fastcar.co.uk/vwt-festival/
www.carryoncampout.co.uk 7th
13th EARLY EDITION GET ADDED
VEE DUB FAMILY BIRTHDAY WEEKENDER Sywell Aerodrome, Northampton, NN6 0BN Got a meet or event that should be in
Coast Rd, Burnham-on-Sea, TA8 2RB www.edition38.com here? Drop us an email to
www.veedubfamily.org 12th – 14th glenn.rowswell@kelsey.co.uk
21st – 23rd April GLAMPFEST
ALIVE & KICKIN Market Flat Lane, Knaresborough, Yorkshire, *Please note dates and venues are subject
Haughley Park, Suffolk, IP14 3JU HG5 9JA to change, so please check website before
www.aliveandvdubbin.co.uk www.glampfest.com you travel.

92 VWt
 NEW
FOR
2023

15TH AND 16TH JULY 2023

KENT COUNTY SHOWGROUND
BOOK
NOW

V IS IT E V E N T S.FA S TC A R .C O.U K /V W T-
FE S T IV A L/ F O R M O R E IN F O R M A T IO N

TERMS AND CONDITIONS *booking fee applies. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.
All attractions are subject to change. Advance public tickets sales close Midnight Thursday 13th July 2023.
MOTORFREE ADS
WWW.MOTORFREEADS.CO.UK
VOLKSWAGEN BAY CAMPERVAN
1972, £24,500. Westfalia Californian import LHD.
All original panels, no rust, no bubbling. Lovingly
preserved last year to ensure another 50 years
of adventures. Hundreds of photos available.
Full braking system overhaul. Type 4 1700 W
code engine with twin solex carbs. Undersealed.
Original Westy furniture although seats have
been reupholstered at some point. Please call
07818441910, East Midlands.
115173
VW T25 1981 CAMPER
1981, VW T25 1981 camper Air cooled Road
tested to Dec 2022 new clutch mot and tax
exempt and exempt from most road charges
owned 10 years old mots and lots of old receipts
history Just fitted original vw tow bar good original
condition may exchange classic old vee twin
motorbike 1940s with sidecar WHY Combo may
take Combo part ex. Please call 07863 262603,
Greater London.
117665
FEATURE YOUR MOTOR IN YOUR FAVOURITE MAGS!
TO ADVERTISE VISIT
CURRENT LISTINGS
VOLKSWAGEN BAY CAMPERVAN
1978, 14900 miles, Hattie is in truly lovely
condition.I have driven Hattie for a number of
weddings last year and she attracted a lot of
attention with very flattering comments. She is
a beautiful van that will appreciate in value due
to her fantastic condition and is priced sensibly at
£26,500. Viewing is essential to fully appreciate
Hattie, any inspection welcome. Please call
07780974617, Wales.
116565
VOLKSWAGEN CADDY
2018, 98586 miles, £15,695. This vw caddy maxi
life comes with abundance of features including being
a wav vehicle and an excellent family car including
isofix seats in the rear for young children. The two
piece ramp at the rear provides easy accessing and
exiting with a wheelchair user and once on board
this vehicle provides a very smooth ride. There are
rear drink holders as well in front some underfloor
storage compartments that are very useful indeed.
Please call 07491075383, West Midlands.
112804
VOLKSWAGEN BAY CAMPERVAN
1972, £19,500. £19,500 1972 Early Bay, Beautiful
VW T2 finished in cream over orange. Tax and
MOT exempt, MOT until 20th June 2023. Front
hinged roof, Full size rock ‘N’ roll bed, lift out
table, full internal led lighting, 240v hook up, USB
point, 12v socket, 240 power points. Fitted amp
meter, JVC fitted music centre with USB input.
Full surround sound speakers, drive away awning,
aluminium sidestep. 75,186 miles. Please call
07722 046175, East of England.
117663
VOLKSWAGEN BAY CAMPERVAN
1970, £27,500. genuine uk rhd. bought in 2003
and has been fully renovated/restored and been
on the road since 2016. too much to list but work
included:- engine. Please call 02380879791,
South West.
115436
OR FIND YOUR NEXT!
 Specialist insurance, from
adrianflux.co.uk
0800 085 5000

VOLKSWAGEN CAMPERVAN VOLKSWAGEN T2 VOLKSWAGEN CARAVELLE

POA. Two Classic Coach built Jurgen ‘Auto villa’

Campervans on VW Chassis. Tax + MOT fre, and in
VGC. Please call 07720380866, East of England.
117943
VOLKSWAGEN TYPE 2 CAMPER
1978, 123000 miles, £25,995. 1978 Type 2
Westfalia Camper Van Subaru 2.2 16 Valve Engine
fitted by TSR conversions in Suffolk also Van fully
restored 2010 Mot Tax and ULEZ Free LHD Van is
in excellent Condition no rust and 100% reliable
selling due to lack of use always garaged .If you
need more information let me know first to see will
buy. Please call 07956422658, Greater London.
117698
2000, £8,500. 11 months MoT, petrol 2.5 litre.
New steering rack, battery. Front/rear braking
pads/discs/calipers renewed. New spark plugs,
handbrake cables, injectors No, No1. Three new
seals, Flamma bike rack. Interior like new, been
in storage for many years. Please call 01613
037501, North West.
111386
VOLKSWAGEN CAMPERVAN

VOLKSWAGEN BAY CAMPERVAN

2012, 13500 miles, £37,750. Betty, our

immaculate 2012 VW T2 Kombi Danbury Rio SE,
LHD, 13500mls with air conditioning and power
assisted steering is sadly for sale. Fully loaded
with full magnolia leather interior (protected by
covers), alloy wheels, lowered suspension, side
step, chrome jail bars and other fittings, tow bar
with electrics and bike rack, aluminium storage
box on a fixed tow bar platform, roof luggage
rack, lockable cover and rear wheel carrier,
parking sensors, sunroof, Taxed and tested.
Many VW embellishments and paraphernalia.
Call +44(0)1328316275. Please call +44 (0)1328
316275, East of England.
117776
1975, 40000 miles, £21,500. Australian imported
Westfalia RHD. In Excellent condition. Tax and
Mot exempt and regularly serviced. Owned and
garaged by me for the last 15 years.Please call
07944656660, West Midlands.
110497
1987, £12,500. Volkswagen Caravelle 1.9 5speed.
Home conversion to two birth camper van. Only
two owners from new. Devon hi-top, two burner/
grill stove, sink with running water and enclosed
Porta-Poti. Upgrades include a power steering
conversion, Webber carbs and electric fuel pump.
Please call 07543401156, South West.
115413

BEWARE
We value your advertising and want to remind you be aware of scammers.
Scammers are clever and can often seem genuine so please remember :

• Kelsey will never contact you to upsell your free advert to a paid for one.

SCAMMERS!
• Do not share any financial or personal information with people you do not know.
• Kelsey are not responsible for any transactions between seller and buyer.
• You can report scam calls to us via email at cars@kelseyclassifieds.co.uk

TO ADVERTISE VISIT: OR EMAIL:

WWW.MOTORFREEADS.CO.UK CARS@KELSEYCLASSIFIEDS.CO.UK
MOTORFREE ADS
WWW.MOTORFREEADS.CO.UK
VOLKSWAGEN CAMPERVAN
2012, 98500 miles, £9,500. 2012 Volkswagen
transporter T5.1 ,The van is finished in black
with Sport line front bumper and 20” alloys, Ice
cold air conditioning and electric mirrors ,MOT
until January 2023.Pioneer double din stereo,
upgraded speakers and kenwood reversing
camera .Conversion consists of :Insulation
and sound deadening ,Fully carpet lined,Altro
flooring ,Curtains, Units made from lightweight
plywood ,Smad fridge ,Smev sink/hob .Please call
07376442342, Greater London.
116158
VOLKSWAGEN CAMPERVAN
1963, £89,995. VW 23 Window Deluxe Samba.
Manual, green, right hand drive, leather interior,
fully restored. Please call 01765 609798,
Yorkshire and the Humber. (T)
111324
FEATURE YOUR MOTOR IN YOUR FAVOURITE MAGS!
TO ADVERTISE VISIT
CURRENT LISTINGS
VOLKSWAGEN CAMPERVAN
2001, 190000 miles, £8,500. Amazing bespoke
Quintin Tarantino inspired T4. Beautifully specified
with amazing sound system experience, club
lounge lighting and hand made flame design VW
carpet throughout. Please call 07907827053,
Scotland.
112681
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
1996, 67000 miles, £3,500. Golf Mk 3 Cabriolet
auto in red / charcoal cloth interior. Comes with
box full of history inc original service pack, rear
window sticker and number plates. Recent MOT,
no advisories. Bodywork and electric hood in
excellent condition. Please call 01652 678417 ,
Yorkshire and the Humber.
116041
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
1999, 92000 miles, £1,700. Same family
ownership since new. 12 months MOT. 92000
miles. FSH. New Tyres. Silver, manual, excellent
drive/ condition. Please call 07801 480334, North
West.
117625
VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
1973, 45900 miles, £5,795. This car started life
as a VW 1200 Beetle in 1973, but in 1990 was
completely rebuilt using a brand new Mexican
body by a company known as Autobarn. Each car
was hand built, and Please call 07912251245,
South East.
117745
OR FIND YOUR NEXT!
 SUBSCRIBE
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 Next
month In issue 130, on
sale Friday 17th
The only VW Transporter magazine you need! March 2023

ADVENTURE
AWAITS
FROM OLD BUILDER’S HACK TO AWESOME ADVENTURE VAN, WE GET
THE STORY BEHIND CHRIS NEWNHAM’S SELF-BUILT T5.1 SWAMPER...

Plus
The world’s greatest feature vans, events, guides, news,

Don’t miss it!

products and more Transporter related tomfoolery than you
can shake a dipstick at…
*Contents of the next issue may be subject to change To subscribe visit here:
http://shop.kelsey.co.uk/vwt-magazine
98 VWt
 st ree t perfor mance COILOVERS

for rebound and compression stage

steel technology
lowering
durability

precise clicks
12 precise clicks

Customized Composite Technical

LOW LOW
Trapezoidal
Suspension Rebound (Low) Compression (Low) Spring Seat 7-Post Tested
SP
EED
SP
EED
Thread Component Report
Lowering

FOR EVERY DEMAND THE PERFECT SUSPENSION.

KW automotive UK Ltd
Phone: 01634 255506
eMail: info@KWautomotive.co.uk

www.KWautomotive.co.uk
into your dream
camper for £10k
Follow the journey with our step-by-step videos
and a complete product guide.

justkampers.com/project-22 FIND OUT MORE