BUGA Community
General Category => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: NEBS on June 20, 2014, 07:44:34 PM
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Hi All,
I am a swb Bedford CF owner from South Africa Have owned a few vans since late 70's.
I have a bit of South African vanning photos and history to share. Just want to try find my way around the site first.
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Cool, welcome,
Look forward to some photos
Cheers
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Welcome Neb...We all love pictures here ;D ;D
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gday mate, welcome to the site
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Hey Nebs, good to have you on board. I'm an ex Durban boy myself.
Jag front and rear suspension conversions were popular in South Africa back in the day. There are a few on this forum who have done Jag rear suspension conversions and it looks like your Avatar picture has a Jag rear in it. We are all hungry for any info and pictures on Jag front suspension conversions. So if you have any info on this please share it with us.
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Thanks for the welcome guys. I built the Bedford in my avatar in the early 80's. I fiited a jag diff, but the front suspension was Bedford with a disc brake upgrade. The van had a beautiful soft ride with the jag rear, but had a tendency to become top heavy at a speed over 110 km/h on highway bends. I tried repositioning the shock/spring angles to rectify this, but could not get it to feel safe. Eventually sold the van in '89 with this problem. I would also like more info on the jaguar front suspension, as the Bedford balljoint and tie rod ends are not available here at all. I would have to try and import them for the Bedford I own now.
Her is a photo of the mentioned jag diff setup.
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I had the same Jag configuration in my old van in Durban but with a Ford Granada front suspension, Really went well for a while, we were not the brightest engineers and the rods that connect the rear end assembly to the body cracked their mountings, we welded it over and over again but never really solved the problem, It became too dangerous to drive because when you changed gears in a hurry you inadvertently changing lanes as well - this time round I've stuck with the leaf springs and a 9 inch,2.75 diff. It seems to feel OK - time will tell.
"Hotel California" is a 2 year project that has to be right
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Hey Bean, there used to be a custom van running around Jo'burg in the early '80s called Hotel California. Had a mural similar to your Avatar across the rear. Wondering if that van was the inspiration for your new project.
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Since this Bedford, I have also had a lwb, that was imported to South Africa. I bought it as an uncompleted project. Came with panels on sides and no side door. Back doors were also missing. I removed one of the side panels ( was factory spotwelded in with the factory sidedoor internal frame under it), fitted a fibreglass side door. Came with a 350 Chevy, turbo 400 box and also jag diff fitted. I removed the jag diff and fitted a 12 bolt chevy axle with swb. rear leaf springs. Mounted axle on top of spring to lower van. Unfortunately also had to sell this van in 2004, to finance deposit for a house. Was called " Beauty and the Beast".
Here are some pics. Unfortunately only pcs I could find. Not sure of where abouts of this van.
Wish I could find it.
I will post pics of quite a few South African vans of those days.
Maybe you will recognize some of them.
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Gordon, Nothing to do with the Van in JHB
I'm just an avid Eagles fan and I figured the Bedford kind of sums up the West Coat life style,
There are so many really good materials to work with now days that were not that readily available back in the 80's -
its not that difficult to do a superb job on a 40 year old van now.
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Looking forward to seeing some pictures Bean & Nebs.
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I will forward pics of some Bedfords that I spotted on Durban beachfront and Natal and Pietermaritzburg area in the 1980's. Maybe you will recognize some of them. Onle sending a few pics at a time.
Enjoy!
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here are some pics of a Cape Town Bedford I saw in Durban in 80's.
Bubble windows and front spoiler typical of vans built in Cape Town.
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Great pics, thanks Nebs.
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Here are pics of a nice van "DOUBLE VISION". Can't really see in photos, but had nice airbrushwork on sides from Uriah Heep album "Magicians Birthday". Also taken in Durban in early 80's.
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Hi Gordon / Bean,
do you have pictures or descriptions of your Bedfords in South Africa.
Maybe I can dig up something on them. I have quitye a few pics of the 70's / 80's.
Also have quite a few pics of vans that have been for sale here lately. They seem to be coming back lately. Like these for example.
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or these.
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memory lane old sprinbok hits album cover with van built in johannesburg 1976.
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Hey Nebs, my SA Bedford was badged a Jurgen's cruise o' van which is exactly what the black, red and white vans are in your last batch of pictures. I bought it in '99 in a sorry looking beige and brown colour scheme and then ended up restoring it over about 5 years. Picture of the finished van below. Sold it in 2008 just before we moved across to Auckland. I use the word sold loosely as I gave it away for R28,000 which equates to about NZ$3,000. Broke my heart to let it go. It may still be running around in the Pinetown area these days. I'll try to scan some before pics later.
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memory lane old sprinbok hits album cover with van built in johannesburg 1976.
Nebs, I remember this van. Seem to recall that it was built by Keith Jensen who ran The Gearbox Doctor in Jeppe Street Jo'burg. Keith built a few vans in the mid to late '70s including one that was featured in Car Magazine.
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Gordon, I think you are correct.
I finished military training end "77 and found a place in Johannesburg, where I saw a few vans for sale and on show, incuding this van and the one in next pic. Most of the vans were fitted with the indicator on the front fender. I have also added a pic of a Jurgens Cruisovan, that was for sale 2013 for R70 000-00. Only one I could find that might have been yours.
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Thanks Nebs, difficult to tell as the picture is a bit small, but if that Cruise o van has a Chev bow tie badge in the centre of the grill then it's more than likely mine. I removed the standard badge and fitted the Chev one as a tribute to the 350 small block that I was running in the van at the time. Got the badge off an old American truck that I found in a scrap yard so it wouldn't really be something that would be common. I also had a smoothed out beaver panel fitted to the back of the van and a recess for the rear license plate built into the right hand rear door. That van sure was sweet. Not a spec of rust even although it was a Durban van all of its life.
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Hi Gordon, i don't think it is your van. Found this pic from the rear. also pics of other vans that has been for sale here in last few months.
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Anoyher one for sale recently.
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Wayne Sharpe in Pinetown. built a few CF's for customers. Here are some pics of the first van "Ropin Stopin", where the spoiler, flares and back door enclosure was done in steel. He took moulds off this and reproduced quite a few fibreglass kits. I will post pics of some of the other CF's, includin his own mid engined van, that was chopped by 3 inches and narrowed another 4 inches on the belly line below the windows.
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SA Bedford that was for sale last year.
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And here are some pics of a very nice project van for sale at the moment.
Fitted with Ford V6 and auto box.
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Enjoy, I will post some more next week.
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My 1st CF. Bought an empty shell on wheels, panelbeated, modified and painted.
I completed the complete driveline with a 351 Cleveland V8, auto, jag diff and dics up front. Drove for a few years as only transport, but did change to a Ford V6 with Alfa 5 speed box setup. Rebuilt this engine twice. Eventualy sold it to finance another CF.
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Hey Nebs, I'm really enjoying your old pics, not only for the vans but also the other cars and buildings that are featuring in the background. I think I spotted the old Durban Oceanarium in one of your pics. My cousin worked there back in the day.
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Looks like the aussies have to lift there game..from the standard flares..wicked sa vans
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i dont know how to post pics yet
I like the wheels and colour combo on the blue van on top of page 3 second van down
im thinking something very similar...not exact and without all the windows. probably smaller diameter but fatter tyres, hopefully lowered front end.....she'll be oozing coolness
i hope
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Hey Marty page three loaded ok for me ...it maybe because it has heaps of pictures Neb has loaded on it......
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Hi Gordon,
I also noticed all the old Datsun's, Ford Cortina's etc.
All the beachfront has changed drastically over last few years as well.
I will post less picture per page in case that is the reason for pages not opening.
Here is another oldie on the Durban beachfront in early 80's. "Don't Fawcett with cool airbrushing of Farah Fawcett on back.
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This van was for sale here recently.
Only sliding door beddy I have seen in this country.
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Here are some more pics of my first CF being put together.
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Hi Gordon,
thanks for all the help with balljoint etc.
I will have to make use of your assistance once I have measured the lower sizes.
My Bedford is a CF 1 (1972) With regards to your questions on the Jaguar front suspension, I have been looking at other possibilities.
Check out this setup. It is from a Mercedes Sprinter. Comes complete with an engine cradle and power steering. Ca also get an air suspension kit for these. Not sure of widths etc, but seems a good possibilty.
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Hi Bean,
thanks for the e-mail. I am posting the picture of your old South African van "Widow Maker". I think, that I actualy saw this van at John Voget's workshop in Pietermaritzburg. You do not perhaps know if he is still around. I have also added a cool airbrushed van (Unfortunately not a Beddy ) with something in line of your Hotel California. I recognize your name. Did you sail Tornado's when still in SA ? If so we spoke a few times at Sterkfontein and Around the Island.
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the black van in the last pic is awesome, the paint looks crisp and clean as though its fresh. Super smooth
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Nebs - I am that fellow - still sailing Tornados and gearing up for the World Championships here in Perth in December, - find yourself a boat and come racing. -Shout if you need a hand.
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Bean, we have a Dart 18 Worlds at Stilbaai on the Vaal in December (expecting 100-200 entries). Do not want to miss that one. Do you have a Bedford now? I have had 7 CF's over the last 35 years. An incureable addiction.
Posting some South African show vans from the 80's.
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One more show van.
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Some more pics of another CF.
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Pics of a van for sale here few months ago.
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This one sold recently. Fitted with a 327 Chevy. Weird paint job and back window.
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that last one definately is different
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Jurgens Caravans sold about 100 CF2's in the 80's, which were fitted out with bay windows, roof rack with ladder and spare wheel mounted on back doors. These were all fitted with a bench seat right at back that could fold down tio form a bed and fo captain seats on swivel bases and with arm rests. Most of these were upgraded to Chev 350/ auto setups and 3liter Ford V6 drivelines afterward by owners. Here are some examples I found for sale in last few months.
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Because these accesories were available from Jurgens a few C1's started appearing in similar guise.