1967 LHD 13 Window Splitscreen Camper 'French Connection'

Bluebelle
VW Split 1967 13 Window Camper Bus
Sea Blue under Cumulus White.1500cc
Lots of Pics and Videos at Restohaus - see below for links

This lovely 13 window bus was originally exported from Germany to the USA as a Kombi bus. For many years she lived in California and was eventually bought by Mr Dennis King of Ohio who stripped her as a restoration project. Her paintwork was faded and she had minor internal surface rust mainly where paintwork had been scraped off with use but, otherwise, the metalwork was like new, doors, gutters, sills, wheelarches etc had absolutely no rust. Underneath, the floor panels look as though they are fresh out of the factory. He stripped her down and then ran out of time.
The bus was bought by Dave Fritz of The Split Van Centre, in Surrey as a restoration project for himself. He imported it to the UK and had it in the back of his workshop when a marketing man from French Connection (FCUK) was there buying another bus from him for a marketing photo-shoot. He asked whether Bluebelle could be prepared in time, and a deal was struck.
The bus was sprayed in her original colours and fitted with new parts, rubbers, tyres, bumpers, headlining etc and a correct-for-year recon 1500 engine. The front seats were re-upholstered and matching panels made.
She then appeared with other buses in posters and publicity for FCUK.
After sitting in an FCUK store for a while she and her green stable mate were drawn to the attention of Steve Moran of Westside Motors of Woodford Green. He put them on the Samba Website and was inundated with enquires. The next day Martin and Lorry Quinn who had been looking for a rust free Splitty for some time saw the new ad, and within the hour Martin was on his way to London. The near showroom condition and interesting history meant there was no hesitation and she had a new home. That was 2004
Over the following weeks, the camper interior was taken out and the internals remodelled including:
 the interior loading bay floor gently sandblasted to remove old paint, light surface rust and to provide a good key for repainting and the interior floor repainted
 the engine removed and the engine bay rubbed down, acoustic insulation panels added and the engine compartment re-sprayed.
 the underneath cleaned and undersealed and the channels sprayed inside with wax rust prevention
 steering joints and swivel pin bushes replaced
 new starter motor
 side panels also got acoustic treatment and an insulating moisture barrier to protect against the moisture you get inside a camper from bodies and cooking.

Her camper spec includes:
 American oak veneered headlining
 under-body fresh and grey water tanks allowing you to camp in the most sensitive areas – probably unique for a splitty
 Units containing
o SMEV sink
o SMEV 2 ring hob
o oven/grill
o ample storage
 portable 12/240v/gas fridge
 3/4 bed
 RCBO protected hook up for 240 volts and 10m cable
 interior 12v LED lighting
 table and internal seating for 4 people
 drive away awning tent with groundsheet and inner 2-man tent
 shower toilet tent and Portapotti
 leisure battery with voltage sensitive 2 way changeover charging (so if you decide to fit a solar panel it will charge both batteries)
 gas bottle external to the passenger compartment for safety
 SHC Engine Fire Fighter 3M - Automatic Engine Compartment Fire extinguisher
 fire extinguisher and fire blanket
 DAB/Bluetooth radio
 hose for water filling

In addition, she has:
 A classic roof rack
 The original windup clock and “Deluxe” horn push
 American spec bumpers

She has not been lowered and has stock braking and suspension. Her low mileage engine starts every time on the button, summer or winter, and sounds just like it should.

We have had fun owning and camping in her and she has been dressed in her finery on occasions to officiate at weddings of our friends.

Eventually our life plans have changed. Now, sadly, it is time for someone else to own and love her.

For 2024 she has had new batteries, MOT till June 2025 but happy to get a fresh Mot on her.

Fact: Any welding introduces stresses and chemical composition differences that lead to a greater chance of future corrosion around the welds. Bare metal rebuilds may be OK but much better to have a bus that has never needed to be welded – and generally they cost a lot less to buy too! We can point out the very few small areas where Bluebelle has had any welding.

She is currently with Restohaus in North Devon where you can visit her. Here are Restohaus’s videos of her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR8wEX-wuBM
https://youtu.be/0n4sMl9RbrQ?feature=shared

Visit https://www.facebook.com/resto.haus and search for Bluebelle or go straight there with this link
https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=resto.haus&set=a.1036402248491451 (then you have to click on "more" to see the words.
Or you can contact the owner on 07917 066609 paulmartinquinn@gmail.com