We like to keep busy here at Busgutz, and as well as concentrating on our customers’ pride and joys if we get any spare time we delve into our own. We have a ’65 13 window split and a ’72 Danbury bay on the go at the moment – both in various stages of restoration! Here’s progress on the bay – we’ve virtually replaced the bottom 6″ all around (standard on a UK bus these days alas), new sills, chassis members, and both wheel arches. Just the front to go then the hard work starts with prep, paint and re-build.

Progress pics on the split -

Fresh out of the spray booth – and catching admiring glances from all around…
(excuse the poor quality camera phone pics)

Not had an update on the progress with the ’65 split for a while, so here goes. All welding now complete – new cargo floor, cab floor, engine cover with new spare wheel tub. Just put first coat of primer and interior paint on. Decisions decisions on the colour though – definitely blue, but which one!? Should be done by the end of the week. Can’t wait to start rebuilding!

New in from Texas  – ’66 LHD 13 window deluxe split screen. Having had a small engine fire a fair few years ago and left in a field, we’ve acquired this as project number two to work on alongside the ’72 Danbury bay window. Looks are deceiving and this is a solid bus, very straight panels and without the deep seated rust seen here in the UK. Despite that, we’re looking to do this to a high standard and its being treated to a new engine, cargo floor, cab floor, battery trays, all-round new seals and a top quality paint job. Plus, of course we’ll be putting in one of our hand crafted interiors.

It is available for purchase at any stage of restoration, but our aim is for the summer shows.

Oh, and we soon discovered what the awful smell was when clearing it out….

Its slow progress with the Bay window project – we only get chance to work on our own vans once maybe twice a week. But the welder came out in earnest the other day and we managed to repair a few chassis sections. Like pigs in muck…

Well we don’t get much opportunity to work on the Bay window aka “Duffy” (or “..what the ‘efy”  as I like to call it) but here are some progress pictures. The chassis roller is working its magic for us again – these things make working on the underside SO much easier! Don’t forget it is available for hire (although not until we’ve finished with it!) – just contact us if you are interested.

Look out for the cardboard box in the trailer – yes, that contains the engine.

Well here’s a challenge for us. We said we wanted a winter project, and I think this certainly will be one! 1972 Danbury crossover Bay window with some work ahead. Work starts this week with complete strip down to assess just what’s needed. Then the welder comes out…
It’ll be a while before we get around to putting in one of our interiors, but we’ll keep you posted on progress!