Rag Top Re-Birth

VW buses are increasingly popular as the choice to make a special day even more special; unlike many however, this one has been designed and lovingly restored from the ground up by its owner.

- David Eccles

Having fully restored a 1967 Westfalia SO 42 back in 2013 (his first foray into the world of the VW Bus) David Lloyd had no intention of buying another bus, let alone a Bay. Although the Westy’s main purpose is as a wedding bus, David really enjoys taking it to shows and events and since 2014 has clocked up 17K with it – so it’s not just a pretty bus for weddings only!

This particular Bay was a UK RHD Devon conversion. Some friends had bought the bus with the intention of restoring it, and had even had Denis at Slambassador cut out all the rot, replacing yet more old panels, step and arch and rear quarter panels, floor sections to name a few. The bus was taken to bare metal, received a new coat of primer and then sat in a warm garage for 12 months as the owners were unable to find the time to rebuild her having just moved house. David says, “I had watched the restoration start, then pause for 12 months, and every time I looked at the bus it seemed to give me the kind of look Puss-in-Boots gives with his eyes in Shrek!” David was ready for another project and already had a vision for it to join his other wedding bus, so in 2018 offered to buy it from them, which they happily agreed to!

The body was actually prepped and primed for paint, so before moving the bus to a workshop to start the resto, David had the painter finish the job and apply a new body colour, opting for Fiat YE YE Green as used on the Fiat 500, a lovely pastel shade with hints of grey and green.