Turning Up The Heat
VW CAMPER & BUS|July 2019

When the time came to buy a VW the entire family could fi t in, Rob Wigley found an ex-fi re Bus to restore. This one here

James Peene
Turning Up The Heat

All the ladies love a fireman, right? And all VW peeps love a retired Volkswagen fire truck. Fact.

Over the years, VW Transporters were used for all manner of weird and wonderful jobs, so it stands to reason they would also be used by Germany’s police, ambulance and fire services.

Admittedly, ambulances are a bit macabre, as you don’t know what’s gone on, or how many people have died inside one, but fire Buses? They’re an entirely different kettle of sauerkraut…

Pretty much every town, village and even many large factories had their own parttime fire brigade, crewed by volunteers who, truth be told, didn’t see a great deal of action. Neither did their vehicles. Which is why VW people love them today.

When people started buying them, they tended to be low mileage and unmolested. They’re becoming increasingly hard to find because whilst the various German fire services usually kept hold of them for a very long time, that was also now a long time ago and most have now been bought and sold on many times over.

There’s no escaping the fact that they’re still an oddball choice. After all, we can understand someone wanting a Camper, Panel Van or Pick- Up truck, but a fire Bus? What are you going to do with that? You can’t even drive one on UK roads with the blue lights because the police take a dim view to that sort of business. So like we say. A slightly left of field choice and hard to come by. Which is precisely why Rob Wigley, from Bromsgrove fell for this ones charms.

Changing Ghias

Esta historia es de la edición July 2019 de VW CAMPER & BUS.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición July 2019 de VW CAMPER & BUS.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE VW CAMPER & BUSVer todo
T5 Buyers Guide
VW CAMPER & BUS

T5 Buyers Guide

If you want a large, practical VW you can stamp your mark on and drive daily, perhaps it’s time you look at buying a T5? Here’s what you need to check

time-read
8 minutos  |
December 2019
Germany Calling
VW CAMPER & BUS

Germany Calling

Cycling and sight-seeing whilst taking in plenty of history along the way.

time-read
9 minutos  |
December 2019
Village Bus
VW CAMPER & BUS

Village Bus

A RHD Barndoor Deluxe Bus is an incredibly rare and very desirable vehicle and Carl Elliott’s superb ’54 is perhaps the best example anywhere in the world!

time-read
5 minutos  |
December 2019
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
VW CAMPER & BUS

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit

As the saying goes, it’s only original once. Fortunately, this retired fruit pickers Bus had been left to ripen in a farmer’s barn

time-read
6 minutos  |
December 2019
Family 'Wagen
VW CAMPER & BUS

Family 'Wagen

What do you do when you have a kick-ass Ghia but a large family? Simple. You build a kick-ass Bay Window Microbus as well

time-read
5 minutos  |
December 2019
Status Cymbal
VW CAMPER & BUS

Status Cymbal

When drummer Nick Robin’s AA card was taking too much of a beating it was time to visit VW Downunder

time-read
6 minutos  |
Spring 2018
I Is For Industrial
VW CAMPER & BUS

I Is For Industrial

While the best place for an air-cooled VW engine will always be in the back of a VW, the industrial variants have ended up in many unexpected places as well. Including a very big gun…

time-read
7 minutos  |
Spring 2018
Still Doin' It
VW CAMPER & BUS

Still Doin' It

After a hard working life, three engines and two restorations, you’d think this Pick-up had earned its retirement. Not quite

time-read
4 minutos  |
Spring 2018
The Freddy Files
VW CAMPER & BUS

The Freddy Files

Paul Knight whisks us along a fun-filled, 36-hour road trip to the Freddy Files show in Ninove, Belgium

time-read
5 minutos  |
Spring 2018
Readers' Rides
VW CAMPER & BUS

Readers' Rides

Your pride and joy is our delight to share, so here they are

time-read
2 minutos  |
August 2018