Harewood VW Festival 2016

The twelfth gathering of its kind proved bigger and better than ever ...

- Richard Copping

Walking into the show an initial theme presented itself immediately. Whatever the communal term for a clutch of Buses is when transformed into purveyors of ice-cream, soft drinks, teas, coffees, alcohol and even sweets, it was definitely applicable. Of course, for correctness sake, it should be added that other vendors of a non-VW variety were available.

First up, a familiar player, ice creams courtesy of a home-spun Splitty High-Roof, before, only a few steps away, the Pancake Pick-up, a rather tasty early Bay adorned with elements of Clipper L trim (well that’s what it would have been called in 1968). The light blue paint extended to the cab interior and looked to have been there for many years. Next, a late Bay High Roof offering more than the cheese advertised, before heading off to a tidy Pick-up offering good old fashioned temptation with discount for mass purchases. Next a drop or two of the falling down waters, courtesy of a Bay and barman with a flourish, before heading to T4 land and both a cool van and drink. Back through the generations, the Splitty Bar had planned for all weathers, but needn’t have done in sunny Yorkshire.

Next, a treat for the Bus panels rather than the human bodies, with a very glossy Bay High Top selling, appropriately enough, polish. Sales drop into the background when the ingenuity of the hood-come-shelter from both sun and rain is taken into account with a lovely Safari Window Splitty Pick-up. Last but not least, how about buying a VW Ice Cream business complete with a stop-meand-buy-one James Bond theme ... if only you had been there.