Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all,

Been lurking for a while but its time for my first post! sorry if this is in the wrong section.
I have been given a 1988 twin slider minibus (well its got 3 bench seats in the back) that has been sat idle for the past 20 years and my plan is to get it restored.
is there a way to tell how this van actually left the factory? like if it was a panel van or if it started out life as a minibus?

(on the log book its down as a minibus)
 

the vwpix.org is a good archive.
The 12 seater twin slider van was an UK specific model converted by VAG (UK) Commercial
http://www.vwpix.org/T3/Prospekte/gross ... index.html

thanks for the fast reply and the site link!
I dont think it is a 12 seater though as 2 of the bench seats in the back only fit 2 people each.
it also has 3 seats in the front . (i make it as having 10 seats)

from a bit of research i need to locate my M plate?
I did check my vin but that didnt really tell me

 

If it was a panel van the window rubbers on the rear side windows will stick out from the body, if its a factory minibus the rubbers will sit in the recess.

multisi wrote: ↑04 Jun 2021, 14:25 If it was a panel van the window rubbers on the rear side windows will stick out from the body, if its a factory minibus the rubbers will sit in the recess.

thank you, the rubbers stick out so I guess it started out as a panel van.
but would a panel van have 2 sliders? or 1 of them has been fitted too?

under the left seat adjacent to the centre runner is a stamped plate in aluminium which will have the type number on eg 252 MC7, that can be decoded to some extent, plate also has the build date and a bunch of info that the M-code decoder website can show, and if it is still present on the vehicle under steering wheel knee high the white sticker has a bit more information that can be decoded

Aidan wrote: ↑04 Jun 2021, 18:57 under the left seat adjacent to the centre runner is a stamped plate in aluminium which will have the type number on eg 252 MC7, that can be decoded to some extent, plate also has the build date and a bunch of info that the M-code decoder website can show, and if it is still present on the vehicle under steering wheel knee high the white sticker has a bit more information that can be decoded

thanks for the reply, i shall have a look for these tomorrow.
the passenger seats are weird though, double seat bolted to a back brace across the width of the van so it doesnt move.

Pictures ….. we need pictures ……

Is this the M plate i was looking for? this was under the passenger seat.
And it also has this Devon conversion sticker on the inside of the passenger door too.

E D I T - the pics didnt work for me


 

This may help 

Yes that is the M plate. Mocki has used my picture to tell what it says

So your van started as a RHD panel van with a DG engine and 4 speed gearbox






 

thank you guys, much appreciated.
now on to restoring it!

5 speed gearbox 5S