Club 80-90 Forums

I thought it looked OK, but didn't make it back with more time to look closely... Fran would say I'm sure it was perfectly functional but not to his taste, layout wise. So sensibly he left it alone and moved on

Why buy a pretty rare and special conversion and then rip it apart?

Because it had only 60,00 miles on it and was a good example...

Cynical?

You decide....

You read my mind

Yep the interior wasn't Westy standard but it was very functional and I'm looking to take over some of the features like the pull out drawers and removable cooker to my home brew. In the 90's, this conversion was the height of Aussie outback chic, the fact that this is probably the best kept one going may be an indication of how they lasted when left in their indigenous environment The missus didn't like some of the aspects like the LPG tank taking up the dress hanging space and the leisure battery under the rear seat but we spent most weekends this last year using it and it proved fully funtional and living in it soon became natural, even the dodgy looking table worked better than you'd think. The biggest issue I had with the interior was panicing as my 5 and 8 year old boys played inside it and trying to make sure they didn't break anything...something I didn't do so much with a Westy. Overall I really engoyed my brief ownership of the Trakka, it just felt so good and solid, but it wasn't fit for purpose when the purpose was to gut it and rebuild from new while driving on roads...to be honest I'm even feeling a bit guilty about planning this with a Westy Californian, but not enough to stop me, and nowhere near as much as I would have by doing it to the Trakka.

..lee.. wrote:i feel like buying the bits and just keeping them safe......

Someone has made an offer, was it you?

I thought it looked OK, but didn't make it back with more time to look closely... Fran would say I'm sure it was perfectly functional but not to his taste, layout wise. So sensibly he left it alone and moved on

Why buy a pretty rare and special conversion and then rip it apart?

Because it had only 60,000 miles on it and was a good example...

Cynical?

You decide....

You read my mind

I did reply earlier but it appears to have gone wrong somewhere so I'll try again...here goes.

We spent most weekends this season in the van and you quickly became familiar with living in the Trakka, it's very functional/practical and I'll be taking a few of the ideas over to my home brew, like the wire drawers and removable cooker. My missus wasn't so happy with the positioning of the LPG as there was no dress hanging space and the leisure battery under the rear seat hampered packing but that said, we thoroughly enjoyed our time with it. It may have looked a bit Heath Robinson inside but in the 90's this was the height of Aussie Outback chic and from my experience proved very usable, even the dodgy looking table was more robust than you'd think - just ask my 5 year old! That said, if it was as robust as a Westy interior then maybe more of them would have survived the last 20 years but I think you'd have to look in Aus to see how well they survived. The bonus is that today you could buy enough white formica from B&Q to replace the entire interior for what it would cost to replace one Westy interior panel with new.

As it is, one of the reasons we sold it was that I couldn't relax as much as I used to in the Westy as I was always watching for what my 5 and 8 year old lads were doing in the van when playing, in case they broke anything. It's truely the best Camper I've ever owned, and certainly the most unique, but I now see things happening to it that I could never do which was one of the reasons I sold it. At least I won't loose sleap about ripping the interior out of my Westy Californian, well, not too much.

Interesting (and comforting in a way) to note the strength of feeling this has actually raised, maybe future sales of rare breeds will carry a or "duty of care" contract or maybe a "buyer beware" warning.

'Buyer beware' I think...

syncropaddy wrote:

..lee.. wrote:i feel like buying the bits and just keeping them safe......

Someone has made an offer, was it you?

no not me. i do feel quite strongly about it, but putting my money where my mouth is wil probally not apply this time.

Tail between my legs.
Okay I am making a BIG mistake. Thankfully I can reverse out of it right now.
I will keep all the bits.
Yep I was selling to recoup some money but I had started to think "am I crazy" and I agree I am if I let those bits go.
The only thing that has actually gone is the winch kit (a rope, gloves etc) so ... I'll back out of the roo bar sale now before it's too late.
Big thanks to the guy that pointed me to this forum.
Dom

hopefully it will work out right for you long term with the van, tis very nice , come camping with us, no need to batter it, hitch a ride with one of the common or garden vans

you won't be tea bitch

mastersdom wrote:Tail between my legs.
Okay I am making a BIG mistake. Thankfully I can reverse out of it right now.
I will keep all the bits.
Yep I was selling to recoup some money but I had started to think "am I crazy" and I agree I am if I let those bits go.
The only thing that has actually gone is the winch kit (a rope, gloves etc) so ... I'll back out of the roo bar sale now before it's too late.
Big thanks to the guy that pointed me to this forum.
Dom

Brave man coming in this lion's den! Well done though for seeing the light and acting on it too.

mastersdom wrote:Tail between my legs.
Okay I am making a BIG mistake. Thankfully I can reverse out of it right now.
I will keep all the bits.
Yep I was selling to recoup some money but I had started to think "am I crazy" and I agree I am if I let those bits go.
The only thing that has actually gone is the winch kit (a rope, gloves etc) so ... I'll back out of the roo bar sale now before it's too late.
Big thanks to the guy that pointed me to this forum.
Dom

I suppose that means the wheel deal is off then .....

Really sorry for beibg a timewaster Syncropaddy. I'd started to get a knot in my stomach about the changes I planned. It would have been nice to have the cash for the wheels right now but I've got to respect the girl. I've seen the light
Dom

If any of the buyers of the more bespoke items gets upset about it then I reckon they're not particularly passionate about the heritage of the vehicles they drive, more of trophy hunters. Those buyers that recognise the rarity of the Trakka may be slightly miffed but will understand. Personally I'm relieved the dissolution of the Trakka has been staved off this time, and at least we all now know what early Audi 80 wheels will fit T3s . More strength to your arm Dom.

Good man! Never be afraid to admit here that you've cockedup on a T3 matter.
I do it all the time

mastersdom wrote:Really sorry for beibg a timewaster Syncropaddy. I'd started to get a knot in my stomach about the changes I planned. It would have been nice to have the cash for the wheels right now but I've got to respect the girl. I've seen the light
Dom

I would prefer to see those wheels on a trakka than on mine if the truth be known ......

I love a story with a happy ending

Bullies