Chug Chug the 1977 Westfalia Helsinki Part 3 the end of the road.

[chrisradioman]

I was hoping I could finish the story of Chug Chug with out starting a new thread but I'm afraid it got locked so I couldn't so here it is the final chapter.
Chug Chug part one started out as a light resto that turned into an obsesion by myself by the start of part two both threads can be found here:-

Part1
http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=397525

Part2
http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=439567

I'll post some pics to put you in the picture
I bought him like this in April or May 2007


Very quickly he looked like this




Engine out by October 2007 after enjoying a few trips away in him:-


By the end of the first part I'd made loads of new friends & the painting of the engine bay & the interior was complete

[chrisradioman]

The start of part 2 saw the reassembly of the engine & the refitting of it

It also saw the reasembly of the interior


By the middle of this thread Chug Chug was almost finished & I was thinking about photo shoots & shows, hoping one day to get him featured in a magazine:-



Then came the first show of the year & Chug Chugs maiden voyage up to Big Bang:-


All this time Chug Chug was getting better & better as I was buying parts & going to various shows around the place.

My family enjoyed going away in Chug Chug as much as I did.

Picture at BVF:-




This is my favorite pic taken @ Bug Jam this year & ironically every item of clothing in the pic has benn burned:-

[chrisradioman]

This is the last show Chug Chug went to Volksfest Wales in Margum & despite the weather we had a brilliant time.


When we got home we decided on a trip up to Scotland & I drove up through the Brecon Beacons, I took my cameras & lap top with me so I could update the thread as we went along. My wife Yvonne made a list of every small village & Town we went through & I took loads of pics but unfortunatly they were lost.
As most of you know at 9.30PM on the bypass between Newtown & Welshpool disaster struck.

[chrisradioman]

The bus caught fire after a suden loss of power:-

[chrisradioman]

Due to the circumstances I then planned to create the ultimate ratter but the insurance soon put a stop to that:-
I'm afraid the ratter is out of the question now the assessor has been he is going to recomend a cat A which is destruction olny, I am alowed to remove the lights & indicators, No. plate & grill but not the doors or the beam. & Chug Chug will be put through a fragmentor & destroyed. He will be collected one day next week & then that will be the end of him, its very sad & such a shame but there isn't anything I can do about it even if he put it as a cat B I'd need to be a licenced breaker to take bits off.

[chrisradioman]

The insurance assessor told me the fire was caused by one of the floats in a carb spliting & petrol spraying every where. He diagnosed this not knowing the carbs were new, he didn't open the engine bay untill later & he didn't know what make of carbs I had.
I'm sure he was making it up but I didn't want to argue & complicate things I want him on my side after all.
I've no idea really what caused it but I would like to know to avoid it happening again.

[chrisradioman]

Here are some pics of the stuff inside:-
My screwdrivers, they are so good I bought another set they are top notch quality & really take a hamering no tips have broken after 2 years use.
Old ones


New ones


Dewalt 18V drill battery charger & 2 batteries.


Maggots on the front mat disgusting:-


My Halfords socket & spaner set & my fathers socket set which is 40 years old my mother gave me those when he died when I was 14 & I've looked after them all this time


My fluke multi meter I was given by British steel when I passed my apprenticeship I've looked after that too, also pictured my daughters new lap top & my rechargeable torch


Camping chairs & clothes, these were under the seat so excaped the flames just suffered the heat.


Snap-on screwdriver set.

[chrisradioman]

Dragged Chug Chug out of my garage today with my Brother's Nissan X-trail next stop for Chug Chug is the crusher I'm afraid. If the front steps front panel or cab floor is anygood to anyone fetch your burning gear or grinder down & help yourself its free any body work cuts are free help yourself:-

[chrisradioman]

Found this thread on another forum
http://shop.justkampers.com/kamperch...d.php?t=108449

[chrisradioman]

Just sent a letter to the people that helped us out on the night, Yvonne wrote it sent them a bouquet of flowers too.

Dear Cerys, Mark & family,

Hope you are all well. We would all like to say a very big thank to you all for the kindness you showed to us on the night of 19th August when our bus caught fire. Although it was only 11 days ago it feels like it was months ago and yet it is still outside our house reminding us everyday of the horror we went through. Chris’ original thoughts that night and the next few days were that he would get ‘Chug Chug’ back on the road no matter what. All of his mates on the forums that he is on all offered their help and were willing to donate car parts to help us achieve this dream. However since then the insurance company have told us that this is unable to happen due to the carcinogenic chemicals created by the burning materials and also the structure and chassis are all buckled and distorted due to the heat. We have come to the conclusion that we are better off remembering the happy weekends we had away in Chug Chug and that we now need to move on and buy a new project with the insurance money. The girls were very emotional on the night and I thank you very much for taking us to your home away from the fire where they were able to calm down more easily. As you will surely remember they kept on remembering things that were in the van and getting upset all over again. They have been spoilt rotten by everyone. Katy has had the majority of her birthday presents replaced and Amy has ended up with a lot of new things as well. They both have big smiles back on their faces.
We are now looking forward to finding another similar camper when the insurance money comes through and I’m looking forward to going on a spending spree to replace all our clothes! We have told everyone about the kindness you showed to us and how we cannot believe how much you did for us that night, remembering that we were complete strangers to you, and hysterical ones at that! Hopefully we will never see anyone else in the same situation but if we ever do I’d like to think that we would show them the same amount of kindness that you showed us.
When we finally get a new camper we will definitely drive through Newtown to Welshpool again and will drop in to see you and say hello.


Lots of love





Yvonne, Chris, Amy & Katy