Concept Camper - what are your thoughts?

Written by Kate McCarthy Bedward of York Classic VWs  <<<click here to visit website

So we have all seen lots of concept cars, many of which never actually get seen on the road. Parts of the ideas are taken and used on cars that we do see driving around, so concept cars do have a purpose when it comes to actual cars - they are all the ideas of the designers thrown into a vehicle, they then look at all the ideas and decide which ones could actually be implemented.

Below we have a concept VW Campervan - what do you think the chances are of any or some of these ideas reaching our streets.  Which ideas do you see that you really like and would love to have in a camper?  Which do you think are possible now and which do you think may be a little far-fetched for now?

Personally I think there are some fantastic ideas in there and I would love to see something like this for sale - either made by VW as a new campervan or by a restoration specailist as one big project.

Please comment below and tell us what you think....on to the video.

Aircooled Engine sizes - how can you tell?

Author: Kate McCarthy Bedward of  York Classic VWs

Today I had a question, which was answered by Jez Dyke of Dubtricks (VW restoration experts) in Harrogate.  I wanted to know if there was a way to tell what size aircooled engine you have by looking at it.  Basically, unless it has been modified you can tell by looking at the code that is on the engine - just under the alternator.  There will be a letter followed by some digits.  Our 1969 VW Beetle has a D and then some numbers, I was told that a D meant it was a 1200 engine - which is what we had been told it was when we bought it.  Below I have done a table so you can check your own.

Anybody please feel free to comment if you have anything to add to this...

Code	Size	Model	Year	Notes
A	1200	Type 1	up to 7/65	(1192cc 30hp)
B	1600	Type 2	8/67 - 7/70
		Type 1	8/68 - 7/70	(USA)
C	1600	Type 2	8/67 - 7/70	(M240)
D	1200	Type 2	from 5/59	(1192cc 34hp)
		Type 1	from 8/65	(1192cc 34hp)
E	1300	Type 1	8/65 - 7/70
F	1300	Type 1	8/65 - 7/70
G	1500	Type 2	up to 7/65
H	1500	Type 2	8/65 - 7/68
		Type 1	8/65 - 7/70
		Type 181	8/69 - 2/71
K	1500	Type 3	8/65 - 10/73
L	1500	Type 2	from 11/65
		Type 1	8/66 - 7/70	(M240)
M	1500	Type 3	8/65 - 7/73
N	1500	Type 3	8/65 - 7/73	(M240)
P	1600	Type 3	8/65 - 7/73	(M240)
R	1500	Type 3	8/63 - 7/65	(1500S)
T	1600	Type 3	8/65 - 7/73
U	1600	Type 3	from 8/65	(fuel injection)
UO	1600	Type 3	8/67 - 7/73
AB	1300	Type 1	8/70 - 7/73
AC	1300	Type 1	8/70 - 7/75	(M240)
AD	1600	Type 1	8/70 - 7/73
		Type 2	8/70 - 7/73
AE	1600	Type 1	8/70 - 7/71	(USA)
AF	1600	Type 1	8/70 - 1/80	(M240)
		Type 2	8/70 - 7/79	(M240)
		Type 181	1/74 - 1/82	(M240)
AG	1600	Type 181	8/70 - 7/76
AH	1600	Type 1	8/71 - 1/76	(USA)
AJ	1600	Type 1	8/74 - 12/80	(USA & Japan fuel injection)
AK	1600	Type 1	8/72 - 7/73	(USA)
AL	1600	Type 181	3/73 - 7/79
AR	1300	Type 1	8/73 - 7/75
AS	1600	Type 1	8/73 - 7/80
		Type 2	8/73 - 7/79

The Dubtricks Blog: Mini Blog: How to Research the History of your VW

The Dubtricks Blog: Mini Blog: How to Research the History of your VW: A customer asked me earlier this week how he should go about finding out the birth date of his early Baywindow Campervan, and how he c...

Re-sprayed and shiny

Re-sprayed and shiney, a photo by YorkClassicVWs on Flickr.

Here's Betsy back from her re-spray and polish plus an extra special polish by me when she got home.... plus roof rack back on :-)

York Classic VWs first York Club meet

Just a quick one today, I'll follow this up with a full write up with pictures after the event.

On Wednesday 27th July 2011 we are having our first VW owners club meet in York.  We are meeting first at the Black Bull in York and then a cruise convoy to the White Swan at Deighton just outside York - not far from the York Designer outlet.

So far our Volkswagen owners are bringing: 5 CamperVans, 3 Beetles, 1 Karmann Ghia, possibly a caddy, a Golf, a T4 and maybe a T5.  Unfortunately our lovely Betsy can't make our first meet as she is going in for her re-spray this week, we were going to wait but I think some were getting anxious to have a meet so we decided to go ahead without her on this occasion.  For the next one, Betsy will be there looking all shiny and new...

We are really looking forward to getting together with some faces that we already know and some new ones. If you read this and are in the York area - or don't mind travelling, then join our website forum and add yourself to the meets thread that I have put up about our local veedub meet.  We do need to know numbers as at our second stop we are getting some food laid on for us - it will be something like sandwiches and chips.

The Big Fat Tour 2011

The Big Fat Tour 2011, a set on Flickr.

Here are pictures from Sunday's Big Fat Tour. Many, Many VWs driving around Yorkshire all day together. It rained most of the day although we did get a little bit of sun when we stopped in Scarborough for lunch.

Thanks to the organisers for a great day. see you again at VW Festival in August!

Dubs on the Wolds July Meet

Written by Kate McCarthy of York Classic VWs - Click here to visit York Classic VWs website

Last night was the July meet of the Dubs on the Wolds club.

We set off from our house at around 6pm to meet Golf Girl at the B&Q car park so we could drive over to Driffield together.  We left B&Q car park in "Betsy" the VW Beetle at around 6:30pm and headed for Driffield with Golf Girl following closely behind in her beautiful VW Golf "Dubby" - pictured here with the "Big Fat Tour 2011" in the back window.  As well as being a really lovely Volkswagen Golf, Rachel aka Golf Girl has some great stickers on the car, it looks excellent.

We arrived at Crosshill Car Park in Driffield at around 7:05 pm and there were a couple of dubs there already.  We waited for the rest to arrive while chatting and discussing our dubs and taking pictures.

You will notice from the pictures that there is something that doesn't look quite like a VW - you would be right, Andrew one of the club members has owned many VWs in the past but currently has the Commer you see pictured.  There are some lovely rides in this club, I feel very privileged to be part of it.

Once everyone was here we all headed in convoy to the Warton Arms Pub at Woodmansey, about a half hour drive from the car park in driffield.

We then arrived at the pub in Woodmansey and had another photo opportunity moment and then went inside to get a pint.  We then sat outside for an hour chatting about dubs, and veedub events and other such things - of course it wasn't all dub speak (just mostly!).  We had a lovely evening just relaxing and chatting with some genuinely lovely people.  We are now looking forward to the next meet!