1972 Commer

we had a successful mission to big bang

failed the MOT first try on a sticking handbrake, so i razzed home, whipped it apart, diagnosed it as a sticky cable, cleaned and greased, adjusted, and was back there within an hour to get my pass
the trip there was uneventful but slow, these things don't go too fast. 55-60, will do 70 with my foot nailed to the floor. no really underpowered, more undergeared.

but after having 8 of us in it both nights cos it was so brass monkeys, we've jointly decided commers are greaty better than VWs!!
it has tons more room inside, 8 of us seated in comfort, plus room for all mine and naomis wibblepoo, and enough room left to cook us all bread pudding and custard!!


on top of that, it drives great, handles really well (tyres squealing round r/bouts at 40mph!!) fairly decent brakes, good ride etc.

the front will be coming down more, but it involves a LOT of work (Z-ed chassis=engine out) as its more or less on the bumpstops as it is. wheels will be something interesting in volvo stud pattern, maybe 16" flat faced alloys in gloss black?
the hole in the back will be getting bigger, it will take up some of the cupboard space under the bed, no major loss really, especially as itll be filled with a 4-link and coilovers

but before then ile be dong some general tidying up including painting the black bits body colour and repairing some bits of body as well as doing some smoothing out, etc. and modding the interior to make it a bit more usable.

Probably a mixture of old age and too much ale over the years but seem to recall someone telling me once you can drop a Holbay into one of these.

Looks uber cool though mate, you must be chuffed to bits with it?!!!

www.jdm-online.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=35&zenid=5f78c904e176fc27d40c855823363524

You know it makes sense ;D

Love the new pics, inspirational!

Hi,
I love the sound of your Commer, but I can't see any of the pictures!!!

My oh my, you've only gone and done one of my future projects. Like you I had a Split screen and flogged it because they're great but not worth the ££ they go for. I did have a Commer that got me to RTTS back in 2001. Matt blacked her on the M5 in traffic and painted the steelies red. I think Commers are definitely the new camper to Kustom. In fact, why don't we start a club called the KKK - Kustom Kamper Klub?

I think you're doing an ace job on the lowering and can't wait to see it develop. Me and Matt from Practical Classics mag often fantasise about doing these vans. I wish I'd kept mine but when the engine started white smoking and I realised access to the underneath is utterly soul destroying I flogged it on eBay. I personally want to mid engine Cosworth Granny V6 one where the motor will sit inside a perspex case and can be used as a dinner table in the back. Bin the engine and box and then she'll be a corker. Oh, and keep the chrome bumpers - debumpering is so 90s....

Congratulations. I'm jealous !

How come the MOT pick you up on a dodgy handbrake but let you get away with notching the frames and dropping it that far?


I know you´ve done it properly and i´m not having a go, you´ve done a realy good job ...but try living in Germany and doing the same mods....they´d impound your car on the spot for even thinking about doing half the stuff you´ve done to your Commer!

I´m only jealous!!!

That's a damn fine Commer you've got there.
May I suggest fender skirts. ;D

i now officially hate this van.

it was/is for sale, i had a buyer coming over from ireland to buy and drive it home, and as i took it for a quick spin that morning to check everything was ok, the clutch slave cylinder spat its guts out all over the drive......jsut as the guy landed at stanstead!!
luckily he was pretty understanding, and ive now ordered parts to fix it, only a tenner for master and slave rebuild kits, bargain.

so, ile get it fixed and try again on selling it!!