10 1967 CUSTOM KOMBIwww.volkswagencamper.co.uk
1967 CUSTOM KOMBIut let’s go back to the
beginning. It began as
a toss away line while
meandering round
Noosa in 2006 in search of a coffee
as an ageing Kombi rattled by, “I’m
going to have one of those before I
die.” The moment lingered and the
bohemian breath within lured me
to the VW Nationals at Fairfield on
Easter Sunday to pursue and foster
the dream.
Parked quietly in the for-sale car
park was a cream Kombi, devoid of
any spruiky bits save a collection
of seats wrapped in a bare metal
interior but with a stance and
attitude that dragged me back
several times that morning to review,
take the number of the owner andto stand wait and listen as they left
the car park. What a sweet sound, a
phone call was hastily made and the
Kombi was mine!
Never having experienced bus life
before I was quickly impressed at
the energy and sense of ‘Kombiship’
that it invokes... and the smiles that
appear and stay when driving and
being in.
Having taken ownership led
me in the direction of Indian
Automotive and the Chief- Kimm
Garland - a quiet and unassuming
character who reflects all that is
good and transparent about Kombi
life and who immediately set me on
a path of enjoying the experience
before spending a small fortune on
renovation and rejuvenation- myB
The name Brian had evolved from Monty
Python times, a name for all things
inappropriate and one that I always called
inanimate objects in my life – garden gnomes,
statues, computers etc, so there was never any
doubt what my Kombi would be called.
WORDS: TONY BOWDEN PHOTOGRAPHY: BEN HOSKINGBlack steering
wheel shows the
commercial van
heritage. Love the
radio blanking
plate!
The suspension
is a combination
of a modified
‘68 front beam
with adjusters
and Holden
Commodore front
hubs and discs
and modified
rear drums for
the Holden PCD
and aftermarket
wheels.