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Browndog's 1978 Ford Transit Sundowner


browndog

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  • 2 weeks later...

What are your chances of finding the original graphics :study: , or will you get them custom made, or just give a custom look of your own?

 

I want to go 100% original of the resto, as they are such a rare van; only 140 ever built, and not many left! The stripes won't be easy, nobody makes repro stripe kits, so we are going to have to make our own! Managed to find a sliver of the original stripe, where it was wrapped around the door edge, so that will give us the colour match.

 

IMG_1606.jpg

 

I am communicating with someone in Brisbane via email, who owns an original Sundowner that has never been painted. She is helping with measurements and photos so we can make an accurate copy of the stripes and decals :)

 

stripe6.jpg

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I know someone who had a set of "factory" stripes scanned and reproduced by a signwriter.  Monotone and still in the original '70s box, not on the car, so a different kettle of fish.

 

A signwriter should be able to tell you if they can do something from just the photos.  Luck! B)

 

 

yes I am already working with my signwriter on this :) It is possible to make the stripes from the photos, but the more measurements that we can get, the more accurate they will be, and less guesswork! I am quite anal about stuff like this, some signwriters work on the "looks near enough to me" principle, which doesn't cut the mustard with me :)

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yes I am already working with my signwriter on this :) It is possible to make the stripes from the photos, but the more measurements that we can get, the more accurate they will be, and less guesswork! I am quite anal about stuff like this, some signwriters work on the "looks near enough to me" principle, which doesn't cut the mustard with me :)

Way to go!  Love it when guys go the extra mile to do the resto right. :thumbleft:

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  • 1 month later...

yeah they are such a rare van (only 140 built, and probably less than 20 surviving) that original is the only option for this. I had thought for years that the Sundowner would have to be the most collectable of  all of the Transit vans, but to be honest I didn't think I would ever find one for sale in reasonable condition. Looking for an Escort Sundowner now :)  

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  • 2 weeks later...

Ironic your DAF tow van has an ancestry at least as long as the Transit's.  It evolved from 1974's Sherpa, which was cobbled together from Leyland's parts bin, utilising the chassis and axles from the JU250 of 1967 (and it's predecessor, the J2 of 1956!), and the rear bodywork from the J4 of 1960. :study:

 

Will have to keep an eye out for the TV series. :cyclopsani:

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Ironic your DAF tow van has an ancestry at least as long as the Transit's.  It evolved from 1974's Sherpa, which was cobbled together from Leyland's parts bin, utilising the chassis and axles from the JU250 of 1967 (and it's predecessor, the J2 of 1956!), and the rear bodywork from the J4 of 1960. :study:

 

Will have to keep an eye out for the TV series. :cyclopsani:

 

yep, and a  trainspotter like yourself would probably recognise a lot of the parts used to build it :wink:  Austin/MG Metro instrument cluster and column switches, the window winders are supposedly Morris Marina, the front indicators were from something else I can't remember, the Rover V8 from, well everything, gearbox from the SD1 V8 with late Discovery uprated bits inside,  and although the headlights were unique to the van when introduced, they were nicked and later used on the Discovery!  For something that  can trace its roots back to the dinosaurs,  it actually drives surprisingly  well, and goes like shit off a shovel for a van!  It has only done 70 000kms, and is in very good nick,  and I have a 4.6 injected RR V8 that I have just rebuilt, with a few goodies, that I will fit into it soon :)

 

I will let you know when the TV series is due out, will be next year sometime. Two Transit vans that will be world famous in NZ :)

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I'm not the only trainspotter. :geek:

http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/commercials/leyland-commercials/sherpa-leyland-commercials/the-cars-leyland-sherpaleyland-daf-200-400ldv-pilot-convoy/

 

Have a soft spot for the underdog, especially everything from BMC/BL that was a good idea delivered half-baked :blackeye: .  So many what-ifs and shoulda beens... :cry:

 

That 4.6 RR sounds exciting... :tongue:

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I'm not the only trainspotter. :geek:

http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/commercials/leyland-commercials/sherpa-leyland-commercials/the-cars-leyland-sherpaleyland-daf-200-400ldv-pilot-convoy/

 

Have a soft spot for the underdog, especially everything from BMC/BL that was a good idea delivered half-baked :blackeye: .  So many what-ifs and shoulda beens... :cry:

 

That 4.6 RR sounds exciting... :tongue:

 

Yes I can have my share of  trainspotting moments too :) Completely understand and agree about good ideas delivered half baked, the DAF/LDV 400 van was one of these, along with just about everything else to come out of BL! 4.6 should make it even more fun, it already goes rather well, once I binned the restrictors from under the carbs and the exhaust! Sounds good too :compress:  

 

I've got a strange feeling that your van and my van are going to be starring in the same mini series. Mine is being used by the baddies though.

 yes they are, yours was filmed the day after the Mk1 was first filmed.  Without giving anything away, the Mk1 has been used the baddies,

 

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/45288-browndogs-1972-v8-transit/

 

and the Sundowner by the goodies. I am getting all sorts of nicknames from the production company being the "van man"! Not sure I am comfortable with that, but anyway!..........

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