Driven by childhood memories of a family holiday in our VW campervan, I set about searching for a bus that could recreated those memories ( I later learned that the childhood trip was in a borrowed van!!!, so technically, we never owned one). eBay came good in 2009 and I set off with a rented trailer to collect “Lenny”. Jo named him after his number plate and although Jo and I are no longer an “ item”, me and Lenny are. So, Lenny is a March 1972 Devon Moonracker Crossover. He was complete when purchase (for the princely sum of £995) but the interior was in a barn next to where he stood. He arrived at his first home ( in writing this, I’m going to realise that it’s been a longer journey than I appreciated) in December 2009, along with a 1963 850cc mini super deluxe. This was also a restoration job but I managed to finish this in 2015, leaving all focus on Lenny, right...... wrong! I think it’s better to write a chronology in bullet form, so as to stop the waffling... here goes. 2009 - Purchased and stored outside. (No work carried out) 2010 - Moved to my very understanding parents drive, for a few weeks. (No work carried out, but I did buy a justkampers cover, so technically, that’s work??? ). 2012 - After the agreed “few weeks” at my parents he was on his way to an 400 foot industrial unit I had rented, along with the 1963 mini. Sadly for Lenny and my parents, he never made it to that unit, instead his allotted space had been taken up by a 1998 Cooper and a 2000 Cooper sport, it’s was tight in that unit ). NO WORK CARRIED OUT 2013 - Lenny moved from my long suffering parents drive, to a walled garden in a new place and a Clarke’s garage was purchased, finally, Lenny had shelter. 2015 - The Clark’s garage and absence of classic mini clutter, allowed me, for 2 whole weeks, in the summer of 2015 to annoy the whole area with 9-5 grinding, cutting and cursing. All done from the acoustic amphitheater, that was his home. Apologies if you lived in B31 in 2015. 2016 - Following, yet another location move, Lenny took centre stage in a 1000 foot unit, surely, he must be focus? Nope, I bought a battered old T4 to move all my junk to the unit. I sort of fell for this van so over the next year, guess what? Lenny looked on as I yet again neglected his part restored self and concentrated on others. I did some paint prep work and top coat for the items done in 2015 tho 2017 - He’s now part of the furniture, so he moved from Birmingham to Warrington with me and took place on the very large drive. I even bought a second Clarke’s instant garage for the occasion, gets again, now work carried out as I discovered ultra running ⛹️ 2017.5 - 6months later and after a journey back south to Birmingham , Lenny arrived at a mates place with a second Clarke’s garage already to assemble. My mate is a welder, for the love of “whoever”, this must be Lenny time. Again, no. My mate moved and so did Lenny. Thinking about it, Lenny hasn’t put a single mile on the clock since 2009 lol!! 2018 - After moving from my mates house, he has sat in the left hand corner of the garden for 2 years, in guess what? Yup, a Clarke’s garage. 2020 - Finally, today . I have, in the past 4 months put down a concrete pad to build a garage on. Lenny is now sat in there with the Clarke’s garage from 2017. It’s surprisingly watertight given the storms we have had over the last 3 years. The paint from 2016 has done its job and has done it’s job. So........
Why does the forum formatting, insist on referring a crossover, as a crossdresser, my iPad autocorrects it to cross over. What happens if I put welshdresser in?
Fair point. After the 63 mini, I saw it pointless to keep taking pics. I do have a few over the years I will post tomorrow. It’s peer pressure I need now to complete the job. For ref, I want it on the road in next 3 months
I have,the third garage purchase last year, unboxed and for sale on eBay message me if your interested. From a review point of view, if assembled correctly, and maintained, they’re good for 5 years I recon
There have been a few long term restorations on here, if you're not moving Lenny in a wheelbarrow by now you've done OK.. There are a few random words which get changed you now have to find them all and what they mean before you can start on the bus
Take solace in knowing that there’s lots of owners here who’ve been doing restos as long as you have...and are still doing them (myself included) the resto section is like a strange refuge of regulars, occasional and infrequent (slow and embarrassed) posters It sounds like you’ll fit in well! Welcome to the forum.
Well, at least Clarke's are benefiting from your reluctance. Well put and welcome to the forum. Methinks you will fit in well.
Nice to come across someone who’s moved their bus around as much as me without getting it finished. I’m looking forward to the pictures How much are you wanting for the garage?
Hi paradox, the garage sold about an hour ago. I bought it on a Machine Mart VAT free voucher for £410 last January 2019, it just sold for £375 so im happy. They really are a great bit of kit.
OK, bear with me as ive collected as many historical pics as i can. There are 57 of them and i will post 5 at a time. Hopefully, that will tell the story from purchase to date......
The following are taken from the original eBay advert back in January 2009 The wheel barrow WAS NOT included, if it was, it would still be sitting in a garage corner somewhere awaiting me too fix it I had NO IDEA what i was buying, it was a childhood dream Surely, i thought, a simple lower panel replacement. By the way, i bought it blind..... its the only way! Well, that looks solid anyway. Just don't open the tailgate
Is that actually a crook lock on their??? Ive never tried to start the engine but someone obviously felt the need to immobilise it. At least i know it was a runner.... 11 years ago lol.
Lenny arrives at permanent home forever... number 1 !! Along with an inferior (and they are) British mini (but we love them all the same) Lenny didn't stay at permanent home #1 for long, instead, he moved to permanent home #2, for an agreed 4 weeks.... I had a life to live, besides, my mums car was safe enough on the pavement for the next 2 years The tape on the sliding door, as i was becoming aware, was structural. A cover was needed, not to protect him from the elements, more for my parents embarrassment. This photo was taken in July 21013, he still has still cover on today. Bless my mum, she became attached and protective of him whilst he was their (why didn't she restore him then!!!) I popped around to see her one day and she was busy trying to remove the graffiti that someone had started on the cover. Lenny was becoming a local icon.
