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Anon
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CIM Bedouin Restoration

Ok all - the time has come!!!

We took delivery of our Bedouin on Sunday.
Registered in 1973 - probably in Devon by the ATB number plate, it is our hope that we can restore him to as 'factory fresh' as possible, as he left the CIM factory in Poole.

From a cursory glance we need:
new wings
bonnet
front valance
2 x doors
metal welding into windscreen surround
2 x wheelarches
front grille

and on the caravan part:
roof removing
ali skins removing
both lower side skins (below the windows) replacing
ali skin to left of rear door replacing
woodwork frame below windows replacing where needed
overcab woodwork replacing

full overhaul of engine, transmission, axles, brakes etc.

As you can imagine, this list is not exhaustive.....we have yet to get him into the workshop for a full check.

We hope to begin work this October once we get back from France. I am lucky in that Flo (my wife) is as keen as I am to get him back to rude health.

As I said, the intention is to restore him back to as 'factory fresh' as possible - including orange seat covers and large sunflowery curtains!!!! I think we might concede to installing 240v power and a blown air heating system.....

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Wed 29 Jul 2009 @ 20:03 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
bluebedouin
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carlmt wrote:

.....
As you can imagine, this list is not exhaustive....


With all the things you've listed I hope your wallet isn't exhaustible!;D


The problem you're going to have is that all the rusty places you have there are exactly the same as everyone elses.Bonnets,doors,sills etc are like rocking horse sh*t:o
I bought a spare shell hoping to use the panels but on chipping all the filler,paint etc off,they were just as bad.:(
Are you,or do you know, a good fabricator?:D

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Wed 29 Jul 2009 @ 21:16 View bluebedouin   Email bluebedouin   Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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New wings and bonnet + wheel arches are available
in GRP by http://www.smithanddeakin.co.uk/T-Z.htm

Most of the rest will be available but at cost's..

Hope that you can do most if not all the work your self and will be looking forward to watching your progress



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Wed 29 Jul 2009 @ 21:56 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Your van looks lovely and yes good luck with all the restoration work. Lots of photos please! I just had a look at the Smith and Deakin site. Encouraging to know bits are available. Our first body work issue will be rear wheel arches but would the twin ones listed be suitable for the facelift (1984) single wheel base?

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Thu 30 Jul 2009 @ 09:04 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Thanks for all your encouragement guys!!!!;]

As said before, we hope to start work around October. We are off to the south of France in a couple of weeks for some well earned R&R and for a 'family gathering' (Flo is French...).
Would love to have taken the Beddie, but alas we will have to rough it in our 'other' motorhome for the time being until the resto is done....


A little bigger than the Beddie, probably a little more comfortable...........but certainly NOT as much character!!!

To be honest, we are REALLY looking forward to the challenges of the resto.... We know that parts (especially body parts) are going to be difficult to come by, but we are determined to have a go....

We would like to thank you all in advance for the answers to the many questions we know we are going to pose to the collective here[bow] .

Carl & Flo
Thu 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:49 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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ScoobyDoo wrote:
Our first body work issue will be rear wheel arches but would the twin ones listed be suitable for the facelift (1984) single wheel base?


No sorry they wont fit with out a lot of work.

You could try and find some rear arches off the twin wheeled ambulance though as they would fit straight over your arches.

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Thu 30 Jul 2009 @ 18:18 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Thanks Gethin

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Fri 31 Jul 2009 @ 08:24 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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I thought the TB bit of the plate was St.helens Lancs as it was now merseyside?

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Mon 16 Nov 2009 @ 20:30 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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The list I have says TB was Liverpool

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Tue 17 Nov 2009 @ 12:51 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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It could be , I googled it and couldnt find much but I did think areas have been reassingned, as one of the lists didnt even mention TB?
This got my 10 yer old asking about number plates, you can imagine trying to explain, well since 1964 we have used 3 different systems!

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Wed 18 Nov 2009 @ 05:53 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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And another....

eeerrrrrmmmmm.......

I've been let loose again:#

ANOTHER BLUE BEDOUIN SAVED FROM THE SCRAPPY;D









He He He......

I dont know the true extent of the condition yet - will find that out in a couple of weeks..

If it is generally better than the cream one, then we will restore the blue one (it is a very early Bedouin...)

More news soon8)

Am I bonkers or what!!!!!!!;]

Carl

PS Might even do them both!!!!

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Mon 21 Jun 2010 @ 14:14 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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I saw this on the net and the description suggests it has not moved since 1985! I'm keen to see what 25 years of doing nothing does to a CF

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Mon 21 Jun 2010 @ 17:05 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
bluebedouin
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Nice one,Carl.I had this on my watch list & said to Lin I hope it goes to someone who'll look after it.Glad to see it has.;]

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Mon 21 Jun 2010 @ 19:52 View bluebedouin   Email bluebedouin   Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Nearly didnt get it - was outbid with 5 minutes to go[bat]

Spoke with the seller a couple of days ago - says he wants £350 to get it to Gillingham in Dorset....:B . Also said that he had someone interested in just the numberplate and log book (tax free). Now that I have won it fair and square (as to 'doing a deal' which I was about to do for £100), the number and log book stays with the van.....or else[bat] .

Can anybody on here trailer her from Lowestoft in Suffolk to Gillingham in Dorset for less than £350?????? I will swallow the cost anyway if not.....

Looking forward to seeing her in the flesh.....and hopefully being surprised at how gorgeous she is under all that 'camouflage';D

Now.......where can I find another one.....Nurse Nurse....the medication is wearing off....quick!!!!!
C

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Mon 21 Jun 2010 @ 20:05 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Good luck fella - looks like you are going to need it! Out of interest, what condition is the white one it? It looks pretty good from the photo other than the cab metal - What is wrong with the rear cabin section - Only asking as mine is in reasonable nick, but I'm not really sure what condition you'd call serviceable and what really needs attention. It's had a few panels riveted on over the years but seems 99% solid.
Thu 01 Jul 2010 @ 14:17 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Cheers Phil...
The white one - apart from the cab - is not in bad nick. All the ali panels below the windows have dents of various descriptions. The wooden frame around the back door is rotten and moves about. The join between the top of the cab and the roof cap is shot with a rotten ply former behind.

All the original interior is there - but the wood effect boarding has suffered from age and sunlight. All the upholstery is shot through age.

Without having actually removed anything yet, I am expecting the wooden frame to need remedeal work at all the joins in the external panelling through leaking joints.

The skylight is missing so am on the hunt for another!!!

Mechanically, the engine starts, but the whole van will be stripped down and all bushes, bearings etc. etc. will be replaced. The Chassis is sound - just needs a rub down and re-paint.

My main concern is future spares of the habitation unit - the stuff that cannot be obtained and could be damaged: rear fibreglass corners, roof cap (low bridges, car park height barriers etc.), window glass, original interior woodwork, interior linings etc.

I think our future plans would be to restore both Bedouins and hire them out for classic motorhome holidays.......then maybe get either a couple more or look for other classic Bedford motorhomes to add to the fleet - hence the need to build up a stock of spares!!!!

Did you actually get two Bedouins for the price of one when you bought yours or a large box of spares?

I am quite lucky where we are in that our vans are based on a storage site under cover, and with a good workshop included in the storage fee - hence the ability to store up a good stock of parts - including for the CF-UK club.

How is your Bedouin? Need much work on her?
Carl

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Thu 01 Jul 2010 @ 14:30 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Being a Land cruiser owner, I have similar concerns about fibreglass damage. Perhaps its worth thinking about making moulds whilst our models are 'pristine'? Or does anyone have the originals???

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Thu 01 Jul 2010 @ 15:00 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Hi Mike - I doubt the original moulds are still about (the original Dormobile company went under a few years ago and the factory is long gone - although someone is providing re-moulds of the Dormobile lift-up roof and other fittings - see Dormobile Club website for details...).

Good idea about making moulds though - although I would think that just the vulnerable areas would need doing:

corners
roof corners
wheel arches

and such like....

You have got me thinking now Mike...........
Carl

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Thu 01 Jul 2010 @ 15:11 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Well we bought ours just to use as a camper really with no intention of doing her up, but as with every machine I get my hands on, I now have a big list of stuff I want to do. I have not looked under the interior lining other than above the cab when I removed the lining to re-do the electrics. It was damp and as with yours, the wood that joins the cab and fibreglass roof is rotten. I also suspect the frame at the rear is rotten as when you open the rear door and shut it against the body, the panel moves to reveal a gap. That should keep me busy over winter...

I only got parts with my spare van, no chassis or rear panels unfortunately. That had been disposed of a long time ago I believe.

My van has to sit outside on my drive, and I don't own the house so can't store TOO much here. I already have 3 motorbikes and a lot of tools in the garage so more van parts is starting to take the micky!
Thu 01 Jul 2010 @ 16:17 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Carl- perhaps we could start a thread of 'handy jobs the club would benefit from'- it would be great for Beddy owners who dont have much to do!;D

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Thu 01 Jul 2010 @ 16:58 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
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