Thanks VWalan and Mrs Petrol head. Tentz, you are indeed correct, again. The target market, well we never had a target market, what we did was to see if it could be done and it could, we worked through all kinds of materials too. As we progressed more people came on board with products and suggestions and it moved on from there. There are certain "issues" that had to be bridged and discussed with VW and by not directly aiming at genuine enthusiasts at distancing ourselves from VW we meet most of these.
Our Engines, you've got me started now lol, The engines are all new internally, British built items just for us. 1776cc and will meet the desired emissions for its crankcase reference. We get the hum of the flat 4 with better emissions and real pulling power when its mated to the gearbox.
Have a real good look at our website its all on there.
Only a limited number of aircooleds available though unless the Mexican made motors are still available. How about an option of current TSI 1.4 turbo? Should be small enough to fit with 120bhp, narrow powerband tho so might be difficult to sort gear ratios.
I've always been surprised that VW Marketing has not had a go at a modern day "splitty". They were quite happy to have a cynical attempt with the Beetle
There are companies out there building brand new blocks which to the everyday joe are just blocks of metal with holes in, i'll find an image they look awesome lol.
Comment 2 The T5 concept was supposed to tip its hat to the retro then they toned down the bonnet lines its tricky to get the flat front with an engine in the way.
I know it'd probably be totally unfeasible(is that a real word?),due to the massive costs involved but I've always thought that a split or bay body,underpinned by a T25 Syncro,4x4 type running gear(or something with "similar abilities" ),would be one hell of a fun vehicle...
..although I realise that it's not considered cool it it isn't lowered and ground hugging..
(..I should just point out that I am not a Vdub "aficionado" and know very little about 'em.. although several of our "festival friends" run Bays and Splits....)
Nothing is impossible ! I've got to say i like stuff low personally , but you could get a shell and drop it over the chassis on a t25. I'd check the wheelbase etc first though.
I agree with a previous response that you really do need to investigate your real target market, and not just base the whole venture on your own gut instinct or personal level of enthusiasm.
If you look - at a really simplistic level - at two types of customer "head" or "heart":
The latter IMO simply won't consider paying a lot of money for a replica. You only have to look at the kit/replica car world to see that the market for "high end" replicas is very limited. They would rather pay £less for an immaculately restored original, accepting that it will continue to "evolve" (i.e. rust).
For the former there is real, sensible competition to a near £40k replica in the form of a brand new T5 conversion from a leading m/h company at £35k. Those buying with their head will see a vehicle with ABS, ESC, airbags and all the best kit to keep their family safe, plus an ultra-modern ultra-efficient 2.0 Tdi to keep fuel costs sensible.
Sorry, but IMO it doesn't make a lot of sense to crowdsource loads of money together and then flush it down the drain because you are only guessing about who it's aimed at.
I see from the previous post my comments earlier have been a little vague and It was not my intention to appear to be some kind of dreamer without a sound goal.
We already have advanced orders for 7 vans, the people that want them approached us when they found out about the project before we started promoting ourselves. According to our fibreglasser when he takes his dub box vans to caravan and camping exhibitions he gets, on average, 8 requests for the product we are trying to build, I've been on his stand when people have asked too. There's a camper hire/sales company in Brighton who want everything we can make and a company in North Yorkshire who's interested too. I have met all of these people and whilst a handshake means stuff all these days its the best i can get till i can get something solid to show them.
I agree the T5 is a head option, we know that, there's other companies in the market with similar retro vans either new or refurbed and they're in the same price range. I said it before the price is as it is. we have done our research and it appears to be favourable. I wouldn't have spent 2 years persuing it otherwise. This project is for profit but i do have a conscience and I have 2 years of my time and a considerable amount of money tied up i'd feel bad enough losing that never mind someone elses.
Actually the hire market is a good example of 'head' rather than 'heart'. Very few people will be able to afford to buy one but plenty might want to rent one for a week & unlike modern campers that hire companies need to sell on after a couple of yrs of use/abuse by hirers these vans can be refurbished periodically so would last for an indefinite period.
One question that I can't see answered specifically anywhere (but perhaps I have not looked hard enough):
The end-product is going to be a rebody of an existing, already registered van? It's not going to be a completely built from scratch newly-registered vehicle, and never will be?
Tentz, we've looked at the hire market for a customer in the Isle of Man and we've also looked into leasing them too, but these are way way off.
Mojo, you haven't looked hard enough! lol, its all new with the exception of the engine and gearbox cases and the handbrake lever and we're looking into getting them reengineered too.
They'll go to the VOSA station in Beverley and they'll come out 2012 registered if we're in 2012 or 2013 if it takes longer to raise the money.