Bill's Commer

[Olderisbetter]

This is a blast from the past, It is a self build by my mates dad that took place in the early to mid 80's and was based on a Perkins powered Commer walk through, It was used as a scout van and before that i suspect it was a delivery van. Sadly i don't think pictures were taken of the interior but it was a well equipped and comfortable to sleep in.

 

[Olderisbetter]

And a few more

 

[Olderisbetter]

Another just of the engine that was built and painted before fitting,

I wish it was still around but it is a credit to Bill and gave a lot of happy times.

 

[northwest]

Ahhh! From the days when you could actually do stuff. Without being reported as a subversive/illegal workshop/toxic fumes/getting your stuff vandalised/insert latest PC ******** <here>

 

[Barking Mat]

Fair play, ambitious!

 

[Olderisbetter]

Fair play, ambitious!

Bill is now over 70 and still fabricating and making new things, I am sure given the chance he would build another one.

 

[roofman]

I look at those pics and feel happy that i lived through such wonderful times...great pics

 

[AdrianH]

And Bill should build another, or any other project. It beats vegetating in front of the television!

 

[Olderisbetter]

And Bill should build another, or any other project. It beets vegetating in front of the television!

He rarely sits in front of the television, He still works and loves to spend time working in the man shed.

 

[AdrianH]

I really do think that keeping active, working on ones projects, solving issues as they come is the best way to stave off the effects of old age.

I must also use the correct term beat, not a vegetable beet.

 

[pedrobedro]

I must also use the correct term beat, not a vegetable.

Beet is a vegetable it's what beetroot comes from As a teenager the wood yard I worked in had a Commer walk through that we used to deliver logs and sticks. It was addicted to easy start and had to have a good dose every morning.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I really do think that keeping active, working on ones projects, solving issues as they come is the best way to stave off the effects of old age.

That's what I'm on [along with many on here, I suspect] - the brain's a muscle [I know that anatomically, it isn't, so don't dive in.... ] and needs exercising like all the rest.

Daytime TV =

 

[Olderisbetter]

Beet is a vegetable it's what beetroot comes from As a teenager the wood yard I worked in had a Commer walk through that we used to deliver logs and sticks. It was addicted to easy start and had to have a good dose every morning.

I had a mate that thought easy start was sold with York diesel engines as part of the starting kit and i remember a Commer with such bad starting it had to sit over a heater all night and once it started they left it running all day.

 

[rtbcomp]

These walk-throughs had Perkins 4203 diesel engines and they were a doddle to start if you used the Thermostart correctly.

 

[zx9]

Thank you for posting the pictures, as a small boy I grew up with Commer walk throughs, I always thought that the column mounted parking break looked like a rifle but.
My Dad was the driver of a mobile library for many years, the first two were built on Commer walk through chassis the later ones on Fords. The Commer was very noisy with heavy steering and was difficult to start in it's later years often needing the injectors bleeding but I think he liked them more than the Ford A series or the Cargo 7.5T which was his last van before he retired.

 

[Farside]

And a few more

Wolverbago?

 

[Wallace]

It’s cool, I saw the W and thought of Breaking Bad!

 

[ronan]

They are failing cars etc the NCT (the irish equivilant of the uk mot), for having torn seat covers. I can imagine the issues to get a project like this on the road now. Virtually impossible.

 

[Wallace]

Another just of the engine that was built and painted before fitting,
View attachment 172668

I wish it was still around but it is a credit to Bill and gave a lot of happy times.

That engine made me smile, he should have painted the sump white and stuck a Gold Leaf sticker on top!

 

[indy4x]

They are failing cars etc the NCT (the irish equivilant of the uk mot), for having torn seat covers. I can imagine the issues to get a project like this on the road now. Virtually impossible.

Mate moved to NI just before Christmas, took his P38 diesel for a NI MOT and it failed cos it's been straight piped. Failure was not noise related as it's not noisy but you must have at least one exhaust box. He got a dummy one fitted