1991 Bedford Rascal from UK and Ireland - Comments

I have had my van for roughly 5 months and the only problems I have had with it, are excessive tire wear and starting difficulties during damp or rainy days. It really doesn't like starting will cough and splatter and give-up on me. I just replaced the rotary arm and distributor cap today. This was cheap to do with a cost of £6.00 all on all, and free from labor as I am a second year mechanic, and also 2 new front tires as they gradually became bald.

My Bedford Rascal has been painted to the design of "The Mystery Machine" out of the cartoon scooby doo. It has had new front seats and trim. Its got laminate flooring all in the back and a couch which has been custom-made to fold-out in to a double bed. It has also got 2 batteries on-board, 1 just for starting the van and the other for all my electrical stuff. I have put a T. V and full neons on and inside my little van. I have also kitted it out with a Sony head-unit and RM Audio sit-on-top speakers, not the best make, but sound great and were as cheap as chips and could be fitted to the roof for maximum floor space. It is perfect for chilling out with my mates and my girlfriend. The only downfalls with this van are the lack of seats in the back, not very useful when you need to pick-up more than 1 person. And, also the starting problems...but, hopefully I have cured my frustrating problem (touch wood)!!!

All in all a great van and more than fun to drive!

Hey, my name is Nic, what you did to your van is soo cool; the reason I came across this site was because I'm looking for a little van to do up as well. I have it all planned, just no vehicle as of yet! I also want laminate flooring, seats that folds into a bed so I can sleep in it when I'm on long journeys, I was even going to put my laptop in the back so me and mates can watch movies, also wanted a sound system and was going to recover the seats in really comfy fabric. As for the outside I don't know until I know what colour the one I buy is! The only difference is I'm going to run my van on electric, so I'm only looking for an outer shell really as I'm gunna gut most of the inside out and give it a sparkly new engine! (won't have to worry so much if I buy an old van then as well)

Do you have any tips for me on the interior I'm not sure where to start with the seats. Is the cheapest way to take chairs out of an old car and fix them in? do they have to have seat belts fitted for them to be legal and how does yours fold out because I was thinking

Hi Nic, since your comment I have actually had to sell my van as it was proving to be too unreliable. as to your suggestions about putting seats out of a car in the back of your van could prove to be a challenge. this is because most of the seats out of the back of cars tend to fold down into the rear foot well, this is ussually because the fuel tank is situated under the back seats. (this is not always the case). when placing rear seats in your van you will almost certainly have to have it checked out by DVS or some other motoring safety authority. this could also make you fail ur MOT in the UK, as it is a possible danger to the passengers.

Nic - just stumbled across your comment, probably about five months too late, but if you're still intending to run a van on electricity, try here: http://www.solarvan.co.uk/

Regards,

Wayne.

Folkestone, September 2005.

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