Time to Roam Magazine Issue 3 - June/July 2013 | Page 19

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features classic collections

(Top Left) Monty the ‘show pony’ and his
partner Mildred; (Top Right): Ugly Betty
and Happy: “We just like looking at them”;
(Right) ‘Blue Bus’ – the former baker’s van
with intricate wood-lined interior.

original 1976 Sopru Campmobile model,
almost the same as the one she owned at 21.
“Molly” was trucked to Nimbin
from the far reaches of WA.
“We bought her on eBay, taking a big
gamble on the sight unseen Kombi that looked
green in the dodgy mobile phone listing
photos and went with our gut instinct as she
was a “one owner” with just 52,000 kilometres
on the clock. When she arrived on the truck I
said ‘You’ve got to be kidding’. But once I took
a look inside, I was hooked…. all the original
features were intact in near perfect condition.
Only the rear seat swab and the curtains had
been changed. I’ve since managed to track
down a set of the original fabric curtains.”
Alongside Molly sits Blue Bus, a 1967 woodlined panel van, originally used as a bakers
delivery vehicle in outback Queensland
Monty is the pride of the fleet. The Keens
refer to the 1977 builders van as their “show

pony” because it draws crowds and admiration
from judges as they travel around to shows.
Andy says Monty was purchased
for $4,500 from a Canberra builder
who’d had it since new.
“They were very popular builders utes
because of the long (3.1 metre) tray. The
high tray makes a good workbench and
there are compartments underneath
where you can lock up tools.”
An immaculate restoration was carried
out over many months, as with all their

projects, with the help of professional
tradespeople in the Lismore area.
Today the VW flatbed ute is estimated
to be worth in excess of $25,000.
“They’re very hard to find these
days because they were usually just
worked to death,” Andy said.
“Because they’re air cooled and the
engine is at the back, they’re notorious for
overheating. The road service guy is never
too far away when you own a Kombi.”
Outside the garage and down towards the
Issue 03 June/July 2013

19