Mervins' motoring!

Since the Ax died I have had to invest some more cash in a new hack to run to work in. The usual specifications needed to be met; it had to bediesel so it would convert to veg oil, it had to be seriously cheap (A budget of £400 was set) and it had to be practical. Two seats is enough, as I use it mainly to run to and from work, and taking Emma to Brownies, Dance class that sort of thing. The Zafira is used when it's a longer run, a bit of luxuryis needed or there are more than two of us to go somewhere (although between three and five we can use the Astra)


The Zafira also tended to get used for towing the trailer or since the trailer got punctured, for tip runs simply due to the carrying capacity. That was getting it all dirty.


So with those ingredients in mind the logical solution isn't a car at all, it's a van!


As ever Ebay came to the rescue, and a bid of £201.25 secured a Ford Courier Van Mot tested until July, battered and bent but otherwise all there. Graeme kindly agreed to run me through to Lincoln to collect thesad looking specimen, who has now been chistened Mervin ( because it's my van innit? - okay that might not translate well elsewhere, it's a Hull accent thing)


Mervin has yet to be converted to Veg Oil s he needed a little TL to make him look respectable first, but he has ben pressed straight into service.


Mervin lead a sheltered life as a British Arways World Cargo courier van for many years of his life. I am guessing he ung around the airpots a lot, as his mileage is only just 65000. He has a secure bulkhead, a burgkar alarm including an extremely loud panic alarm, working lights in the rear, and extra switches for orange beacons which are missng now, but might get replaced. Holes in the dashboard show where radio and phones were fitted, although he doesn't seem to have ever had a stero, something which we will be rectifying very quickly.


For the last year or so Mevin as worked for a builder, who aused him terribly, although for a builder that s probably ormal behaviour towards your van. Consequently I have removed several loose shovelfuls of snd and cement from the back and the cab area. He needed a thorouh clean and vacuum inside, and a pair of new seats. The carpet has seen btter days but will do for now, some mats will tidy the looks up later. The steering wheel had chunks mig out of it, presumably where the builder has sunk his teeth in frustration in traffic jams. A cover has tidied that for now. Mervin also has a shiny new silver bonnet to replace the badly dented and faded grey one, and I have knocked out may of he worse dents, to be filled and flatted later before he gets a new coat of paint sometime. For now a real good clean and removal of the residue from the stickers has improved his looks 100%.


The faulty drivers door lock has been remedied, although the rear doors stil only open from inside with a Heath Robinson brand length ofroe pulled from the drivers seat! Part of the lock mechanism sees to be missing, so it's not an easy fix.


Watch this space for further adventures of Mervin.


1. Someone has clog danced on the bonnet. 2 Stickers have left nasty residue which leaves the original use undisguised. 3. Bulders eat car interiors apparently - they nibble steering wheels, and feast on the soft fabrics and carpets. About four shovels of cement dust and sand have been removed along with fag packets, sweet wrappers old newspaper and £1.41 pence in cash. (I suppose tht brings my purchase cost down under the £200 ceiling)


4. Steering wheel damage. Now covered with a sporty looking steering wheel cover. 5. Bend and scrape to nearside needs fettling. 6. The unique method of opening the rear door - the rope pulls the interior release and the door pops open. I'm thinkng about having the other doors modified the same way (with apologies to VW) - the four sprung door technique!