This was back last Summer when my trusted local garage got a good look under the bonnet when they replaced a cracked screen-wash tank.
Only a couple of years back welded panels were added to the door sills , but now my mechanic was warning me that the van had got to the stage where costly welding would probably be an annual occurrence at MOT time.
"Is it time to look for another van?" I asked
The answer was a resounding "Yes" , and like I said they are trusted by me as I have been using them for around 30 years now.
They have always been straight with me , never ripped me off , and always given good advice.
Ive had the trusty - but rusty- Ford Transit for over 10 years now.
It was not new when I acquired it having already done 120 thousand miles in seven years by then.
As my Dad used to say 'It doesn't owe you a penny ' .
So its time for a replacement.
"Geordie" : a local automotive bodywork repairer and painter is keen to have a 'second-go' at painting a blue sky and red and white stripes , having done the first van with me.
But there is a lot to do to the (nearly) new Mercedes Benz 'Sprinter' before it is ready for painting.
I started late November (2016) and it will probably be end of this February before I am done and ready to take it along to Geordies paint-shop.
Naturally , being the self confessed 'camera compulsive' that I am , there are a LOT of photos.
Far too many for here.
But here is my Flickr link for anyone wanting to see what a daft 'vanity project' looks like.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rkcpuppet ... 6787116925
Winter is totally the wrong time of year to be working outdoors on such a big project , and I am actually supposed to be indoors in a warm workshop building myself a new Portable Booth right now .
But my hand has been dealt, I need the replacement van before the old vans MOT comes due and it goes to the scrapyard.
Also I am rigourously sticking to 'one job at a time' in 2017....so cold weather or not, it will get finished !
When the new "Punchmobile" is done I will post some finished photos here.
But for now heres old faithful 'Rusty':
