Tuesday 22 September 2015

V Dubs in the Avenue



After setting up our pitch at V Dubs in the Valley and opening for business I discovered that the camera was as flat as a pancake and that I'd left the charger on the kitchen table so not a single photo was taken all weekend. You'll have to take my word for the last festival of 2015 being fantastic with good sales, great weather and cool customers, spent with some fabulous people in a glorious setting.


Instead let me bring you V Dubs in the Avenue, a celebration of vintage VWs in our own front garden.


Yes, we are those neighbours, the ones with a drive full of vehicles in varying states of road worthiness.


There's Ebbie, our 1970 Type 4 411 LE Variant, believed to be one of only 200 left on the road in the UK. She passed her MOT this morning so here's to another year of motoring.

WEARING: 1970s German-made psychedelic maxi (Gem's Bits n Bobs @ Stockport's Vintage Village), 1930s Liberty, London silk scarf  & Indian tribal pendant (car boot sales)

Next to Gilbert (our faithful T25) is a 1969 VW T2 camper, apparently a much sought after "low light" model. She's awaiting work (unless Jon gets an offer he can't refuse!) There's a third campervan in a friend's garage, what is he like? He collects vehicles like I do maxi dresses.



Bertie Blue is our workhorse. He takes us and the Kinky stock to vintage fairs up and down the country. Not much of a looker but roomy, reliable and cheap to run.


This zippy little white cabriolet is a 1984 Golf MK1 Karmann GTi. Considered a classic these days, he's looking for a good home (Find him HERE).


Not one of these is my ride. I can't drive! I've had 15 lessons in my life. I'm brilliant at parallel parking and three point turns but get me on the open road and I'm a danger to society, clipping kerbs & driving over roundabouts, screeching to a halt at pedestrian crossings causing mass panic amongst the public.


Trust me, I'm much safer in the passenger seat.

See you soon!

Linking to Patti's Visible Monday.


49 comments:

  1. Oh I love the cabriolet my Aunt had one growing up and I always said when I grow up I am getting one of those haha!! :) ~Heather

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  2. Woah look at that collection! We salute you old faithful Gilbert!

    I cannot believe that you're a danger to the public in a car... really?! :D

    Cracking dress too :)

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  3. Love the cars , I am ok with driving until the day of the tests , i did three theory tests and passed first time too xxx

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  4. I've only had 2 driving lessons, way back in high school. I'm also a better passenger. Opening a used car lot, are you?

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  5. Well, they are all so cute, but I really love that Varient! And you are wearing the perfect dress for modeling with the autos!

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  6. LEARN TO DRIVE.
    You'd look ace in the cabrio.
    Wx

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  7. You'd better hop over then, cos you're in the drivers seat lol! Crikey it's like Deals On Wheels over there. Love the purple one! x

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  8. Now yours is the similar vehicle collection I would aspire to if we had enough space. I did have a collection though many years ago. At its largest it comprised two split-screen campers (jointly owned with then boyfriend) and my three Beetles - two were runners and the other was my donor car. Not including the stable filled with spares and body parts like wings, doors, boot lids etc. I think you know where I'm coming from! xxx

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  9. Squeee!! Love those!
    (I always wanted a Type 3 notchback in the regular sedan size - maybe one of these days! I had a chance to buy one in the very early 80s but I had no money :(
    You look gorgeous amongst the fallen leaves xo

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  10. what a great line up,, never at a loss for wheels!!

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  11. So that's what happened to your grandmother's lawn! :D I had no idea you had such an impressive collection! Ebbie and Gilbert are old friends now, but Bertie Blue is new. I like him, practical and reliable and a bit worn around the edges, perfect. If I had a collection, it would include a van of some description, maybe an open back truck, a Morris Traveller, and an old fiat 500. As it is, I just have a dirty old Nissan Micra!! Xxx

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  12. My first car at 17 was an old VW Beetle and now at 60 i've had Frida my cyber green Beetle for 12 years and she will be staying with me forever, I absolutely LOVE HER.
    Its nice to see you giving such a good home to all those lovelies, I would to if we had the room.
    I'm thinking of mounting Frida on the roof of the house when she retires xxxx

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  13. That is so funny you don't drive but can parallel park! Do you offer to do it for friends? : )

    I used to dive a VW Rabbit diesel version WAY back in the day. My Mom owned the sporty convertible in yellow.

    You do have quite the collection of cars!

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  14. What a great collection of cars ! I love the Volkswagen camper van one of them is on my wish list !!! best wishes Vix xxx

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  15. Ha, a woman's gotta know her limitations, right? I'm like you, it's a blessing that I'm not a driver either, it makes the world (or at least the roads) a safer place!
    Vehicles don't really do it for me, I'm afraid, can't get too excited about them, but I can appreciate that Jon has a cool collection going on there. Good thing you've got lots of space to keep them all!
    You look a vision of psychedelic loveliness in your colourful maxi and scarf. But shouldn't you be draped over the bonnet of one of those vintage vehicles in a bikini? Come on, love, make the effort!
    Love you lots - do we have a Sat night X Factor date?! xxxx

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  16. My brother the mountain man has you beat..but at least there are no neighbours to worry about ...and if there are ...they can't see his area.... he lives in the woods... I last counted 18 relics.... and, most of them don't run.

    I love the little turquoise "station wagon" as we call them... oh, I'd want to fix that up and give it a fresh coat of the same colour...mmmmmm.....

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  17. Oh! Only if I could get my hands on your maxi-dress-wardrobe!!

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  18. Fab collection on V Dubs. My youngest daughter and her partner share your passion they currently have 3 golfs of varying ages and are hankering after a camper van. xxx

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  19. I too would be a terrible driver!!! I'm terrified of learning!! I love your collection and I'm envious of the purple beast!!!Xx

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  20. I was out putting a snow plough through it's paces yesterday which I enjoyed and I quite like driving but modern cars don't do it for me. I've just got a new (to me) one, but it gives me as much pleasure as a new pair of drawers! Both are neccesities as far as I'm concerned. Vintage cars are a different matter, I love to smell the interiors and imagine all the journeys they've made over the years. Your collection is fab and luckily you've the room to keep them. You are rocking that funky frock.
    Xxxx

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  21. My very first ever car was a 1970's era VW Bug. The roof leaked. The windshield wipers only worked sporadically and it smelled like weed. I loved her very much but had to sell her when I moved to New York. A nice young prostitute in the neighborhood bought her. She paid cash...of course. I have had a soft spot for VW's ever since. I'll bet you are the best most well-behaved passenger. I like a girl who knows her strengths.

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  22. I'd love to live without driving - we have "no-car" days where we limit ourselves to bike rides and walks. That said, your little convertible is very sweet. And you, of course, look fab in it. xox

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  23. Ohhh, I'd love to offer a loving home to the little white Kharmann! Look at the photo, dear Vix, and imagine yourself driving about with the top down, showing your vintage ensembles in a period setting, so to speak.

    I had a love-hate relationship with my brother's 1960s bug-eyed Austin-Healy Sprite. Chrome yellow, it looked like a construction barrel on wheels. Our father welded a roll-bar on it for safety, then bored a hole in the passenger's side floor to permit rainwater to drain. There was a bathtub plug on a chain, said chain attached to the dash. And a very tall bamboo pole with a banner, to ward off careless buses. It was fun, really.

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  24. Just a tad envious ... I need a van in my life!
    M x

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  25. Seems like I am same type of a driver as your are :) prefer a passenger seat. Fantastic dress and the collection of vehicles is just impressive!

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  26. The blue Ebbie is beautiful. I'd love you as one of my neighbours!

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  27. Years ago I would have loved an old car to rebuild and play with - now I just like looking at them and day dreaming. A neighbour like you would be the perfect solution :) Our boring old bland car gets us around though, carts all the gear and attracts no attention.
    You're looking fabulous too.
    Fil
    http://www.filcampbell.com

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  28. ha - lots of "deutsche wertarbeit" !
    4 nice cars and a fab dress - sadly this glorious times are long gone. did you read about the VW scandal in the USA about the pollution test manipulations??? ts.
    xxxxx

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  29. Nice collection. Great news on the MOT pass

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  30. What a collection! They all look great and I love their names. I just call Nick's Mustang his baby but now think it should have a proper name.

    And here's to a fellow non driver! I rarely meet others like me who don't drive. I have my license, that I renew whenever required, but haven't driven in eons. It's funny this should come up now, because only yesterday I was joking that Nick should take me out driving. Maybe it's time, but the thought of it scares the bejesus out of me!

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  31. you are so dang pretty. love all your cars. you would have given our old neighbor a heart attack. she complained daily because our sons had the audacity to park their cars on the street in front of her house. how dare they??!!

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  32. Got my provisional ie paper at 17 but decided against it as I didn't wish to add to the toxicity(pollution) in the city, so never bothered to learn out of concern for people & environment!

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  33. Those camper vans make me so happy, I love them! This collection is so cool Vix. - Tasha

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  34. What a great collection! My dad has cars all over the place too and like yours they're all in various states of roadworthy-ness!

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  35. Hello, I trust in your word about the last festival you attended! I made a mess worse, the camera I dropped by a steep staircase of rock, fortunately did not break, but someone has hated me, ehehehhe! ;) -
    You always surprise me! That these beautiful cars and vans! My favorite is Ebbie, but a award for Bertie Blue, for its efficiency!

    ;***

    serena

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  36. What a collection and what a frock! I'm glad to hear the last festival of the year went well. x

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  37. So what you are saying is that if Jon is the one who does driving - he also loves having a vehicle fleet :) My husband is the same way - spends most of his time washing and polishing our 3.

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  38. When our boys was still at home. We had a VW van and would even get anther one.

    Coffee is on

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  39. And I would not be able to drive left-hand traffic, but what's worse is that I would not look that adorable out among all the hippie cars either.

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  40. Congratulations on a successful end to the festival season. Missed the photos, but the vehicles are amazing. And you do look fabulous in the passenger seat, in the colorful maxi!!!

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  41. nice as always, kisses :)

    http://www.itsmetijana.blogspot.rs/

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  42. Wow, what an amazing collection of cars. I love the camper vans and that cabriolet. I remember seeing them around town. Mr brother always had Golfs. Hope that it finds a loving new home. Your maxi dress is fabulous. Xx

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  43. Oooo, loving that frock!
    So much VW joy!
    I adore driving-took me 40 odd years to get the guts to do it, and feck its fun! Best bit is not having to leave stuff behind at the opshops that I can't carry on my bicycle! My heart will always belong to cycling, however.
    Love Helga XXXXXXXXX

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  44. So sorry about camera snaffus, but you look spectacular amid your collection of VDubs! A time travel treat, Vix, always because you get it just right.
    Cannot tell you the memories these cars bring back. Much of it TMI, but the 60s and 70s were very good to me as far as rides,etc, in a couple like these! Sigh.

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  45. Collecting Maxis is easy to store Vix! Great collection of cars tho. Good for you deciding not to drive, there are more than enough people on the road, and being a passenger has it's pluses. NO STRESS!!!

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  46. Ha ha - I grew up with a Dad who collected cars, I used to love to play in them when I was younger. They were a lot of fun and in various levels of road worthiness. I feel like its much easier to acquire cars if you live in a farm, my Dad still had the Chrysler Valiant he bought in the days after I was born (I'm not sure the last time it actually went anywhere though). I loved this post!

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  47. Haha … if that's the way you drive its probably best that you remain in the passenger seat ;0)
    If you have good public transport then you don't really need a licence … but where we live it's crap and we'd be lost or at least house bound without a car and a permit :0)
    xx

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  48. *Non-driver fistbump* I can't drive either! It's so nice to see other people who recognise how dangerous they'd be behind the wheel - I'd probably kill people.

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  49. I have a 1994 VW cabriolet that I love. You have been such an inspiration to me that I started my own blog, vintagethrifter51.com and gave you a big mention in one of my posts. I would love it if you had the time to check it out to give me some feed back. Cheers, Michele

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix