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Before I start, to keep things in chronological order, here's a photo of him lifted from the Suntor website. Evidently taken a good few years ago...
I bought this about four or five years ago initially. I was looking for a camper along the lines of a Commer van when this appeared on e-bay...
He'd been rescued from a scrapyard by a Marina enthusiast near Sheffield, but left sitting.While I was looking for a camper I could redesign internally to what I wanted, the condition and design of the Suntor's domestic interior couldn't be improved so I decided to go with it.
These are the photos I took when I first got him back to mine;
After it sat for a little while and I realised I hadn't got the time I sold it to a friend (AlGTJ). He did some tinkering with it and whitewashed the woodwork, but essentially he was left sitting outside. Unfortunately time and weather weren't kind to him and he suffered the dreaded tinworm.
So after moving twice since last owning him I decided to buy him for a second time.
After being used as temporary storage for parts for about a year he moved with me back up to Lincoln. This time, despite a lack of storage I resisted the temptation to fill him with the junk that had previously been stashed inside, in fact, for the first time in about 30 years he was treated to a garage. Partly to protect him from the weather,but mainly because he isn't the prettiest thing (even when born he wasn't a looker) and the eurobox heathens would only too readily see him removed if I dared take my eyes off him for a second. While living at Wittering he was marked up as a scrap car. A situation I quickly straightened out!!!
Anyway, scan forward to a couple of months ago. While moving I took the chance of thinning out the fleet. ( I started 2009 with thirteen cars and have bought a couple at least this year). Her indoors, who has never been keen on the Suntor, persuaded me to sell it. However I kind of forgot to advertise it, so when it came to time for moving I still had him... Oh well, best get him loaded up and moved then... It was at this point I had several pangs of emotion. Guilt, sympathy, ambition... You name it.
So here we are now. SWMBO is under the impression that Attila's getting attention to make him better for selling, while my guilty little secret is that I'm gonna be keeping him
Just don't tell...Anyway, currently looking every day of his 34 years old, the clutch was siezed, brakes binding and engine & pipework in bits, he's now back running and moving, of a fashion.
He'll never be a minter without massive investment, but he is in good order considering the years of neglect he's suffered. So I've decided to run with the theme he's developed all on his own and play on the scruffy chic he's got. The thought of turning up in a ratty Marina Camper to a posh camping and caravan club campsite really makes me smile!!
And it is going to prolong the life of this rather special beastie long after most people would've given up on him.More photos to follow as the work develops, but a quick look around reveals he needs the welding doing in various places including the floor, rear corners, chassis rails and a few other bits. Exhaust, prop centre bearing and a few electrical gremlins as well as stopping the less serious rust becoming serious.
Edited by Manta Modifier, 27 October 2009 - 08:43 AM.
Its not that bad... 
Drag strip at next years retro show Santa Pod??
