International2cvFriends.com :: View topic - Belgian built 1969 AK350 'Hetty'

International2cvFriends.com http://www.international2cvfriends.com/forum/

Belgian built 1969 AK350 'Hetty' http://www.international2cvfriends.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2745	Page 1 of 59

Author:	samfieldhouse [ February 27th, 2011, 11:12 am ]
Post subject:	Belgian built 1969 AK350 'Hetty'
Attachment: hetty info 1.jpeg [ 92.56 KiB \| Viewed 10377 times ] I think many people will be familiar with the fact that I've been longing for a van for a while now. Stupidly I had my heart set on a 350, probably one of the rarer 2cv Vans. Why a 350? I like the long, low look and I like that little overhang at the back. Massive thanks to Adrian (TooMany2cvs) and Russel for making this ownership possible. Never has somebody sold a car to me by laying in the back and painting pictures of romantic camping weekends away... A massive thanks to Russ for towing her back for me and finding her somewhere to live, I simply could not have bought her otherwise. A few notes on this thread: 'Hetty' is an inherited name and I'm quite happy with it so I'll probably be calling her that. Being a sailor boy where boats are always a she (you just never know when they're gonna roll over and throw you off...) I'll probably be referring to the van as 'her' or 'she' - sorry, its instinctive. I am, as you know, pretty technically and mechanically inept so there's going to be a fair few 'help me!!!' moments. So, on to Hetty. Attachment: hetty info.jpeg [ 151.28 KiB \| Viewed 10377 times ] Although the bulkhead is stamped AK-B she's been dates by Citroen to 1969. She has the higher compression M4 602 unit from the Ami 6 and funny push button pedals. Being Belgian she has little square indicators at the front. Anyone know how many other Belgian 350s there are in the uk? Originally registered in the UK on November 1st 1975 she seems top have spent most of her time here. The first registration she had in the UK was KOL 173P before receiving her current age related plate UWD 884G on May 8th 1990. The V5 has me as the 12th owner! She's clearly been around and at one point was extensively repaired and virtually (and wonkily) rebuilt. Now she's mine (all mine muahahahaha) she's certainly not going to have a full on nut and bolt rebuild as she remains pretty solid. My aim is to give her a good clean and shine, waxoyl everywhere, get the engine running and electrics working. After that I'll see what the MOT man says is a requirement to use her, before I ultimately slam it, turn it into a pick up and stick a BMW engine it it Attachment: leaving adrians.jpg [ 214.3 KiB \| Viewed 10377 times ] Attachment: on the trailer.jpg [ 184.54 KiB \| Viewed 10377 times ] Attachment: heading home.jpg [ 166.35 KiB \| Viewed 10377 times ] Attachment: hetty home.jpg [ 133.83 KiB \| Viewed 10377 times ] Later today, I'm going over to start cleaning her up a bit as its such a beautiful day. I'll stick some more pics on when I get home.

Author:	Smiffy [ February 27th, 2011, 11:37 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Belgian built 1969 AK350 'Hetty'
Very nice indeed! Have fun with it.

Author:	samfieldhouse [ February 27th, 2011, 11:40 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Belgian built 1969 AK350 'Hetty'
I will I love it, there's something just inherantly and effortlessly 'cool' about 350s. She really lovely

Author:	louise2cv [ February 27th, 2011, 11:59 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Belgian built 1969 AK350 'Hetty'
Nice indeedy. I love the rectangle indicators.

Author:	Gas Mark 5 [ February 27th, 2011, 12:47 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Belgian built 1969 AK350 'Hetty'
Wow, déjà vu! I think everyone takes the same pictures when picking up a van. ( http://s895.photobucket.com/albums/ac156/GasMark5/01/ ) I do like the look of the 350s, looks like a great project, have fun!

Author:	james2cv [ February 27th, 2011, 1:55 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Belgian built 1969 AK350 'Hetty'
Congrats Sam. Much cooler than a 2cv fronted acad.

Author:	toomany2cvs [ February 27th, 2011, 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Belgian built 1969 AK350 'Hetty'
A little back story... Sam says he's the 12th owner. He's not. He's the 13th... It's 12 _previous_... <grin> Even better, 11 of those were between it being UK registered in 1990, and us buying it in early '97. As with most of my fleet, Hetty's been shamefully underused, spending most of her time with us sitting around waiting for relatively minor odds'n'sods to be sorted. It's great to see her go to somebody with the enthusiasm to get her back on the road and to events. Most of those owners were before she was (heavily) restored in the early '90s. Since then, she's been through a few owners, and the history's pretty much known. As Sam says, the identity is questionable - '69 chassis plate, but the van is "right" for a few months in '66. 12v, alternator, old gearbox, banjo brakes, M4 engine. As for the name... Many moons ago, she was apparently known as "Henry". Clearly, she's not a bloke. So, at some stage, it got changed to "Henrietta". When she came to us, we thought that FAR too posh, so she quickly became "Hetty".

Author:	samfieldhouse [ February 27th, 2011, 6:57 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Belgian built 1969 AK350 'Hetty'
toomany2cvs wrote: It's great to see her go to somebody with the enthusiasm to get her back on the road and to events. Well on that note... Spent the afternoon in the barn with Hetty (need to be careful how I phrase that to the GF): Got some T Cut out Attachment: hetty2.jpg [ 179.96 KiB \| Viewed 10274 times ] Removed what was left of the bumper, bumper brackets and front wings Attachment: hetty1.jpg [ 190.32 KiB \| Viewed 10274 times ] Vent flap came up nicely Attachment: hetty4.jpg [ 190.09 KiB \| Viewed 10274 times ] As did the A panel Attachment: hetty3.jpg [ 152.48 KiB \| Viewed 10274 times ] I'm really encouraged by how good the paintwork is, it also bodes well for the metal underneath. Final pic for today Attachment: hetty.jpg [ 190.43 KiB \| Viewed 10274 times ]

Author:

Miarke [ February 28th, 2011, 12:06 am ]

Post subject:

Re: Belgian built 1969 AK350 'Hetty'

Attachment:

The attachment hetty info 1.jpeg is no longer available

Wow! that is my van (the non-350 in the middle), must be many years ago, by the time I bought it we had colour photos.

miarke

Attachments:

hetty info 1.jpeg [ 92.56 KiB | Viewed 10226 times ]

Author:	toomany2cvs [ February 28th, 2011, 12:11 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Belgian built 1969 AK350 'Hetty'
Miarke wrote: Wow! that is my van (the non-350 in the middle), must be many years ago, by the time I got it we had colour photos. La Poste? That pic's from a High St mag, (Practical Classics?), early '90s. Sam - was it a photocopy in the folder, or the orig? I can't remember if the orig mag was in there or separate.

Page 1 of 59	All times are UTC + 1 hour [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/