Classic 1969 Citroen H Van Camper

One of the last made of the classic short wheelbase H vans

with rounded rear wheel-arches and 'suicide doors'.

History

My research shows that this vehicle started life as one of two VTUs (Vehicle Tout Usage) with the French Fire Service. stationed at Falaise in Normandy. It would have been used as a general purpose vehicle. carrying specialist fire fighting equipment.

After being de-commissioned from the French Fire Service. it came to England in 1993 and was use by a firm of builders in S. E. London as a 'mobile skip'. It changed hands several times before I took it on in 2003.

It was running well but the bodywork was in a terrible state so. after re-building the brakes (just to be safe) I embarked on a programme of 'Rolling Restoration'.

Over the next six years we used it regularly for summer camping holidays. attending Citroen Rallies. etc. In-between which I worked on the restoration and camper conversion. tackling it in sections at a time. stripping back to bare metal. cutting out and replacing all rusted areas. then rust-proofing and re-finishing as required. I have lots of photographs which show just how thoroughly this work was carried out. During this time the mechanicals were also completely overhauled.

All was going well until. enroute to a 'Classic Camper Club' rally in 2009. one of the rear brakes failed to release fully. resulting in a cracked drum and a journey home courtesy of the RAC.

The van has just sat there (under cover) ever since. I've replaced the drum. seals and springs. and fitted new shoes. but that is as far as I got. A prolonged period of ill health has meant that I simply haven't got around to doing any more work on it.

I now have to accept the sad fact that I probably never will and so it's time to pass it on to somebody else to finish the project.

The Good Bits

The engine is a genuine Citroen factory exchange unit which starts and runs superbly. It has a new stainless steel exhaust system which leads back under the cab floor to a silencer under the van body. giving extremely quiet driving.

The cooling system has been completely overhauled with all new hoses. replacement pump and re-cored radiator. Charging system completely replaced along with re-wired ignition circuit. re-built distributer. etc.

Bodywork restoration is 90% completed. All doors are very good and chassis is solid. All hollow sections injected with Dinitrol 3125 and the entire underside has been thoroughly wire brushed and undersealed by hand. All wheels have been shot-blasted and two-packed. recent new tyres. cab seats replaced with Citroen XM ones and mounted on custom made sub-frames to retain adjustment yet still allow easy floor removal.

Camper conversion is also 90% completed. The four-seat dinette arrangement converts to a full size double bed in under 15 seconds. It has a separate toilet compartment with drop-down washbasin. All fitted furniture is built around a tubular steel space-frame. giving strength and rigidity to the van. The raised floor and under-bed storage areas are accessible from the rear doors. giving a huge 'boot' area for spare wheel. tools. wellies. deckchairs. etc.

The cab has a custom made central console with additional gauges. switches and c. b. radio. The period hob and gas/electric fridge were both 'new old stock'. The rear of the fridge is accessible for servicing from the outside via the original spare wheel compartment. which also provides vented storage for two gas cylinders.

The Bad Bits

Because the brake problem was never fully sorted. the van cannot be driven on the road so would need to be towed or trailered away.

As you can see from the photos there is still some bodywork which needs restoring. I have a good stash of panels from another van which will provide all the rippled sections needed to complete this work.

The interior also needs some work to finish it off. although it is perfectly useable as it is.

I have lots of spares to go with the van. including another engine and gearbox. steering rack. backplates. wheels. trim. etc.

All in all it's a very solid van and a concerted effort over a few weekends would easily see it ready for the summer.

As with any classic vehicle. no amount of photographs or description can possibly substitute seeing it in person. so. if you are even remotely interested. please make the effort to come and check it over for yourself.

PLEASE NOTE

The ladder in the main photo is NOT INCLUDED IN THE SALE.

It was just put there for show.

Also. the blue light on the cab roof is a dummy. It does not work.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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