REJUVENATED, NOT RESTORED

Whilst restoring classic cars is nowadays a hugely popular hobby for many enthusiasts who derive great pleasure from the handson experience, there’s also a growing trend to leave much of the car in as original a condition as is practicably possible. After all, not everyone wants a mint restoration – a car is only ever original once, and the oily rag/highly patinated finish is now accepted and respected.

Wez Cooper’s 1968 Volkswagen Type 3 Notchback definitely falls into the latter category. He wasn’t seeking a flawless car at the end, he merely wanted to get it up, running and back on the road again. His task was very much to recommission and rejuvenate the Type 3, not restore it.

'My dad Ian purchased the Type 3 approximately 30 years ago from someone in Colchester, and prior to that it was owned by Paul Medhurst of Type 2 Detectives,' explains Wez. 'The car is thought to have been imported from Belgium, hence the LHD. My dad ran the car as a daily driver for several years, until it developed a problem with the gearbox where it kept jumping out of second gear.