Bluey
 
The reason this is called the Bluey Page is because that's the name I gave to a Nissan Nomad I intended to use as transport for the Odyssey. It was an 8-seater coach but the idea was to convert it into a camper. I bought it for $350 in January 2009, unregistered and a bit of a mess. Here's an album of Bluey's rust - before and after. My current car at the time was a 1971 HQ Holden (Tough Titties). I'd had it 7 years with very few problems but decided I didn't want to travel Oz towing a caravan - I wanted something self contained. As it happened, the Nissan cost far more in repairs than I'd expected, and even after all that expense it was still an 8-seater coach. Nonetheless, I persisted for a while with the idea of turning Bluey into my dream machine. Here's an album of Bluey on a hoist - and in the backyard the morning I sold Tough Titties to a bloke from Queensland, and here's another at the auto wash.

In April 2011, I spotted a Toyota campervan for sale at Tamworth. $3,500 seemed like a bargain, so I rented a car from Hertz and drove there. I was sadly disappointed with what I found but it was too late to change my mind. I'd already paid for it. Initially, I wanted to sell it but then decided the devil you know may be better than the devil you don't. I got a quote to fix the rust... $6000. Whoa! Here's an album of the Toyota, using the pics posted by the previous owner on e-Bay as well as a few of my own. I sold it in November 2011 for $2000.

So what now? Well, my current wheels are attached to a 1993 Ford XG ute. I plan to get a slide-on camper at some stage. The ute cost $2000 plus about a grand for new tires and some mechanical work to get it ready for registration. Hopefully, I've made the right choice this time. Actually, she's not a bad old bus... a/c, power steering, central locking, CD/radio, 4-speed auto and electonic fuel injection. Click here for the album.


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