Help with any information on my 1999 Bay

Hi there,
I'm trying to get to know a bit about my RHD 1999 Brazilian Bay.
I'd love to know any info you might be able to gleam from the photos about it re the type of conversion/roof etc (It has some dodgy Devon Moonraker stickers on the body but I don't think that means anything).  It seems to look a lot like a Danbury Rio but it has a solid rear passenger window which doesn't seem to be common.  I emailed Danbury to try and confirm but didn't hear back. I can't seem to find a similar roof through searches.  The roof does have "Beetles UK" embossed on the end but that doesn't seem to help with any google searches either.  Are there any good sources to trace its history (import/conversion) by its VIN?  I do know that the engine has been changed a couple of times and currently has an AD type 1 installed.

I couldn't work out how to upload pics so have a link to them here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/i8Tk92uRPFtzwNFS7

Many thanks in advance!
Lee

Think beetles UK was the early name of danbury?

Leemundo wrote:

Hi there,
I'm trying to get to know a bit about my RHD 1999 Brazilian Bay.
I'd love to know any info you might be able to gleam from the photos about it re the type of conversion/roof etc (It has some dodgy Devon Moonraker stickers on the body but I don't think that means anything).  It seems to look a lot like a Danbury Rio but it has a solid rear passenger window which doesn't seem to be common.  I emailed Danbury to try and confirm but didn't hear back. I can't seem to find a similar roof through searches.  The roof does have "Beetles UK" embossed on the end but that doesn't seem to help with any google searches either.  Are there any good sources to trace its history (import/conversion) by its VIN?  I do know that the engine has been changed a couple of times and currently has an AD type 1 installed.

I couldn't work out how to upload pics so have a link to them here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/i8Tk92uRPFtzwNFS7

Many thanks in advance!
Lee

If you look in the classified ads section dated 1st feb 2019 there is a 1993 white tin top with the same interior and blanked side window as yours. Looking at your roof, it looks like a later addition to the van, I don't recognise the spec of your roof, but it looks quite bulky.....?

Bob wrote:

Think beetles UK was the early name of danbury?

Yes, my 03 van has the UK Beetles sticker in the rear window and on the owners folder and order form.

Thanks for your assistance Bob and Purple. Yes that does look the same interior. The roof is a little boxy and has no berths. It's not the worst looking but certainly not the best :-)
After your posts, I refined my search and saw an old magazine article that said Beetles UK imported the vehicle and Danbury did the conversion.
Cheers, Lee

Leemundo wrote:

Thanks for your assistance Bob and Purple.  Yes that does look the same interior.  The roof is a little boxy  and has no berths.  It's not the worst looking but certainly not the best :-)
After your posts, I refined my search and saw an old magazine article that said Beetles UK imported the vehicle and Danbury did the conversion.
Cheers, Lee

You might already be aware, but Danbury / Beetles UK folded about 18 months ago. They were bought out by Pilote a few years ago and the T2 Bay part of the business became less of a priority to the T5/T6 market. I think Pilote then pulled out of the UK and sold the Danbury name to another UK business but they only do T5/T6. It's a big loss to the scene as the Danbury team were always very helpful, I spoke e with one of them who remembered spraying my van 15 years previously!

I didn’t know that Purple. It explains the lack of email response. What a shame.
Thanks for the extra info.
L