FAB 1 Our Latest Project June 2025

Back in 2017 i built the Italian Job Bus tribute for a rally we take part in every year in september.

See the blog re this event.

I purchased a Bedford Val bus to do this tribute from a scrap yard in Hereford, When i got the bus back and began some research, I found out that a Bedford val chassis was used in the build of FAB 1.

this set a worm festering in my head for 8 years.

This year (2025) I finally found the time to start this build but it was far from smooth running.

I found a suitable Bedford Val on Marketplace in March of 2025, the bus was in Wales and advertised for £1000.

I made contact with the seller, lets call him Dave, we agreed the purchace and a price,Dave said "I can get it delivered for £450" which was great so i agreed and I asked for his details to send the money to, he said "send it to my sons account? I did think it was strange but duly sent over the dosh.

A few days went by, I messaged Dave to ask if there is any progress?

Dave didnt reply, I left it a few days and asked again.

Dave finally replied and said " dont message me Im in Africa, message my son!"

He sent me his sons phone number and i promptly called him, he said his friend Lee would be delivering the bus in the next few days, a few days passed, No bus, A week went by, No Bus, I tried messaging both men again, this time no replies.

I ended up asking my bank if they could intervene, they did and gave me a refund.

this set me back 2 months, this is a massive build so 2 months is a big loss of time.

I searched the internet for another Bedford Val or a Leyland Daf 45 to start to get the build underway.

I found another Val, this time an up and running one, however it was advertised for £4000, way over the budget but it would be a great start, I offered £2000, the seller bluntly refused my offer, there was a little too and frowing, £3000 would buy it he said.

I thought I would wait a little but still keep looking, i would go back to the advert every now and then to see it was still available.

then one day I came to view it and it was marked as sold! i was gutted.

the search began again,

then, viewing a post from a friend on facebook, i noticed in the back ground of one of his pictures there was a Befdord Val, I had completely forgotten he had this bus, I contacted him and she was for sale! phew!

I agreed (based on photos) to buy the Val.

here are the photos.

I arranged to visit in the coming days, on the 22nd May 2025 I made my way to Surrey, met up with the seller and agreed to buy with the condition that I could go back down in a few days to strip off all the jagged edges to make it safe, he agreed, I paid him the cash and set off for home.

I did a little reasearch when home and found this picture of her.

Monday 26th May 2025 George and I set off for Surrey again with all out tools to strip the chassis down.