Brighton Breeze 2014, part 2 of 3

In part one of my Brighton Breeze review I said that parts 2 and 3 will be posted throughout the winter to give you the reader something to read once the VW season is over. However upon reflection I think maybe it's better to post the reviews while the show is still fresh in the minds of everyone that attended the show. So with that in mind... Welcome to part two of my blog review on the Brighton Breeze, a one day event organised by the Split Screen Van Club (S.S.V.C.). (If you missed part one of the review, you can find it in 'My Blog Archive' to the left of this page. You can also find previous posts here, simply click on the arrow against a particular year, then click on the arrow for the different months. This will then display all my posts for that month) The Brighton Breeze is held annually on the first Saturday of October, along Maderia Drive in Brighton, West Sussex. This a always a well attended event by both exhibitors and the public. This year I think I heard that something like 650 people had pre-booked to attend this event in their Volkswagen's, and a similar figure just turning up on the day, that is well over 1000 Volkswagen's, all in one place along a mile stretch of private road with the vast majority being air cooled VW's. As you would expect with an event organised by the S.S.V.C. there were plenty of split screen vans on the sea front. The blog review continues as I wander along Maderia Drive looking at all the vehicles on show.

The variety, the finish and the ride height of the
vehicles was immense. Here two very low split
screen's and parked up next to a high riding
bay window. This show really does have some-
thing for everyone, no matter what your into.

I have seen this 'Marmite' bus on several
occasions at different shows and events
 over the past few years and I think it looks
great. It's a 1963 split screen in black with
the 'Marmite' logo on the side. I love the
rounded rear wheel arches to accommodate
the larger wheels and tyres. People used
to do this way back to give a different gear
ratio and therefore a better top end speed.
As the 'Marmite' saying goes, " Either you love
it, or hate it" Well I don't love Marmite, but I do
love this bus.

 

I'm sure this is a Jurgen Autovilla in a lovely
olive green and white. I think I'm right in saying
that this is the bus that Karmann copied to
create the Karmann Gypsy. Whether I'm right
or wrong the main thing is, this is gorgeous.

These, along with the Karmann Gypsy are
getting rare and this one was in such good
condition. I would have loved to have had a
look inside, but had to make do with looking
through the windows. One day when my
lottery numbers come up, I will get one for sure.

This early bay is the same colour as my 1969
bay and I loved the hand painted flowers that
covered this bus. A very unique bus that has
a '60's flower power feel to it. I loved it.

A lovey pair of split screen single cab pick ups
parked together on Maderia Drive. These two
look similar at first glance but are so different
when you look closely.

This 1963 split screen has the high top body
and I just love these. You don't see too many
of these around, but I think they are gorgeous.
This one looks as though it may have had a new
front clip at some point, that has now gone rusty.

As I mentioned earlier, the variety of vehicles
was incredible. Here is a row of split screen
buses parked up, but do you choose lowered
 or standard height? painted or the RAT look?
an early model or a later model? so many
decisions... the amazing thing is, they are
all equally as nice in their own right.

This 1971 bay was so nice. With it's single
colour paint, slightly lowered stance and with
a Paris sun roof and finished off with the
deluxe body and bumper trim, this bus looks
just about perfect.

More variety at the Breeze, these three RAT
looking buses looked great all parked up next
to each other. A blue and white early split screen
in the foreground, with another high top splitty
behind it and what looks like an LT35 with a
high top at the back.

This pastel blue early Bug looked awesome, I
think it must have been riding on air suspension
to be this low when parked up, either that or
the owner is very brave.

This lovely dark blue over pastel blue split
screen van was gorgeous. I do like sign written
buses and this 'surf shop' bus even had surf
boards on the full length roof rack. I do like those
custom mirrors and the chrome bumpers which
both suit the bus perfectly.

A lovely split oval Beetle in what looks like
Neptune blue (although I could be wrong). This
early Bug was gorgeous and so straight, just look
at that reflection in the door and rear quarter
panel. The headlight mesh with the chrome
blade bumpers add the necessary bling, as
does the pillar mounted spot light.

Such a lovely looking car. The red striped tyres
are unusual but suit the overall look perfectly.
This super straight Bug had custom made
exhausts that were BIG. I didn't get to see what
motor this Beetle was running so maybe those
exhausts were necessary..?

I do like to see ex-emergency service buses,
I'm not sure if this early split screen is actually
an ex-services bus but it did look good in it's
Fire bus livery. The Fire signage on the doors
is a nice touch.

A lovely 1968 type 3 squareback finished off in
a coat of lovely gloss black paint. This type 3
was was super straight and had been lowered.
The black paint is only broken up by the chrome
trim, headlight surrounds, bumpers etc.

This Beetle caught my eye,with it's simplicity
look. A modern colour green paint scheme,
lowered slightly and running on chromed
wheels is sometimes all you need to make
your car stand out. This Bug was really nice.

The 1964 split screen panel van was stunning,
that colour green was fantastic in the daylight
and my photo does not do this van any justice.
The twin yellow spot lights on the bumper are
in stark contrast with the body colour, but it
actually works so well.

This 1967 deluxe split screen looked great with
it's turret pop top. That colour suits this 'old'
looking bus so well. It just goes to show you
don't always need flashy paint or over the top
wheels to create a really nice looking bus.

Talking of nice looking buses, how about this
early split. I just love the colour combination
on this bus and the colour matching wheels,
this bus blends into the beach perfectly. Once
again it's nothing fancy, just a gorgeous looking
 bus.

This 1967 split screen was another bus that I
just loved the look of. The single colour body
with colour matched wheels looked just right.
The turret pop top is another feature that for
me, made this bus stand out from the others.

This white over bright red 'Jet Rocket' late split
screen panel van stood out. A nice touch is
the white under the wheel arches to match the
white painted wheels and bumpers.

This early spit screen panel van was one of the
many European visitors to the Breeze, probably
from Belgium or France. This van had lovely a
straight body in signal red with black gloss painted
bumpers and running on Porsche wheels.

A selection of Beetle's parked up on Maderia
Drive. All ages, all styles and all colours to suit
every ones taste. I recognise that RAT looking
Bug at the far end, he joined our queue as we
waited to get onto the seafront at Brighton.

A 1968 Beetle parked up and looking great. A
single cream colour, a super straight body with
a nice set of BRM wheels is all you need to get
noticed amongst the hundreds of other Bugs at
the Brighton Breeze.

How low does the early Karmann Ghia sit?
Judging by the tail lights this looks like a 1960
- 1969 model (although I could be wrong).
With a narrowed front beam, single colour
paint and sitting so low this KG really drew
some attention from the crowds on the seafront.

Remember in part one, I bumped into the guy's
from Oxdubz VW Club when I couldn't get onto
Maderia Drive, well here is a close up of their
vehicles. Nathan's 1970 early bay in slight RAT
guise and Anthony's T3 fast-back also looking
a bit RAT. Both these vehicles are very cool
looking VW's.

If you like your ride with a bit more show 'n go
how about this mid '60's Beetle. This Bug had
a super straight body finished in a lovely coat
of chocolate brown paint and sat so low on
those custom wheels. The Paris sun roof was
a nice touch as were the early Beetle tail lights.

This really is a gorgeous looking car that has
it's roots in the 1960's but has been brought
right up to date. On the deck lid there is a
air scoop, and peering into the engine bay it
looked like a Subaru engine nestled in the back
of this Bug to provide plenty of performance.

A close up of those amazing wheels on this
trick Beetle.

This 1963 split screen panel van was totally
immaculate. I do like panel van's and this one
really was something special. A super straight
body finished off in a single colour with twin
yellow spot lights, this just looks absolutely
perfect.

Bay windows parked alongside split screens.
Parking at the Breeze is on a 'first come' basis
which is good because it mixes all the vehicles
up together. That's better than having special
designated parking for each category. ( I had
to wait ages to get this photo, with no people
in front of the buses.!)

As you walk along Maderia Drive looking at
all the Volkswagen's on show, you see a vehicle
and think it doesn't get better than that, then
a few paces later you see another VW that is
better than the last. This late bay was so nice.
Sitting so low with a narrowed front beam and
a slightly RAT looking paint scheme with some
faded sign writing on the doors. That will do me.
 

The S.S.V.C. organised the Breeze and split
screen owners from all over the U.K and even
Europe attended the event. So many split
screens came along, but each one was so
different in appearance.

This early split screen appealed to me with it's
old looking colour paint scheme, and with the
deluxe trim. The colour coded bumpers was a
nice touch as were the twin spot lights and twin
roof racks.

What was I saying about walking a few paces
and seeing something else, this early bay panel
van was beautiful. Lowered with a narrowed
beam, and with a single off white colour scheme
this van looked awesome.

This sign written early split screen panel van
grabbed my attention straight away. I did like
the patina paint on this bus, I also liked the
safari screen front windows and the cyclopes
light on the roof. The custom mirrors were a
nice touch and add to the overall look of this
very cool looking bus.

This late split screen had buckets full of patina
paint. This weather beaten bus looked so cool
parked up amongst other shiny painted buses.

Both split screens, one an early model and the
other a late model. One painted and one with
patina, but both absolutely gorgeous.

This 1967 Beetle looked gorgeous in its dark
plum and black colour. The quality paint finish
gives off a near perfect reflection. The stance
of this Bug, with it's nose in the weeds looks
awesome.

This really is a nice looking car, the amazing
paint finish enhances the overall look, as does
the bright chrome blade bumpers.

This 1971 mango coloured Beetle was super
clean and super straight. The colour choice
suits the Bug perfectly, as do the early front
wings and the towel rail bumper. I did like those
chrome wheels with the chrome hub caps.

It's all about the detailing, and this Bug had a
neat chequered design on the inside of the
headlights.

I think this is a 1967 Beetle in what looks like
a Dove blue colour (although I could be wrong
on both counts) but what I am sure of is, this
is one lovely looking car. I love the angle of
this photo showing the front wheel from head
on which show how far the domed chrome hub
cap sticks out.

Wheel and tyre choice either make or break
an overall look of a car, and this Bug has got
it absolutely right. Painted steels with tyres that
fill the wheel arches make this Bug stand out.


So that was part 2 of my blog review about
the Brighton Breeze 2014. The 3rd and final
blog review will be posted in about a weeks
time.