Ep 1. Volkswagen Transporter T3 (1)

In season 3 episode 1 of Wheeler Dealers, the team takes on a new challenge with a Volkswagen Transporter T3. The episode starts with Mike Brewer introducing the project to his partner in the show, Edd China, who is unwilling to take on this particular model. Mike is undeterred, however, as he has always wanted one of these vans and believes that with Edd's expertise, they can make a profit after restoring and flipping the vehicle.

The Volkswagen Transporter T3 is a popular van that was manufactured from 1979 to 1992. This particular model was built in 1985 and has a 1.9-liter water-cooled engine. Mike and Edd purchase the van for £1,500 ($1,952) from a seller who is happy to see it go, stating that it has been sitting in his yard for far too long.

The van is in disrepair and requires a significant amount of work to get it up to scratch. The first step is to assess the condition of the van and prioritize the repairs needed. Mike and Edd determine that the most pressing issues are the rust damage, steering and suspension, and the worn-out brake system.

To combat the rust, Edd removes all the affected areas by grinding them down to bare metal, before replacing them with new panels. After cutting and shaping the new panels to fit, he welds them onto the van body. The team then moves on to the brakes, where they find the brake discs and calipers require replacement. They also clean and repair the worn-out brake pads, ensuring the brakes are effective and safe.

Edd then turns his attention to the steering and suspension systems, which are in poor condition. He replaces the steering rack and gearbox, and also replaces the rubber bushings with new polyurethane ones. The suspension system is also overhauled, with new shock absorbers, springs, and sway bars.

The episode also delves into the interior of the van, where the team addresses the badly damaged seats and dash. New seats are sourced from a scrapped van, and the dash is rebuilt with new parts. The van is then given a fresh coat of paint to complete the transformation.

After all the work is complete, Mike takes the van for a test drive to ensure that everything is working as it should. The van is no longer a rusted and barely-functional vehicle, but a fully restored and reliable mode of transportation.

The final part of the episode involves the selling of the Volkswagen Transporter T3. Mike and Edd put the van up for auction and it sells for £6,000 ($7,808), making a profit of £4,500 ($5,856) for the team.

Overall, the episode showcases the challenges of restoring a rusty and worn-out vehicle and the significant effort required to do so. It also highlights the importance of prioritizing repairs and finding cost-effective solutions to stay within budget.