Will a Leyland Daf 200 Sherpa start after 10 years?

After buying a former Post Office van and hardly using it, it sat in my drive unused for 10 years.
I decided that if the engine was ok then the van will be made roadworthy again.

[@jaggass]

very popular sight in the 80's/90's those perkins prima's could run forever

[@gotorm2]

Battery is very good indeed but the starter motor is something else. I don't think new generation starter motors could take this much abuse.

[@T3LDV]

I knew it would start. Perkins Prima engine, bloody good engine.

[@gh7319]

My grandad had two of these beasts, one being an ex-royal mail minibus, I loved those old vans. Pity I don't have a licence, would love to have one of my own, though at my age that 2 litre engine would cost me a fair bit in insurance.

[@heene]

I used it for a while but when I got my work travel pass I didn't need it, but wanted to keep it as they were getting rare.

[@jaggass]

these vans are rare now please keep it

[@perryman12345]

postman would have been proud of you.

[@mrspivvy]

I have a sister vehicle to this, from the same batch, also L*** RGU. still runs and drives well but looks a lot worse than yours! These perkins engines are good reliable motors, just a bit short of power to drag a heavy van along

[@heene]

It is a good battery but was nearly flat as the engine started. Another few seconds and it would have been drained, I bought it at the shop on the Old Shoreham Road in Hove next to the cemetary.
I also bought new batteries for my 35 year old BUS there which had also not started for years. Those batteries were good too and started the engine after a few minutes of coaxing it into life.

[@Rsspecial1]

If you ever want to sell it give me a message as im going to be in the market for a good one soon and they're getting hard to find as you know, i like older vans/cars and classics so definatly let me know if you ever do want to part with it. :) I'd appreciate a nice example. :)

[@heene]

Partially done, but it will be finished one day.

[@jaggass]

how long did it take to get going?

[@neilmason298]

why buy a van yo leave it standing for 10 years??????

[@markd3ful]

did you fix the sherpa up looks like a van worth saving