I reckon the vans been found secondary to a shop raid and customs cut the door to see what was in, the hole in bulk head is common traders put them in so they can get 2.4 meter pipe ect in.
The back was likely full of stuff and they thought no one would bother to take everything out. What I don't understand is why cut the hole? Seems like a lot of trouble if they pulled it over. Likely it was on a car transporter or something like that, AKA not driving.
@@sruk you must be able to put things through the hole or there would be no point making it, it just looks big enough to put sleeves of 200 cigarettes through, shops usually hide their dodgy cigs in vans or cars parked nearby.
This van looks like one of our ex vehicles, we have them holes in bulk head to put longer bits in, the sides and floor look the same the holes are to strap bits down. They would also be fully racked normally. The led lights normally have a power switch in front.
I've worked alongside customs at an airport - they don't give a shit about damage, they want stuff done NOW and that's that. You'd think they'd know about opening locks - but hammers, crow bars and bolt cutters don't need brains and every officer has muscles (so lowest common denominator rules). Think there's drugs in a suitcase? Cordless drill with a massive bit, straight through the side of the case, and stuff the contents that get in the way. Dog wants to piss indoors? They live in kennels and a lot of them aren't toilet trained. Do you think they clean up afterwards? If you're insensitive, want to lord it over everyone else, with legal back-up, and like destroying property then it's the job for you.
They wouldn’t have bust out the grinder unless they were pretty much 100% sure they were gonna find something seizure worthy, and at that point, they don’t really care about causing damage.
@@ravenbarsrepairs5594 Not their car and it’s getting seized anyway if they’re pretty much 100% certain there’s contraband in it, the longer they spend messing around on one vehicle the less time they have to catch other people.
we have had vans with that hole in for the full length copper pipes that wiring harness is standard, lazy ply-liner people do that sort of damage on a regular basis, ripped out to get the panel in, then just shoved up all loose i think one section of diesel pipe is transparent under the bonnet [checking for cherry] keep up the good work chaps
Your enthusiasm Rob never changes been following you since the beginning of your channel. You've never been any different thank you for your videos very entertaining I'd rather watch your videos then the TV.
OK guys this is what I think has happened. They have come through customs with more than their allowance and customs have siezed their vehicle and then the owner has kept the keys and when the doors were closed again they have dead locked. So nothing too serious i reckon. I have had experience first hand of this one. Take care lads and keep up the great work. Love your channel.
Someone locked in the back handing items through the hatch and taking cash back in, that's why you would have all those lights in the back and a nice thick cover so no light can be seen through the cab.
That takes me back. 20 odd years ago I knew a guy who used to do the cigarette smuggling runs from Luxembourg back to England in an old Ford Sierra Estate. His Dad was doing hard time for it but he got away with a slap on the wrist because he was a minor and his Dad took the fall.
Great video as usual gents. Interesting to see how it turns out. I’d be just putting a window in instead of a door, but then again if it’s gonna someone’s work van, for security purposes a door is probably a better idea. That Aidan is a real artist! What an amazing guy!
Nice one. I’d stick a dark tinted window kit in the side door/s. Cut out looks perfect to work with and loads of people fit them diy to vans - easy job and no worries about matching paint. I reckon it was used in counterfeit cigarettes crime.
your locksmith guy is a legend! - he should have his own channel! - bet he has a few stories to tell.. no doubt the customs van will be getting added to it! LOL! - keep up the good work! :)
The window is for talking to the people in the back it’s for smuggling people they pull the flap down on the ferry so they can’t see the hole that’s why it’s got led lights in the back the rubber flap also stops the light from the back shining through
Additional wiring is for the additional lights in the back, hole in bulkhead for overlength materials, lashing eyes in the floor for securing those materials. pretty bog standard stuff for a work van. Lift out of service tape stuck on the bulkhead in the drivers side door, It's been a lift service engineers van, it probably had some racking in the back for kit, the sticker on the inside of the rear door is instructions for washing a van with vinyl decals/signwriting, as fitted by Bott, who do van fitouts. Defleeted and sold off by Lex when the lease was up, or after the write off.
I agree, but the fear is too many people will be involved. The intimacy often gets lost and a sterile, corporate development process begins. The brilliance of this channel is the rawness. Nobody can deny it's real. Even the banter between them is a reflection of knowing each other for years, something you simply cannot manufacture artificially. I'd love to see it transition to TV, but it's vital that the essence that makes this channel truly unique isn't abandoned.
@@eoinoconnell185 that’s true I suppose, at least Rob and Chris can be who they want to be and say what they want to say and not what the TV production company want them to say and do.
They wouldn't be able to do it there way, if they was on tv....they would have to please producers and god knows who else, keep the channel the way it is and show production company's that not everything has to be staged....
My guess is people smuggling, the hatch from the cab to the back will have been to pass food a d will also block the light from the back. The pack of water bottles and the lights in the back aswell. Probably been caught fulling up and they have done a runner and threw the keys away. The people in the back will have been trapped and had to be cutting out explaining why the metal on the door was bent to stop sharp edges cutting people climbing out.
100% this was used to smuggle people across the border. the water in the back, the hatch so they could communicate, the lighting so they could see and i guess the people that was getting smuggled was smokers aswell. people smuggling. great vid👍
Rob, the stereo probably won’t have Apple Car Play but you have the upgraded stereo in that one. Renault supply the SDcard for the satnav, not too expensive, you can purchase the data via their website. It’s fiddly to load the data on the satnav, but persevere and it works a great. I drove one of these vans from zero to 115,000 miles, it was superbly reliable. What you need to ensure though is that the new owner runs the cleaning sort of diesel through the tank every five fill ups or so. The injectors can give way if you don’t use cleaning diesel every so often. Mine didn’t need new injectors even after 115,000 on the clock, original battery too. The injectors are not cheap to replace. If your looking for a hidden compartment, look behind the drivers/passenger seat. There is a void which runs underneath the loading floor. You might be VERY lucky and find plenty of coins in there !, all my spare change usually dropped out of my pockets and ended up in there (some I couldn’t ever recover). Enjoy !…
The wires along the roof, are for the back doors, central locking and brake lights, you can see the loom going into the door on the same side, the "secret compartment" is a bulkhead pass-through for longer items, ie pipes, the original cover is bust, hence a diy one has been put on, that van is 100% standard, i had the same van until 2019 it didn't do well getting rear ended at 50mph
I recon that your van started its life with ‘Otis’ lifts. We had one the same with the hole in the bulkhead with the ‘bag’ in it for long pipes or ladders. The switch for the interior lights was the same and it had the same tie down points. It was also a Manchester registration.
Something a bit different here, bet this van could tell some stories!!! I imagine the customs officers went over this with a fine a tooth comb so doubt there is anything dodgy left in it. Looks like you have done well with this and once Chris has worked his metal magic it will be a very smart little van ready for some honest work for a change🙂
Judging by the newer Zoe that I had, it's very unlikely that it has Apple CarPlay. Thanks for another fascinating video - your trade doesn't always get the best reputation, so seeing how it can be done properly and honestly is refreshing.
Rob and Chris, seen that episode of Police Interceptors where they stop one of those vans and find £100k under the floor after a tip off? Suggest get it on a lift and look for voids between the van’s internal and external floors. Good luck with this one.
Hello both ,what a surprise to see that you have brought the van from the customs and excise people! Be good to see what you both find especially with the wiring harness in the van. Best wishes from Lincolnshire
Great stuff gentlemen. And you are always so enthusiastic too, and genuine. I do hope that source becomes a steady, long term source of decent projects as you multiply your business. Great work, and very encouraging. Thank you for sharing.
I think the hunting was the ECU re-teaching itself after being off the batt for so long. Also, could you not check the satnav history see where its been? Might be some clues lol. And obviously check the indicator fluid tank for hidden bags of charlie. Much love.
That's the same style van my company use its an old lift Engineers van the hole in the cab is for longer bits of equipment and the floor things are for straps at 1 point it would of had double sided bott racking in it
Hi Rob and Chris, something very different, could be a brilliant source of vehicles too. Will turn out a very nice van, and will be very much in demand. Looking forward to this one's progress. Alex.
Rob, I don’t know how you do it, another brilliant buy and what an interesting / exciting backstory! This is going to be outstanding content, again! Well done mate. Thanks as always. Dave.
Great video. I never knew these vehicles could be bought, I always thought they were destroyed. Nice to see Aiden again working his magic. Considering how long it's sat, it sounds great, and it's cleaned up lovely. I agree with what many have said here, and fit a window to the door. It might be a bit cheaper. Top work. 👍
The extra wiring loom is most likely for upfitting accessories like a rear A/C, wiring for a Trailer tow package, or power for emergency lighting. The van appears to be well optioned.
I didn't no you could buy vehicles that had been used for the purpose of crime.I thought those vehicles were automatically crushed. I have learned something new today Rob.👌
Nice change from the usual stuff you get in 🙂 I bet it'll be dodgy cigarettes and other gear given the wrappers and that about. Even though it's cat S and had no keys, the money inside made up for it 😅 and Rob running around like an excited puppy had me chuckling 😂
Chuffed for you fellas, love how quick it fired up as soon as Aiden turned the key! And yeah, Customs!!! Sold my 18v Snap On battery stuff a little while back to a lad who's dad came to pick it up as he was buying a van over here and leaving from Holyhead to go back to Ireland, had to help him get it opened fully as he said they would just cut the doors open/off to look in the back...
you may need to turn lights on to activate the interior lights?? i had a mecedes 190e 2.6 that started hunting. AA couldn't diagnose why. backed it onto drive, exhaust pushed up against fence and cured the problem lol
Really interesting one but a lovely van, it has Manchester plates and looks like it has been left under a tree judging by the massive amount of leaves in there but dying to see more of this van, I think these vans were available in long and short wheelbase versions, will need a new side door but I think the back is repairable also love Aiden,s work he's becoming part of the channel, still my best car channel on the Tube, you're doing fantastic lads
Nothing like a new category of vehicle! Not exactly a Q Branch smuggling installation but different. Surprised Border / Customs service just didn’t drill out the lock rather then the can opener approach.
great video Rob, as others have said why not get Chris to put a side window kit in it , this would make great content and be useful tips to those convet vans to day campers
Hi I'm a ex ((retired)) European truck driver and I've seen one or 2 vans pulled by the guy's that confiscated your ven and it looks as though there were seats in the back and the cigarette packets are just a cover it's ither been used for drugs and or people smuggling with cigarettes as as a added bonus, first time hear but a great video and very interesting thanks.
Best title yet :) Worth buying just for the bonus 10mm socket to be fair. See there are lots of comment about putting a window in the hole, not really worth the bother, must be loads of them scrapped all in white, bolt on a secondhand door, knock the back out as best as you can, pop an MOT on it and flog it as a quick turnaround. Any van that age will have marks.
great vid as usual my take on the "secret compartment" there was some one in the back who passed the cartons of fags through to someone in the front who then sold them to punters at the side of the road and probably why there is coins everywhere just a thought 😀
This was exactly what I thought. Guy in the back with all the ‘products' they were selling would explain the lights back there so he can see what he is doing with no windows. Then he can just pass the items through the hatch to the front to be sold out the passenger window at the roadside. It’s so discreet and just looks like any other work van from outside. They could have been selling cigarettes but it’s a lot of hassle for not much profit. Most likely selling cannabis or cocaine I think. It’s genius really when you think about it.
Does the tank hold the amount it says it does. Or are there any welding done in places where there is room for anything The frame the car is build on is one of the things that have most room Check spare tire(and tires) some people have gotten home and everything was gone thanks to friction. because it was not placed correct in the moving tires. Check battery and airfilter. And keep on looking anywhere there is room for air. Not everything can smelled or spotted bt x ray. It can be wrapped good. Also dont stop if you find 1 room. Often there is more
Seems pretty obvious to me what they were smuggling, it is Nitrogen, the van is still 78% full of it, I am shocked that customs didn't remove it all first before putting it up for sale! Maybe they were under a lot of pressure that day so it would have been a lot harder to notice.
A compartment that size would only be suitable for high value contraband which would be cocaine, heroin or even firearms. I’m retired police you would not believe the extent of work that goes into the smugglers ingenuity on the vehicles. Even being a police officer we used to look at it all and was quite impressed in the work. Being a person that was always working on me and my dads cars and his lorries it was interesting.. sometimes we would say “ never knew there was that much space in there”. 👍 great video.
i saw one in Australia the other day. short wheel base. same type of vehicle with remote controlled compartments. the front end is smashed but the rest of the body is mint. also has a camping canopy attached. looks stock as a rock
So nice to see you both working together, as a team. Does show that you read comments and take on board observations from followers. Well done Rob, keep up the good work. 🛠️🔧 Do think you look better in work clothes.?
I think this is being looked into too deeply. It’s clearly an ex lease van as proved by Lex Autolease on the plates. It’s got additional wiring, and a hole cut into the bulk head for whoever the initial lease customer was. The work is too neat for a smuggler and what they’d need it for. There’s also a sticker on the back warning about a lift not being in use. Personally, I think the story is no more complicated than customs needed to see what was in the load area. I don’t think the additional bits and pieces have anything to do with the back story personally. Either way, cracking buy and cracking content for the fans 👍🏾
Yep. Additional wiring is for the additional lights in the back, hole in bulkhead for overlength materials, lashing eyes in the floor for securing those materials. pretty bog standard stuff for a work van. Lift out of service tape stuck on the bulkhead in the drivers side door, It's been a lift service engineers van, it probably had some racking in the back for kit, the sticker on the inside of the rear door is instructions for washing a van with vinyl decals/signwriting, as fitted by Bott, who do van fitouts. Defleeted and sold off by Lex when the lease was up, or after the write off.
Something different and very interesting. A, quick spot weld on the cut panel entry should do the trick to get it through the MOT surely and wouldn't take Chris 5 minutes? Looking foreward to thye next as always.👍
Just read through the comments rob I hope no one else ask you to check the sat nav to see where it has been you are so patient great channel
Lol 👍
@@sruk probably why the SD card is missing, not that it would hold journey data, but would probably be evidence
@A Hussain I think gdpr only relates to a human body. Not places and locations someone has been too. ✌
@@bigh236 so not account numbers, passwords,addresses, purchase history and any other private info?
Q¹
Just a thought, would it be an idea to fit a window in the door that’s been cut, might be cheaper than a door 👍 cheers Paul
My thoughts exactly
First thing I thought of as well, then turn it into a mini camper.
@@malcolmturton9779 me too.
Not true about the DVLA
I reckon the vans been found secondary to a shop raid and customs cut the door to see what was in, the hole in bulk head is common traders put them in so they can get 2.4 meter pipe ect in.
Aidan is such a lovely guy - always so relaxed - just like Rob and Chris....!
Great vlog as always but thought Aiden pronounced his name Iden yet Rob still insists on calling him Aiden.
ROB!!! .... RELAXED!!!!! ?????? ...... Are You watching the SAME VIDEO ???? 😂🤣😂🤣😂
It's having the balls to own a dog called a ’cockapoo’ that I respect......!!!!!!
What were they THINKING!?!?
Aydin is amazing
Are you sure the "secret compartment" isn't just a hatch so you can get long items (pipes etc) to fit in the back?
It’s hard material put on to conceal the hole
The back was likely full of stuff and they thought no one would bother to take everything out. What I don't understand is why cut the hole? Seems like a lot of trouble if they pulled it over. Likely it was on a car transporter or something like that, AKA not driving.
@@ckm-mkc see a police camera thing with a van on a transporter getting pulled
@@sruk you must be able to put things through the hole or there would be no point making it, it just looks big enough to put sleeves of 200 cigarettes through, shops usually hide their dodgy cigs in vans or cars parked nearby.
Agreed, doesn't look too secret at all. Why put the edge protector over the sharp edges? It stands out.
This van looks like one of our ex vehicles, we have them holes in bulk head to put longer bits in, the sides and floor look the same the holes are to strap bits down. They would also be fully racked normally. The led lights normally have a power switch in front.
Aiden is a good young bloke, smart, well motivated his Mum and Dad should be proud.
Rob, you need to give Aiden''s phone number to the Customs people. He'd have it open before they've plugged in their angle grinder.
I've worked alongside customs at an airport - they don't give a shit about damage, they want stuff done NOW and that's that.
You'd think they'd know about opening locks - but hammers, crow bars and bolt cutters don't need brains and every officer has muscles (so lowest common denominator rules).
Think there's drugs in a suitcase? Cordless drill with a massive bit, straight through the side of the case, and stuff the contents that get in the way.
Dog wants to piss indoors? They live in kennels and a lot of them aren't toilet trained. Do you think they clean up afterwards?
If you're insensitive, want to lord it over everyone else, with legal back-up, and like destroying property then it's the job for you.
❤ thanks lads , now we know where it is .
They wouldn’t have bust out the grinder unless they were pretty much 100% sure they were gonna find something seizure worthy, and at that point, they don’t really care about causing damage.
@@Jonathan_Doe_ But why cause unnecessary damage?
@@ravenbarsrepairs5594 Not their car and it’s getting seized anyway if they’re pretty much 100% certain there’s contraband in it, the longer they spend messing around on one vehicle the less time they have to catch other people.
I've never seen Rob so excited, like a kiddy in a sweet shop, lovely to see.
Robs enthusiasm is so infectious, top bloke.
we have had vans with that hole in for the full length copper pipes
that wiring harness is standard, lazy ply-liner people do that sort of damage on a regular basis, ripped out to get the panel in, then just shoved up all loose
i think one section of diesel pipe is transparent under the bonnet [checking for cherry]
keep up the good work chaps
Your enthusiasm Rob never changes been following you since the beginning of your channel. You've never been any different thank you for your videos very entertaining I'd rather watch your videos then the TV.
Nice one Rob , you might want to check the colour of the diesel it wouldn't be the first time bootleggers used a tank of red .
OK guys this is what I think has happened. They have come through customs with more than their allowance and customs have siezed their vehicle and then the owner has kept the keys and when the doors were closed again they have dead locked. So nothing too serious i reckon. I have had experience first hand of this one. Take care lads and keep up the great work. Love your channel.
No duty paid on cigarettes and cigarettes and van sized
@@allanprice9957 kin amazin , and to fink how they wipe us out, Eva way.
"Brucie Bonus".....love it Chris !
Love to work with Aiden, seems chilled out and what’s rewarding job.
I asked him if he was still beating his wife
Aydin is the best
Someone locked in the back handing items through the hatch and taking cash back in, that's why you would have all those lights in the back and a nice thick cover so no light can be seen through the cab.
My thoughts as well.
You know quite a lot about that sort of thing :)
With that hole cut in the door you’ve got a ready made ice cream van 😂👍🏻🏴
Dwlooooolouder haha 🤣 Classic Dwlooooolouder
Lol
I love it when Mr Aiden comes to visit. He seems such a nice guy. I wish I had friends like him.
That takes me back. 20 odd years ago I knew a guy who used to do the cigarette smuggling runs from Luxembourg back to England in an old Ford Sierra Estate. His Dad was doing hard time for it but he got away with a slap on the wrist because he was a minor and his Dad took the fall.
Great video as usual gents. Interesting to see how it turns out. I’d be just putting a window in instead of a door, but then again if it’s gonna someone’s work van, for security purposes a door is probably a better idea. That Aidan is a real artist! What an amazing guy!
Nice one. I’d stick a dark tinted window kit in the side door/s. Cut out looks perfect to work with and loads of people fit them diy to vans - easy job and no worries about matching paint. I reckon it was used in counterfeit cigarettes crime.
Correct
Never a dull video on Salvage Rebuilds!
your locksmith guy is a legend! - he should have his own channel! - bet he has a few stories to tell.. no doubt the customs van will be getting added to it! LOL! - keep up the good work! :)
The window is for talking to the people in the back it’s for smuggling people they pull the flap down on the ferry so they can’t see the hole that’s why it’s got led lights in the back the rubber flap also stops the light from the back shining through
Rob, you and Chris could use it as an ice cream van next summer!! 😂😂😂
Additional wiring is for the additional lights in the back, hole in bulkhead for overlength materials, lashing eyes in the floor for securing those materials. pretty bog standard stuff for a work van. Lift out of service tape stuck on the bulkhead in the drivers side door, It's been a lift service engineers van, it probably had some racking in the back for kit, the sticker on the inside of the rear door is instructions for washing a van with vinyl decals/signwriting, as fitted by Bott, who do van fitouts. Defleeted and sold off by Lex when the lease was up, or after the write off.
Rob and Chris need their own TV series 👌🏻👌🏻
Definitely not. A TV company would ruin their content. Far better for them and us viewers on UA-cam where they have full editorial control.
I agree, but the fear is too many people will be involved.
The intimacy often gets lost and a sterile, corporate development process begins.
The brilliance of this channel is the rawness. Nobody can deny it's real. Even the banter between them is a reflection of knowing each other for years, something you simply cannot manufacture artificially. I'd love to see it transition to TV, but it's vital that the essence that makes this channel truly unique isn't abandoned.
@@eoinoconnell185 that’s true I suppose, at least Rob and Chris can be who they want to be and say what they want to say and not what the TV production company want them to say and do.
They wouldn't be able to do it there way, if they was on tv....they would have to please producers and god knows who else, keep the channel the way it is and show production company's that not everything has to be staged....
That's the worst 'secret compartment' ever!
They may as well had a roof box with 'contraband' written all over it.😲😳😁
I love your enthusiasm Rob as it shows your love for what you are doing, great content as usual.
My guess is people smuggling, the hatch from the cab to the back will have been to pass food a d will also block the light from the back. The pack of water bottles and the lights in the back aswell. Probably been caught fulling up and they have done a runner and threw the keys away. The people in the back will have been trapped and had to be cutting out explaining why the metal on the door was bent to stop sharp edges cutting people climbing out.
100% this was used to smuggle people across the border. the water in the back, the hatch so they could communicate, the lighting so they could see and i guess the people that was getting smuggled was smokers aswell. people smuggling. great vid👍
Diffinately people smuggling.
I thought that too
Lol the hatch is for long pipes and stuff
No cigarettes 100% I can tell you I’m in known
Haha
Water
Definitely people smuggling. Hahaha
"there's another 31p down there",... Brilliant.... Just brilliant guys😁
Looks like this line of salvage could be very interesting Rob. Now I'm wanting to know the story of how and why it got seized! 👍
Rob, the stereo probably won’t have Apple Car Play but you have the upgraded stereo in that one. Renault supply the SDcard for the satnav, not too expensive, you can purchase the data via their website. It’s fiddly to load the data on the satnav, but persevere and it works a great. I drove one of these vans from zero to 115,000 miles, it was superbly reliable. What you need to ensure though is that the new owner runs the cleaning sort of diesel through the tank every five fill ups or so. The injectors can give way if you don’t use cleaning diesel every so often. Mine didn’t need new injectors even after 115,000 on the clock, original battery too. The injectors are not cheap to replace. If your looking for a hidden compartment, look behind the drivers/passenger seat. There is a void which runs underneath the loading floor. You might be VERY lucky and find plenty of coins in there !, all my spare change usually dropped out of my pockets and ended up in there (some I couldn’t ever recover). Enjoy !…
The wires along the roof, are for the back doors, central locking and brake lights, you can see the loom going into the door on the same side, the "secret compartment" is a bulkhead pass-through for longer items, ie pipes, the original cover is bust, hence a diy one has been put on, that van is 100% standard, i had the same van until 2019 it didn't do well getting rear ended at 50mph
I recon that your van started its life with ‘Otis’ lifts. We had one the same with the hole in the bulkhead with the ‘bag’ in it for long pipes or ladders. The switch for the interior lights was the same and it had the same tie down points. It was also a Manchester registration.
Something a bit different here, bet this van could tell some stories!!! I imagine the customs officers went over this with a fine a tooth comb so doubt there is anything dodgy left in it. Looks like you have done well with this and once Chris has worked his metal magic it will be a very smart little van ready for some honest work for a change🙂
00:40 Gooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaal **Fistpump** Chris thinking get in. First time son. And no-one knows!**
Judging by the newer Zoe that I had, it's very unlikely that it has Apple CarPlay.
Thanks for another fascinating video - your trade doesn't always get the best reputation, so seeing how it can be done properly and honestly is refreshing.
Never ceases to amaze me how you tubers are so precious where dirty cars are concerned.
Rob and Chris, seen that episode of Police Interceptors where they stop one of those vans and find £100k under the floor after a tip off? Suggest get it on a lift and look for voids between the van’s internal and external floors. Good luck with this one.
£$€£$€££££$$$€, happen.
Stolen, recovered vehicles are great, especially impounded ones, more please!
Hello both ,what a surprise to see that you have brought the van from the customs and excise people! Be good to see what you both find especially with the wiring harness in the van. Best wishes from Lincolnshire
Love seeing aiden on the channel what a lovely guy. And rob and Chris you have such a great relationship 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Great stuff gentlemen. And you are always so enthusiastic too, and genuine. I do hope that source becomes a steady, long term source of decent projects as you multiply your business. Great work, and very encouraging. Thank you for sharing.
Loved this episode. Aydin never fails to please 👍🇹🇷
I think the hunting was the ECU re-teaching itself after being off the batt for so long. Also, could you not check the satnav history see where its been? Might be some clues lol. And obviously check the indicator fluid tank for hidden bags of charlie. Much love.
Like I said bud no memory card 👍
That's the same style van my company use its an old lift Engineers van the hole in the cab is for longer bits of equipment and the floor things are for straps at 1 point it would of had double sided bott racking in it
Hi Rob and Chris, something very different, could be a brilliant source of vehicles too. Will turn out a very nice van, and will be very much in demand. Looking forward to this one's progress. Alex.
Chris when Rob shows him the shrapnel - 'Hello' 🤣
Rob, I don’t know how you do it, another brilliant buy and what an interesting / exciting backstory! This is going to be outstanding content, again! Well done mate. Thanks as always. Dave.
I used to buy all sorts from the Humberside police car pound at the Hull end of the M62, good business, and cheap!
Phil
Looks like a great little van! Hope there is a good profit in it for you. Love seeing Ayden at work.
Great video. I never knew these vehicles could be bought, I always thought they were destroyed. Nice to see Aiden again working his magic. Considering how long it's sat, it sounds great, and it's cleaned up lovely. I agree with what many have said here, and fit a window to the door. It might be a bit cheaper. Top work. 👍
The extra wiring loom is most likely for upfitting accessories like a rear A/C, wiring for a Trailer tow package, or power for emergency lighting. The van appears to be well optioned.
I didn't no you could buy vehicles that had been used for the purpose of crime.I thought those vehicles were automatically crushed. I have learned something new today Rob.👌
Yeah have heard that and in some countries they do. Makes sense to sell them on in as is condition for government to get some money back.
Of course they sell it. The government changed the law so they could benefit from the proceeds of crime.
Nice change from the usual stuff you get in 🙂 I bet it'll be dodgy cigarettes and other gear given the wrappers and that about. Even though it's cat S and had no keys, the money inside made up for it 😅 and Rob running around like an excited puppy had me chuckling 😂
Chuffed for you fellas, love how quick it fired up as soon as Aiden turned the key! And yeah, Customs!!! Sold my 18v Snap On battery stuff a little while back to a lad who's dad came to pick it up as he was buying a van over here and leaving from Holyhead to go back to Ireland, had to help him get it opened fully as he said they would just cut the doors open/off to look in the back...
Amazing how you guys keep coming up with really interesting vids! Like your initiative!!
you may need to turn lights on to activate the interior lights?? i had a mecedes 190e 2.6 that started hunting. AA couldn't diagnose why. backed it onto drive, exhaust pushed up against fence and cured the problem lol
that little hole in the bulkhead looks like it was a key box. Security companies have them for all the keys to different places they visit.
Lovely little mota! Only driven to the Continent once by a lovely old villain! At least Customs didn't attempt to blow the bloody doors off!!
0:40 Chris with the bin shot 😂
casual
Really interesting one but a lovely van, it has Manchester plates and looks like it has been left under a tree judging by the massive amount of leaves in there but dying to see more of this van, I think these vans were available in long and short wheelbase versions, will need a new side door but I think the back is repairable also love Aiden,s work he's becoming part of the channel, still my best car channel on the Tube, you're doing fantastic lads
It was under a tree in the pound I collected it from 👍
Old Lift maintenance van. ‘Lift out of service’ tape was a give away.
Aiden seams such a top man . great to have him on the team.
Nothing like a new category of vehicle! Not exactly a Q Branch smuggling installation but different. Surprised Border / Customs service just didn’t drill out the lock rather then the can opener approach.
Why don’t they get Aidan in to open it up for them?
That van Aidan has is proper kitted out too the MAX what a GAFF 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
A big 👍 for this one Rob, nice find.
great video Rob, as others have said why not get Chris to put a side window kit in it , this would make great content and be useful tips to those convet vans to day campers
Will be a great van, ideal for smuggling 😁I think the key guy likes his name pronounced Eye-dan (like Chris at 8:23) not Ay-dan.
Hi I'm a ex ((retired)) European truck driver and I've seen one or 2 vans pulled by the guy's that confiscated your ven and it looks as though there were seats in the back and the cigarette packets are just a cover it's ither been used for drugs and or people smuggling with cigarettes as as a added bonus, first time hear but a great video and very interesting thanks.
Maintained perfectly because they didn't want to get pulled over for bad light or low tire.
Best title yet :) Worth buying just for the bonus 10mm socket to be fair. See there are lots of comment about putting a window in the hole, not really worth the bother, must be loads of them scrapped all in white, bolt on a secondhand door, knock the back out as best as you can, pop an MOT on it and flog it as a quick turnaround. Any van that age will have marks.
Cleaned up well that one. I bet that van has some stories to tell. Thanks for great video👍
Just a thought....the wiring is for aftermarket lights in the cargo compartment and for aftermarket reverse camera....
once it's fixed, take it for a trip through the tunnel & back - see what happens ! ;)
We’d need to send them both a cake with a file bake in it.
Loads of kitchen range, full tank of the black stuff, and some aftershave!!
Brilliant result, look forward to the next episode 👍.
The only mystery to me is _ how come the passenger door was open, then later Aiden had to pick it?🤨🥺😆
I think he uses the picks to get the key number.
He didn’t have to pick it, he picked it to make a key as we didn’t have one
@@sruk thanks for the answer.
@@fredsmith6725 any time bud
@@sruk how does one contact Aiden? I could do with his services on a Lotus I’ve got in the lockup.
😂😂 Biggles Chris like kid in a sweet shop, looking like the gambles gonna pay off the Milk float lives again 👏😊
great vid as usual my take on the "secret compartment" there was some one in the back who passed the cartons of fags through to someone in the front who then sold them to punters at the side of the road and probably why there is coins everywhere just a thought 😀
I was just about to say the same thing, driving around with just the driver visible handing out fags through the bulkhead and window.
This was exactly what I thought. Guy in the back with all the ‘products' they were selling would explain the lights back there so he can see what he is doing with no windows. Then he can just pass the items through the hatch to the front to be sold out the passenger window at the roadside. It’s so discreet and just looks like any other work van from outside. They could have been selling cigarettes but it’s a lot of hassle for not much profit. Most likely selling cannabis or cocaine I think. It’s genius really when you think about it.
That little bit is so u can put long pipes in and the bag attached is so it doesn't scratch windows etc
Don't forget to check the airbox for drugs , kilo of blow hidden in the air filter my make it hunt on tick over lol
Great video as always 👍
Good point lol
Does the tank hold the amount it says it does.
Or are there any welding done in places where there is room for anything
The frame the car is build on is one of the things that have most room
Check spare tire(and tires) some people have gotten home and everything was gone thanks to friction. because it was not placed correct in the moving tires.
Check battery and airfilter.
And keep on looking anywhere there is room for air.
Not everything can smelled or spotted bt x ray.
It can be wrapped good.
Also dont stop if you find 1 room.
Often there is more
Wouldn't it be funny if the people that actually had van bought it back when it's finished ha ha 😅
Good luck guys
and recovered the 3kg in coke in the diesel tank, hence nearly full of fuel. LOL.
Seems pretty obvious to me what they were smuggling, it is Nitrogen, the van is still 78% full of it, I am shocked that customs didn't remove it all first before putting it up for sale!
Maybe they were under a lot of pressure that day so it would have been a lot harder to notice.
Where is the nitrogen located?
@@trolojolo6178 Everywhere man, air is 78% Nitrogen, twas a joke
We've had our vans opened like that before, just to nick some tools while the guys were in Tesco getting lunch!
A compartment that size would only be suitable for high value contraband which would be cocaine, heroin or even firearms. I’m retired police you would not believe the extent of work that goes into the smugglers ingenuity on the vehicles. Even being a police officer we used to look at it all and was quite impressed in the work. Being a person that was always working on me and my dads cars and his lorries it was interesting.. sometimes we would say “ never knew there was that much space in there”. 👍 great video.
Customs should of called iden then they would not of damaged it
I think you and Chris have won a watch with this electric car. On your recovery truck it looked alot worse than it turned out to be .🚗👍🏻
i saw one in Australia the other day. short wheel base.
same type of vehicle with remote controlled compartments.
the front end is smashed but the rest of the body is mint. also has a camping canopy attached. looks stock as a rock
So nice to see you both working together, as a team. Does show that you read comments and take on board observations from followers.
Well done Rob, keep up the good work. 🛠️🔧 Do think you look better in work clothes.?
Love this video. Rob's joy is infectious.
It is halfway to an ice cream can conversion on the back of the truck.
Depending on how long it has sat, the diesel could have gone off, which could cause the hunting or rough running.
Can't wait for my Christmas present this year
It’s still sitting here from last year mate
@@sruk LOL
great little van, can't wait to see it finished
I think this is being looked into too deeply. It’s clearly an ex lease van as proved by Lex Autolease on the plates. It’s got additional wiring, and a hole cut into the bulk head for whoever the initial lease customer was. The work is too neat for a smuggler and what they’d need it for. There’s also a sticker on the back warning about a lift not being in use.
Personally, I think the story is no more complicated than customs needed to see what was in the load area. I don’t think the additional bits and pieces have anything to do with the back story personally. Either way, cracking buy and cracking content for the fans 👍🏾
Yep. Additional wiring is for the additional lights in the back, hole in bulkhead for overlength materials, lashing eyes in the floor for securing those materials. pretty bog standard stuff for a work van. Lift out of service tape stuck on the bulkhead in the drivers side door, It's been a lift service engineers van, it probably had some racking in the back for kit, the sticker on the inside of the rear door is instructions for washing a van with vinyl decals/signwriting, as fitted by Bott, who do van fitouts. Defleeted and sold off by Lex when the lease was up, or after the write off.
Nobody has mentioned the full case of water?! lol
Something different and very interesting. A, quick spot weld on the cut panel entry should do the trick to get it through the MOT surely and wouldn't take Chris 5 minutes? Looking foreward to thye next as always.👍
What a good van Renault kangoo maxi .Rob hole in a door isn’t going to fail mot sharp edges on body panels do ,your door repair took care of problem.