Van den Brink's scrapyard

[Webster]

OK just being the devils advocate 'cos not saying I am a big fan of VD Brink, but I have bought parts from him over many years (wonder how long he has been there - but suspect it could be around 20 years???).. I dont think I have ever been completely ripped - I thought some of the stuff may have been a bit pricey, but he always had what I was looking for, and he is conveniently close. Always found him pretty helpful and fiendly as is the lady behind the counter. Last thing I bought from him was a brake drum a couple of weeks ago and I was charged R300. The drum was like new and didnt need skimming.
I suspect that he has been running the business for years, trade has been diminishing, land value has gone up dramatically (that area is expanding like crazy) and its time to move on. He aint getting any younger either!
I will be quite sorry if he packs up as there is nowhere else near me that sells Beetle/Karmann stuff (unless someone knows of a place??)
Anyway - just another point of view, but not saying that I disagree with all thats been said on this topic!!
BTW my Karmann/porsche now going well and being used. In fact it goes extremely well and just needs minor fettling. Will post pictures soon.

[Klaus]

He may have been convenient and relatively priced supplier for many years – but by his actions of late, an enthusiast he is not !

[Dawie]

Bought my doublecab from him in the mid-eighties. Was expensive, but the bodywork was in reasonably good condition. It was partly stripped, so later i had to buy many parts to complete it. Remember that i asked about the reason for the high price.
Derk van den Brink then replied, something like:
Dat is een mooie ding! (The doublecab), and he also considered restoring it himself.

Once bought a "climbing pole" jack from him, and he wanted to know if it was for a really old beetle. Said one should not waste something that special on a new beetle. (In any case the jacking point is smaller on later beetles, so it would only fit older cars).

Was still open farmland at the time. All the way from the cement highway from Randburg's side.

Spent plenty money there. Like Callooker said: "cleaned out my wallet" in the process,
But like Webster also said: "he had the parts".

[Pine]

But like Webster also said: "he had the parts".

[Klaus]

He said to me on one occasion over a cup of coffee that he used to get people just coming and dropping vehicles off with him, both drive in cars and wreckages. He said most of the time they gave them to him as he wasn't too interested. Nice way to take SA's VW heritage and put it in a toilet!

Hey maybe we can learn something from this - anybody got some spare land we can put a zozo hut on and start our own Drive in 'n Drop off business !

[Ron&Gill]

Heritage?

40 years ago, an Beetle was hardly a collectable... They were lying around like empty beercans... scrap. It's only now they are becoming collectable, so now there is a heritage worth keeping.

People didn't buy the first Model T Ford and say, "Oh, careful with that, it's a collectable!"

Just some perspective on the situation. VDB didn't treat those VW the way we do now because that was then and this is now.

[fig]

VDB is a businessman first and foremost. He is not and never was a Beetle enthusiast, he just saw a large market and catered to its parts and repair needs. All the cars that ended up in his yard were not flushed down the toilet, they gave continued life to cars still on the road. Many cars were salvaged from his yard and restored. I would have found it a lot more difficult to keep my buses on the road over the years without VDB, for used and new parts and repairs.

Regardless of my opinion about his demeanour, I always made an effort to maintain a good relationship with him and it has paid off in trust and lower prices for parts and repair work. He is everything that we have accused him of, but he has provided a valuable service at affordable!!! prices to the ACVW community for decades and continues to do so.

[karmakoma]

Price is determined by market forces, if the market pays, the price will stay the same.... yes, yes, there are exceptions, like petrol etc, but here, you vote with your wallet. And let's be honest, ship the part from the US/UK, wait weeks, hope it gets here, or drive to VDB on a saturday morning, probably get the part for cheaper than the landed cost here, use the change for a breakfast at Northgate, Bellairs Mall, the boerewors roll stand further down Malibonge, or a number of other places, and then go home and get the job done the same day.

Perhaps not cheap, but not as bad as some might think, and definately convenient. The fact that he is closing (eventually) is a loss to our cause, thats for sure.

[Klaus]

Nice way to take SA's VW heritage and put it in a toilet!

I too have had many good experiences with VDB and yes he has played a major role over the years (as did beetle buddies - which most people had the same reaction to in its demise) - my statement above is in reference to the scrap metal merchants that are been used currently in the exit strategy and not the years of service such vehicles it all states and VDB have served - anyway his cars, metals, and bits - his decision - we will have to deal with it and its knock on effects!

[forcecooled]

I think it will be better if I keep my mouth shut on this one!

[jacques Solms]

Looks like a VW grave yard. Very sad!!