“Mr Jolly Lives Next Door” Honda Acty Van Replica Restoration Campaign #2

"Looking for a good time? So are we...

Dreamytime Escorts?!"

"That's us matey... ESCORTS... BESTCORTS!!"

Hello Jolly Brothers & Sisters!!

Welcome to the 3rd and final "Dreamytime Escorts Honda Acty Replica Van Restoration Crowdfund project" page!

My name is Rob Blackwell (also known as "John Morlar" on Facebook)

If you are reading this Crowdfund page then you may already be huge fans of the greatest & funniest, most violent, quoteable, drunken & sleazy comedy from 1988 Channel 4's "The Comic Strip presents" series - " Mr Jolly Lives Next Door "

For those who are new and are unaware of the legendary comedy film...

"DOES ANYBODY KNOW YOU'RE HERE??"

More info here at the official page on IMDB:

The Comic Strip Presents... "Mr Jolly Lives Next Door" IMDB Page

Quick synopsis :

"The 50 minute made for TV film (directed by none other than the iconic filmmaker Stephen Frears) is about the inappropriately named hitman "Mr Jolly" (Peter Cook) who rents office space next door to Rik & Ade (Rik Mayall & Ade Edmondson) the proprietors of "DREAMYTIME ESCORTS" - London's seediest escort agency.

Through a catalogue of mistakes and misunderstandings, the deranged Mr Lovebucket (Peter Richardson) - purveyor of Wines & Spirits to most of Londons Off-Licences ("well your shop might burn down") - finds he has paid Rik & Ade £3000 to "take out" Nicholas Parsons.

The sleazy drunken Dreamytime Escorts see this as the pinnacle of their escorting careers, without realising the murderous implications behind Mr Lovebuckets commission.

They manage to blow the 3 grand on Gin and the closest they get to obliterating Nicholas Parsons is reducing him to a murderous wreck."

Also starring the talented Rowland Rivron, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French & a host of other brilliant cast members... AND includes the legend that is Nicholas Parsons!

It also stars the "Dreamytime Escorts" mobile - a classic 1981 Honda Acty Panel Van - that Rik & Ade use to terrorize other motorists, pedestrians, hotel guests, Mr Yakimoto and.... Nicholas Parsons.

Here it is in action in the movie...

"NEVER, EVER, BLOODY ANYTHING, EVER!"

As you may have figured out, I am a HUGE and dedicated fan of the classic "Mr Jolly Lives Next Door" (MJLND) movie and for over 25 years I have been slowly getting a "prop" collection together (not actual screen used items but identical movie inspired ones as seen in the movie).

And the Honda Acty Panel Van is THE ultimate prop!

So after decades of waiting for one to come up for sale, I now actually own one!!!

These old Honda Acty panel vans are very very rare (to my knowledge only 4 exist in the UK - only 2 running.. and mine is one of them).

So here it is - my 1979 Honda panel van on the day I bought it 6 years ago...

Like me it has seen better days. After being stationery for about a decade in a farmyard, it now needs alot of restoring to get it to its former glory - and the intention is to replicate it to look exactly like the van in the movie... logo and all.

As the mechanics are completely unusable - a donor 1986 Honda Acty pick up van was bought last year and all the mechanics (engine / shocks / suspension / brakes / exhaust etc) have already been removed, restored and rennovated ready to be swapped over with all the original unsalvagable mechanics in this very rare panel van.

And this is where you lovely people come in...

"WALLET MONSIEUR!"

After finding a garage that specializes in restorations (Vics Classic Autos in Kent) and Vic and Darren (the talented top mechanical experts worthy of the task of restoring this rare van), the work began stripping the donor van, renovating the removed parts and then stripping down the original van.

But it is very costly...

I have invested thousands of pounds already over the last year and a half but alot more is needed to complete the project which is in the very last stages...

The problem is that the van is so old and rusted that the structure needs alot more work than initally thought, including welding alot of rotted panels before the reconditioned mechanics can be replaced.
This will take more time and therefore more money.

And here’s where we are at the moment as of November 2021:

The logos are on, the engine is in and running but there’s a few more bits and pieces still to complete.

"WHO DARES GINS!"

Once fully restored to make it screen accurate (including added the "Dreamytime Escorts" logos) then we can look forward to screeching round London in a Gin soaked stooper, with Tom Jones blaring out of the stereo - avoiding bubble cars, pedestrians crossing the road, hotel guests, and skips!

So I thought that if you fans out there would like to help contribute, not only can we complete this project but you will be suitably rewarded with Mr Jolly merchandise (including the themed style props I have been collecting all these years) to show appreciation of your help.

I am asking for anything up to £3000 (the same amount that Mr Lovebucket paid to Mr Jolly)
***However I PROMISE not to blow it all on 1574 Gin & Tonics (large ones)!!

This money will not only help to cover what I have already paid out so far but the rest will be put towards the continuing work and costs of finally completing the restoration.

As mentioned, there are a range of reward tiers which will not only get you my undying thanks but also some of my collected Mr Jolly inspired / themed bits and pieces.

THE REWARD TIERS:

****ALL THE REWARD TIER PACKAGES WILL BE POSTED OUT TO THE DONATORS AFTER THE CAMPAIGN HAS ENDED (03/09/20)****

1) THE MR YAKIMOTO [£25]

• Copy of script (print transcript completed by me)
• 10 x Mr Jolly themed Badges
• A4 pictures
• CD of MP3 quotes
• Dreamytime Escorts Business Cards
• plus a MJLND movie inspired themed prop - "Prince Charles" Beermats

2) THE HEIMI HENDERSON [£35]

• Copy of script (print transcript completed by me)
• 15 x Mr Jolly themed Badges
• A4 pictures
• CD of MP3 quotes
• Dreamytime Escorts Business Cards
• plus these MJLND movie themed props - "Prince Charles" Beermats / Fairy Liquid Bottle / Lovebuckets Tonic Water

3) THE MR LOVEBUCKET [£50]

• Copy of script (print transcript completed by me)
• 20 x Mr Jolly themed Badges
• A4 pictures
• CD of MP3 quotes
• Dreamytime Escorts Business Cards
• plus these MJLND movie themed props - "Prince Charles" Beermats / Fairy Liquid Bottle / Lovebuckets Tonic Water / Reg's Finger / Dick Turpin Sunglasses

4) THE NICHOLAS PARSONS [£130]

• Copy of script (print transcript completed by me)
• 30 x Mr Jolly themed Badges
• A4 pictures (plus additional exclusive prints)
• CD of MP3 quotes
• Dreamytime Escorts Business Cards
• plus these MJLND movie themed props - "Prince Charles" Beermats / Fairy Liquid Bottle / Lovebuckets Tonic Water / Reg's Finger & minature coffin / Dick Turpin Sunglasses & Hat / Toy Handgrenade / Toy revolver / 2 x old £1 notes plus a note from Mr Jolly.. and anything else i can find!

5) THE MR JOLLY [£160]

• Copy of script (print transcript completed by me)
• 50 x Mr Jolly themed Badges
• A4 pictures (plus additional exclusive prints)
• CD of MP3 quotes
• Dreamytime Escorts Business Cards
• plus ALL these MJLND movie themed props - "Prince Charles" Beermats / Fairy Liquid Bottle / Lovebuckets Tonic Water / Reg's Finger & minature coffin / Dick Turpin Sunglasses & Hat / Toy Handgrenade / Toy revolver / 2 x old £1 notes plus a note from Mr Jolly / Sandwich tin with cheese sandwich & half an apple / Bloodied Machette & Apron / MJLND VHS / Mr Lovebucket style Citreon car small model... and anything else i can find!

6) THE DREAMYTIME ESCORTS [£350]***

• A DAY OUT IN THE COMPLETED "DREAMYTIME ESCORTS" VAN IN LONDON WITH AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A PHOTO SHOOT AT THE VARIOUS LOCATIONS! ***
• Copy of script (print transcript completed by me)
• 70 x Mr Jolly themed Badges
• A4 pictures (plus additional exclusive prints)
• CD of MP3 quotes
• Dreamytime Escorts Business Cards
• plus ALL these MJLND movie themed props - "Prince Charles" Beermats / Fairy Liquid Bottle / Lovebuckets Tonic Water / Reg's Finger & minature coffin / Dick Turpin Sunglasses & Hat / Toy Handgrenade / Toy Revolver / 2 x old £1 notes plus a note from Mr Jolly / Vintage School Satchel containing Sandwich tin with cheese sandwich & half an apple / Bloodied Machette & Apron / original MJLND VHS / Mr Lovebucket style Citreon car small model / Mr & Mrs Cooper Bubble car small model / Severed Arms (awfully good fun)... and anything else i can find!

***This is the top reward tier and is available for a lucky fan (and a drinking partner) to actually spend the day in London in the van with me (dates to be organised in the future) visiting the various locations where the movie was filmed - with photo opportunities & gin drinking - where we can make it messy!

But don't worry.... "YOU DRINK...I'LL DRIVE!!"

More information and updates about the continual restoration can be found here on this Crowdfund page (update section) or on the official Facebook page here:

The Mr Jolly Lives Next Door "Dreamytime Escorts" Honda Acty Project

***PLEASE NOTE***

This campaign only accepts PAYPAL (keeps it all above board and no need to send Mr Lovebuckets henchmen round!) and my PAYPAL account name will show up as "412Productions" not my name of Rob Blackwell. Any problems or questions please get in touch!

"AND OFF WE GO!"

Thank you all so much for your interest and thank you to those in advance for your generosity who want to help me, Vic and Darren to get this rare van back on the road. It's very much appreciated.

Cheers!

...."AND HAVE A NICE DAY!!"