Post by Don Ricardo on May 11, 2013 14:56:50 GMT 10
Hi all,
On 6 May 2013 Shesgotthelook posted a link to a van on Ebay:
The seller described the van as follows:
"All original early 60's Bondwood Caravan. Just imagine it being towed behind your classic car or hot rod!!!!
"This is what I have been told about this barn fresh bondwood caravan.
"The van was built in Sydney in the early 60's by a professional builder and it listed as homemade. It is very well built and very solid!! It was towed from Sydney to Alstonville NSW(Near Lismore, Ballina) in 1977. From 1977 until last August it was in a shed in Alstonville. The 90 year old owner sold it to one of his friends son who got it in a roadworthy state so he could tow it to his property in Old Grevilia (Near Kyogle NSW). He was going to use it to sleep in while working on his property on weekends but only ended up using it a few times. I came accross it and negotiated to buy it from him. He was reluctant to sell it, but as it is was Bondwood construction, and wasnt really suited to being out in the weather, I convinced him to let it go. I collected it and towed it to Brisbane without any issues. It towed really well and I hardly even new it was there.
"It is totally original and has the original stove, lights, cupboards etc.... It is as solid as a rock and has no water damage or soft spots. It was undercoated in grey back in the 80's and this is still on the van. It has bubbled and cracked in a few spots but is still in pretty good shape. It would only take a light sand, undercoat and paint to bring this old girl back to her former glory.
"The inside is in amazing condition!!! Recover the cushions, new lino on the floor and a wipe over is all it needs. It still even has the original power transformer in one of the storage compartments.
"I bought it with a plan to tidy it up and use it but the space I had arranged to store it in is no longer available so I have decided to let it go to a good home so it will hopefully be travelling the roads in another 50 years.
"All photos show the van exactly as it was when I picked it up and it is still exactly the same. I plan on getting it out sometime this week and giving it a basic clean up. The dust on the outside will wash off easily and it will look a lot cleaner than it does in the pics."
One of the striking features of the Ebay van is its 'double pane' side windows.
Later the same day, Cobber replied to Shesgotthelook:
G'day again SGTL
This van looks very much like what we call a Carefree caravan .... although they say this one was built in Sydney
Looks like all it needs is an ice box and away you go... Touring
Cobber.
The Carefree caravan to which Cobber referred was this one:
There are more photos of this van at the link Cobber provided.
At the time the photos of the Carefree van were posted in 2009, Cobber suggested there may be a connection between the Carefree and two vans which had previously been owned by himself and Earlee.
This is Cobber's van:
This is Earlee's van:
Having looked at these photos, there is some similarity in overall shape between the vans. But I am now doubting that there is a connection between the three vans with 'double pane' side windows and Carefree caravans for the following reasons:
Based on this last question, I have posted the pics of the Ebay van, and placed this thread in the Down History Lane section for further discussion.
If anyone knows of a manufacturer who built vans with double pane side windows - apart from Jennison and Litecraft - perhaps you can let us know. Maybe it's another part of this puzzle?
Don Ricardo
On 6 May 2013 Shesgotthelook posted a link to a van on Ebay:
The seller described the van as follows:
"All original early 60's Bondwood Caravan. Just imagine it being towed behind your classic car or hot rod!!!!
"This is what I have been told about this barn fresh bondwood caravan.
"The van was built in Sydney in the early 60's by a professional builder and it listed as homemade. It is very well built and very solid!! It was towed from Sydney to Alstonville NSW(Near Lismore, Ballina) in 1977. From 1977 until last August it was in a shed in Alstonville. The 90 year old owner sold it to one of his friends son who got it in a roadworthy state so he could tow it to his property in Old Grevilia (Near Kyogle NSW). He was going to use it to sleep in while working on his property on weekends but only ended up using it a few times. I came accross it and negotiated to buy it from him. He was reluctant to sell it, but as it is was Bondwood construction, and wasnt really suited to being out in the weather, I convinced him to let it go. I collected it and towed it to Brisbane without any issues. It towed really well and I hardly even new it was there.
"It is totally original and has the original stove, lights, cupboards etc.... It is as solid as a rock and has no water damage or soft spots. It was undercoated in grey back in the 80's and this is still on the van. It has bubbled and cracked in a few spots but is still in pretty good shape. It would only take a light sand, undercoat and paint to bring this old girl back to her former glory.
"The inside is in amazing condition!!! Recover the cushions, new lino on the floor and a wipe over is all it needs. It still even has the original power transformer in one of the storage compartments.
"I bought it with a plan to tidy it up and use it but the space I had arranged to store it in is no longer available so I have decided to let it go to a good home so it will hopefully be travelling the roads in another 50 years.
"All photos show the van exactly as it was when I picked it up and it is still exactly the same. I plan on getting it out sometime this week and giving it a basic clean up. The dust on the outside will wash off easily and it will look a lot cleaner than it does in the pics."
One of the striking features of the Ebay van is its 'double pane' side windows.
Later the same day, Cobber replied to Shesgotthelook:
G'day again SGTL
This van looks very much like what we call a Carefree caravan .... although they say this one was built in Sydney
Looks like all it needs is an ice box and away you go... Touring
Cobber.
The Carefree caravan to which Cobber referred was this one:
There are more photos of this van at the link Cobber provided.
At the time the photos of the Carefree van were posted in 2009, Cobber suggested there may be a connection between the Carefree and two vans which had previously been owned by himself and Earlee.
This is Cobber's van:
This is Earlee's van:
Having looked at these photos, there is some similarity in overall shape between the vans. But I am now doubting that there is a connection between the three vans with 'double pane' side windows and Carefree caravans for the following reasons:
- There is no evidence to date that Carefree vans ever had double pane side windows (although I acknowledge that we haven't seen many Carefree caravans).
- I do not know of any Victorian built vans that were built with double pane side windows.
- The only vans with double pane side windows that I can find were built in New South Wales (Jennison) and Queensland (Litecraft).
- Carefree vans all seem to have had round wheel arches, while the Ebay van and Cobber's van have/had trapezoid shaped wheel arches. (Although, not that Earlee's van had round arches.)
- The shape of wheel arches tended to be a constant in van design, ie van manufacturers tended to choose a shape and stick to it over a lengthy period.
Based on this last question, I have posted the pics of the Ebay van, and placed this thread in the Down History Lane section for further discussion.
If anyone knows of a manufacturer who built vans with double pane side windows - apart from Jennison and Litecraft - perhaps you can let us know. Maybe it's another part of this puzzle?
Don Ricardo
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I draw attention to 
