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Post by First Glass - Tory on Oct 2, 2012 19:49:37 GMT 10
So excited, we just bought our first caravan a 1969 Olympic Debonair. We pick it up on Sunday. I'm over the moon, have been looking at all the wonderful info on these boards for what to look out for and just some amazing photos of what other VV members have done with their vans. Especially inspired by pics of the Loveshack Debonair van in what they did with their van. I'm going to try and keep mine as original where possible. Cheers Tory (Torrich) ;D  ;D |
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Post by First Glass - Tory on Oct 2, 2012 19:53:15 GMT 10
Pic 2
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Post by First Glass - Tory on Oct 2, 2012 19:54:22 GMT 10
Pic 3
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Post by First Glass - Tory on Oct 2, 2012 19:55:13 GMT 10
Pic 4
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Post by First Glass - Tory on Oct 2, 2012 19:56:04 GMT 10
Pic 5
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Post by Roehm3108 on Oct 2, 2012 20:26:33 GMT 10
Congrats on your first V/Van guys. A really smart looking van too!! They've gotta be the flashest curtains in ANY brand of caravan.
Well done and make sure you enjoy it
Ray
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Post by First Glass - Tory on Oct 2, 2012 22:07:40 GMT 10
Thanks Ray, I really love the look of the Olympic Debonair's, very vintage and authentic. Not sure on the curtains LOL there a bit woggy for my taste. Did a Vote on FB most people said get rid of, there obviously not the original curtains. Also, not liking the Hawks colours being a Blues supporter. hehe I'm going to do some further research on the Debonair's and see what I might like to change but also still want it to retain a lot of it's original character of course. Will do on enjoying it...can't wait for us to take it away for our first trip caravanning, plenty of trips doing the camping thing but I think I'm going to quite enjoy this next step up to caravanning, I can't wait to pick it up Sunday....Like a kid in a candy store. Cheers Tory (Torrich)  |
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Oct 2, 2012 22:25:31 GMT 10
hi tory
those curtains have got to be the classiest we've ever seen in a vintage van - must feel like like sitting a formal dining room in an english estate.
look forward to seeing you changes.
geoff 'n jude
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Post by atouchofglass on Oct 3, 2012 17:05:47 GMT 10
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Post by Roehm3108 on Oct 3, 2012 17:33:19 GMT 10
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Post by atouchofglass on Oct 3, 2012 17:56:10 GMT 10
Only to those with discerning taste Ray..... Masonite is definitely dynomite.... except when wet.. OH MY  ;D ;D ;D Just notice this thread is in the toy section.... Perhaps one of our kind and omnipresent Moderators could shift it to the Photo Album section Cheers Atouchof glass  |
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Post by First Glass - Tory on Oct 3, 2012 23:53:36 GMT 10
Hi fellow VV's, sorry for putting it the wrong section under toys is a little bit confusing, the two areas seem similar. Thanks for moving it, sometimes I think it takes a bit for the newbies to get use to where to post, I'm sure I'll get the hang of it. Thank you for all welcome messages on joining the site. Yes those curtains have gotten a lot of comments, not in a good way either LOL.......really aren't to my taste, but hey each to their own, the owner who I'm getting the van off got them made professionally, might cost him a packet and I might say he really likes them and has put them in his Olympic Stardust van also ......I didn't say a word but was thinking OMG. I'm really excited to get my Olympic van, can't wait and I'll post any changes, however don't want to make too many as I like the original feel of the van. Can't wait to have our first trip, it will be the first time I've towed a van, glad it's a light one at that but really looking forward to the whole caravanning thing. We will be going up to Tarra Valley to the Best Friends Holiday Retreat and taking our two pride n joy fur kids with us, should be a blast. Cheers Tory (Torrich) ;D ;D |
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Post by First Glass - Tory on Oct 4, 2012 0:22:48 GMT 10
Had a think about my user name too and by jingos I've come up with it First Glass - Torrich
[glow=red,2,300][/glow] I quite like it. Cheers Tory  |
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Post by First Glass - Tory on Oct 4, 2012 0:29:47 GMT 10
Had a think about my user name too and by jingos I've come up with it [glow=red,2,300][/glow] First Glass - Torrich
[glow=red,2,300][/glow] I quite like it. Cheers Tory |
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Post by takeiteasy on Oct 6, 2012 8:31:18 GMT 10
Lovely van - what's to do? It looks original and in number 1 condition.
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Post by First Glass - Tory on Oct 12, 2012 20:12:47 GMT 10
Thanks Take it easy, Yes the Debonair is in pretty good condition, not really alot to change on it apart from a spruce up. However, I'm going to change the interior colours, getting rid of the mustard & brown colours as it's not my cup of tea at all. The bed seats underneath the cushion covers are a little wrecked held together with gaffa tape. Two of the windows have cracks, which need repairing Getting new curtains. Getting the lounge, bed seats and wall panelling reupholstered in leather, should look quite classy. Just trying to decide on colours, either going for a midnight blue or navy blue with white edging/piping with deep buttoning done in white. Replacing the self adhesive contact in the cupboards as that is quite grungy. Giving it a good clean and spruce up. Was also contemplating whether to change the two single beds to a double, lifting the bed up higher to get extra storage underneath the bed, but I'm not sure i really want to as I don't want to lose the feel of the original vintage van features. Think I'll sit on this for a while and have a good think about it. Cheers Tory ;D ;D |
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Post by First Glass - Tory on Oct 12, 2012 20:26:31 GMT 10
We picked up the Van sunday, it was a dream to tow.
It was my first time towing a Caravan and I must say I was really impressed with the easy of towing it with my Mazda Tribute.
I was like a kid in a candy store for the first time, nervous and excited at the same time.
Can wait to give the van a spruce up (see previous post).
We had some trouble reversing it into our property but I can say, hubby & I are still married LOL......He was steaming at one point PMSL..I think that's it's going to be a time & practise thing being our first time towing / reversing.
Anyway, in the end we had to push it in around the side of house, thank god it wasn't too hard however in saying that hubby did hear a twang in his leg, that will teach him for not staying calm when I told him it's all practice.....ps he hates parallel parking too, he should have given me a go seen I'm quite good at parking but NO that was it he'd had enough by that stage.
I'm sure we'll get the hang of it, was thinking of doing a VicRoads or RACV lesson on it, which might be helpful and practical.
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Trish_M
Full Member
1950's Home Made Bondwood "Bettie Moonya"
Posts: 275
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Post by Trish_M on Oct 12, 2012 20:42:07 GMT 10
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Post by humpyboy on Oct 12, 2012 21:51:08 GMT 10
Nice find Tory, reversing will get easier with time.
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Post by henley on Oct 13, 2012 1:07:41 GMT 10
I like your caravan
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Post by hilldweller on Oct 13, 2012 7:40:31 GMT 10
Reversing is all about practising when not under pressure. It seems a lot of women won't even try so good on you  Is there a supermarket carpark or something you could go to when it's closed and just practise with lots of room? The new colour scheme sounds very smart! |
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Post by atouchofglass on Oct 13, 2012 11:16:48 GMT 10
Welcome Nice van and glad to see another plastic saved. ;D ;D ;D ;D Reversing as many have said will come in time. Just remember that if you have brakes on the van. You will need to put the little reversing tab down on the tow hitch. That stops the brakes being applied while you are trying to wrestle with the car and van. It's all part of the caravaning experience. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Cheers Atog
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Post by takeiteasy on Oct 13, 2012 16:03:53 GMT 10
Was also contemplating whether to change the two single beds to a double, lifting the bed up higher to get extra storage underneath the bed, but I'm not sure i really want to as I don't want to lose the feel of the original vintage van features. Think I'll sit on this for a while and have a good think about it. I just changed my double back to two singles. A double is romantic and all but in small vans the person on the inside usually has to crawl over the person on the outside to get up. And we need a queen size as a minimum... a double is too small for us. Two singles makes for much better sleep. I was going to lift the beds to make more storage but didn't want the temptation of overloading the back end of the van. |
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Post by atouchofglass on Oct 13, 2012 17:51:03 GMT 10
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Post by First Glass - Tory on Dec 7, 2012 12:39:23 GMT 10
Heya,
Love this site, you guys/gals ROCK.
Thanks for all the tips and reply's, yes I've had a good think about and take on board all of the really helpful tips / comments, I'm going to keep it as two singles, make better use of the space to get in & out being a small van and I've just bought footlockers for storage of the vans contents and put then in the middle isle section for even distribution when towing the van and like you said ATOG you can put some ply there when or if wanted to create the double, so something to look at having down the track.
Trish, I will check out glamourgals on the FB and see what it's all about, will let you know.
Thanks Humpyboy, yes I'm quite loving my find and I'm sure I'll get the reversing thing down pat after practice.
Thanks Henley, I like it too
Thanks Hilldweller, great ideas there too to practice at a quite carpark or SC. I'll def' give anything a go, not afraid to get stuck in and I'm a pretty handy girl with the old tools & machinery. Colours I've decided with be Navy & White, as I've got doona covers in that colour, the cupboards inside and the kickboards where the bed & couches are also in white and the outside of the cupboards I'm keeping the originial timber veneer cause it's in great condition and I'd like to try and keep it mostly in it's original form, curtains & couch / bed cushions will be done in the navy blue with white piping / borders, should look AWSUM once done, really enjoying the process and my vintage van, LOVE IT.
Thanks ATOG, def' another plastic saved, in most original form too
As you & all the other members have said, reversing is all down to practice.
Thanks for your tip because we do have the brakes on the van, so I do need to remember to put the little reversing tab down on the tow hitch, for sure.
Thanks Take it easy for the tips on what you found out with your VV with single to double to single again, that is very helpful cause I thought about that with the towing weight / even distribution and also the moveability of the van inside if we did change it, so I have decided to leave it as it, two singles it is, but maybe have a ply board that can transform easily the singles to a double when or if wanted but be able to retract the board to a size where it can be stored in the van easily.
We it's now come time for our first trip away with the van and I'm so excited, like a little kid hehe......I'm towing the van to and from our destination myself along with the fur kids, as hubby has to come later on due to work commitments on that day that we were leaving but I'm really looking forward to it and the whole caravanning experience, were off to Tarra Valley Bestfriend retreat. I'm prepare, I've got my spare wheels, jack, etc just incase, member of RACV too LOL. I've been spending up a storm and I've bought all the contents for my van, was a hoot. Will let you know how I go.
Cheers Tory ;O)
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;D
