coming soon for sale

[Deleted]

Yep, thats right folks ......one of these Travel Sleepers has turned up for sale!

Stay tuned ...................................

Mark


TRAVEL-SLEEPER

Manufactured by Caravan Equipment Coy Pty Ltd
25-27 Bellambi Lane, Bellambi, NSW

---

1967 advertisement for Travel-Sleeper:


(Source: Australian Motor Manual, no 300, October 1967, p 56)

---

Extract from G Haslar & N Lowe, "The New Mini Vans"
Australian Motor Manual, no 300, October 1967, p 57

[destrier]

Ohhhh... Nice..

[Franklin1]

Well, well, well...

Finally Bellambi gets on the vintage caravan map of Australia!

Never heard of this mob before. I wonder if they actually built them there, or were they imported? ("European suspension")

No.25 is now basically a vacant block (Nos 21 & 23 were resumed for the Northern Distributor 'freeway'). No.27 has the old house at the front and a large shed at the back. Whoever owns the complex now sells timber cubbyhouses for kids, so I guess he builds them in the shed at the back.

In 1971 and '72, Clark Rubber stores were selling a similar camper which was imported, although the roof on these folded over to the back to become a rear floor, rather than a side floor like the Travel-Sleeper...





They were supposed to sell them for $799 each (only the one model available), but they were all "slightly damaged" during shipping, so they ended up being sold for $599. They stopped selling them in 1972.

Is the Travel-Sleeper a fibreglass shell, or something else??

Anyway, good to see ol' Bellambi on the map. Nothing else much happens around here.

cheers,
Al.

[griffin]

It would seem there was some activity in Bellambi as early as 1964 according to this advertisement from Wheels Magazine that year, but the price doubled in just 3 years

Franklin 1, got any old phone books or local papers you can check back through to find out when they started?

George

[Deleted]

yep, spot on George ........in fact the one for sale is a 1964 model











Mark

[Deleted]

From Donald

Hi Mark,

Saw your site and appreciate it is an info site,
which has some great stuff. I would however be most grateful if you are able
to provide me with some details of were would be the best place to
advertise my classic early 1960's vintage travel-sleeper convertible
camping trailer - The Exploer de Luxe. Thought you would have some good contacts
given your interest in vintage caravaning.

I have for sale a classic camper trailer that has
been in our family since purchased by my father in 1964 from the manufacturer
Caravan Equipment Coy Pty Ltd of Bellambi, NSW near Wollongong. It is all
original and in good condition, and has been stored for many years. I would like
to see it go to a good home and am offering it for sale. I've attached some photos and a copy of the original pamphlet with
instructions and details. The camper is not fully erect in the photos and there
is an annex as well.

Should you know of any sites I can advertise on or
contacts that might be interested in the camper trailer, I can be
contacted on 0429 643536 or 07 33592280.

The trailer camper is located in Brisbane.
The asking price is $2700

Kind regards


Donald



















The camper trailer comes with all the original camping gear purchased when it was new
















The camper also comes with the optional extra "tilta-bar" which allows the camper to be stored on its side



Mark

[Franklin1]

Well, I think it's only fair that someone who actually LIVES in Bellambi should have first dibs on a camper that was manufactured in Bellambi.

It can be stored on its side, huh?

Hmmm...have to check the gap down the side of the house.

[sportsman 1]

It's all yours Al.

Mind you, if it had been a Sportsman instead of an Explorer Deluxe there may have been some competition.

Leigh.

[Franklin1]

G'day Leigh,

Yeah, I can well imagine the tussle we'd have if a "Sportsman" moniker was on the camper somewhere.

I think the reality is that with four vans on our property at the moment, the "Minister for Finance" would take a dim view of a fifth van suddenly appearing.

I've even thought of devious means of adding it to the "collection"... "Hey honey, I've bought you a new garden ornament. See? It's a 'Travel-Sleeper' water fountain! You hook it up to a hose, and water sprays out of its tow coupling! Cool, ay?!! Can we keep it? Huh, can we?!!"

So even though the historian genes in my body are in a highly excited state at the moment, I think I'll reluctantly have to let this one pass.

Whoever buys this camper should be encouraged to bring it to this year's Coledale event. Then they could bring it another 20 kms further south, and we could set up a photo shoot with it outside the manufacturer's address. (Could be a good story for a magazine... are you reading this, paparazzi ? )

cheers,
Al.

[paparazzi]

Hi Al,

Yes, we would love to photograph this vintage camper trailer. How did you guess? Unfortunately we won't be at Coledale - have another commitment at that time. C'est la vie.

Papa & Mama Razzi