"Nowra" van

[Jennison]

Tripping over VVs everywhere!
I have come across a fellow with a little !950s VV for sale.
Its a Nowra van made by pacific coach and trailer co.
I did get hold of some info on them from the owner of one (Mal?, with the red ford hotrod) who was at coledale a few years in a row a while back.
This one is in need of restoration and is sheeted in "durilium" which is apparently what they made spitfires from....I presume the predecessor material or early name for aluminium.
Currently located on a farm between Nowra and Tarago.
Mick is the owner and his number is 02-48445012, price unknown/negotiable
DonR has the photos and will add them to the thread when he has the time
jenno

[Don Ricardo]

Hi all,

Photos of "Nowra" van posted on behalf of Jennison:



See Jennison's post above for details of seller, etc.

Don Ricardo

[smokenell]

How do I find jennison's post regarding seller information?
Smokey

[sportsman 1]

Hey Smokey,

have a look at the first post (on the top of this page) All the details there.

Nice old van this one.

Leigh.

[takeiteasy]

Is that "duralumin" rather than "durilium". I was just reading the wiki on it. Its a copper aluminium alloy used on zepplins originally. Its manufactuer was a WW1 German military secret used to make armoured Junkers planes. Apparently much more prone to corrosion than modern aluminium sheeting. Fascinating stuff.

Lovely little van just the same. It would have to be one of the earliest Aluminium van surely? So many vans - so little money.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Takeiteasy,

People in Australia started experimenting with aluminium cladding in the mid-30's, and then John Jennison started testing aluminium clad Pathfinder vans after WW2, so there were a few before this one.

Looking at the pics I wonder if the aluminium cladding was put on "after market"? There seem to be more joins, etc, than I would expect if it was original, but who knows?

Don Ricardo

[takeiteasy]

Thaks Don. You are right about the joins - and the sheets are of different sizes. It almost looks as if someone had a bunch of odd sheets to work with. Still like it though.