Finally got the van underway....

[Deleted]

Hi, It's been a long wait as I've spent 5 months of weekends building 3 sheds and a carport. Finally I'm on holidays for 3 weeks and got my 1965 Harris out and gave it it's first wash in 15 years....
I brought it home from my mates place 3 months ago where it had been in his shed for 15 years. His Mother was the second owner.
Today I washed the outside, removed the old curtains and ordered material for new ones, removed the broken exterior light and checked the underside.
Tomorrow I'll clean up the interior and check the fridge and annexe and go looking for a nice exterior light to cover the holes from the old one.
Friday some new tyres and check the wheel bearings.
Hopefully I'll get it purple polished before my leave runs out early January and we'll give her a run behind my FB Wagon.
I must thank everyone who posts on here as I haven't said much but learn't a lot.
That's could change....lol ;D








Monster of a jockey wheel.....works well so I will keep it.



The last pic is of my broken knob.....in fact I have 2 broken knobs.....if anyone knows a source I shall be eternally grateful. I found some locally but they are blue.

Cheers

Brian

[Miss Molly]

She's a cutie Brian...looking forward to more pics...

[JBJ]

Hi Brian

Plastic can be repainted if you use a product like "ESP" which allows new paint to bond to plastic.

As an alternative, contact Dale McShane at Classic Plastic. He lives on the Gold Coast Qld. From memory in Mayjohn Street, Carrara. If you cant find his contact details, you should be able to find him in our suppliers list. He can reproduce pretty well any plastic product you need from a sample, in most colours. He did some great red ones like yours, so cheaply I was amazed.

His service is good, & prices quite reasonable.

JBJ

[hilldweller]

Very cute. Did it have a name painted on the front?

[Deleted]

Hi,
It has the name Cooronger on the front and back.
The Coorong is bout 80 k from me.
I've taken some pics of it to have it redone after a polish.
Cheers
Brian

[Deleted]

Thanks JB

[Deleted]

Thanks Molly.
Hopefully I'll take some more tomorrow.

[cruisindoug]

That looks to be in great condition - any pics of the inside?

I seem to remember those knobs being on here before, I reckon one of these suppliers will probably be able to help.

Cheers

Doug

[Deleted]

Thanks Doug,

I'll take some pics of the inside today after I clean the floor.
Cheers
Brian

[Deleted]

Here's some pics of the interior.
Checked the fridge today and that's not working. Gonna get the local heating and cooling guys to have a look in the new year.
I cleaned the floor and re-glued 3 loose floor tiles. Checked the annexe out and the colours look nice and bright. No poles though. I guess the camping stores might stock wooden poles? My mate said his parents never used the annexe.
Went to the auto shop and luckily found the exact match in tail lights and side indicators. Started changing them but left side is a bit corroded on the lamp holder. I'm using the new backing rubber, lens and chrome surround but retaining the old lamp holder plates as mine have 3 lamps and the newies only 2.
Anyway it was an enjoyable day and I'm getting somewhere slowly....


Check out the portable stool at the table....it was in the robe and fits into a chrome hole on the floor. Doubt it was an option and I wonder how there would be enough room for 3 to eat there..


Not sure why the hole above the fridge? Should there be a door?




The back is a double seat and table which folds down for the bed











Went hunting for an exterior light today without luck. I need something around 20cm in diameterso it covers the holes of the old bunker light that disintigrated. Time to surf evilbay...

Any advice or recommendations gratefully accepted...... ;D

Cheers
Brian

[Miss Molly]

Love those cushions Brian!

[barkpaint]

Those cushions are in remarkable condition for their age, just perfect. If the foam is not so good or smelly, could you even keep the covers? ie. put in new foam. Love the cute little stool, but would have to agree, pretty useless, unless the wife of those times, was a tiny little woman, not just in name. Just so quirky. cheers, Heather

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Crown115,

That's a great little van you've got there. The name 'Cooronger' doesn't ring any bells for me - yet - apart from the possible/likely reference to the Coorong you've already mentioned (however, see below).

However, I do have a couple of observations to make. First, I am 100% certain that your van was built by FJ & E Schrader, who also built caravans sold under both the Harris and Sportline brands in South Australia. If you look at the vans in the following posts, you can see that they are very, very close in design to your van:

Harris: Reply #7
Sportline: First post and Reply #4

These vans don't have the three part, wrap around front and back windows like yours, and also have different side cladding. However, there are some photos of a larger Harris (Reply #4 on that thread) that has windows like yours and the same side cladding. From that, I think that your van is of a similar vintage to that larger Harris (we don't know the date for that one, but maybe mid-60's or a little earlier?).

Apart from the external design of the smaller Harris and Sportline vans being so similar to yours as to be almost identical, there are also a number of internal features which indicate a common origin. Note especially the design of the laminex splash back above the sink, with the little shelf running along it.

While I am certain I stand on solid ground re the Schrader origins of your van, my second observation is quite a bit more tentative. It relates to the Cooronger name and the style of the signwritten name on your van, and goes along the following lines...

There was a caravan dealer in Bendigo in the 60's who used to buy and sell (most likely second-hand) vans and put his own name on them, irrespective of who built them. The name he used was 'Korong' which is the name of a mountain and a district north west of Bendigo. The thing about this that interests me is the similarity between the names Cooronger and Korong, and the fact that they both seem to have geographical origins. In addition the style of the Konong signage painted on those vans is not dissimilar to the style with which Cooronger has been painted on your van. You can check out the Korong signage on this thread - see Reply #3.

I am not really saying that there is a link between Cooronger and Korong, but the apparent coincidences are, at the very least, intriguing.

Don Ricardo

[Deleted]

Hi Brian,
gap above the frig is for a cutlery drawer,looks like a later model frig has been installed and a bit of chop chop going on!
Cheers
hughdeani

[Deleted]

Thanks Don,
Thats great information. The reason I have been coming to this site is because people like yourself help out and pass on knowledge and tips as well as what to watch out for.

I did check and the van was purchased from the original owner in 1968 in Adelaide. They bought it from friends who purchased it new. It also has an ETSA electrical certification sticker on the front window dated 1965.

Thanks hughdeani. I also thought it was chopped with the door on the right being oddly shaped. I hope the local heating/cooling guys can get it running. I did find the original user manual for the fridge in a cupboard.

Only fitted new tailight and side indicators today. Fortunately they were identical to the ones on there.
Still trying to find a 20cm oyster light for the exterior.
Something should turn up as the local speedway run a caravan demolition derby every January (it should be banned!) so might find some parts.

Cheers
Brian

[Deleted]

Hi bark.
The cushions are fine as are the inners. Only one button missing on one.
I will be using them for sure as I'd like to stay close to original. The curtains were past their use by date and will be replaced.
Cheers
Brian

[jamesandbel]

Hi Brian,

The van is in pretty good condition compared to what ours was. M

I am pretty sure I have 2 handles exactly the same as what you are after as we have the same van.

I will have a look today and advise. If I do have them they are all yours.

I will let you know tonight.

Cheers

James

[Deleted]

Thanks James.
That would be awesome!
Cheers
Brian

[jamesandbel]

Hi Brian,

I have the knobs. So if you still require them they are all yours mate.

Send me a PM and we can work out how to get them to you

Cheers

James.

[Deleted]

Hi James
PM sent

Cheers

Brian

[henley]

Nice hub caps i had a old chrysler valiant back in 69 with those same hub caps

[Deleted]

Hi henley,
Unfortunately I don't own a Valiant although I wouldn't mind adding one to the collection.
All my cars are Holden except for 1 Pontiac so I will change the hubcaps when I take the wheels off next week to do the bearings, get the rims cleaned up and paint them or powdercoat them maybe?

Cheers,
Brian

[annienpete]

Dear All, I'm pleased to say that my parents purchased this little Harris beauty from Brian in Sept 2014. Dad and I are enjoying further restoration work together, as we did heaps of construction as a team when I was a kid. It's in good hands. Once completed I think Dad might be able to part with his beloved 14' Vacationer. Annie