ACE CARAVANS..South Australia.

[cobber]

This item from the S.A 'Souther Argus' of June 3rd 1938 is interesting I think.

It introduces us to two previously unknown caravan brands, the 'Ace' and the 'Engel', right down at the bottom of the item.
It is also of interest that there were five 'Ace' caravans present and two of them were in the possession of gentlemen by the name of Mr. G. Furness and Mr. H. Furness.
Were they related to Mr. Keith Furness of 'Furness Caravan' fame ?
In the 'Furness' thread in DHL we have an advertisement for a 1938 Furness van so.... next question, is there a connection between 'Ace' caravans and 'Furness' caravans.
I can't find evidence of the Ace brand surviving beyond 1938.



Another advertisement that mentions Ace caravans in the Adelaide Advertiser Aug. 31st 1938



I can't find any other mention of 'Engel' caravans so might be wise to leave them until further evidence of their existence comes to light.

Cobber.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Cobber,

Thanks for this new information. The manufacturers and brands just keep popping out of the wood work don't they?

With so many Aces on the trip you'd have to think that the vans were produced in reasonable numbers - but perhaps the run just included all the members of the 'Ace Caravan Club'.

I rather like the tag "non-prop" - non-proprietory. Rather more flash than 'home built', eh?

Don Ricardo

[Don Ricardo]

Feb 2, 2014 16:09:32 GMT 10 cobber said:

This item from the S.A 'Souther Argus' of June 3rd 1938 is interesting I think.

It introduces us to two previously unknown caravan brands, the 'Ace' and the 'Engel', right down at the bottom of the item.
It is also of interest that there were five 'Ace' caravans present and two of them were in the possession of gentlemen by the name of Mr. G. Furness and Mr. H. Furness.
Were they related to Mr. Keith Furness of 'Furness Caravan' fame ?
In the 'Furness' thread in DHL we have an advertisement for a 1938 Furness van so.... next question, is there a connection between 'Ace' caravans and 'Furness' caravans.
I can't find evidence of the Ace brand surviving beyond 1938...

Cobber.

Hi all,

Turns out that Cobber’s speculation about Ace caravans having a connection to Furness back in 2014 was spot on! In fact the ‘Ace Auto Cabins’, as the caravans were called, were built by Furness. Although they preceded the Furness branded caravans introduced in 1938, they seem to have been identical in design.

More information about Ace caravans can be found here.

Don Ricardo