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Post by jengray on Aug 26, 2014 12:08:28 GMT 10
Attachment Deleted Hi everyone! I'm a newbie to this site, as well as buying our first ever caravan! Because it's our first, I have learned a lot on this site and its been great reading about other peoples restorations. I need help identifying the old girl we bought. From what I have researched, I think its a Franklin Caravelle but can not find any photos of this same van apart from an old advertisement posted on here on one of the threads. It measures 16ft10 from front brow to back, has the classic diamond imprint pattern on door but doesn't show in photos - she has been painted a few times. The numbers that are on the draw bar read 368-6. Single axle, 6 berth. There are no stickers on it due to being painted. She needs a lot of work, new cladding, timber famework, new ply etc but we cant wait to take the kids away on holidays when she is finished. Any info would be greatly appreciated, will share photos as we go. Jenna
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Post by jengray on Aug 26, 2014 12:09:39 GMT 10
Attachment Deleted Also forgot to mention it has corner windows both front and back - they were painted over too.
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dayno
New Member
Posts: 22
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Post by dayno on Aug 26, 2014 13:16:33 GMT 10
Hey Mate, I'm fairly new at this vintage vans stuff too, but if you look Here you can learn all about chassis numbering. Looks to be a franklin freeway built in the first few months of 1966. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. in the down history lane section there is a franklin caravan thread that might be of interest aswell. Welcome to the forum. cheers dayno
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Post by jengray on Aug 26, 2014 13:55:22 GMT 10
Thanks Dayno, I looked at the freeways but where the wheels are looks different, my van has cut outs on an angle, rather than the round looking type of the freeways. Who knows though? I read about the numbers, its a 1966 something then
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dayno
New Member
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Post by dayno on Aug 26, 2014 14:23:10 GMT 10
Hey Jengray,
sorry about the 'mate' just realised you were of the female gender. The freeways have the same front end as yours, the caravelles are more rounded at the front where as yours has the sharp finish just below the windows. The photos of the freeways in the chassis thread have covers over the wheel well, but yours doesn't. Maybe one of the more knowledgable members can tell us if the freeways all have the sharp wheel well behind the cover?
What size wheels are on the van?
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Post by jengray on Aug 26, 2014 14:34:39 GMT 10
Hi Dayno,
haha that's ok. I see know what you mean and I agree with you, it does look more like a freeway. Still cant find any photos of others the same length. I think the husband said the wheels are 13 inch, in great condition too, will have to get some hub caps for them. Its hard to tell if it had covers over the wheel well from all the paint jobs its had.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2014 17:32:28 GMT 10
Hi jengray, Yes it is a Franklin Freeway,early silver aluminium model that has been painted over. The wheel cut outs were covered by spats in this model,then the cut outs became smaller in later ones. Not a very common layout though,have only seen one other of your model and one white aly model.It was a shorter version of the 18.6 model,kitchen is smaller and missing dressing table at the end of bunks. Hope this is helpful Cheers hughdeani
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Post by jengray on Aug 26, 2014 17:49:41 GMT 10
Thank you Hughdeani! Now I can relax knowing what it is! Explains why I cant find a picture of one. I'm guessing they are not around because it seams really big for a single axle, or was probably not much more money to buy the 18.6 model. We are going to re-clad her because of all the paint and bogged up holes, maybe we should keep her silver? Would be interested to find out what the original paint work looked like if it had any. Thanks again jengray
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2014 18:26:21 GMT 10
Jengray,if you go to the down history lane section and look under Franklin,you will see silver Franklins with the different stripe arrangements from those eras. Franklins came up to 18.6 on single axles,because they were such a light van,it was your choice. Yours looks like the stripe was the centre section. Is the painted centre a flat aly?sometimes a flat aly was used where they painted stripes,as easier to apply. Cheers hughdeani
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Post by jengray on Aug 27, 2014 5:45:44 GMT 10
Thanks Hughdeani, yes the center section is flat aly. We are looking at re-cladding the whole thing in flat aly because being in Tassie we cant find anyone who makes the same profile and too expensive to freight here. Might have to get wheel spats custom made. Thanks for all the information everyone, greatly appreciated ☺
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2014 6:31:19 GMT 10
Just make the wheel spats out of plywood,a few coats of gloss paint and fit with screws and cup washers! Easy.
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