Matt's New Van

[vintagecaravans]

Well Good Things come to those who wait!

I have been lurking for a long long time and waiting for the "Right" vintage Caravans to find me. and I can finally say that today it did! Not only that but meeting the family that has been a part of this vans history was a real treat and I am sure they will be no strangers to me or the vans future restoration.

I have looked at a lot of vans but never found the right one till now, and it was through the forum for sale section!

The van has been tucked away in a nice dry shed for possibly over 40 years and it in great shape, it has clearly been well cared for and made to be a part of the family, and I couldn't help but feel a little like I was being interviewed more than the van was being purchased! and the best part it has been sitting literally three minutes drive from my front door! lol

Any help identifying it would be great, as it looks to be a factory produced model and very well finished off, it is 12 foot long (not 14 as advertised) and around 6 foot 6 wide it has four windows, front and rear, one each side at the rear and interesting window frames. There is a dinette at the rear and single bed with what looks like provision for a second "Bunk" above with metal holders for poles?
it has the original Ice Chest with a seperate chamber for the ice

anyway anough rambling, now for the pictures!

[vintagecaravans]

As I disturbed her Slumber in the shed where she slept for over 40 years:



And the rear dinette, come double bed:





Kitchen and Ice Chest:










And the A frame and Tow Hitch:

[vintagecaravans]

And these are a couple fo the shots sent to me by the family of the van when it was used for outings..............

[cobber]

Good on you Matt

That is a great find, and to be able to talk to
the people who have owned it for so long is
really special, get as much info as you can..... and photos.
Sorry I can't help with it's brand name, looks
like a kit build job to me but don't worry, most
of those that have survived were assembled by
tradesmen.
I like the look of the tow coupling too, can you give
us a close up of it and decipher the numbers on it, and
put it in the thread
vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=technicalstuffboard&action=display&thread=1130624684

Cobber.

[vintagecaravans]

I certainly will Cobber, I collect it next Saturday (weather permitting) so I will get close ups and info for the thread then, and the family have promised many many more pictures of the van and various tow cars through the years for me
Matt

[Franklin1]

Congratulations, Matt. What a great find! Doesn't look like you'll have to do much to it before it can get out there on the trail (as Keith would say )

Love the $180 water pump, too!

You one lucky "son-of-a-vintvanner"

Good luck with it, mate!!

cheers,
Al.

[fbmad]

Hi Matt,

No expert here but based on its shape and its interior it does appear similar to my V V Bondy which has a documented and photographic history.Mine was homebulit in 1953 by a Mechanic in Tamworth N.S.W to one of Keith Winsor's plans.

Yours does appear to be better quality build inside than mine and fitted out better( mine wasn't even built with a sink!!).

I'd "GUESSTIMATE" it was a craftsman built van that was built to a plan ( Hey, I'm a poet!! ) and perhaps built to one of Keith Winsor's plans ??

I'd "GUESS" it's around a mid 1950's manufacture.

Very nice van I must say and even betterer that a fellow forum member is now the owner.

Hang on to any info you have of it that the previous owners may give you.

Its all V V history.

Terry.

[Don Ricardo]

Great to see the photos Matt - what a great little van, and just fantastic to have the photos of her early life. Maybe the current owners have some more photos of her over the years??

Is the current owner amongst the folk in the B&W photos? Would be great if they are and they are happy to be photographed with the van when you pick it up.

By the way - sensible idea not to pick her up today - it's been raining heavily in our part of Melbourne, and no doubt in yours as well. The shock of being out in heavy rain after 40 years might have just been too much for her!!

Regarding the make - what does it say on the rego sticker? You've probably already looked, but there might be a clue there.

Don Ricardo

[firefighter]

Hey V C

looks like you have picked up a nice van ....well worth the wait
for a nice one to pop up & only a few minutes from home
incredible all these old vans poping up in melb & vic recently
F/F ;D ;D ;D ;D

[vintagecaravans]

Thanks for the words of encouragement guys,
Yes most of the family in the pictures (and the next generation) were all there today to meet me, and the dashing fellow in the first shot is Albert the former custodian on the caravan, we made sure we got a few pictures of us performing the customary gentleman's agreement and handshake!

I have to say this has been a wonderful introduction to the ownership, and if all of the adventure in Vintage Vans work out half as memorable as this I will be a remarkably happy man!

Couple of fast facts, the rims look to be FX FJ Holden and there was no identifying marks (that I could find) as to origin, the rego papers, hmmmmm well it was last regod in 1978 even then it had been in the shed for a long time with annual renewals, so I am not confident to track them down, but stranger things have hapenned.

It suprised me that a 12 foot van had Hydraulic Brakes on it (or is that normal) , and Albert had fitted Coil Spring "Helpers" as well by the look of it, this van really has been meticulously cared for and set up for great family trips away

When the van was put into storage he removed the water tank so it didnt rust out! and stored it safely up on wooden blocks to save the springs and new tyres recently fitted to the van.

Can you tell I am excited about this van! LOL

Matt

[Deleted]

Hi Matt
Congratulations on a great score. This is the way to find 'em. well cared for and kept under cover. Full documented history and an easy road to reregistering.
AND ITS MADE OF WOOD.. extra cool ;D.
You certainly are a man of good taste.
I will forwarding you your membership papers for "The Royal Society for Preservation of Bondwood Caravans" shortly ;D
Well done mate .

You wrote:
"I have to say this has been a wonderful introduction to the ownership, and if all of the adventure in Vintage Vans work out half as memorable as this I will be a remarkably happy man!"

I can gaurentee you will have many memorable trips away if you stick with the crew here on the goodship "S.S Vintvans"
As you have already witnessed there is plenty of poeple here to help you with your van and reply with words of encouragement.'

Hope to see you on the road soon ;D.
Once again congrats on a great purchase

Reddo

[fbmad]

Matt,

My van is 10 ft 10 and has a Vacuum/hydraulic system.

It has a PBR Vacuum/hydraulic setup that was advertised as a package purchase from PBR in a 1962 edition of Keith Winsors Plans for Caravans and Boats.

Reddo's borrowed this book from me to read before beddie byes so maybe he might be able to scan the page and put it up here.

Previous owner used an AC Delco master cylinder and Ford Pilot brakes with a cut and shut I beam Pilot axle.
The original Kingpin setup was welded up so it didn't move and it then became a rigid I beam axle..
Probably would be frowned upon now by engineers but looking at the welds it will never come apart.
The cut/shut/welds look to be professionally done.

So I'd say the hydraulic setup you have would be original or if not it may have been fitted in its early years later on.

I know that my van had Hydraulic brakes when built as there is an entry in the logbook on Wednesday 19/5/1954 that the master cylinder had to be repaired at Inverell N.S.W.

Just as a matter of interest 6 gallons of petrol on 1/6/1954 at McLean ( near Yamba N.S.W ) cost 1 pound 3 shillings and 3 pence.

Whats that in todays dollars?

$ 2.33 for 6 gallons??



Will be a good looking van behind your EK Matt.

Terry.

[skyline59]

G'dday Matt, i am wrapped to see that it was you that brought the van, you beat me to it by about an hour & a half. I was going to look at it for afriend on saturday at 1.30 & Terry said to ring before i come over just in case the bloke who was coming at 12.00 brought it. Looks like a great buy. After when you have picked it up & have time i would love to see it in the flesh & meet you. Iam over in the eastern suburbs, so i will pm you with my number & try & organise a time to catch up, Regards Brett.

[vintagecaravans]

Brett, LOL I am glad I went early then! when I was talking to Terry and Albert they mentioned that there were a couple of people coming to look at the van, didnt say who though!! promise! but as soon as I saw it I thought it would be perfect for me! so sorry for you missing out though.
As soon as I have it (and cleaned up a little) I will call you and organise a viewing!
I think I have decided to clean it up and register it, that way I can enjoy it, and it doesnt need much work (if any) to get back on the road, and then I will decide what gets restored first while I enjoy the van, cant wait to go on my first trip out in it, might have to follow Tinnies lead and do a tour de force for a weekend!
Matt

[vintagecaravans]

WELL IT IS HOME!!!!!!!!!!
an incident free afternoon spent retrieving the new van, a safe incident free journey (1.3klm via the car wash to home) and many pleasant suprises with the van's condition! it is much better and Older than I first thought!

I will upload piccies to Photobucket and make a link here so as not to slow down anyone on Dial up and hog all the bandwidth !
Cheers
Matt

[Geoff & Jude]

well done,

that really is a nice little van - looks like there's very little to do to it, too.

look forward to seeing more pics, especially of the inside.

geoff 'n jude

[vintagecaravans]

s194.photobucket.com/albums/z107/VintageCaravans/

There are over forty pictures of everything I could get to stand still long enough to take a picture of!
Hope you enjoy these as much as I have picking the van up!

and yeah Geoff and Jude, it looks like it is going to be a great first ever caravan, lucky cause I don't have the skills for a full on Restoration!

I am unsure as to the year, there are a number of things I have discovered today, interior lined with Masonite, very early 48-215 rims with large wheel nuts, Owners told me they bought it off the second owners back in the late 40's? and have a picture of it on holiday in 1951 a while after they bought it??? can anyone confirm if any of this is likely?? I am not sure what I have here ! lmao, I am hoping the original materials on the lino and curtains might help to date it?

Cheers
Matt

[Geoff & Jude]

hi again matt

just had a look at all you photos - that is a really good find - and very little to do, you could hitch up a go after the proper safety checks.

it a wee ripper - have a great time with it.

ps why not consider joining the "meander to to mount" next march as we head through melbourne for the v.v. nationals. there are still four spare places.

for more info, have a look at:

vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=runevent1&action=display&thread=1179794298

geoff 'n jude (again)

[Don Ricardo]

G'day Matt,

Good to see that you were able to get your new treasure home safely, and also great to look at your photos. The van really is in fabulous condition.

You have referred to a couple of things that may help to date it, however the tricky thing to work out is what is original and what might have been added later. For example the lino under the beds and the backing to the curtains could easily have been replaced several times in the life of the van, so even if they date to say 1951 or 1955 (for example) that wouldn't prove that your van wasn't older.

Having said that, there are a couple of things I have noted which to me suggest a 1950's date rather than 1940's:
1. External water tank filler and pump action tap instead of gravity feed water tank.
2. Enamel sink and drainboard in red, as opposed to stainless steel.
3. Laminex table with stainless steel edging.
4. General shape of van.

Also if the wheels are from a 48-215, then you wouldn't think that the van was earlier than 1948. In addition I think that early van manufacturers and home built vans often used second hand wheels (the original wheels on our 1949 Don although the same size were actually off different kinds of cars). If my comment about wheels is correct, this might suggest that your van was one or two years after 1948 when it became possible to get second hand 48-215 wheels.

All the same you have to give a lot of weight to the historical information the previous owners gave you.

No doubt others will be able to come up with a more informed opinion than I have - and may indeed shoot me down in flames (Standby Firefighter). But just for the record folks, when were pump action taps introduced, and when did they start using stainless steel edging on laminex tables??? I am sure that someone out there knows these things.

Don Ricardo

[vintagecaravans]

Thanks Don, I thought that to, need more investigating, dating these is not a very exact science is it?? lol
the table is actually painted masonite, not Laminex, come to think of it there is no laminex anywhere in the van! the whole inside is Masonite.
The Flooring of the van is wooden boards and covered in a very sixties Lino. (unfortuantely no original lino or newspapers under it for age)
the Chassis is a mix of Steel frame and Wooden Crossmembers? I thought that was a little unusual?? The Helper Coil Springs I know were a later addition
I was kinda hoping the tail lights or the electrical socket might have been some sort of clue, the indicators I know were added in 1964 when the new tow car (EH Holden Wagon) was put into service but the tail lamps and wiring seem to be original.
The curtains are the original set (apparently) and have a hessian style backing on them? I can find no date stamped on any of the drawer shells or electrical components.
hehe all small clues but no hard evidence of age. I have even been digging through all the posts looking for similar vans or tail lights etc to help
I am thinking the van could possibly be very late 40's or very early 50's and the date on the picture could be wrong? I suppose in the end I shouldn't loose sleep over it, but it is just one of those things it would be nice to know for sure

Thanks for the help and input
Matt

[firefighter]

Hi Matt
do you know what the rego no was
F/F

[vintagecaravans]

Hi FF, from the rego label on the front it was H55364
M@