Can anyone identify this aluminium-clad van?

[bluesteel]

Hi Folks

I'm sure you get this a lot, but can anyone identify this van? It has aluminium cladding but was painted, lower half is anodised. 14 1/2 feet long, 2 roof openings, all windows open, screen door, 16(x5?)" wheels with a 6-stud 5.5" PCD, Electrolux 2-way fridge (plate shown), Tudor stove was made in Sydney. Can't find a chassis number... The 'instructions to caravan users' from the South Australian electricity board inside a cupboard is dated 5/73 but don't know if its original.

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Anyone got any ideas? I've heard "Franklin", "definitely not Franklin", "possibly Kiwi import" (but doesn't match any of the three listed in down history lane).

Cheers,

James

[Deleted]

Hi James,
You probably won't get many more answers on this site about your van,as most of us are on both!
I think you will get help from the wheel buffs though!
Cheers
hughdeani

[Don Ricardo]

G'day Bluesteel,

That's an intriguing van you have there! As to its origins, it's got me beat at this point...

However, some of the things that particularly strike me are as follows:

• The shape of the van looks to me to be very late 60's or 70's
• The profile of the cladding with the pattern of three stripes with space in between the stripes is quite unusual, and at the moment I can't think of any other van I've seen with that profile cladding. (Maybe I have, but I can't think of one, and I've just looked through the Down History Lane section and can't find a van with similar profile cladding.)
• It looks to me as if the cladding on the upper parts of the sides has been recently polished, so maybe the whole van had a baked enamel finish at one point (which would fit a late 60's or 70's build date), but has been partly polished. (Maybe you know when the upper half was polished?)
• The overhead cupboards in the galley area are unusual because the vertical dimension is quite long, whereas the galley cupboards in most caravans are more horizontal in orientation.
• The club lounge and the bed arrangement at the back with the cushion in between again is quite unusual for a vintage era van. So that further suggests a late 60's or a 70's build date to me.
• The design of the additional reinforcement under the A-frame may be a clue to the van's identity. However, the A-frame appears to be quite long and may have been replaced, which might explain why you can't find a serial number.

Just a few observations that may suggest what to look for when your comparing your van with others. In the meantime we can all keep on thinking...

Don Ricardo

[DC3Td]

There are at least 4 hub cap lugs on the 6 stud rims.I`m thinking it was originally fully painted & some one has stripped the paint in the now bared areas & polished.OK Bluesteel,time to check in/under/behind cupboard doors/drawers/table.Wonder if it floated downstream from NZ?

[Don Ricardo]

Hi again Bluesteel,

I've just worked my way through a history of NZ caravans called Vantastic by Chris Hunter, and for what it's worth I can't find a NZ caravan that looks anything like yours in terms of either shape or the type and profile of the aluminium cladding. That's not conclusive because Hunter doesn't include a photo of every brand, let alone every model, of NZ caravan in the book. However, looking through Vantastic did serve to remind me that the design and style of NZ caravans in the vintage and classic era (ie pre-1980) was distinctively different to Aussie vans. It was also evident that the type of cladding used on NZ vans was also distinctively different to that used on Aussie vans. I couldn't find one photo of an NZ van with aluminium cladding similar to the type of cladding used on Australian vans in the 1960's.

Again I need to emphasise that Vantastic doesn't include a photo of every make and model of NZ van. Nevertheless, I think what the above comments mean is that your van is most probably an Australian built van. In addition, based on the fact that your van is South Australian registered and has the instructions from the SA Electricity Board (is that the same as ETSA now?) attached to it, I think that quite possibly means that your van is SA built. The reason I say that is that prior to the late 60's, caravan manufacture and sales were very much state based, so that the vans we are finding now were very often (but not always) built in the state where they are found. This began to break down in the mid-60's when some manufacturers such as Franklin, etc, began to build vans on an assembly line in big numbers and transport them for sale all over Australia.

Again nothing concrete to tell you, but some comments which may or may not be helpful (and/or prove to be correct).

DC3Td's comment about looking in and under drawers, cupboards, etc, is a reference to the fact that sometimes caravan manufacturers wrote the build date and/or the serial number and/or model name in pencil on the components as they were being installed in the vans. I presume this was to ensure that the right bits went into the right vans.  The other thing to look for is trade marks on ply or masonite, etc, Often the trademarks include an indication of when the material was manufactured, or where it was made.  Hopefully you will find some markings inside your van that will help you find out the origins of your van.

Good luck with your search.

Don Ricardo

[CanAm]

That is quite unique looking - I like it.

[bluesteel]

Thanks so much for your thoughtful insights, guys, even if we haven't identified it yet!

The previous owner was a lady in Adelaide (where we are too) who bought it to clean up and resell. She's the one who stripped the paint off and polished it only a couple of months ago. I presume that it was originally painted but can't think how I could verify that. My mistake - the sign in the cupboard is from ETSA - 'Electricity Trust of South Australia'. Given everyone's thoughts about it's approximate date matching that sign, I'm thinking that it probably is original. Also, the Electrolux fridge model matches one seen in a early 70's Millard that lives around here.

I'd be surprised if the draw had been replaced, because of the old central jockey wheel still in situ, but will look for futher signs of this, and have another good hunt around in the cupboards and draws.

In case anyone hasn't seen my other posts, I'm having a lot of trouble finding a spare wheel or two for this!

Cheers,

James

[DC3Td]

G`day James.You might have to consider changing hubs down to 14 or 15" which would give you a better ride & more scope for regular wheels.Other than that we wait with bated breath for any other clues re your little gem.

[foxy]

Have tried looking for compliance plates on both the fridge and stove as these sometimes can give you an idea of when the van was constructed,
hope this is of some help

[bluesteel]

DC3Td - why do you say that smaller wheels would give a better ride? I would have thought it the other way around...

Foxy - There is another plate that I can just see on the back of the fridge but it is hidden by the ventilation panel. I want to remove this anyway to improve the seal around the fridge so will take a look soon! I pulled the stove apart to service it but there were no leads there.

[DC3Td]

Gday James.Its a case of gravity sort of.Lowering the height enhances the ride insomuch as wind tolerance (swaying)& keeping tyre/wheel size more inline with the tow vehicle.Would be ideal of course to know what the current wheels are but in most cases changing/swapping hubs over is no big deal.Easiest way (if you decide to do it) is remove one wheel take bearings to your nearest axle/springs outlet & see what they say regarding putting on ford or holden hubs/wheels or ones as on your tow vehicle.I bought a pair of 5 lug hubs for $90 for my teardrop.Whilst i would`ve preferred original 15" FX/FJ i opted for aftermarket hubs for the time being although the rims are period.Others i`m sure will offer ideas/advise. gordon