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Post by willyn on Dec 23, 2007 12:13:06 GMT 10
 ;D  Hey there fellow Vintage Vanners I was really disgusted when I Had to pay $1250.00 dollars for this van how dare the previous owners not fix the tears in the seats absolutely dreadful !!!!! I was hoping for that kind of spondoola they would have at least painted and registered it for me    This little Humdinger was built in 1958 at the factory it is called a Commer Gypsy it runs a basic Cortina upgraded motor which incidentally purrs like a kitten gearbox diff are all terrific running condition it has the original book that was issued with the Commer gypsy when it was picked up (see the green book on the kitchen bench )50 years old in three months mechanically is a1 needs windscreen rubbers  the car body has very little rust in it and basically needs some TLC the van section is all in fair order and everything functions properly and was used by an old couple until 5 years ago for there Holiday jaunts around W.A the van section is aluminium the long seat folds to a double and above the cab is a single  I think my first offer to them was reasonable $50.00 Dollars I just dont know why that was not accepted Do you ? it was only that the Van had only done 42.000 miles and the truck tyres still have 80% tread I succumbed to there gruelling bargaining powers and paid the full price   paint and sandpaper is becoming expensive you know  I promised Lyn this is definitely the last time I'm being ripped of on a Vintage van of any description  hopefully the people I ripped off uh ugh cough !!! I mean hopefully the the people I paid this exorbitant amount to trust me to restore it to its former glory the Van was in a van storage yard when I happenned to spot and asked the manager if he could find out if it was for sale the immediate answer was no as it belonged to the owners since new then he called me a week later and they put the price on it Will
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Post by Roehm3108 on Dec 23, 2007 12:44:29 GMT 10
Nice pick-up guys, despite paying such an exhorbitant price for it. I reckon you might have over-capitalised this time, Will ;D ;D Tell me, why do you need such a long bed  You two planning to "top and toe" in your sleeping habits  Ray |
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Post by willyn on Dec 23, 2007 19:00:30 GMT 10
 ;D   Hey Ray That bench is the communal bed for ken kennedys immediate family the whole 11 of them pothead and slimy frog sleep above the cab I have even picked the colour scheme for it where the rear wheels are it will be filled in and the whole area defined by the aluminium strip will become a spat or dress skirt (in cream or white the lower section will be red except for the spat area and the top section above the centre line cream or white I have about 5 weeks left on the 36 chev and I can start on the the new project god bless you padre and jack too Will
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Post by hwyman on Dec 23, 2007 19:40:28 GMT 10
Hey guys whats with the cortina motor has it been converted???
it's original motor's a 1500 rootes(chrysler) the later 2500 series has the 1725 same as the hillman hunter.i have had a couple of these i still have the factory workshop manual and glove box hand book mine were 64and 70 models called highwayman.
(see my avatar)
hwyman. ;D ;D
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Post by willyn on Dec 23, 2007 20:15:55 GMT 10
;D Gidday Highwayman the bloke at the caravan storage yard said the motor was upgraded whatever that means Im not into Pommie cars these days although at $1250.00 im now into them to tell the truth we drove around the 10 acre property and it drove beautifully it has twin carbs and looked a bit bigger than a cortina motor but Im not arguing it happened in a flash so I will study the manual and let you know what the car has in it when I dig deeper The plans you see folded on the kitchen is a plastic covered plan and diagram of the upgraded motor installation the one thing I do know about the Commers they drove beautifully compared with other english vans like the thames which I used to cart my band equipment in in the sixties slow noisy shaky but they got there I am really looking forward to lowering it 6 inches putting 20 inch chrome wheels on it doing the interior with leopard skin covers and painting the walls black and white checks twin 3inch exhausts and a supercharger NOT!!!! I have turned the corner with this one it will be restored to its original condition without modification except for the upgraded motor what is the avatar under highwayman I will follow the thread and read up on it regards Will |
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Post by hwyman on Dec 23, 2007 21:08:55 GMT 10
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Post by willyn on Dec 23, 2007 23:44:48 GMT 10
Thanks for the great information Highwayman
I am following some links to establish the correct name
I think you are correct with that name
I will read the book tomorrow and see if it even belongs to that Van
Regards
Will
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Post by firefighter on Dec 24, 2007 10:18:06 GMT 10
Hey will how you off for badges and panels for this one by the way the axe is in the mail so you can start your modifications when you finish the chev ;D ;D one of the chiefs at work had one of theses ......used to bring it in to work .... and we restored it in our spare time  f/f ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Roehm3108 on Dec 24, 2007 10:30:56 GMT 10
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Post by pymie2 on Dec 24, 2007 11:18:25 GMT 10
Ditto we pick'd up a pop top commer camper two week's ago and a panel van for spares(very rusty) both total $350 the camper runs but bad knock in motor. If you look on commervanfan.co.uk they are as mad on commer as we are on vans(rods666 me) even have V8 V6 and many other strange motor fitments. Ditto on the spat's I've just cut the cardboard temp's out and will cut out of spare van body curves look right a set of side pipes will help it look low also. Motor in the panel is holden six simple fit but cut bell housing for starter motor, I'm thinking holden V6 so to tow rod behind in tear drop like trailer. Will get the better half (computa wise) to load photo's this sarvo after work. Later Pymie |
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Post by willyn on Dec 24, 2007 16:20:26 GMT 10
Gidday Col I was thinking about a 4 ft roof chop what is your proffessional opinion Col the other thought was put mini wheels on it and a 2ft chop or rollerskates and a 1ft chop then I was thinking maybe port and polished dip stick chop and channelled numberplates tubbed rearvision mirror and maybe a 2 inch straight through glovebox to finish it off saab jet motor? or leave the cortina in it ? Will pioneer in commer jet propulsion systems ;D |
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Post by willyn on Dec 24, 2007 16:36:05 GMT 10
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Post by willyn on Dec 24, 2007 16:51:26 GMT 10
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Post by willyn on Dec 24, 2007 17:10:42 GMT 10
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Post by pymie2 on Dec 24, 2007 20:11:04 GMT 10
Hey these 2 are not in 'that' good nick This is number 1 (I'm getting use to this one as it is perfect compared to number 2)     This is number 2 ( I can't look at this without shaking my head)   It maybe good for spare parts & scrap! I can only Hope! Enjoy....Kirstie |
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Post by hwyman on Dec 24, 2007 21:21:37 GMT 10
Hi all will reminded me when he said he wondered if you would see any(commers) at Bendigo swap meet there was a commer auto sleeper the same as pymie2 just purchased there a couple of years back a mob near ballarat called old tin had it for sale so i checked it out and they still have it apparently go to - www.oldtin.com.au/tinyard.htm and click on tin yard it's at the bottom right hand side. $3000 |
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Post by willyn on Dec 29, 2007 15:36:00 GMT 10
Gidday Hwyman I am now Hwyman 2 isnt it great when you get the bullshit out the way the guy I bought it from got it from the first owners and has done nothing with it there is one carby you should have seen the look on his face when I told him the other Carby was an air filter it is around 1964 and it was built by bluebird and the model is a Highwayman   you may be able to tell me what the Motor is  you may or may not believe this on friday night one of our clients who we are restoring his roof for mentioned his father worked for Chrysler in the sixtys and he had a box full of Brand new spare parts from pedal rubbers to Commer badge water pumps to windscreen wipers Coil filters plus much more 100% truth I am picking them up tomorrow heres the stove  motor layout   roof vent  side view   the motor in the van runs beautifully needs a new water pump and tune up suspension is great no noise in gearbox or diff I will pull the motor out and spray the engine bay remove the rust etc paint up the motor inside is the easy part minimal rust only on the bottoms of the doors the sills are fine should be a six month do up now the hard work begins !!! your avatar looks good so if you are doing nothing Highwayman three week all expenses paid to perth free drinks food and free bed if you can put up bunking with ken Kennedy can anyone suggest a good colour scheme? will reformed vanaholic now slave to a 1964 motorhome mine is made from timber fibre glass and aluminium so there!!!! ;D take that !!!!
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Post by Don Ricardo on Dec 29, 2007 16:16:35 GMT 10
G'day Will, Good to see pictures of the...truck! (Or is it a van van...van 2??) A few months ago a UK V V'er purchased a little Bluebird caravan off Ebay, and posted photos on the forum. It was painted similar colours to your van - light blue and white. Do you think your van is made by the same Bluebird company? Cornish Lass or UK Brian will probably be able to tell us. But if it is, and light blue and white are the 'Bluebird corporate colours' - which conceivably they are given the name - then maybe you could paint your van...light blue and white. I know...much more boring than mauve metalflake ;D ;D ;D Yours helpfully, Don Ricardo |
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Post by willyn on Dec 29, 2007 18:23:34 GMT 10
Gidday don Sure Makes sense when you think about it bluebird (Blue) HHhhhmmmmmnnn!!!! what about redbird or blackbird maybe we will keep that to ourselves Don Thanks for the information I will follow it up on the googlator Regards Will |
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Post by cornishlass on Dec 29, 2007 20:26:07 GMT 10
Hi Will Don't know enough about these vans to give a definate answer to your questions, sorry. But...... there is a forum (isn't there always ;D) for Commer Vans where I feel sure you will be able to get loads of information. 66.129.69.181/forum/default.aspYou may be able to get some more precise answers to your questions there. Cornish Lass |
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Post by hwyman on Dec 29, 2007 20:41:23 GMT 10
Hi Willyn, Thank's for the offer, I haven't been over that way yet but you know how it goes commitments etc etc . Anyway great pics, I see its got the original Commer motor and has a Holden red motor thermostat housing on the motor. That's not unusual from memory the 1500 motor had the dipstick tube going down into the sump and the 1725 motor has the dipstick going in through the engine block above the sump. According to your compliance plate and my workshop manual, it was built the 9/1963. My last Highwayman was also made by Bluebird Conversions. I had to send to the Netherlands for a brand new water pump $160 or was approx. $130 reco from Brisbane. This link www.rootesparts.com/ remanufacture Pommie stuff to OEM standards. (Still have mine in the box- Only done 12 kms). I recall there is a place in England that sell rust repair sections for the bottoms of the doors (with the finger style groove.) Do you have the original brackets that fit into the window frames to support the bunk bed? As i have a set here, I could send pics, measurements etc if you need them, as i kept bits and pieces from my last one as it was too far gone and wasn't economically feasible to restore. The first one I sold for $2,000 in 1999 restored condition as pictured below. (Yes, I know :   Hwyman |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Dec 29, 2007 21:38:33 GMT 10
Hi Will, I tracked down the thread on the UK Bluebird I mentioned: vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1189084191The thread provides quite a lot of information about Bluebirds including an advertisement which gives the location of the company as Parkstone, Dorset, England. So your Bluebird Commer or Commer Bluebird (whichever way it goes) was built by the same company as the little blue and white caravan. One more piece of the jigsaw in place... Don Ricardo |
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Post by willyn on Dec 30, 2007 14:27:40 GMT 10
HI DON THANKS A LOT FOR THE GOOGALZIATION on the bluebird have made up two colours that I think would suit this style of coachwork one is royal blue bottom and the other deep maroon bottom and white on the top this a rough as guts colour fill but gives you an idea   roof scrapedand sanded  side of Van  rear view   here are a few of todays progress shots Im looking at a month to complete the whole project I will start the internal when I get the internal product from new zealans around 10 days Regards will |
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Post by willyn on Dec 30, 2007 14:29:55 GMT 10
Hwyman need a water pump for the Commer found it on the Rootes group posting Is there an Aussie outlet by any chance thanks a lot Mate Will
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Post by willyn on Dec 30, 2007 14:52:42 GMT 10
Isnt that a fantastic thread Don it just shows how far we have come in 3 short years of the talkback forum Im sure the owner of the little bluebird van was adequately impressed with the amount of input and relevant information that was forthcoming from Australia as well as England Will |
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;D 
