Cara
New Member
Posts: 12 
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Post by Cara on Apr 3, 2015 14:04:23 GMT 10
Hi, I recently bought my first vintage van and am in the process of getting it fixed up, registered and ready for weekends away! I think it is a ~1960 Coronet van, it has bondwood sides and aluminium on the rest, ~12 foot. It is in reasonable condition for it's age. If anyone has any advice or can confirm if it is a 1960 model? - Attachment Deleted I can't seem to find anything exactly the same - similar but not with the Bondwood sides. Also looking for parts, the windows and seals need replacing, lights, cupboard hinges etc. My first major hurdle is replacing the original fridge, it appears to have been built into the van with no way out! |
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Post by Gidget on Apr 4, 2015 7:32:28 GMT 10
What a lovely van Cara. Someone on here will be able to tell you what it is. You could have a look on the "Down History Lane" section too. Does the van have a chassis number on the drawbar? This can help identify the age/make of the van. You might be able to find some parts on the caravansplus.com.au website. It's mostly for newer vans but they do stock some older parts as well. Good luck and I look forward to seeing some inside pics. Lisa  |
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Post by firefighter on Apr 4, 2015 7:59:13 GMT 10
Cara
We had to take our fridge out to be repaired ....also would not fit through the door ..so I just removed the fridge door and then it went through the door opening
f/f
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Post by cobber on Apr 4, 2015 8:03:18 GMT 10
G'day Cara, If you go to the 'Down History Lane' section of the forum and click on the index at the top of the page... scroll down to 'Coronet Caravans' you'll see a 1960 advertisement that shows a van just like yours  Looking for parts ? You can always give our 'Vintage Restoration Parts Suppliers' list a try, to find it CLICK HERE Cobber. |
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Post by Franklin1 on Apr 4, 2015 17:28:51 GMT 10
G'day cara, Check for the chassis number welded on the INSIDE of the drawbar arm on the door side, just about where the drawbar disappears under the front of the van. You'll probably have to crawl under the drawbar to see it properly. This link will take you to another thread about a Coronet van with the chassis number of 565, and if you scroll down to the fifth photo you'll see where the number is welded. This other link will take you to the thread about the Coronet van with chassis number 9, and this number was found in the same position as the 565 number. There is also a thread on this forum somewhere about the Coronet with chassis number 10. Neither of those two linked Coronets are the same shape as yours, so you might be looking for a higher number than 565?? cheers, Al. |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 4, 2015 22:18:13 GMT 10
Hi Cara,
Great to see your van.
I concur with Cobber - it's a 1960 Coronet. As you'll see from the Coronet thread in the Down History Lane section, the brochure Cobber referred to was dated pretty conclusively as having been printed in 1960, and your van is a match for the van shown at the top of the page.
I'm not sure what that means for what serial number you should expect to find, but we will be interested to find out what it is when you locate it.
Don Ricardo
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Cara
New Member
Posts: 12
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Post by Cara on Apr 5, 2015 17:24:33 GMT 10
This is great information thanks everyone. I looked for the chassis number in the expected places however no sign of it - I do wonder if, as somewhere mentioned, that there was no chassis number if Coronet outsourced the drawbar in the early days. I will however crawl under it again and have a better look beneath the layers of spray on paint that have been applied (prior to me)!
Thanks for your thoughts on the fridge Lisa, unfortunately even with the fridge door off, there is no way it fits out the very skinny door - will either have to cut out a panel in the bondwood which would be heartbreaking or see if we can hoist it out of the ceiling vent with door and fan,compressor taken off. Getting the new fridge in will also be fun!
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Post by DC3Td on Apr 5, 2015 18:38:24 GMT 10
Hows about through the front window sans the door.?
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Cara
New Member
Posts: 12
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Post by Cara on Apr 6, 2015 10:58:28 GMT 10
I wish, even the front windows are not big enough and we have the glass out.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 6, 2015 21:58:31 GMT 10
Hi Cara, You mention the possible option of taking the fridge out through the roof hatch. That's what a few forum members have been able to do to get their fridge out. Just depends how big the roof hatch is! Obviously not the easiest method, and you will probably need a few people to help you do it. You'd think Coronet would have allowed some way for the fridge to go in and out to allow for repairs and/or replacement. Hopefully it's not cutting a hole in the ply (which I would think would be unlikely) but it may involve pulling out the front or rear window assembly if the extraction via the roof hatch isn't viable. Good luck with it all. Don Ricardo |
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Post by firefighter on Apr 6, 2015 22:22:31 GMT 10
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 6, 2015 23:52:51 GMT 10
Don Ricardo
You did not take on board all of Cara's posting 
Thanks Firefighter. You're right, I did misread Cara's post! I've amended my post accordingly. What would I do without you keeping an eye on me? Don Ricardo |
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Cara
New Member
Posts: 12
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Post by Cara on Apr 7, 2015 19:27:09 GMT 10
Maybe Coronet never expected their 1960 van to outlive the fridge - which by the way is still working in 2015! We are going to try and get it out of the hatch without damaging the roof I have been looking at a Nova Kool fridge 70L to replace it as it has the shallow'ist depth. The cavity space is only 430 deep and if possible I would like to keep the fridge from sitting too far out into the floor space and restricting access to the mini dinette which it sits next to. |
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