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Post by burkeoutback on Nov 9, 2016 12:08:04 GMT 10
Hi everyone at Vintage Caravans,
I am a brand spanking new member so I hope I am doing this right as I have typed the same message over four times now and lost it trying to add photos to my post 😬 (not familiar with this proboards stuff).
I have just brought a Chesney Pacemaker and I am unsure of the year model as it was purchased unregistered. After reading some of the posts on this site I guesstimate that it is a 1964 model. The number welded to the A frame is 4651090. The outside looks to be In original condition and the front and rear window awnings had been removed for transportation but are inside and I will put them back on during the reno.Unfortunately it has been gutted inside apart from the sink, overhead compartments and the wardrobe beside the door. It also has a bit of water damage due to the roof hatch being MIA. There are no keys for the doors but I suppose the locks can be replaced. I would like to restore it but have no idea where to go for parts and even how the interior should look like. If any of you could help out with some advice or pictures of the interior you may have it would be greatly appreciated. Happy and Safe Caravanning, I hope to have another old beauty back on the road again soon.
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Post by shesgotthelook on Nov 9, 2016 14:04:07 GMT 10
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Post by Don Ricardo on Nov 11, 2016 15:36:08 GMT 10
Hi Burkeoutback, Another welcome to the forum, and thanks for persevering with getting your post up. We're always pleased to have new forum members join us, and to hear about their caravans. Unfortunately we do not know a whole lot about Chesney caravans on the forum at this point, but what we do know is set out on the Chesney thread in the 'Down History Lane' section - click here. You will see a post by Stevemc on that thread stating that the first three digits in a Chesney serial number tells us the date of manufacture. Based on that information, that indicates that your van was built in April 1965 (ie 465). I think that the '1090' would then tell us that your van was the 1,090th built either (a) in 1965 (but that's a lot of vans to be built by the fourth month or the year), or (b) since some date in the past (maybe when Chesney started that numbering system?), or (c) possibly that it's the 1,090th Pacemaker model caravan built. While we don't have any information on the layout or furnishings of your particular year and model, if you look at the Chesney thread I've referred you to, there are some photos of the inside of a 1963 van and also a 1967 van which may give you some ideas. In terms of finding parts, there are some threads in the 'Technical' section which provide the details of some suppliers that may be useful to you, and forum members will probably be happy to provide advice and or suggestions in relation to any specific questions you may have. There are also heaps of threads about renovation/re-builds in the 'Members' Photo Album' section which you may find interesting and encouraging. Good luck with the re-build, and please do provide us with some posts along the way. Don Ricardo |
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Post by jenwhe on Jul 10, 2020 4:16:19 GMT 10
Hello Their,
I know this is an old post, though just a help for readers. Afraid not that the first 3 numbers are nothing to do with the year. You can now run a history search on your caravan with the vin or rego number; for $14.90 with the RTA online (select your state). Its very handy now. And down load Certificate. I just did on a 1985 Peacemaker 11 that had been a permanate and Im transforming to Road. The report also tells you if there is any write off, money owing etc.
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Post by hughdeany on Jul 10, 2020 9:59:22 GMT 10
Hi jenwhe,
Something has gone wrong somewhere,Chesney closed in 1977-78,so your van can’t be 1985.
It’s more likely 1975 if it has a 4 seasons roof hatch,or older if it has the square windup version.
Cheers
hughdeany
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jul 10, 2020 14:54:04 GMT 10
Hi Jenwhe,
I think you'll find that the website you're referring to only provides the information that was recorded when the van was last registered. Many older caravans have been re-registered at least once, and sometimes several times, during their lifetime. It might have happened when the owner moved states, or when a new owner from another state bought the van, or even just when the registration on an unused van has been allowed to lapse and it is then re-registered down the track.
The problem connected to re-registration is that the owner or new owner often didn't actually know the build date for their van, and so guessed a date, quoted a date someone had told them, or made a stab at a date with the registration officer. We have found countless examples of this on the forum where the date on the registration paper has been waaaay out, most often much later than the actual date. Over time we've been building up a body of information on the forum which allows us to either accurately date or make a more or less accurate guesstimate of the build date. Hughdeany worked for decades in the caravan industry and has been able to help us work out dates for lots of vans.
We have been told by people associated with Chesney that the serial numbers include the build date. I haven't been able to make that work in all cases, but I think it's possibly because we don't have the full info about Chesney's numbering system.
Does your van have a serial number? It would be interesting to know what it is, and then to compare it to other similar vans that may have been dated.
Don Ricardo
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Post by jenwhe on Nov 24, 2022 16:20:24 GMT 10
Is anyone familiar with the Branded Caravans, called VAMBASSADOR it looks like.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Nov 24, 2022 20:32:38 GMT 10
Hi Jenwhe,
It sounds what you're looking at is a Viscount Ambassador.
During the 1960's the Ambassador model had stickers on the vans that had a large 'V' (for Viscount) logo with 'Ambassador' to the right of the 'V'. On a faded sticker that might look like 'Vambassador'.
If the van in question had an aluminium frame then under 'Ambassador' there would be the word 'Alumvan'. However, if the van had a wooden frame as some of them did, then there was nothing under 'Ambassador'. I'm guessing that the van you've seen is one of the ones with a wooden frame.
Hope that helps?
I'm not sure why you've posted on the Chesney Pacemaker thread. Is there are connection between the van you've seen and a Chesney?
Don Ricardo
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