Bri-Ray Microvan (Dandenong, Vic)

[Don Ricardo]

BRI-RAY MICROVAN

Manufactured by Brian and Ray Williams (son and father)
Webster Street, Dandenong, Vic

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Hi all,

I'm possibly stretching the boundaries of 'vintage' here (although I don't know for sure), but this is such a fascinating story that I couldn't resist posting it!

On Sept 6, 2007 Cobber posted the article below from the January 2000 edition of On the Road magazine, that tells us about the Bri-Ray Microvan, which was also sold under the Camperman name. The intriguing thing about the Microvan was that it was a "pop-down" caravan - meaning that more headroom was created for occupants by dropping the floor, rather than raising the roof, as is the case with the usual pop-top vans.



Based on the references in the article to Foldvan Hilite caravans and Camperman, etc, the development of the Bri-Ray Microvan seems likely to have occurred in the very late 60's or very early 70's.

In any case, earlier today, I saw a van listed on Ebuy as a 1974 Quest...but it turns out that it is actually a Bri-Ray Microvan "pop-down" - the first one we've seen, other than in the article posted by Cobber:



















The "drop down" floor is in the galley area, shown here with a sheet of ply over it:



With the sheet of timber removed:



From below:



The description provided by the seller states:

Measures
3400(11.1ft)long, 1600(5.2ft wide and 2000(6 .5ft)high with overall length which includes draw bar of 4150(13.6ft)

Very unique old girl

Has floor hatch and roof hatch for standing at front sink

Only weighs around 560kgs

Very retro old electrolux fridge/freezer still works great

Has small storage cupboards throughout

Retro red cusions make up bedding as per pics...

Very solid little unit

No awning or annex

This is a great little old retro camper/teardrop and i beleive is quite a rare find

It would be fine to use with a small amount of work (needs new floor hatch/cover put in) It appears the old one would have been drop down with old canvas on sides which is completely gone as per pic

The article referred to above comments that following the development and marketing of the Microvan, the Williams decided to build a pop-top van, which became the Hilite caravan. The rights to the Hilite were later acquired by Foldvan, as noted in the article. For more info on Foldvan and the Hilite caravan see here

Don Ricardo

[Deleted]

Hi Don,
I remember them,they weren't around for long until they decided to pop up instead!You had to put a canvas bag on the ground then unclip and drop the piece of floor onto it,then climb in.I can see why they didn't last long!!
That wasn't the first pop top of course,as bondwood pop tops were available before.
Cheers
hughdeani

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Hughdeani,

I had been speculating on how the drop-down floor in the Microvan might have worked, and you have answered my question. My original thought was that it must have had some rigid box-like device that was somehow lowered down, and then I read about the canvas sides to the floor and figured that the floor must have rested on the ground.

You'd imagine that it would be quite awkward to use if the caravan and floor were on sloping ground, and also that the canvas sides (if not the floor) would deteriorate quite quickly from dampness and general wear and tear. No wonder Bri-Ray seem to have decided fairly quickly to go up with a pop-top, rather than down!

Don Ricardo

[mycaravan]

Hi Don,

I have one of those Microvans which is complete with floor liner and annexe,it's in fairly good shape for its age and looking at moving it on as I have no use for it, trying to work out a value for it. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Chris.

[shesgotthelook]

BriRay caravan seen at Heathcote Vic.










Advertisement for a BriRay Microvan; I think it's a very old classified & I'm not sure why the price is in Rand!



driffield.australialisted.com/3840/trailers-mobile-homes/hilite-by-briray-caravans_17764343.html?fbclid=IwAR12ni6QXRmZ_x-2PcE9eosq467ij1SdztfGZPOQr1Blfenc4flERrTWlN0

[shesgotthelook]

Rachael, the owner of the BriRay above has sent me some better photos.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi SGTL,

Thanks for posting those extra photos of the Bri-Ray pop-top, and thanks to Rachael for being willing to have the photos of her van posted.

It is fascinating to see the branding. It isn’t at all what I was thinking I’d see, and is not what you’d call sophisticated in branding terms. Maybe it reflects the fact that Bri-Ray’s products were still fairly experimental?

Don Ricardo

[mycaravan]

Hi all, looking to find out some sort of value to my old Bri-Ray Micro Van drop down, complete with floorliner and full annexe. In pretty good condition for age, i think it is fairly original as i have not done anything to it. Any feedback would be appreciated. TIA.

Attachments:

[mycaravan]

A couple of more photos of the van and annexe.

Attachments:

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Mycaravan,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for showing us your Bri-Ray Microvan. Funnily enough several of them have come out of the woodwork in recent months.

It's really hard to say anything about the value. For one thing we have a policy on the forum of not discussing prices or values because in the case of vintage caravans there are no real price guides, but also because we want to guard against one member down valuing the price of a van belonging to another member so that they can pounce on it later (and possibly re-sell it at a higher price).

However, apart from that, it's really hard to put a value on something like the Bri-Ray because (a) it's quite a rare van, which you'd think would be a good thing, but (b) it's rare because they were not very popular when they were being made and as result they're not the sort of van that a whole lot of people are looking out for. There are certain types of vintage caravan which seem to be always popular and are subject to strong demand, and there are others that are not sadly.

With a van like the Bri-Ray, if you were selling (which I gather you aren't), you're basically looking for a niche buyer who is looking for the same type of van they remember staying in as a child or their grandparents had. In the end the value is set by how much a buyer is willing to pay, and how much the seller is willing to accept.

Having said all that, you can sometimes get a sense of value by watching for what Bri-Rays sell for on Gumtree or Ebuy, but because they're rare you may have to wait a while.

Sorry that sounds a bit negative and isn't much help. If you're looking for an insurance value though, we may be able to give you some guidance.

I reckon your van is probably the best preserved Microvan we've seen on the forum, so it deserves lots of love and care.

Don Ricardo

[marks]

Hi all. I have a Bri-Ray camperman and wondering what year they were made.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Marks,

I'm not sure what model the Bri-Ray Camperman is, except that it is may have been a model sold by a dealer called Camperman that specialised in small caravans and camper trailers in the late 60's and 70's.  To the best of our knowledge, Bri-Ray was around in the same period.

If you are able to show us some photos of your van we may be able to help you further. There is info on how to post photos on the forum if you click here.

As it happens I know both the original 'Camperman' proprietor and his son, so if there's a link to them we may be able to find out.

Don Ricardo

[Don Ricardo]

Advert for Bri-Ray Hi-Lite published in the Melbourne Age on Saturday, 9 December 1972 (page 108):

(Source:  www.newspapers.com )

The date of this advert begins to help us identify when Bri-Ray was operating.

Don Ricardo

[oldvanman]

Yes that was my father Raymond Williams and my brother Brian that designed all of those caravans back in 60s. And then onto Jayco Caravans where the whole family worked including myself as a cabinet maker MY brother Brian was the managing director from the late 70s to the 90s.

[johnh]

Hi all
im interested in sharing ideas re my Bri Ray pop top which is not being used at present.
happy to discuss.
John H