|
|
Post by Wodnas on Oct 21, 2017 11:07:17 GMT 10
Hi,
I am looking for assistance identifying the age of a caravan I am thinking of buying.
it is advertised as a 1966 Franklin Premier.
Chassis number on draw bar is R78T047078
Any assistance would be appreciated.
Many thanks Bob
|
|
|
|
Post by Wodnas on Oct 21, 2017 11:55:40 GMT 10
After further enquiries I believe the number was issued by Vic roads to update their records. Original weld was 3039.
Cheers Bob
|
|
|
|
Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 21, 2017 12:33:40 GMT 10
G'day Wodnas,
I presume the van you're looking at isn't the one in your Avatar? Because that's a Baravan. (I'm just double checking...!)
You are correct in thinking that the initial chassis number you quoted is a VicRoads VIN number which would probably have been applied when the van was re-registered at some point in 1989 or after when VIN numbers were introduced (in Victoria, anyway).
If the van you're looking at is a Franklin built from 1965 to 1972, it should have a serial/chassis number on the A-frame in the format 'XXXX-Y', where XXXX is a 1 to 4 digit number indicating the build number in a given year, and Y represents the last digit of the year. So, for example, if the van was built in 1966 and was the 3,039th built, it would have the serial number '3039-6'. Is there any indication of a '-' anywhere in the number, eg 303-9?
If you can post some photos too, we may be able to confirm its identity if you have doubts.
Don Ricardo
|
|
|
|
Post by Wodnas on Oct 21, 2017 13:37:36 GMT 10
Hi Don, Thanks for your quick reply. Yes my avatar is indeed a 1964 Baravan that I am slowly restoring. I haven't yet mastered inserting photos so I have a link below to a couple of photos in my Dropbox. www.dropbox.com/sh/kfpj3dbtqvuo2wc/AACVN26C4KeIAcNt_7c1abYua?dl=0I'll study up on photo insertion. I am on a mobile device at the moment. Looks to me to be a late 60s van from the DHL thread. Many thanks Bob |
|
|
|
Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 21, 2017 14:51:37 GMT 10
Hi again Wodnas, Here are the photos of the van you provided the link to:   They certainly confirm that the van is a Franklin Premier - the signage help!  But I'm pretty sure that the cladding indicates that the van is later than 1966. The acrylic coated aluminium cladding didn't start to be used until 1967, and I think the profile of the cladding (ie the ridges) is later than that. Forum member Franklin1 may be able to give you a more precise date. Funnily enough my only half serious comment that the serial number might be 303-9, and that therefore the van is a 1969 build, might turn out to be right! Don Ricardo |
|
|
|
Post by Wodnas on Oct 21, 2017 15:22:29 GMT 10
Thanks Don, I appreciate your help.
Cheers Bob
|
|
