dating a Viscount van.

[thegeneral]

l have met a couple not member's who have recently renovated a Viscount van and would like to know it's date.
On the front of the A frame is welded A988.   Can anyone date this for them.
Thank you Graeme.

[Franklin1]

Hi Graeme,

I was hoping 'twocutekelpies' might be able to help you with narrowing down the date for this chassis number.

I have a photo in my computer albums showing a Viscount van with the chassis number A922 (versus your A988). The A922 van appears to be from 1964, based on the single wide band of paint along the side, plus the profile of the aluminium cladding...




Does the van you are asking about look like this one??

cheers,
Al.

[thegeneral]

Thank you Franklin 1  yes it does look like that one and they were guessing 1964 as the year 
so 1964 / 1965 should be close.
l cant do forum photo,s .    thank you Graeme..

[blackduck]

Sorry I can't help you but I would appreciate "piggybacking" as I am also trying to identify my caravan Viscount Ambassador 1900 and it has the same green stripe with the chassis number A4.8437 Mine has a cladding flat profile with sections about 100mm or 4", although the door has a different profile similar to your photo. My light is between the door and back window to give light to the annexe. Can some one tell me how to ask a question properly, as I am a new member and obviously not great on the computer website.I am listing my phone number so I can receive some info 0421514742. I also am considering replacing the back levellers as one side is badly bent and want to know if this will compromise my vintage authenticity. Any help appreciated. Chris "Blackduck"

[twocutekelpies]

Apologies, I'm not on here very often I don't have a lot of confirmed dates for around then but agree with above, I can also offer this - A898 found a 1964 camping directory in his van. Being an A chassis number would make the model Viscount Duralvan for that year. Not sure when the paintwork changed each year, at the beginning of the year or prior to revealing new models at the caravan show? If it's the latter, then it's possibly 1965. I have a gap then other dates for A1258 ass. 6/3/66 (from this forum) and A1512 14/9/66 under table to give an idea of number progression.

Blackduck, yours sounds like a 1974 Viscount Ambassador with Log Cabin cladding.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Blackduck,

They way you've asked the questions about your van is fine, and what Twocutekelpies has told you sounds as if it is on the money. However, if you'd like to post some photos of your van, we can confirm that. There are instructions on how to post photos in the 'Forum Guidelines & Helpful Hints' section of the forum.

Regarding posting on the forum, if you want to start your own 'thread' (that's a topic) go to the section index, and choose a section (say 'General' or 'Members Photo Album'). Then press 'Create Thread' at the top right corner of the section index, and that will start a new thread which you can give whatever title you like to. You can then write anything you like in the 'Create Post' box, just like you did on this thread.

You mentioned that your van was '1900'. Is that the build date given on the rego papers? If so, it just means that your van was re-registered at some point and VicRoads (if you're in Victoria) didn't have proof of the actual build date. In such cases the rego authorities used to assign a default build date of 1900.

Regarding your stabiliser legs, replacing the ones that are bent shouldn't affect the authenticity of your van, particularly if you can source some that are from the same era or similar. But even if you can't, that shouldn't be a major problem which will affect the value of your van, etc, because we all have to do repairs to our vans at various points and sometimes we can't get original equipment and have to make do with something that is as close as we can get to the original. Stabiliser legs aren't normally a big deal on 60's and 70's vans. Obviously you need stabiliser legs in good and safe condition to be able to use your van with confidence.

Don Ricardo

[leeron]

The closest leveller legs are the "dymwood" brand name style, they do sell an outrigger style one with a cast dolly wheel also.
No one seems to have stock atm online unless your willing to pay shipping from NZ.

Hope this helps

[Mustang]

This image is traditional "Log Cabin cladding.

[kb87]

Hi All!

New to this site so sorry if I'm posting in the incorrect place!

Im looking at buying a Aluminium viscount, Im thinking its an ambassador 1965 model.

The guy that I'm getting it off is unsure of the exact age, there are 2 things I would like to know.........

1- its a dual axel, would it be possible that it is 16' as he is telling me?

2- any idea on TARE weight???

Thanks so much, any info would be much appreciated!

[Franklin1]

G'day kb87, and welcome to the forum!

Ask the seller for the chassis number that's welded on the nearside drawbar arm, just forward of the jockey wheel clamp. If the van is a Viscount Ambassador, that chassis number will be either the letter 'D' or 'E' followed by some numbers. That number will tell us whether the van is from 1965 or not.

Usually the Ambassadors didn't get tandem axles until the cabin length was up around 18ft, so it's very unlikely the van will only be 16ft.

To estimate the approximate tare weight, multiply the cabin length (in feet) by 52kgs, then add another 100kgs if it's a tandem axle van.
For example, an 18ft van would be roughly 18 x 52 = 936, plus 100 = 1036kgs.

cheers,
Al.