Refurbishing a 1963(?) Franklin in Melbourne

[george88]

Hi - we're new to this forum. We just bought a  Franklin built 1963 (we think - Chassis Number is 781D and from previous Threads, I think the D means it was a 1963 build.  It has the old rego plate still on it - starting with a G - but from reading some other threads, this is probably the licence plate of the car used to originally tow it? 
Anyway - we are complete newbies to caravans, and definitely to refurbishing caravans! We just love the old classic look of these old girls. 
So - we need to get her roadworthy first, so we can get her registered and will then work on the interior cosmetics. 


Really keen for any suggestions from anyone of reputable repairers we could go to (ideally in Eastern Suburbs Melbourne), but happy to travel a bit for quality work. Things needed are: remove surface rust on chassis and drawbar - and check no serious rust, install electric brakes and re-do bearings/axle/tyres/chains etc as needed, and also re-run or check all 12V and 240V wiring and lights etc, and anything else needed to make her roadworthy. We didn't think it had any leaks (or so we were told), but the first night of a bit of rain out of shelter, we noticed some water under the table cushions - we guess running down from the roof or window - so we'll need to get that checked and fixed as well. Bummer....


Have done a bit of a search through the various old threads, but couldn;t find anything addressing this, so apologies if this has already been covered before - bit of a newbie to forums too really! I am looking through how to post photos, but for now, wanted to get this request for help out there. 

Thanks so much for any help - so keen to get our old Franklin all renovated and back on the road for some adventures! 
 

[george88]

Franklin 6 by Martin Ford, on Flickr
Franklin 4 by Martin Ford, on Flickr Franklin 3 by Martin Ford, on Flickr Franklin 1 by Martin Ford, on Flickr

I think I found out how to load the photos - so hope this works.

Forgot to also mention - you will notice no fridge in the van - any suggestions on somewhere we could get an original (working) fridge - ideally running on gas?

Thanks again to all.
Cheers.

[Franklin1]

G'day george88, and welcome to the forum!

You are probably close with an estimate of 1963, although I would probably be more inclined to say it was a 1964 model. I can see that it is one of the earliest "Freeway" models, which seem to have appeared around 1964. The tricky bit with Franklin chassis numbers from the early 1960s is guessing how many vans Franklin built each year. We've seen chassis numbers that ended in A, B, C, D, E, and F so far, and all of those letters are squeezed into just a few years leading up to 1965, when the numbering system changed. I have yet to see an early Franklin chassis number that had more than 3 numbers in it before the letter, so I often wonder whether there were only 999 vans built with each letter at the end, and then the next letter was used for the next 999 vans.

Would you do me a favour please, and post a close-up photo of the Franklin badge above the front window? It looks like it is the first badge design that Franklin used, as far as I know.

For caravan repairs, there are probably a number of reputable businesses around these days, but you are ideally looking for someone familiar with vintage vans. Victorian forum members will point you in the right direction. For many years, Hardings were one of the top names in the business, and I see they've now had a name change to 'Hardings Swift Caravan Services".

Can't help you with the fridge, but occasionally they pop up on this forum if people are selling one, or otherwise you have to go searching the usual online auction/selling sites.

cheers,
Al.

[george88]

Al, thanks so much for your response. Copy of the sticker attached below. Not in the best nick, but not bad for 50+ years I guess!
that's cool that this was one of the early Freeway ones - we were wondering if it was one of that model.
I called the Swift guys - they only look at vans less than 25 years old, which counts us out! We're going to check out a few others and see how we go.....

Thanks again for the help - appreciate it!

Cheers.

Franklin sticker by Martin Ford, on Flickr

[Franklin1]

Thanks for posting the sticker. It confirms the design I thought it was.

In my computer albums, I have the following photos of a Franklin Freeway with the chassis number 742E, which I'm estimating is from 1964. The badge is the same as yours...






Back in 2014, someone joined the forum and gave the following info: "Hi I am new to your forum. I would like some on a Franklin Freeway with the numbers 998F on the front of the chassis frame. Van is old and has been sitting for a long time
Much appreciate you help cheers"

Unfortunately they never posted again, so we never got to see any photos of the van or stickers.

cheers,
Al.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi George88,

Great to have you part of the forum, and great to see the photos of your van.

Just adding to what Franklin1 has already told you... You mentioned that your van has a registration plate beginning with 'G'. If it is in the format 'Gnn-nnn' where 'n' is a numeral, then it is a Victorian trailer/caravan plate. If the format is 'Gaa-nnn' where 'a' is a letter of the alphabet and 'n' is a number, then it is the rego plate of a past tow vehicle.

Registration for private caravans and trailers was only introduced in Victoria around 1963, and then only became compulsory in 1967, with the first registration plates issued commencing with 'G'. Using 'G' as the starting point (as opposed to, say, 'A') conformed with the agreement between the various states around 1953 - as you probably know - to issue motor vehicle registration plates based on a part of the alphabet (NSW - A to F; Victoria G to M; Queensland N to R, etc). So when Victoria started the new system of registration for private and commercial trailers and caravans in 1963, the plates started with 'G', even though by then motor vehicles were being issued with plates starting with 'H'. The new system replaced a previous registration arrangement which only applied to commercial and/or large trailers with number plates in a 'Tnn-nnn' series.

So...even though your Franklin was built in 1963 or 1964, if it has a 'Gnn-nnn' number plate it is likely that it wasn't separately registered until 1966 or 1967. Before that it would indeed have simply carried the same rego plate as the tow vehicle.

Sorry, long answer for a short question!

Don Ricardo

[skye4]

Hi I have a similar van I am looking at selling but unsure on its value. Do you have an idea on what they are worth? Thanks