New Member & New Van (I think..)

[balmainboy]

Hi All, 

So glad that this forum exists and I have enjoyed reading many of your posts. 

I have been given the below van but would love some help identifying what vintage Viscount it is? I think it is a Duralvan but I am not sure. 

I could see the date of the gas inspection which was 1964. 

The challenge is the A-frame has gone and the condition of my ownership is moving the van from this neighbours house. Body is in good order, no leaks in side and structure seems sounds (rusty but expected after 20+ years of not being moved). 

If you know of anyone who has experience in moving a van like this around the Nowra region please let me know?

I look forward to sharing my journey with the renovation of 'Dulce'! 

Thanks,
Chris

[starburst]

Hi Chris, that's a nice straight Viscount. Check under the table, under drawers, inside the robe & cupboards, etc, for a penciled chassis number and factory date. Can't help with advice on moving it but good luck!

[Mustang]

Try this history   link  

We also restored a Viscount, there maybe some help :

ditzygypsy.proboards.com/thread/3044/viscount-supreme-vincent-updated-images?page=1

[balmainboy]

Thanks both for the replies. I looked all over the van but could not see a chassis number but I am sure it will come up when I gut the van.

[Mustang]

Apr 19, 2022 17:43:59 GMT 10 balmainboy said:

Thanks both for the replies. I looked all over the van but could not see a chassis number but I am sure it will come up when I gut the van.

Unless you need to, be careful about a full scale gutting of the van, they were built from the inside out , & are held together with the interior furniture. 

If you want to restore the van, keep what you can, in place.

If you want to completely do a make over, then have a plan to anchor the walls & floor. 
Do some research.
Cheers
Mustang

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Balmainboy,

We're glad you've found the forum of interest, and we're pleased to hear that you are planning on fixing up your caravan.  That's great.

I actually think that your van is a 1964/65 Viscount Ambassador rather than a Duralvan. If that's the case then it's got the wrap around windows which were on an option for the Ambassador model.

There are two reasons why I think it's an Ambassador. First, because I am reasonably certain I can make out 'Ambassador' just above 'by Viscount' on the decal above the front windows. It's an unusual decal and not one I can remember seeing before (although oddly enough I saw another Ambassador with the same sticker today on Facebook!). There are some signs of another sticker having been there before the current one which may indicate that the current one isn't original. However, the second reason I think your van is an Ambassador is the design of the coloured flashes on the side. That design was only used on 1964 or 1965 Ambassadors. The 1964 Duralvan had coloured panels rather than flashes, and the 1965/66 Duralvan had different shaped flashes to the Ambassador.

Normally I would identify your van as a 1965 Ambassador because of the shape of the flashes, however you have commented on the gas inspection certificate being dated 1964, so perhaps that means that the flashes on your van began to be used at the end of 1964 going into 1965? (At that point, Viscount changed the design of the flashes annually.)

You can see more about Ambassadors and their coloured flashes here. There's a post about the 1964 Viscount Duralvan here and a post about the 1965/66 Viscount Duralvan here.

At the time your your van was built, Ambassadors had a serial number starting with 'D' if it had a wooden frame, or 'E' if it had an aluminium frame.  So that's what you're looking for written under the table or in a cupboard.

Hope that's helpful.

Don Ricardo

[balmainboy]

Thank you all for the replies and advice. Don - I think you are right and we have a Ambassador.

I managed to get an drawbar so I can attach to the chassis (thinking U-bolts vs weld) to get it out of the backyard (30m) and then we can load it on a trailer/truck.

I will keep the interior in as you suggest Mustang to give support during the transfer.

I will post some updates on the next stage and then the renovation. Our plan is to build a touring van, we have only done one loop around the country and would like to go around again.

Thanks,
Chris