Hardy Van caravans (Norwood, SA)

[Franklin1]

HARDY VANS

Caravan & Car Co Limited,
1 Margaret Street, Norwood, South Australia
and at another point (1958) 7 Kensington Road, Norwood

---

1955 HARDY CARAVAN:



(source: Trading Post advertisement, Dec 2007: "1955 Hardy Caravan in original condition. Original interior with original icechest and stove. Complete with original receipt and pamphlet. 16ft 6ins long, standard 4 berth."
Private Classifieds, Weekly Trading Post (Adelaide)

[Franklin1]

POSSIBLE HARDY CARAVAN:



(source: posted by mint62, Feb 18, 2007, who wrote: All we know about the van at this stage is its been in a shed for twenty odd years, is in original condition, has a canvas roof, metho burner stove, an old fire extinguisher, ice box.)

[Don Ricardo]

Brochure for Hardy Caravans posted on behalf of Lazza

[Don Ricardo]

The 1958 edition of the Adelaide Pink Pages contained the following advert for Hardy caravans:


(Source: Adelaide Pink Pages, 1958, p 22)

This advert indicates that at that point Hardy's had been operating for 15 years, suggesting that the firm was established in 1943. However they may not have commenced building caravans at that point, especially since that would have been in the middle of WW II.

Don Ricardo

[Don Ricardo]

Hi all,

Forum member Crown1957 has been in contact with the owners of a very original looking Hardy Van, and has provided the following photos for me to post on his behalf:



























The external features of this van match the photos of the caravan in the Hardy Van brochure posted higher up this thread, so will be from around the same time period.

Crown1957 will probably tell us more about the van at some point.

Don Ricardo

[crown1957]

Hi everyone

The owners have asked me to sell the van for them as they are selling their farm where it is stored. The lady's father purchased the van new.
It has the old threaded type ball hitch but the threaded part is missing so it needs to be trailered.
It's in awesome condition with just a little peeling of the canvas on the top edge. Dry as a bone and always shedded. Surface rust on the chassis and wheels and needs a repaint of the exterior. Interior is absolutely fantastic. Has 1 fridge put in around 1963 when 240v was tested according to the testing sticker. mattresses are inner spring and only 1 button missing.
They are asking $5000.
If anyone wants a look or more info contact me via email and I'll arrange.
It's located near Murray Bridge, SA.
Cheers
Brian

[Don Ricardo]

Photos of a Hardy Van caravan acquired by Muzza916 in August 2015:







The caravan is the same design as the Hardy Vans shown in the above posts, and has the same internal layout and features, However, there are a couple of interesting differences:

• Muzza916's van has a gravity feed water tank above the sink rather than the pump taps in the the other vans that we've seen, and presumaby draw water from a tank under the sink or under the floor.
• The van also has a 'Rowvan-style' stove alcove which is seen in one of the other Hardy vans, but different to the bench top location for the stove shown in the other vans.
• The most notable difference, however, is the aluminium Alfab 'Fluted Line' window frames which were used in place of the wooden-framed windows used in the other vans.

According to Muzza916, the windows appear to be original equipment because of the way they are fitted and no sign of previous window frames. The Fluted Line window frames seem to have been introduced by various caravan manufacturers from about 1957 on (possibly a year earlier?) and were used into the early 60's. Given that the windows appear to be original equipment on this Hardy, this suggests that the van was built in the late 50's (ie 1957 or later), and therefore that it is the latest of the Hardy Vans we've seen on the forum

In response to this suggestion, Muzza916 commented on 10 August 2015:

Thanks that ties in with what the vendors told me. His father bought it in the late 50's when it was 2-3 years old. They travelled the east coast and the van was put in a shed when it was last registered in SA in 1977. The cut outs for the windows are the same profile as the alfab windows. Nothing on the van appears to have been modified/upgraded.

Muzza916 has also confirmed that the van is clad in masonite.

For further discussion regarding this caravan, click here

Don Ricardo

[muzza916]

We are on the money saying this van is a Hardy. I was checking the original cushions for their brand which is Superior. turned the tag over and spotted a faint marking that was in pencil. It simply said Hardy. Can't wait to start work on this van after I finish painting my other van, a big teardrop made by a builder in Gippsland in 1950.

Thanks Blokes

Muzza916


Read more: vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/14714/special-tintinara-sa#ixzz3lymwkLCq

[Don Ricardo]

Photos of Solucien's mid 50's Hardy Van Junior posted here on 18 July 2018, showing the Hardy logo on the nearside: