Any help appreciated on identification

[cmcz]

Hi everyone, have just purchased a "new" van. It was sold as a Millard but I am doubtful, shape, material and fittings don't seem to add up. The van has been painted, it was originally silver (is it possible to get the paint off)
Can anyone help with her age and make
I will try to up load pictures, as you can see Tom is hard at work fixing rot in one back corner, apart from lots of small dings she is in pretty good nick.

Noticed a post re no's on A frame and could only find ; SL 301


Thanks




















Wow that was an effort

[cmcz]

Sorry that took so long, it was my first try


Thanks
Cheryl

[tinnie]

Welcome aboard CMCZ!

Millard built vans from late 50s/early sixties, however that Millard sticker looks like it came of a late 70s Millard. Siler aluminium and windows, door handles etc indicate mid to late sixties. Brand is hard to guess possibly a Viscount? maybe Murrumba star? Is there a chassis number on the aframe? Doh! Miss read your post chassis - SL301....can't help with decifering that.

Cheers and happy V-Ving!

Gristy

[Deleted]

I believe it to be a Viscount Valiant ....................

[cmcz]

Thanks Gristy

Did think it may have been a Viscount Valiant but was not sure, don't know much about old (or new) caravans

The rego sticker lists it as a 1988 Millard, someone was having a go there I knew by the shape that it was not 1988 but more like the earlier 70"s. She is cute and light, the main reason for the purchase.

Do you know of any publications re Viscount Valiants

Thanks for taking the time to reply

Cheers
Cheryl

[cmcz]

Thanks Mark T

any ideas re the numbers on the tow bar SL301


Cheers
Cheryl

[cmcz]

Woops sorry

Draw Bar

Thanks
Cheryl

[Daggsey]

Hi cmcz,

As an owner of a 1968 Viscount Valiant, I'm not to sure that what you have is one of these. It appears to be too short and doesn't have a middle window over the sink. Viscount may have made a smaller version ("Viscount Cadet" ;D..sorry all you Don fans, just joking) and maybe someone out there could enlighten us further.

The outside cladding with pressed horizontal lines would indicate to me a 70's van, although I find the patterned ceiling to be interesting.

As far as removing the paint, unfortunately it is paint stripper and good old elbow grease that is required ;D.

daggsey

[cmcz]

Thanks Daggesy

Never heard of a Cadet, will try to find out more about them. The van is 11ft. I 2 found the ceiling interesting and at first thought it was pressed metal but on closer inspection it appears to be some sort of bernie board, you know the stuff compressed dark brown stuff (very technical description )

Cheers
Cheryl

[Daggsey]

Hi Cheryl,

I didn't mean to mis-lead you with the "Viscount Cadet"....it was very much said with tongue in cheek .

daggsey

[cmcz]

LOLOL

Thanks Daggesy

You can see how green I am


Cheers
Cheryl

[Daggsey]

Hi Cheryl,

Glad no offense was taken ;D

I'm still no clearer as to the type of van you have, but maybe someone will come up with an answer for you.

The nearest I have seen to yours in shape is an Aristocrat which I think were manufactured in Perth. The ceiling is the interesting part, unless of course it was added later.

daggsey

[Deleted]

[humpty2]

I wrecked a 16 foot van recently ....the roof material, windows, laminex and the cupboard latches were the same........aluminium panelling was the same too!!

I was told it was an early sixties van and it too was registered as a Viscount, but the only signage was "Sapphire" Sydney.

It was too far gone to be saved.....you went outside when it rained to keep dry
"

[Franklin1]

Hi Cheryl, if you are reasonably computer savvy, have a go at researching newpaper archives. Click on this link to a previous thread...

vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=technicalstuffboard&action=display&thread=1178950812

There is a heap of information available about Viscount caravans. You get thumbnail pictures from your search enquiries, and you have to pay if you want to download readable sizes. To show you an example of what you can see with an initial search, here is a thumbnail picture from March 1968 (enlarged low resolution)...



I will delete this picture in 24 hours because I am contravening the newspaper website copyright rules.

cheers,
Al.

[tinnie]

Don't wanna start a 'knowledge war' but have definately seen that profile Ally on silver alumium vans of late 1960s. The "angled" window frames also typical of some mid-late 1960s vans.

The pressed metal looking ceiling is unusual. It would be pressed masonite and usually seen on early sixties vans

Possible explanation - the sides are not original???

I believe that mark T is on the right track about the Viscount bit. Mark - I am a bit worried about that 'Windsor" in the background of the pics ;D
Cheers,
Gristy

[cmcz]

Thanks Mark T

I can see where you are coming from, there are obvious differences. Will keep looking to try to solve the problem

Cheers
Cheryl

[cmcz]

Hi Al

Thanks for that. I have been looking on the www but so far no luck. Off to your link now

Cheers
Cheryl

[cmcz]

Hi Gristy

You could be right as the van is listed as 1988 on the rego papers lolol someone was having a go there..... So it could have be "done up" and sold off to someone as a much newer van than it really is. Although I found it obvious that it was not 1988 and was probably early 70"s

Cheers
Cheryl

[Deleted]

Quote Cheryl "Thanks Mark T

I can see where you are coming from, there are obvious differences. "

Sorry Cheryl, I really must do somethin' bout this drinking problem .....it looked the same to me when I posted the pics
but you're right ....there ARE obvious differences

I just had a yarn to the owners of the Viscount Val ....they showed me the rego papers, and its a 1970 model (god forbid ....I stuck photos of it on this forum ) and the rego papers say its a VISCOUNT.

Yours is obviously older judging by the ali pattern design, so whatever yours is, its gotta be late 60's.

As for the Viscount Val I photographed, its a real cute lil van, and I would've bought it, except that the bastards that run this website won't allow post 1970 vans ;D ;D

Funny thing .....the owner of the Viscount Val told me there's some sort of "old caravan" movement happening, and that there are people "getting off on them" .......silly people ;D ;D ;D

Mark

[boblor]

hi Cheryl
The rear split windows were not availiable until early '68, but the c'board door handles are those used in mid'60's' , spashback laminate used in '60's and '70's (Olympics).
Cheers
boblor

[cmcz]

Hi Mark

Thanks for the reply. I am really pleased with my purchase even if it is a bit of a mish mash. There has obviously been quite a bit of work done on the van over the years in bits and pieces. Tom is hard at work and had almost finished the internal repairs (rot in back corner) with a repaint to follow. Thennnnnnnnnn it is my turn with new seating and curtains, lots of sewing. Have to decide on a colour scheme. I did want to keep it as original as possible, any suggestions.


Cheers
Cheryl

[cmcz]

Hi Bob

That clarifies a bit for me. The back window has been replaced with a solid pane but the front seems to be the original and is one large opening pane. I wonder if there was a typo at the RTA, seems odd that the rego papers say 1988 and the split windows come in 1968. The table leg is one that I have not seen before and is in the shape of a "D" that sits on the floor with a long piece of tubing going up to support the table, held to the floor with a wing nut. Is Olympic a brand of caravan or a model? Any idea on colour schemes of the time Bob

Many thanks for the reply

Cheers
Cheryl

[boblor]

Hi Cheryl
Olympic is a fibreglass van manufactured in Q'ld from mid '60's until the late '80's. The bodies are fully moulded for models called Riviera , Contessa, 16' models, Debonair 14' model, Micro Styleleader 11'6" and 19', Stardust avail.19'and 21' models. Another model called Travel Trailer not fully moulded avail. 18' to 30'. Great vans Cheers boblor

[tinnie]

Hi Cheryl,
Table leg design sounds the same as the one in my Franklin (1963 I think) and also the one in my old Roma (mid 60s), It was common in the early-mid 1960s.
Cheers,

Gristy