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Post by harko on Apr 20, 2009 19:29:02 GMT 10
Hi all Ive just broken out of my shell and after years of considering having an old caravan Ive finaly found one Id restore. Well Id like the outside to look original but new and the inside to be modern and comfortable with low maintenence . My first question is how can I remove dents from the textured alluminium ? And the second is can anyone identify this !     Its not my first choice but it does share some key features of a sunliner (If anyone knows of a sunliner worth restoring please let me know) I have a few old cars and have the talent to rebuild a caravan so the state of this one is still ok.. This one although the photos dont show it , has a wide flat V design on the front roof section which leads me to believe it may be an early viscount and I also remember this particular van from years ago when riding home from high school , so its been in this back yard for atleast 20 years to my knowledge. |
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Post by JBJ on Apr 20, 2009 19:52:14 GMT 10
Hi Harko,
First of all welcome to the forum. you've certainly came in with an unusual van. I've been around a couple of years, & have no recollection of seeing a van like yours before.
One thing is that its unlikely to be home made. Working aluminium is so far away from the average home builders skills that it was very rarely tried. But if a tradesman building vans for a company decided to build his own van, something like yours could happen.
I have seen one home made aluminium van, that was built at Eungai Rail in the late 50's, & is still for sale near Casino for around $3000. Its a clad 1950's van shape, without any of the refinements yours has.
With something so unusual & unique, why build a Sunliner. They're like belly buttons.
I know, I've rebuilt one.
Next point, why not make it easier for the Forum members to know where you live?? Just the general area is enough. Like NSW, or even better Wollongong, or even the suburb if you aren"t worried about being identified.
Whatever you decide, vintage vans are fun.
JBJ
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Post by yellowuki on Apr 20, 2009 20:10:16 GMT 10
That's a sure big project, but if you reckon your up to it  I'm no expert but the tail lights on that van almost look like EJ Holden. Anyone else got ant thoughts on this?  Cheers, yellowuki ;D |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Apr 20, 2009 20:56:20 GMT 10
I agree with you JBJ, doesn't look like a Viscount front on it. The front roof line and that curved perspex looks very British to me.
Would be nigh on impossible to remove dints from the aluminium - would need to be replaced. to my mind.
You have certainly got yourself a project there, Harko. Welcome to the mad world of v/vans.
Always great when something different comes along!
Cheers
Ray
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 20, 2009 22:45:05 GMT 10
G'day Harko,
What a fascinating blend of styles your van seems to be. The back section and roofline looks fairly conventional bondy/ally in style. Somehow it then morphs into a front section and roofline which is reminiscent of a Sunliner (albeit not fibreglass).
I'm looking forward to seeing more of it when you extract it from its current resting place. I bet it has some other unusual features built into it? What is the inside layout?
You will have a very unusual but fabulous van when you're finished with the restoration.
Don Ricardo
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2009 7:04:18 GMT 10
 G'Day Harko.. ; :DD Are you the same harko from the early holden forum. ?? If so welcome to the wacky world of vintage caravanning  . Van may be New Zealand origin. Dunno why i say that but it just has something about it that sends my thoughts on what it is in that direction  A big project .. but knowing your skills in the car restoration scene definitely not beyond your talents. Tailights are definitley EJ Holden and / or Bedford trucks . Keeps us topped up on wether ya buy it or find something else to build up. Reddo
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Post by cobber on Apr 21, 2009 10:05:44 GMT 10
G'day Harko, Interesting 'van you've found....the only 'van I've seen, actually the only photo of a 'van I've seen with those type of wrap around front windows is this one. (the little "special") I'm not saying your's is the same but they did come in three different sizes which might account for some of the obvious differences. Cobber. |
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Post by harko on Apr 21, 2009 20:58:41 GMT 10
WOW good to know Ive found something unusual . JBJ I like belly buttons just nice petite ones usualy , The sunliner being a little fat looking attracts me because I can paint it to my desire and it just looks retro designed. I went back today and told the gentleman that I will definitely buy it from him when he is ready , he then told me he has to build a shed with a granny flat attatched to house the contents stored in the caravan and the kids who wont leave home haha . This could take a while .... but generally I think if I said I realy wanted to come and grab it ,it would be fine . The interior has been gutted because it was his kids cubby house (the sandpit was a tractor tyre) but I couldnt see the floor to guess what was where anywayz . Hi Reddo its me , hi mate long time no see ay Did the sunliner go from canyonleigh ? Don Ill definitely be keeping all up to speed on the extraction , dissasembly and refurbishment/reasembly when it happens - its always good to get feedback on what interest you ! and on that note Id like to say Im pretty happy I found the site way back when , great to see what your all into. Cobber I scoured the web the last couple of nights and this would be the closest vans I have come up with  This one seems to have all the proportions bar the rounded leading edge and depth in the front of the roof, the door style is similar  Has anyone had any good results with painting the textured finish ? Kinda thinking of sanding it down then Hifill primer to gain a smooth finish. The large sunliner is a dead ringer but fibreglass it seems |
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Post by Daggsey on Apr 21, 2009 21:03:35 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2009 14:59:26 GMT 10
Hey Harko, it's Fb wannabe from the fb / ek forums. Can't wait to see what you have planned for this old girl! your imagination and welding skills amaze me!
A good way to tell if it's a Kiwi van or not is if you look in the cupboard just left of the sink there will be a wooden box in there that has a glass panel on the front with "IN CASE OF EMERGENCY BREAK GLASS" written on the front. If you look inside it you should find an ugg boot ;D ;D
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kiwi
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Post by kiwi on Apr 22, 2009 19:24:44 GMT 10
i have never seen one like that in nz
having said that is there any thing on the van that says CI MUNRO or LIGHTWEIGHT or possiblly ALPHA or the word ANGLO ?
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kiwi
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Post by kiwi on Apr 22, 2009 19:27:00 GMT 10
ANGLO  Harold Place is the founder of the Company, which started in Hamilton in 1956. His interest goes back to 1942, when he was 12 years old and his father asked him to go and look at a caravan to see if it was worth buying. That was the catalyst which started his interest in caravans. He has been involved in the manufacture of caravans most of his working life. When he started working as an apprentice, he was later employed by Willerby Caravans in Hull, UK where the industry became popular. Any caravan companies such as ours "Global Export", originated from the foresight of this well known European caravan company. Staff were brought from the U.K., and Anglo Caravans Ltd were formed in New Zealand. In our early days we had to lease factories. Then in 1963, our first plot of land was purchased. The first building was 7,000 square feet. Within six months another 7,000 square feet with adjoining buildings were added. Then another 7,000 square feet in a space of two years, brining the total area to 21,000 square feet. More dealers were demanding our caravans, so another caravan company was formed to make Trailer Homes Limited. A 28,000 Square foot factory was built for this division. In the 1980's we again expanded, building our largest factory of 60,000 square feet, giving us a total space of 120,000 square feet, in Hamilton alone, becoming the largest caravan factory in New Zealand. We also have factories in Christchurch and Australia. All of them were turning out caravans for us. The caravan rush was in full swing throughout New Zealand but it was not to last; in the eighties Robert Muldoon's budget killed the industry overnight by placing a tax on all caravans leaving the factory. This canny accountant left the industry completely devastated throughout the country leaving New Zealand taxpayer to pay out millions of dollars for all the caravan workers he put on the dole. |
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kiwi
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Post by kiwi on Apr 22, 2009 19:34:52 GMT 10
C I MUNRO 60s  |
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kiwi
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Post by kiwi on Apr 22, 2009 19:41:55 GMT 10
early ALFA  |
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Post by harko on Apr 22, 2009 20:51:45 GMT 10
Ill definitely suss it out when I go back again .
I see you are from Cairns - Gee I miss that place , I spent 4 years up there and about a year living in Lake Placid Van Park , The best darn van park in the hemisphere to live in .
Thanks for the info Kiwi .
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kiwi
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Post by kiwi on Apr 22, 2009 20:56:37 GMT 10
harko im the kiwi that is on the fe fc and fb ek forum a few years back and was mates with the late norm and trev
shifted over about 4 1/2 years ago
live about a 3 kms from lake placid
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Post by harko on Apr 22, 2009 21:29:15 GMT 10
arha , How is ya mate , I remember you were moving but I thought it was surfers you were headed to ... You must be right near was it ttv6FC , just outta Redlynch - great part of the world that This one looks mighty similar apart from the front windows  |
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Post by firefighter on Apr 22, 2009 22:08:22 GMT 10
  vans in N Z had to have big windows front & rear so the vehicle driver could see right through the van in his inside rear view mirror my guess.....Crusader from N Z f/f ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Jennison on Apr 23, 2009 12:25:55 GMT 10
I don't believe it's a Jennison. If you look the pathfinder it doesn't have the overhang/eyebrow!! above the windows at the end. The roofline comes down to meet the windows and no further. For a failsafe test, if your vans roofhatch isn't around 2 metres long its definitely not a jennison regards jeff
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kiwi
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Post by kiwi on Apr 23, 2009 19:36:08 GMT 10
yeah harko was on the coast then brizbone then got promotion to far nth queensland
fe v6 lives about 5 min from me
cheers kiwi
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Post by RollyDog on Apr 27, 2009 23:08:29 GMT 10
The paint colour scheme is the same as my 68 Munro Pixie 10. White/cream with the same wide blue stripe along the side and back. I'll start going through my Vantastic book from New Zealand and see what comes up. Munros were related to the Crusader Vans from NZ so I assume a few Munros may have come over with them.
Rod G.
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Post by harko on Apr 28, 2009 5:30:40 GMT 10
That would be great RollyDog , Id apreciate that |
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Post by harko on Nov 1, 2009 14:56:43 GMT 10
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Post by Jennison on Nov 1, 2009 17:30:58 GMT 10
I am still not sure that it is a jennison, I've never seen one with the overhang over the window but who knows? Perhaps it is a kit home built jennison? The cupboards don't look right but it does have long roof hatch.
Anyone remember what was the title of that thread on the kit jennison sold up in Brisbane last year. A look at the cupboards in that might help one way or another
jennison
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Post by Don Ricardo on Nov 1, 2009 20:47:33 GMT 10
G'day Harko, I was just about to make a statement to the effect that I didn't think that there was any chance the van you've found was a Jennison...when I found this advert that Franklin1 posted a while back: November 1963 advertisement for Pathfinder caravans... Hmmm...compare the following features of the van in the advert with the features of the actual van you've seen: - Moulded roof (fibreglass?) rounded over at the front corners to overlap the wall - tick
- Broad 'V' design moulded into roof above front window with three straight lines above it - tick
- Wrap round windows - tick
- Large Jennison style hatch - tick
Looks to me as if you may well have come across an early 60's Pathfinder. The EJ tail lights would fit with the 1963 date of the advert... Don Ricardo |
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I'm no expert but the tail lights on that van almost look like EJ Holden. Anyone else got ant thoughts on this?
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