heath
New Member
Posts: 31
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Post by heath on Apr 29, 2009 0:14:13 GMT 10
Hi,
New member and new at this. Mark T posted my message and van back in March 8th., (its on page 5 in the general history). Didn't get any responses although I noticed that over a hundred viewed the posting and wondered how to make contact and join in the fun. Since March I've been going through the history section, have read every posting for the last 25 pages - great source of information as this old van of mine has me fascinated and I'm well and truly hooked. It was in a pretty bad way, but she's in a good home now. Can't wait to get it up and running, but I'm going to need some help, especially with windows like Qualcraft.
I'm a night owl generally so som........body talk to me!
Heath
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Post by Daggsey on Apr 29, 2009 7:26:29 GMT 10
Ok Heath, I'll talk to you Welcome to the wacky world of vintage vanning If you hang in there long enough, you'll find a great bunch of like-minded people in this interesting "hobby" of restoring/using vintage caravans and retaining some of Australia's motoring history. I notice from your original query that you are located in Taree NSW....I'm not sure if there is anyone else there into vintage vans, but if there isn't, you can start a trend ;D ;D ;D As for identifying your van, I'm not too sure what you have. It is obviously aluminium and the profile of the cladding would indicate 1970's. It is certainly a unique shape.......maybe there is someone out there that has more of a clue Daggsey
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Apr 29, 2009 8:02:35 GMT 10
hi heath i just went back and had a look at the photo mark posted back in march and i can say that i have no idea what make it is but it does have an unusual roof line, that's for sure. if it was mine and i was looking for a name for it, i'd call it "muffin". geoff 'n jude
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Post by Cruz on Apr 29, 2009 8:12:26 GMT 10
:)Hi Heath, Welcome perhaps your van was designed for a tall person. Why not call it Hitop or Harlem. Hope you can trace it's history. Hope ypu enjoy the mad world of VV's
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2009 8:17:47 GMT 10
Hi Heath, Nice little van you have there,looks like a copy of a Franklin mini,but with a different roof line.It could also be a rebadged Skyline,that were sold in Melbourne in the 60s as a Nomad(caravan sales)They made 10,12,and 15ft and sold in amongst new cars. Hope this is of some help hughdeani
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Post by sportsman 1 on Apr 29, 2009 10:25:34 GMT 10
Hi Heath and welcome to the wacky world of Vintage caravans.
I have a 1955 South Australian built Clipper which has a similar roofline. My van was custom built for a customer who I assume was a tall chap.
I dont know who the builder of your van was, the Ally guys will know better on that one but I suggest it was custom built either for or by the owner.
Good luck with it, it is always refreshing to see a van that is "out of the ordinary".
cheers, Leigh.
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Post by Franklin1 on Apr 29, 2009 12:38:35 GMT 10
Hi heath, I don't know what your van is either, but it certainly seems that whoever built it was toying on the drawing board with the same shape as the Franklin Caravelle and the Quest vans. This is your van... And this is cusso57's Quest... And this is a Franklin Caravelle... Your van doesn't fit neatly into either the Quest or Franklin camps, so I think we'll be looking elsewhere for the brand of yours. Can't recall ever seeing that painted flash on a van before, but it's not your everyday simple design. Your van seems to fit into the period 1965 to 1968 based on the profile of the cladding and the fact it is plain aluminium. cheers, Al.
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Post by DC3Td on Apr 29, 2009 18:07:03 GMT 10
I don`t know, but it`s interesting that while both vans utilise the same pattern ali & Heaths van looks taller, (13 raised patterns) Cusso57s`has 14. Now that`s just opened a can of worms! cheers gordon
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dorian
Full Member
Sundown
Posts: 247
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Post by dorian on Apr 29, 2009 19:31:03 GMT 10
Hi mate, We're a misanthropic old bunch aren't we? I thought I'd replied as I am a 6'2 muso myself but I must have wrote it in my mind. Good luck and welcome! Keep us posted with any renos. cheers, Dorian
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 29, 2009 21:18:26 GMT 10
G'day Heath, Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately I don't have anything to contribute to the discussion about who made your van. I've had a couple of thoughts but none of them have checked out. However, I have also been thinking about its side profile. It does look unusual because it seems so high at the centre point of the roof. But I'm wondering if the way it looks is a bit misleading and just reflects the short length of the van at 9'. You mention that you are 6' 2" and can stand upright, but I would have thought that could be true in any number of older vans? What got me thinking are these pictures of a little caravan posted a while ago by Franklin1 on the Globe Trotter thread in the Down History Lane section: This little van is probably as high at its highest point as other Globe Trotters of the era, but appears to be taller because its short length (probably about 9' like yours) means that the angle from the front and rear edges of the roof to the highest point is quite steep. Also because of the short length of the van - and there isn't much option about where to place the door - the left hand top corner of the door is very close to the roof line. Again like yours. So why am I telling you this? Because it suggests to me that your van may not have been custom built and extra tall, but just the 9' version of whatever brand of van it is. Whatever it is, it is one delightful little caravan. I can see exactly what motivated you to bring it home and want to restore it to better than new. Don Ricardo
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heath
New Member
Posts: 31
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Post by heath on Apr 29, 2009 22:57:51 GMT 10
Hi all,
Thanks for the flood of welcomes re my strange (nice strange) little van. I'm just working out how to respond quickly on the forum site, and then you'll never shut me up. I really appreciate all of the info and sentiments.
Cheers,
Heath
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heath
New Member
Posts: 31
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Post by heath on Apr 29, 2009 23:01:19 GMT 10
Geoff 'n'Jude,
Thought of calling it the Rice Bubble, but I'm sure a really cute name will take my fancy.
Cheers,
Heath
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heath
New Member
Posts: 31
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Post by heath on Apr 29, 2009 23:19:04 GMT 10
Hi Don,
Thanks for the info on the Franklin 1 its really cute. Like your logo - its reminds me a little of the Lotus badge from my car racing days.
Cheers,
Heath
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heath
New Member
Posts: 31
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Post by heath on Apr 30, 2009 1:51:52 GMT 10
Hi all,
Playing around with the site and enthusiastically stuck this note in the General Forum under the name "Help". Murphy again!!!
Sending out a general query - my van has Quallcraft windows fitted and I need one to replace one of the fronts. I tracked down their old premises and spoke to the next door business but found out that Quallcraft went out of business some time ago. Does anyone know where I could track down a window or of a substitute supplier brand that may have taken over from the old Quallcraft?
Cheers,
Heath
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2009 7:33:43 GMT 10
HEATH You dont state wether you are chasing a complete aluminium hinge out .. or.. fixed window or just the glass? If its just the glass ....just about any glass repairer will fit a newy for you. If it is a complete hinge open window you are chasing , I have one here in Newcastle... for free.. Which leads me to the next question .. Where do you live. Next question : whats is the dimensions of the window???
I will have to check to see if the window i have ( with broken glass) is a qualcraft.
Reddo
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