Eccles Avenger Interior 1959

[steverangerover125]

Hi from the UK. I own a 1959 Eccles Avenger the last one off the Birmingham production line. I need some advice on what to cover the walls in. The choices are plain hardboard then painted, white faced hardboard, or birch faced plywood stained and varnished. All help welcome, its nice to see the forums so active, wish the same could be said for the uk forums.
i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx323/rangerover125/Picture300.jpg
i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx323/rangerover125/Picture299.jpg

[Roehm3108]

Hi and congrats on your first post on this forum. Interesting van you have there.

You say you have three options on cladding the interior. If it's not already done, it would also be a good idea to insulate those walls while you have the old caldding off.

In my view, what you use is a very personal decision, based on cost and personal preferences. Without the benefit of seeing the materials, if it was me, the birch faced ply sounds like it could finish off quite well as you would be able to stain it to your own likes. Have a look at swellwilly's Sunliner interior and see what effect he has created using different veneers in his van - exceptional workmanship there, which has taken time and patience.

Good luck with your project

Ray

Here is the link:

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=4665#38343

[steverangerover125]

Thanks for that, the photo shows how the van arrived. To be honest it was in that poor a state that the person who recovered it had to gaffer tape the body as it started to collapse whilst travelling. He then pulled the cladding off to strengthen it and it was left on a farm for 2 years before being given to me.
My wife has a 1968 Cheltenham Nyala and my son a 1970 Sprite Muskateer. The Eccles is my 3rd classic and in the worst condition, luckily I love doing the restoration work.

[Dave&Tammy]

Good luck with the restoration, it will of course be well worth it in the end.