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Post by greedy53 on Dec 17, 2010 21:55:53 GMT 10
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Post by Roehm3108 on Dec 19, 2010 10:18:10 GMT 10
A shame NMA displayed this van (a one-off Propert) and not the famous folding van, which they also have in storage, but can't afford to have restored!!   Ray |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Dec 20, 2010 22:19:15 GMT 10
G'day Roehm, In fact the Propert in the National Museum is not quite a one off, despite what the Museum blurb says. Forum member Vantoura (AKA Trodler) has been given some advertising material and some photos from around 1954 and 1956 which shows that several (at least) 'Trailaway' model vans were built for hire and/or sale. The aluminium cladding as per the Museum example seems to have been an extra cost option. The Trailaway van was built as either 3 or 4 berth, but Vantoura also has a photo of a smaller version which I am guessing was 2 berth. The photos and info are fascinating and can be found on Vantoura's Our Touring Past website here. Also fantastic are some photos, etc, which Vantoura has been given by the Propert family of an earlier American-style van built by them in the 1940's, which was called 'The Open Road' - more info also on the Our Touring Past website here. These photos are incredible and Vantoura has done a great job in locating and putting together the history of Propert caravans (which after all is his 'special subject'). Obviously Propert gained their reputation from the folding vans, but they were certainly involved in building other types of vans over the years, even if only in small volumes. Don Ricardo |
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