Wanda Caravans [Victoria] (Pascoe Vale, Victoria)

[Don Ricardo]

WANDA CARAVANS [VICTORIA]

Pascoe Vale, Victoria

Note: See also Wanda Caravans of Coorparoo & Woolloongabba, Qld

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On 10 February 2010, Jodel1050 posted photos of their newly acquired caravan:


(Composite photo by Franklin1 - thanks Al!)

As shown above the van sported a Wanda logo, an enhanced copy of which is shown below:



The van was identified by Franklin1 as a Franklin Premier, and later on as dating from around 1963.

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On 11 February 2010, Hughdeani posted:

Hi all, lovely Franklin you have there, pretty sure its a sixties model too.
I think Wanda in this case was a caravan dealership in Melbourne somewhere. Again it was badge engineering at its best! Hope this helps.
Cheers
hughdeani

And this was later corroborated by Franklin1, who wrote:

Back in 2008, firefighter posted a For Sale post for a Viscount that was a one-owner in mint condition, owned by somebody he knew. This Viscount had been sold new from wanda caravan sales pascoe vale melb on 16/1/70. So I reckon Wanda was just another of the many sales yards that put their own name on other brands of vans.

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For more photos of Jodel1050's 'Wanda' Franklin and discussion about the origins of the Wanda label click here and here.

[Don Ricardo]

Photos of a Wanda caravan advertised on Gumtree Victoria in March 2011:



(A second photo of the van is so blurry that it made my eyes water! )

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Franklin1 commented about this van on 18 March 2011:

It's a shame the side-on photo in this advert is so blurry, but I can see enough evidence to say this van is also a Franklin, and is from the start of the 1960s.

[shesgotthelook]

I wonder if the lemonade van is one & the same as the Wanda in the paddock above?

[Deleted]

That "Franklin Wanda" on eBay is an imposter!
It's an Avondale made to look like a Franklin Caravelle!
A few still around I see,but could never compete with the original Franklin!
Cheers
hughdeani

[shesgotthelook]

Well there you go! Such a wealth of knowledge on this forum. Still.. not much info on Wanda

[shesgotthelook]

This came up on my screen saver, took me 1/2 an hour to locate it! Taken from a magazine at Bells milkbar in Broken Hill

[Don Ricardo]

Hi SGTL,

The cutting you've posted is from the late 40's and refers to the Wanda caravans produced in Brisbane, rather than the Wanda-branded caravans sold in Melbourne. See more info here.

As far as we know at this point there's no connection - unless the Brisbane firm relocated to Melbourne or someone in Melbourne acquired the brandname for their own use.

Intriguing though isn't it?

Don Ricardo