WTB: '50s or '60s 4-berth aluminium or glass V V

[richard]

I have the tow car, now I need the van to suit!

Car's a '57 Jaguar Mk 8 - check the linked thread (image below). I'm looking for a 50s or 60s van to suit. If I won Lotto, I'd probably import a fully restored Airstream in the 18-22 foot range.

Requirements are:

• Sleeps two adults and two kids. Kids are small and can cope with top-and-tail if they have to. I have two, but my sister + bro-in-law have triplets and hope to borrow the van I find, so being able to squeeze in three kids would be a bonus.
  
• Not unclad bondwood. I have a 'ken-huge shed for off-season storage, but it's an hour from my house so in peak season (summer holidays) the van will sit outside between trips. I'd be worried that a bondwood is going to deteriorate if it's outside in the rain for a couple of weeks at a time, even if it's in a sheltered location with a tarp over it. Thus I'm thinking that aluminium or fibreglass are better options.
  
• Either restored or in VGC. I have the Jag and a second car project (1929 Austin 7) so I don't need an extra "renovator's delight". I am willing to do some customisation or upgrades (electric brakes, perhaps...) Paint or polish of the exterior, mechanical work or new curtains would be OK. Full interior refit is not.
  
• The Missus won't cope with an interior that's dirty, musty or ugly. That said, I'm happy to replace all the soft furnishings if required.
  
• Stylish! Needs to look awesome behind the Jag!
  
• As self contained as possible - fridge, cooktop, hopefully a bathroom?

I'm open to suggestions of what I should be looking for, leads for same or even "Hey, I have a van and you seem like a deserving owner!"

I'm in NSW, but I'd be willing to ship something interstate if I had too. Hell, I'm still considering bringing in an Airstream from the states...

Things I've seen that look like good options include Carapark and Sunliner - but there's probably a ton of others I haven't seen yet.

Any advice from the veterans? I'm especially interested in advice on the bathroom issue. I'm not frightened of chemical or pump-out toilets, I've had to wrangle them while travelling long distances on small boats (30-40 foot). When I was a wee lad, we spent a lot of holidays on the water, and I'm expecting that a caravan will be a similar experience to travelling on a boat - just with a zero (or two) knocked off the price...

-Edited above, updates below-

• Kennedy, Carlight Continental, Sunliner, Carapark, Olympic & the various similar looking alternatives are at the top of the list.
  
• Airstream if I can find one under 1.5 tons (18-22 foot and at least 45 years old).
  
• Willing to pay market rates for a restored or rebuilt van and ship it interstate.
  
• Will consider something that needs work to get the right van.
  
• Also willing to pay for restoration work for the really right van.

[Deleted]

there was an early 60's Airstream for sale over here in the West recently Richard ........not sure if its still available











send me a PM if you want contact details

Mark

[sutcac]

Hey Mark .....he' intends towing it with a 200 cu in ,6 cylinder Jag ......how do you reckon he'd go with a 4000lb Airstream?

[humpty2]

Pity you don't want a "restorers delight" .....I have 2 Carlight Continentals that have to go, both 17 ft.

[richard]

May 21, 2011 18:59:59 GMT 10 sutcac said:

Hey Mark .....he' intends towing it with a 200 cu in ,6 cylinder Jag ......how do you reckon he'd go with a 4000lb Airstream?

I'm interested, but that Airstream probably is too big. The 50's ones are ~500 pounds lighter than the 60s ones, even so I'd set a limit of 22-foot (under 1.5 tons).

Ideally I'm hoping for something under a ton.

May 21, 2011 19:11:47 GMT 10 humpty2 said:

Pity you don't want a "restorers delight" .....I have 2 Carlight Continentals that have to go, both 17 ft.

Send me some pics and tempt me
Wife is yelling "NO! in the background, however....

I found a photo you'd posted... it doesn't look that bad...

[richard]

May 21, 2011 19:11:47 GMT 10 humpty2 said:

Pity you don't want a "restorers delight" .....I have 2 Carlight Continentals that have to go, both 17 ft.

Found their website: www.carlight.co.uk/corporate/brochures.html

What year are they...

Construction sounds good - fibreglass & aluminium...

Sleeps four, has a bathroom, looks good...

[richard]

Made some updated to the OP based on research so far.

And here's a pic of the tow car, just so you can think "Gee my V V would look great behind that Jag, I should sell it to him!

[richard]

So, I think I've found my van:

Clues:

• Fibreglass
  
• 1959?
  
• In Tasmania
  
• Very, very rare... four? made.
  

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Richard,

So it's that van you've been looking at? If you end up buying it (or already have done so), it will be good to know that it's in the hands of a forum member.

That's certainly an interesting and unusual V V, and especially so because it bears the Wayfarer name.

Have you seen the one that has been restored/customised and painted in a lustrous dark green and white? It looks fantastic!

Don Ricardo

[richard]

Yup, that's the one I've seen the white/green one. Exocet has agree to sell me his finned Wayfarer/Kennedy.

I'm planning to do a similar two-tone colour scheme.

I've started a restoration thread and I'm looking for advice.