Ambassador (by Viscount) - chassis numbers

[Don Ricardo]

G'day Paulff05,

Welcome to the forum. That's intriguing to read about your Ambassador and the windows.

We're always interested to see photos, so please feel free to post some of your van. If we have a look at it, we may be able to work out why your windows are different.

If you've had a look around the forum, you may have already seen that the best way to post photos is via Photobucket. There are instructions on how to do it in the 'Forum Guidelines & Helpful Hints' section of the forum.

We'll look forward to seeing what your van looks like.

Don Ricardo

[sathatine]

Hi everyone. i recently brought an old 16ft viscount ambassador caravan and i want to renovate it a bit. problem is i have seen stories about vans that loose structural integrity when you remove parts from the inside so my question is between the kitchenette and the built in ward robe which is retaining the structure of the van? mine is identical to the pictures of DonRicardos pictures of that viscount save for a few small exterior differences. mine has the non wrap around split windows front and back and different colour. i would post a picture but cant work out how

[shesgotthelook]

Best to use Postimage or Flikr for posting photos

[kk61]

G'day I need some help, I have an Ambassador van and the chassis number is 113E, nothing like anything else I have seen, they all seem to start with a letter E or D then the numbers. can anyone help me with this.....?

[Deleted]

Hi kk61,
Can you put up a picture? Viscount had a lot of chassis numbers but that doesn't sound like one of them!
Cheers
hughdeani

[Don Ricardo]

G'day Kk61,

Welcome to the forum.

You wrote about Ambassador serial numbers starting with a 'D' or an 'E', and that is correct...BUT around 1970 or 1971 Viscount brought in a change to their serial numbers where they started to put the letter after the digits. We have mostly seen that in relation to Viscount branded caravans where the numbers changed from Axxx to xxxA ('x' being a numeral). However, there is an example of a 1971 Ambassador on the Classic Caravans forum where the same change has occurred - its serial number is 176E, so not very many vans after yours. So I'm guessing that your van is also a 1971 Ambassador. Click on this link for more information about that van.

In 1974, Viscount introduced a further change to the serial numbers where the letter referred to the first letter of the model name, and the first numeral indicated the year. So a 1974 Ambassador would have a serial number of 'A4xxx'. That make it a little bit tricky interpreting serial numbers, because for a few years an 'A' serial number referred to a Viscount branded caravan.  That isn't related to your van, but is just a bit of extra trivia along the way!

The above comment about your van's serial number is all based on the the brief information you've provided, obviously without having seen your van. If you'd like to post some photos of your van, that will enable us to confirm (or reject) the above explanation. There is information on how to post photos via Photobucket (the most satisfactory way to do it) in the 'Forum Guidelines & Helpful Hints' section of the forum.

Don Ricardo

PS Kk61, believe it or not some photos of another Ambassador with an xxxxE serial number were posted on the Classic Caravans forum yesterday. This one is 5166E - click here for more info.

[twocutekelpies]

To add some more information to Es and As at the end of the chassis numbers, in my ever growing chassis number list, the highest number I have for E is 5705E which has the 1972 6/9 rib pattern and Royal decal (with the C in the middle) (wrap around windows, most, but not all of these other Es have been Ambassadors). The highest A number I have is 9408A also with the Royal decal (C in the middle) and wrap around windows with 1972 5/7 rib pattern. As far as I've been able to work out, these chassis numbers only cover 1971 and 72, possibly 1970 as well, I haven't been able to get any confirmed dates for chassis numbers around then.

The change mentioned above came in during 1973, I personally have a 1973 Ambassador with an identity issue, it has a Royal chassis number of R34745, paintwork is straight band, no wrap around windows, Ambassador decal. There are numbers after mine with the 4/5 and 4/6 rib pattern. I haven't worked out the rib patterns from 1972, I have seen 4/5, 5/7, 6/8 and 6/9 (meaning number of rows painted along either side, dropping down towards the back, like 5166E's paintwork)

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Twocutekelpies,

That's very useful, detailed information you've posted about the 'A and E at the end' serial numbers. Thanks for posting it.

As for your van - it sounds like it might be a member of the royal family that has entered the diplomatic service, become an ambassador and is wearing a disguise. What do you think?

Don Ricardo

[twocutekelpies]

I love that theory Don, it adds intrigue, I may have to borrow that

I was just looking through my list again and the decals with those numbers - if the decals changed during 1970 (as per ditzygypsy.proboards.com/thread/299/viscount-caravans-sydney-nsw?page=1), then the 'A and E at the end' numbers started in 1970 as the first 500 or so E's have the old Ambassador decal and the first, maybe, 2000 A's have the Duralvan decal.

Shelley

[pu2nule2]

found this van ,from a a 2nd owner, nice and straight ,unsure of age as yet ,but am guessing 1968?am going to leave it plain aluminum with the blue decals on side

[twocutekelpies]

Hi pu2nule2, I have this number on my spreadsheet already but have been unable to narrow down the exact year, only late 1969, early 1970 due to the lack of confirmed dates around it. Hope that helps. It's looking great.
Shelley

[pu2nule2]

Dec 29, 2014 9:31:33 GMT 10 carl said:

Dec 28, 2014 20:42:35 GMT 10 dorisday74 said:

HI Carl,

My name is Christina and I definitely have the brother van to yours! Same interior colouring, (on the reverse of that blue vinyl...is there big blue floral fabric?) but much smaller and a light blue flash. My chassis number is E9200. I'm hoping it's just squeezing into 1969 somewhere...

All my handles are in fine order, but sorry...I need to keep them!

My sticker also needs to be replaced. If you go to the guy on ebay's website www.rvstickers.com.au He's selling the alumvan sticker for $65. (I know it's only $5 cheaper than ebay, but there you go) He's off now until late Jan- I need to get onto ordering one.

I'm off to look at your renovation post. Mine was in super overall condition when I got her in September 2013. I've got her parked in my back yard now, and just gave her a good clean on the inside, but now am in the middle of painting the exterior. Also, my issue is with the roof hatch. We've taken it off, and I can't figure out if it's worth replacing the badly weather laminate on the underside, or if I'll never get the capped pop rivets sorted back on...maybe it's better to leave it all alone, and just give it a wipe.

mine is identical to yours Christina in configuration inside and out except for colours ,chassis number E10229View AttachmentView Attachment

Hi Christina, my reverse seat pattern is a bit freaky and it's pretty dirty so I need to clean it somehow, but it appears to be original. What do you think?

I still haven't found any of the cupboard handles, there's no caravan wrecker near Canberra, so I hope somebody one day sees this thread and has some to sell.

I've found threads about two vans with chassis numbers after mine (E10033 and E10091) that both have the earlier decal so it's definitely the right one. Thanks for the tip on rvstickers, they look great. I'm now pretty sure my van was made in early 1970 because the owner of chassis number E8135 found the date of Feb 1969 inside one of the cupboards. I have no idea how many vans Viscount made each year, but there's 1755 vans between that chassis no. and mine which means they would have had to complete about 5 vans per day (every day including weekends) in the remaining 11 months of 69 to squeeze mine into 1969. Yours is only 1065 vans after E8135, which means they would have had to complete a little over 3 per day, still a lot of vans...

I don't think you can post photos with a quick reply, I always have to quote somebody's post to attach photos. 

Cheers, Carl

[deega]

Hi everyone, a new member here with our new family member (name being hotly debated as we speak). We think we have a 67-68 Viscount Ambassador, chassis number E7163. It is very original except for a mod to the draw bar to repair rust damage to the original hitch which was rusted beyound repair. The interior is totally original. It has as settee convertable bed in the rear, Rinnai stove and the Polar 2 way fridge (which I have just got working. Any info on this fridge would be greatly appreciated). I've just removed the old round gal water tank due to serious rust. We are very keen to find out what people do to their vans to make them useable again ie. is it OK to fit a newer poly water tank? The freshwater inlet is pretty bad. Are replacements available ? The next big task is to replace all of the window seal rubber as the original is hard as a brick. Does anyone know what type of 13" wheels are fitted (Holden???)

Looking to keep it as original as possible. Any tips, links advice welcome.
Darren

[fordprefect]

hi Darren
I have a similar van and have done a bit to ours about 2 years ago.
Where are you.
I am in western Sydney
Regards
Alex

[deega]

Hi Alex, we're down in Melbourne. I'm planning to put a few pics when I work out how to post pics on this forum. It looks like photobucket is the preferred method here. What have you done to your van?

[fordprefect]

hi Darren
I have sent a newer picture of my van to Don to post.
we have replaced and uprated the springs to 1500kg
we have changed the bearings and all the shackles.
And also replaced the wheels and tyres.
I have been working on the new tow vehicle more so than the van over the last 12months
It now tows a lot better than the falcon we used to use.
Regards
Alex

[deega]

Look forward to seeing the pic. What is the new tow vehicle
Our van is very original and had little use. Ive replaced bearings and inspected chassis and springs. All good. I just lubed the shackles.
I'm chasing some new rims and will fit light truck tyres instead of the crappy car ones currently fitted.

[fordprefect]

hi Darren,
Sounds very similar to mine when I got it,
I have sent Don Ricardo a picture to post.
Thanks Alex

[Don Ricardo]

Photo of Fordprefect's Ambassador and tow vehicle, posted on his behalf:



Apologies to Fordprefect for taking a while to post the photo. I've been away.

Don Ricardo

[fordprefect]

Thanks Don,
we have not done a lot with the Viscount over the last 12months.
we have updated from an AU falcon to a Landcruiser for towing.
This tows a lot better, is more efficient and best of all it is not bothered by passing trucks on the freeway.
this photo was taken at the beautiful Windang beach caravan park.
Regards
Alex

[pu2nule2]

Apr 3, 2015 17:55:19 GMT 10 gregh said:

Hi Peoples,

Make: Viscount

Model: Ambassador

Year:1968

Length: 16ft

Chassis No: E7193

I've had this old girl for around 10 years now and she has travelled the entire east coast of Australia with us; including Tassy. When we first got her, she was washed and the suspension, brakes and tyres were overhauled or replaced. And apart from adding a battery setup, that's pretty much all she needed. She's registered as a 1968 Viscount Ambassador.

I'm in the throws of tidying her up at the moment for a trip we have planned to Glen Innes early in May for the Celtic Festival, so I thought it was time she was added to the Viscount register. The gold yellow stripes are something that I have just repainted; straight over existing stipes. They were really faded and I thought they were red originally, but when I started lightly sanding the paint back, I found they were this rich gold yellow colour, so I paint them what I thought was a close colour match.

By the way, this old girl will be up for sale when we return if anyone is interested.

Cheers
Greg



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Cheers.
Greg


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Because the Viscount logos were so badly deteriorated, I decided to replace them. The new ones are not an exact match, but they're OK.

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[shazza]

Hello all! I've just purchased my very first van , sold to me as a 72 Viscount. After reading this thread (thanks random Pinterest search) I've worked out it certainly isn't a 72.
flic.kr/p/YyqQYZ

www.flickr.com/photos/159014933@N02/shares/q6bXw6

My husband found this date stamp in the wardrobe flic.kr/p/YkTfBH

And then my daughter found this under the table.
flic.kr/p/YyqP6k

The chassis number is E5948 but surely that would make it a lot earlier than 68?

Any help finding her pedigree is appreciated.

[shazza]

And, obviously, help uploading the photos from flikr seems necessary too. Gah

[twocutekelpies]

Congrats on your purchase Shazza, she's lovely!

The log cabin cladding started being used in 1968 so she isn't earlier than that. Looking at your photos, I think you'll find your chassis number is actually A5948 which fits as she has Viscount Duralvan features more so than Ambassador especially with those wrap around windows, not sure why she has an Ambassador decal, it's from the right era though.

Have fun and travel lots

Cheers
Shelley

[shazza]

Ahhh yes, with the flash on the chassis number I can see the A clearly. Thanks very much for the info. Happy to be able to confirm it's pedigree

It's registered as a 72. Do I need to change that at all?