our van

[isambard]

hope this pic loads proper

anyway, assuming it has, this is her. our new 65 Millard. or, our new 64 Millard - jury is still out on actual year! the inside is just as pristine and has been preserved beautifully by previous owners - who bought her 30+ years ago from original owner. we were VERY lucky to have found this van, given so many of similar age have suffered various levels of neglect. apart from brown carpet (soon to be removed with great relish) and non-vintage curtains (also very soon to be replaced by vintage barkcloth), she is as she was the day she rolled out of the Millard factory

[seeshell]

Congratulations Isambard!

No more crickets and tumbleweeds for you...

"Only land lotsa land under starry skies above, can't fence you in!"

Enjoy your new home away from home, which looks to be well worth the wait.

Cheers,
Seeshell

[Franklin1]

G'day isambard,

Looks to be a pretty nice ol' van.

Have you discovered any chassis number on the front drawbar yet? And what information do you have that makes you toss up whether it's a 1964 or 1965 van?

I'd also like to see a close-up photo of the Millard sticker above the front window, if that's possible please.

I'm sure May Darlington would have loved to see purple vans coming out of the factory, but I doubt whether John and the factory blokes would have stood for it (...it being a bloke's world back then, and all. )

cheers,
Al.

[shesgotthelook]

Very nice. Well done.

[Don Ricardo]

WOW Isambard,

What a great van! It was worth waiting for! Now you'll really be able to get out amongst the tumbleweeds and crickets! ;D ;D ;D

I love the colour of the side and front panels too - very unusual (I'm being serious about that, just in case you're wondering). I am presuming that the sides are bondwood. Is that correct? I've studied the pic fairly carefully but can't quite tell.

I'm looking forward to seeing some more pics when you get the chance.

Don Ricardo

[isambard]

thanks all, for your thoughts and comments, appreciate it

meantime, whoops! forgot to mention that Other modification, effected some 40 years ago - the paint! she was originally silver, of course. and she's all ally. bloke we bought her from just kept up the paint. we plan on stripping it eventually. oh yeah, there's no purple involved - just photoshop

@ Franklin, previous owner says 65 but I suspect 64. will get that # off drawbar on weekend

[isambard]

franklin - meant to say stickers are later additions - circa 80s roughly. originals were black on white, apparently. I'll be getting rid of the current ones - very quickly!

[Don Ricardo]

Jun 11, 2012 23:38:52 GMT 10 isambard said:

meantime, whoops! forgot to mention that Other modification, effected some 40 years ago - the paint! she was originally silver, of course. and she's all ally. bloke we bought her from just kept up the paint. we plan on stripping it eventually. oh yeah, there's no purple involved - just photoshop

Oh, Isambard,

So disappointed.

Never mind, still a very nice van...and still looking forward to the pics.

Don Ricardo

[Franklin1]

G'day isambard,

@ Franklin, previous owner says 65 but I suspect 64. will get that # off drawbar on weekend

Oh good, I thought you might have had some documentation come with the van. I suspect you won't find a chassis number welded on the drawbar, or if you do, it will be a very low number below M1000. We'll wait to see what you find.

Now that your van and humpty2's Millard have appeared on the forum, it's time we tried to get a better handle on the age of these vans...


Trawling through my computer records, I've come up with this advertisement from August 1960:




"New wraparound windows...embossed aluminium exterior...13ft 9ins". It's worth you measuring the length of your van to see if it's the same length. I'd be thinking that you measure the length acccording to these positions (ie. ignoring the section above the front window)...




These Millard vans were referred to as "De Luxe" models, and in January 1961, an advertisement shows they were available in 13ft 9ins, 16ft, and 19ft...




The De Luxe models seem to have carried on until a "Special Announcement" in August 1962 about the new Florida, Oriental, and Tania models (as well as the Safari model not mentioned in this advertisement)...



So, in late 1962, Millard caravans are being built with "new American airflow hopper windows and ribbed aluminium". But the De Luxe model continues to be available, in sizes from 13ft 9ins to 21ft, as this advert from December 1962 shows...




In August 1963, De Luxe models are still available "to order"...




...and then in May 1964 we finally get a drawing of a Millard Florida van showing the hopper front windows and the ribbed cladding...




So, whaddya reckon about yours??

Did Millard start using the ribbed cladding on the De Luxe model in late 1962 when the Safari and Florida models were launched, or did they keep using the "embossed cladding"? I'd be inclined to think they switched over to the ribbed cladding. The De Luxe model was the "premium" model in their range. The Safari and Florida models were introduced for the "Price Conscious Caravanner" (Read: tight asses who wouldn't pay the De Luxe price ), so De Luxe buyers would want their van to look every bit as spiffy as these American-influenced upstarts.


All of which makes me think your van (and humpty2's van) is most likely from between August 1960, and September 1962.

...and that's all I know about that...

cheers,
Al.

[isambard]

wowzers, Franklin, that's some handy research! you guys never cease to amaze with your encyclopaedic knowledge and instant recall

on to my van ... it's def not 16', and previous owner calls it 'more or less 14', so I'd be banking on the 13'9". he also says it's not a Safari or Florida (he knows his Millards, to a degree), so looks like we've bought a De Luxe. having said that, the one in your pic looks too small to house twin singles, and our has twin singles. confusion much? mind you, they're quite short singles - probably not even 6'.

incidentally, that pic in your post is EXACTLY our van in all other respects. wrap arounds to front, standard rounded rectangular rear window with black rubber gasket. no hoppers, either.

this is all very interesting, actually. was convinced I was looking at an older van that was claimed - just on the 50's style interior, but this stuff about ribbed cladding and hopper windows coming out so early seals the deal. will be lovely to actually have a date at some point, but I suppose it won't matter too much either way. I can always claim it's the same age as me and not be too far wrong

PS will post some interior pics when time allows. might shed more light. and thanks so much for your input

[isambard]

actually just reading through that piece about 'made to order', it occurred to me that ours might be a 14'6" bespoke De Luxe - which would place it in 63.

edited to say that your theory about wanting to keep up appearances with the swanky new ribbed cladding puts paid to that

pretty sure ours is 14'6", as just remembered seeing on paperwork somewhere, but no De Luxe was made in that length - only Florida and Safari. Could it be a very early 'to order' De Luxe, I wonder? a one off?

[isambard]

but wait, there's more!

just checked out humpty's Millard and it's identical, apart from length and berth configuration. cupboards, kitchen, table, cupboard handles, the pegboard wardrobe surround and ventilation covers in bulkheads (though ours are diamond shaped), the lights, etc etc etc. I suspect that's how the original stickers on ours looked, also. hopefully I'll be able to source some down the track, to replace the 'orrible newish ones on it at present.

[Miss Molly]

Well done Isambard! MM x

[Franklin1]

isambard, half the "fun" of trying to put the history together is trying to interpret what is said in advertisements.

In the very first advert I posted above, relating to the "new wraparound windows, etc", they also say "Other sizes to order".

Now, does that mean you could order any other size, or does it mean you could order one of the other 16ft or 19ft sizes that are listed in the later advert in Jan 1961? If it's the former, then your van could certainly be a length other than 13ft 9ins. If it's the latter, then perhaps they only built the 16ft and 19ft sizes if somebody actually ordered them, and the 13ft 9ins model was the standard build (a "take it or leave it" size ).

Once you get the chance to measure yours, the picture might become a bit clearer,

...or not.

cheers,
Al.

[isambard]

Hi Al. will be measuring saturder, though pretty sure she's 14'6".

incidentally, there does seem to be a distinct lack of Millard info hereabouts, not to mention a lack of early Millards generally. is that reflective of the fact that they didn't produce a huge number of vans before being scooped up by Viscount? or have they all bitten the dust? you see how I expect you to know everything now!

[isambard]

Jun 12, 2012 15:51:29 GMT 10 Miss Molly said:

Well done Isambard! MM x

ta Missy MM

can't wait for our first vanture (van venture - for the males )

[Franklin1]

G'day isambard,

incidentally, there does seem to be a distinct lack of Millard info hereabouts, not to mention a lack of early Millards generally. is that reflective of the fact that they didn't produce a huge number of vans before being scooped up by Viscount? or have they all bitten the dust? you see how I expect you to know everything now!

Yeah, I dunno what it is about the lack of early Millards. I'm taking a stab and saying they started using the "M" series chassis numbers from around 1962 (...and who wouldn't like to find the Millard with chassis number M01?), but I know that by the end of 1969 they were up to M14000 or thereabouts. So that's at least 14,000 vans built in the 1960s. All would be aluminium (as far as I know), which means they should have survived if not neglected.

Viscount took them over in mid-1979, by which time Millard had built more than 55,000 vans.

I've found a lot more early Millards on ebay, etc., than I've seen on this forum though. Don't know why they are not appearing to be a "collector's item".

cheers,
Al.

[isambard]

morning Al

the hour prevents me waffling to my usual degree, but SNAP! an early Millard has just appeared on ebay! claimed as a 64, just to muddy the waters further. flat ally and no wraparound windows, so earlier than mine. looks like a 60?

anyway, intact and looks like a good restorer. would be tempted myself if it werent for those $. I could be a one man (woman) Millard Appreciation Society! the worlds first Millard Collector!

[smiles]

You'd better watch it Izzy cos the next stage is called Millard Appreciation Disorder (or MAD for short)!

[isambard]

Jun 14, 2012 7:40:04 GMT 10 smiles said:

You'd better watch it Izzy cos the next stage is called Millard Appreciation Disorder (or MAD for short)!

well I'm definitely mad - is there any other way to fly? - so the tag fits

[isambard]

Jun 13, 2012 15:21:00 GMT 10 @rodnet said:

Congratulations old mate (oh OK, young lady). Your van looks cool as a cucumber or( being purple) as an egg plant. ;D Well worth the wait.
Now, we just want to see you on the road havin' fun. ;D
Cheers
Rod

and ta to you, too, rodnetty

we'll be hitting the tarmac before the month's out, I'll wager. just remember ... We're Not Purple people

[Franklin1]

isambard, the beauty of being the only member of the MAS is that there's no infighting on the committee.

There's no point in getting humpty2 to be a committed member either. He's just a tart who takes any brand of van home.

The van on ebay is hard to pinpoint without knowing more information. Any chassis number on it?

cheers,
Al.

[isambard]

no reference to chassis number in listing. looks the same as one that's in the DHL Millard thread - also sold via ebay. I tell ya what, though - despite this particular van looking fairly tidy and all, I'm beginning to realise what a bargain we got. happy!

meantime, will take your advice and refrain from sending humpty an invite. we don't want any tarts on our books!

[isambard]

another pic of van #1 on the MAD register

ok, that went well

[humpty2]

I'm gunna stick my chin out now..........any-one want to take a whack
Why are the not many Millards on here?

Maybe because they were/are considered mundane/ordinary vans with no real charisma ...except for 1958 to 1965 ;D
People associate Millard vans with mass productiuon and the 16'X8' is a prime example (but one day)
I will get another member on here to show pictures of his 17'6" 61/62 Millard one day....that will change the conception of Millards.
OK.......go for me