Cobbers 'Driftwood' plywood Caravan

[cobber]

This is my plywood van when I bought it in 1993. My wife said she was not keen on
the colour scheme. Looked OK to me

I think it was one of those kit built jobs. If anybody can give it a brand name I would be grateful.


Cobber

[cobber]

However, when "she who must be obeyed" says she doesn't like the colour, and we mere males would like her to go places in it, a colour change is required.

This is November 1993.



SWMBO said it needed something on the side to set it off.

January 1994


The "mudguards" shown in the following photos were added in May 1994

[Deleted]

good onya Cobber ........you got the pics sorted .......

Your little van is a rippa ..........

Gotta admit though ........I do agree with "she who must be obeyed" re the paint !!!

[cobber]

This annex came with another van I had given to me. It was a very basic van, no fridge, not even an icebox. No water tank, no sink but boy, did it have a nice annex.
The annex has a little enclosed section in one corner where you can do "private things". It has two piece wooden poles and ropes with those little wooden things to tension them. I love it and don't intend to change a thing, now.
If you compare this photo with the one above you notice I replaced the original "A" frame. This was because the original weighed a ton and the setup for the over-ride brakes was not very efficient (read, didn't work)

[cobber]

Maybe these photos should be under the memorabilia topic
This is the cupboard directly opposite the door, above the sink.

[cobber]

The front windows of the van are on the left of the photo, the photo is taken from the doorway.
The upholstery, which is a tapestry material, is original. It has inner-springs and is stuffed with coco-nut fibre, it is fairly heavy.


“Driftwood's” gourmet Kitchen... aluminium sink and “Maxi” Metho cooker.

[cobber]

Some of the junk inside the ice box. It's getting hard to find a block of ice these days but I find a bag of ice works OK for a day.

The tiles on the floor are lino, again, not light.

[cobber]

Back to the rear of the van we have the dining room table that drops down to make up the "double bed".

There is more, but I will give you a break for now.

[Deleted]

geez ........ I now know somebody else who does a bit of collecting period stuff for their van ......onya Cobber !!!

[bigcorp]

Nice van cobber. I am looking for something like this I think to tow behind a 64 kombi. Is yours light weight?

Regards Shane "big" HH

[will]

Hi Cobber
that is really great stuff
I think your van is what his site is all about
my target is for some thing similiar to tow behind my 54 F100 arund 6 weeks and the old girl will have been totally restored around 45 thousand dollars later I am tinking seriously about corals Globetrotter but If I can find something around the 1954 mark it would be good

Will

[cobber]

G’Day Shane & Will,

This van is smaller and heavier than the one I had
for sale (at the moment it is half sold) . Two reasons
for that are:- lino tiles on the floor and the
upholstery is innerspring and coconut fibre. The FJ
(grey motor) tows it no trouble but I think a Kombi
might be puffing a bit, depends how fast you want
to go.

Will.
What you people over there in WA are doing
is what this caravan movement is all about, finding
‘em, restoring ‘em and then going places in ‘em.
What has got me tossed is how come, with the
population we have over here in Sydney, we aren’t
getting more people involved in this hobby.
For the NRMA Motorfest in January it looks
like there will only be two vans on display, Belinda’s
and mine.

Regards,
Cobber.

[ditzygypsy]

Hey Cobber, maybe you should think about moving to the better side of OZ.................. but I do agree....... I lived in Sydney for a while and with so many people with so many differing backgrounds and lives you would think there would be more people interested in our Vans. But may be there are but they just don't know it yet . or are too afraid to come out of the "back shed" so to speak.

But if you ever think of coming over for a visit....... it would be great to meet you.

[bigcorp]

I am orginally a Sandgroper myself but have been in Melbourne now for 10 yrs. I really believe that this vintage van idea will start to catch on in a big way both here and in Sydney, especially now that we have this forum to promote it and exchange ideas. Keep up the good work guys.

I have thought about a teardrop Cobber but would really like something the size of your van but lighter. Can anyone recommend a type or model I should be looking out for, remembering I have a Kombi with a 1600 engine. I have considered the Propert on eBay as I have been keeping an eye on there for a while now but do not want something that leaks either. I am not in a hurry and am happy to wait to get the right thing at the right price. I am not in a position to restore something so am looking for a clean van ready to go really.

[caraparker]

big corp ,
although you only have a 1600 in your kombi, I would suggest that you would have less problems towing than you think as one of the main problems is wind restisance, I have a 1600 67 kombi, (see caraparkers van in the pics section) and although I havn't towed a van with my kombi yet I have towed one with my E1300 mazda va and as I reckon they have about the same power but less torque, that We will be OK towing with them, the best thing is that vans as in kombi's punch a fairly big hole through the air, so if going slowly up his is not to much of a problem then I think cruising along the level bits will be a doddle!
cheers
Caraparker

[Belinda]

dear big corp

We tow our van with a family of five in an Austin 1800 and it's no problem (see "Belinda and Robert's pride and joy"). The unladen van weighs 300kg and the equaliser bars are essential because it is too light, not too heavy. Without the equalisers the van really hops around.

Getting a van that's "ready to roll" is a bit harder.

The real problem is that so few vans are registered when we get them.

With our own van we only had to put some air in the tyres and bolt on a new coupling in order to pull it out of the shed, but there was no way any inspector would hand over a number plate unless we'd got it up to today's standard. Even if you don't get your hands dirty restoring the thing, you should still expect some frustration and running around to get re-wiring, weighing, inspecting and paperwork sorted out.

Ours needed new wiring, tyres, bearings and a modern coupling to be deemed roadworthy.

Here's some holiday homework for you:
- phone the Victorian equivalent of the RTA and find out what's needed to get an unregistered van back on the road. In NSW we needed a weighbridge ticket, blue slip inpection, identification number stamped on the chassis by the inspector, proof of purchase (we had to sign a stat. dec. that it was in the shed when we bought the house). Just finding out what to do and where to get it done took some time, so if you have that information already you'll be ahead when you find your van.
- while you are talking to the RTA, find out the local rules for towing an unregistered van. In NSW you are allowed to do it for purposes of registration, so that covered us for trips to the auto electrician (the first job we did), weighbridge, inspector etc.
- ask your auto electrician if he does vans. If not, can he suggest anyone?
- start visiting caravan dealerships and let them know what you are after. Leave your card with them. They get old vans from time to time as trade-ins, but generally keep them out the back. The advantage of buying from a dealer is that you get a van with wheels that go around and around. You could also try caravan parks at the daggier end of the scale - sometimes they know of something for sale.

Having said that, as you can see from the website it's worth any hassle. Vintage vans really are fun on wheels.

[will]

Hi cobber hang in there mate all of a sudden you will find a trev and carrots and a snail and karen then a will and Lyn and other great personalities will rock up it took around ten months for Mark and Jenny to organise our first run from then on its been all downhill just ask the others they will tell you
as soon as the N.S.W. vintage lovers find out about the degradation jealousy drunkeness mental abuse caravan jealousy particularly (teardrops) wild scenes doing wheelys and horn blowing to leave town quickly and also freezing to death see photos of billy and pat on the net They will come in flocks
its all in a weekends fun if you like old things like all of us I m sure there are many people in sydney that would only love to join in once a contact has been made you guys are lucky having your states so close when we advance a little further we can have our own Nationals perhaps in mildura would be a good spot
I had to have a tandem trailer roadworthied in Melbourne once the trailer cost me $1000 dollars and the roadworthy cost $850.00
so it is costly to register vans however the stamp duty on a new van is not light either so I still think we have an advantage all you do is tow it and sleep in it
then park it at least with the older vans you get great satisfaction having restored it as well as having your own little bit of Aussie history to share with others catch soon
Will ;D
check the site this time next year there will probably be at least six from N.S.W. and that will be cool
hoping to meet up with you Cobber sooner than later

[cobber]

Will,

Thanks for the encouragement mate, we will see if anything eventuates after the NRMA Motorfest. It might be an idea to have a few flyers to hand out drawing
peoples attention to this inspirational site, if that doesn’t get somebody interested nothing will (the great global moderator has no objections I hope ?).
You have seen the story in “Vintage caravan runs and events” regarding the “Sydney runs 1994” haven’t you Will? We did have it working for a while but I suppose people move on, (except me).

Cobber.

[caraparker]

perhaps big corp should move to tassie , to get an old van registered you only have to tell them (rego authority) the old rego number or chassis number and if it has been registered in tassie before, they will re-register it NQA!
it cost me $87 plus a little bit of stamp duty.
cheers Caraparker

[belinda]

You lucky bastard Carapark!

By the time ours was back on the road I had a bulging file of paperwork and a higher-than-average phone bill.

Not all weighbridges operate on Saturdays.

Blue slip inspectors are different to pink slip inspectors and are much harder to find. The one who checked our van over seemed more familiar with purple Valiants so "bemused" is a word that comes to mind in describing what he thought of a plywood van. Normally he would have sent off for a VIN plate, but with an old van he had to stamp the number onto the chassis - and he didn't have his own stamps.

The RTA couldn't work out what category to put on the rego. form or how to estimate the value for stamp duty purchases.

If you are registering a van in NSW, be very patient and expect nothing to be straightforward.

[cobber]

Caraparker,

In the caravans for sale forum you may have noticed I had a van for sale.
It has been bought by a charity group from Tasmania by the name of “Big hArt” who are going to use it, and four other vintage vans, to tour Tasmania presenting a show to do with the history of your states “shack culture”.
I hope your rego authority are as sensible as you suggest, my van has no chassis number and has not been registered in Tassy before--do you foresee any big problems in getting it registered?. The only problems I expect are due to the fact that it has an old style ball joint coupling. It does have over-ride brakes.
Has anybody had trouble getting a van through rego with the old style coupling?

Cobber.

[caraparker]

Cobber
I reckon you can register anything in tassie!
My carapark didn't have a chassis number and still doesn't.
I don't think Big hArt will have any problems with rego, not all tasmanians would bother with rego as the fines involved are less than the cost of rego.
a few years ago you had to be pulled over and booked about five times in a year to make it worthwhile to register your car!

perhaps when 10 days is over there may be some cheap caravans for sale.
cheers Caraparker

[cobber]

The following has been inserted since 2009.

Since 2004 vintage caravans have become popular
all around Australia.. and are sought after to help
promote all types of products.

These photos show some of "Driftwood's" five
minutes of fame.... she has also appeared in many caravan magazines and even in the "Sydney Morning Herald"
The above article was printed in Fairfax papers all around the country.

This was her first engagement for Company B theatre
group 2006..... The Caravan of Dreams.




Seafolly swim wear down at Palm Beach 2007



On the Kerri-Ann show to promote the release of the Australia Post "Caravanning Through the Years" stamps.. Oct. 2007.




Marie Claire magazine 2008
.


Heaven Swimware 2010


NIDA Summer promo 2010


"Highlife Magazine" Dec/Jan 2011 (An article about the Old Hume Highway)


Featured on a 2010 Christmas Card produced by Troppo Cards





In January 2012 Franklin1 advised
us of some items on ebay that looked familiar.
They were being sold by a company in the UK, I had not been contacted before or after they started producing them.
They are no longer available on ebay but can be bought from the company direct IF YOU CLICK HERE.


And then Al discovered they had more items for sale, a lapel badge..key ring..iron on patch...leather wallet..






Then a little later the same company expanded their “Driftwood” items into a range of ceramic ware,


Then good ol' Al found an item being sold world wide by an Australian company.
Kaisercraft scrapbook...

I bought one and this is my attempt at scrapbooking


Then......I discovered items being sold...again world wide.. by a couple of ladies in Queensland





And a digital DIY card "Caravan of Dreams"


This is a painting on canvas by Collette



A necklace and brooch produced by Sconnie and Jam





A couple of greeting cards... One from Sydney and the other from the UK.




This painting was done by a lady in Spain

Inspired by the photo that appeared in the SMH in 2008.


Grey Nomad wines from Pirramimma Wines



The cards were released again in 2012 by Hendersons Cards
The one on the right was in a boxed set in support of the McGrath foundation



A nine page article in Woolworths 'Good taste Magazine January 2013.



Sorry it's raining today and I'm stuck inside but..... I do feel a heavy responsibility to keep this thread updated with products using Driftwoods image as they come to my attention.

The Pirramimma winery in the McLaren Vale area of South Australia brought out a range of wines called "Grey Nomad"..... aimed at, Guess which market
Each of the varieties has an image of Driftwood on the label (slightly modified)

I got a box containing Grey Nomad Shiraz & Grey Nomad Vintage Brut.... also a hat with Driftwoods image on it, and a heap of bottle labels that I am using to make drink coasters, also cut out one of the van and stuck it own a wine glass....it's survived a few wash ups so far



I like the words on the label at the back of each bottle


Pirramimma winery is only about 44 K from Adelaide for those goings to the Grand Parade

Then there is the linen tea towel hand screen printed by "Vintage Coast Interiors" here in Oz.



Driftwood also featured in a country music clip featuring 2012 "Star Maker" winner Bob Corbett.
You can see the thread about it HEREand the music video HERE or on YouTube HERE




A post card titled 'A caravan circle'.. original painting by Jodi Cox



Cobber.

Stayed tuned

Cobber.

Interesting that "Driftwoods" image appeals to people as being typical of what "Vintage caravans" look like.

Which all leads to a
Life in the fast lane

[cobber]

Nineteen years down the track time to give old Driftwood a bit of a face lift .

The fixed perspex windows, front and rear, have always been “crazed” and leaking around the edges, gradually getting worse so..... time to replace them.





What I would like to know.... does anybody have a for certain sure way of removing those stickers so they can be installed on the new (polycarbonate) windows?.....I'm thinking hair dryer heat applied under the stickers, peeling them off might be a bit tricky though .

Being a bit of a minimalist I'm going to try and colour match the paint so I don't have to repaint the whole damn van.





Then the next step is to find appropriate “H” section glazing rubber to fit the 4mm plywood so I can determine what size polycarbonate I need...... no hurry

Cobber.


OK..... it all worked out in the end.
Rubbers came from the old Peter Jacksons, not exactly as I wanted because it is 5mm to fit over the 4 mm thick ply, so I run a bit of black mastic in the groove before fitting it to the ply.
Colour match is good enough....... I reckon.

Not sure about the polycarbonate, supposed to be tougher than Perspex but it seems to scratch real easy.





Cobber.

[shesgotthelook]

Thanks for sharing. A beautiful van. I bought one of those keyrings b4 I joined this forum! Have you applied for royalties? ;D