vauxhall62`s van, or John from Bendigo

[trev and carrots]

I thought it better to take up carrots offer of putting photos on the Vintage Van Web page. I'll give you a bit of a story about the van and attach the pic. My name on the Website is vauxhall62, or John from Bendigo, Victoria.

" I picked up the van from a Caravan Park about 40ks from where I live. The original owner had not come back to collect the van after leaving it there 15 or so years ago, the park owners were going to give it to the local Fire Brigade to burn. Luckily I saved it from a firey death, you will have to guess what I do for a living. The cabin of the van is 14 feet long and 7 feet wide. I have no idea what it weighs but the Cresta will be up to the task.
I have done a little to the Classic van since the photos first appeared.You will notice that the rear lights are a little different from the run of the mill hella's. I have used the tail lights off a current model Landrover Discovery, I dont think they look out of place. By the way the "Classic" sign is the original. More photos when I get a bit further into it,"

[trev and carrots]

sorry guys the pic disappeared. i will repost it tomorrow as photobucket is offline at the moment.
glad you saved this old girl too....

[Will and Lyn]

;D nice save john Iguess being a Fireman you save lots of things if you get another one like that ring me
Will

[ditzygypsy]

It has been a while since I updated what is happening with the Classic, I have done a bit of late as the fire seasons been a bit slow over here thank goodness ! This resto will not be any sort of record
Finally removed all of the rotten timber and got into replacing a fair bit of it.

Photo 1 Stripped out getting ready to redo the internal front walls.



Photo 2 Replacing the 10mm ply walls is a faily simple job just had to hide the internal joins behind existing window frames etc. The external walls will be reclad later on anway



Photo 3 'Tis amazing what can still be found at Garage sales. An Astor TV from the early 60s still working only has VHF but I have a converter so that I can watch any UHF show I want in living Black an White.



Good to see the site is getting heaps of hits. One day we might even have our very own national register. Could be good for at least one Government Grant!!

Regards
John
"Classic Restorer"
Bendigo Vic

[willandlyn]

Hi John from Bendigo

Looks like a real project Just giving you moral support for the renovation hope all goes well if you post the progress we will all be following it waiting for the finished product nice looking van

catcha

Will ;D ;D

[jazhow2]

Great going John!

Coming up a treat!
;D
I don't believe it ..another firey with too much time on his hands!
My mate ..also John..is a firey based on the Gallantry (Pt Adelaides port fire vessel...)
He has just started 5 weeks holidays...if had that much time off MY VAN would be FINISHED!!!! ;D ;D

At least you spotted the potential...another mate of mine .....another fireman (Adelaide based)..."cremated" one that was left on the property he bought!!! BLOODY HEATHEN!!!

The Landrover lights are a great fit!!

Good luck with the rest of the project!!
Insides still look like they will provide a challenge.....!!!
;D ;D ;D
Marc

[22hope]

I am still at it but it’s has been a while since I sent an updated photo of the “Classic”
The aluminium cladding was pretty sad :'(so I have reclad the sides with waterproof ply and given the whole lot a few coats of paint and added the stripes. I recon it looks pretty good, I’d be interested to see what others think



A good mate of mine found two porthole windows which I just had to use ;D one in the door and one in the kitchen area. I now have to refit the rest of the windows and begin on the interior.
I also have a water tank out of a “Don” which I intend to use above the sink. Probably not the right era but it will be pretty handy.

Regards
John
Vauxhall62

[earlee]

Its looking real good John. The port hole is a good finishing touch. I will have to start looking for some myself.

You have done a lot of work on the van and should feel proud!

[retro1]

The van has come up excellent and you should be proud of what you have done. The portholes look the best but I'm a sucker for them.
Again well done and when you have some more pictures please post them for all to see.
Cheers
Retro1

[Deleted]

very impressive John ......you've done a great job so far.....the "classic" has a really nice shape.

Hay ....don't spose you know where I could get a water tank for a "Don" do you ......the tank out of the Don I'm restoring is missing ;D ;D

[22hope]

Hi all,

Just though I would put an updated photo of the "Classic" on.
I have just taken the van on a test run to make sure the thing tracks straight etc. It actually behaved very well behind the Commodore, just hope it does the same behind the Vauxhall.




Still needs a bit of work on the interior but it is getting there.
I plan to take it on its maiden voyage next weekend just an overnighter about 40ks up the road.



Regards

Vauxhall62

[Roehm3108]

That's one snazzy lookin van now. Well done!!
Ray

[cobber]

Vauxhall62,
That is one lovely looking van and well worth the effort you are putting into it. You
have to have a stripe along the side and it’s hard to come up with something original
that suits the van, you have hit the spot with that stripe of yours.
Cobber.

[Deleted]

nice one John ........

Congatrulations on a job well done

Cheers

Mark

[Deleted]

woops ....forgot to tell you, I picked up an Astor portable tele same as yours at the Bendigo swapmeet,
I'm as happy as Larry

Mark

[22hope]

Hi all,

It has been a while since I updated this post and put some more photo's of the Classic on for all to see.

The photo's were taken at Maldon in Central Vic during Easter this year.

I thought that I would take the van, unfinished, but registerd for a bit of a run as part of the Easter festivities and they block off the main street so the cars etc can be put on display

All went fine until we stopped in the main street to set up. I could not believe how many people wanted to have a look at the van.

I had to join the que of "Visitors" so i could make a cup of coffee.

There is cartainly plenty of interest in these old van thingy's.








Just a little info as well there are 10 or so vans heading over to Sth Aus in September this year.

Regards

John

[rodp]

Hi John, That's a beautiful looking van. In the photo it looks a bit low to the ground and down at the back.I presume it has 13" wheels.The old 6.40 or 6.50 X 13 tyres (no longer available I hear) ha
d a much higher profile than what is available today or I maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree
regards, RodP

[veedubnut]

What a truly beautiful combination Vauxhall62! I often wondered what a Vauxhall Cresta would go like towing a van of that size...

Obviously has no problems. Congrats on a great restoration.

Cheers

Greg

[22hope]

Thanks for the feedback.

It has taken a long time, too many interuptionms with work and other stuff.

The Vauxhall tows the van pretty easily round 50mph. I know when I get to a hill though. but then why should one hurry.

The van is a bit low in the back but it currently has a couple of 175 70 13s on, very wrong I know, but they were only put on to get the thing around the yard.

I will either put on some 13' light truck tyres or throw on some 14' HT rims as tyre choices are far greater.

Regards

John

[Jim]

That’s a great looking outfit John, it’s a credit to you and the van looks better than when you first got it.
The Vauxhall looks terrific and the whole outfit goes together very well.

185x14 light truck tyres will give you about a 45mm lift compared to 175/70x13s.
The 185x14 LT’s are not only cheaper than 13” LT. they give you about 250kg more carrying capacity per pair (approx 1500kg for 2 off 185x14LT 6 ply)

The van looks like it may be on a drop axle.. is it?
If the axle is overslung, under slinging it could give you 50-70mm lift.