Post by peterj on Jan 12, 2005 10:09:33 GMT 10
Have just located and bought a Gypsy 12' caravan at Wayatinah Caravan Park in the midlands of Tasmania.
It had been on site for the last two and half years, but had been garaged for 18 to 20 years previously. So it was in extremely good order. But am still trying to date it.
The price seemed reasonable as it had a new bar fridge and a good microwave included. It also had the original annex and side skirt (in need of slight repars).
It still has the original fridge,sink and flyscreens, which will have to be re-fitted and/or repaired.
All original fittings are still present except for the fuel stove, which has been replaced with a Rinnai hotplate/grill.
Quite a bit of TLC needs to be applyed then she will look a treat.
Maria and Self spent three nights in it over new years in it and totally fell in love with it.
Sent a photo of it to our son in Melbourne and he said it looked like a Noddy van, so we have tentively named it "Noddy". Guess we will have to call our 70's 16' Coronet "Big ears".
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Front and rear external views.
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Annex is dark green rather than the blue shown in picture.
Interior is still in good condition, still have stove door that needs to be refitted.
It will be a full restoration project and I will post some photos as work continues.
Went and picked up the fly screens and sink (complete with original pump) today 14/01/05, and to my surprise they even had a second spare wheel for the van as well.
Update 18/01/2005
Have had a couple of weeks to think things over with the van.
e.g. Restore to as original as possible or modernise to as un-original as possible.
We have decided to leave it on-site until around April then bring it home and start work on it. Have decided to restore to as original as possible. The van is still close to original and it would be a shame to ruin what it has spent its' life as.
As there were no gas fittings originally, only kero fridge and fuel stove and no 12 volt light system. we think the only modernising may be a small generator or voltage convertor unit and convert the fridge with a modern 12/240/gas unit (working parts only), keeping the original fridge that had been converted to 240 volts and we will hide a small gas bottle under the van if we are using on a none powered site. Plus we will look out for a fuel stove to restore as well.
we are planning to stay in the van at the end of the month, when I will refit the fly screens, now that we have them.
The garden at the front of the van has already been removed to allow access to the coupling and to reduce the likelyhood of corrosion occuring.
Update 28 Jun 2005
Appologies for not updating sooner as have been quite preoccupied of late.
Moved the van to Hobart a week after Easter, had to trust the 15 inch tyres as could not find replacements. So towed for the first 20 kms at no more than 30 km/hr, then stepped up every 15-20 kms by 10 km/hr. Finally maintaining around 80-90 km/hr. Worked on this scale as the van had been sitting for two years on the tyres. The plan paid off as we got Gypsy home safetly, after about three hours of towing (normally a 1 hour drive without van).
Will post a photo of the compliance plate soon, have started to strip back the paint work, which is proving to be quite a chore. Have found small holes in the outer aluminium skin which have been filled with Selleys Metal Filler, which is excelent.
The original owner found the original Metho stove which although functions just fine, will need re-chroming, plus also had the original front cushions with original coverings. Only thing missing is the original mattress, but prefer an innerspring anyway. So will have to get one custom built that folds in the middle to make a couch.
Sorry about delay on any updates, have had a few family set backs over the last two years, but are getting back on track again. But have progressed well with new paint work on exterior and interior. Replaced bed cupboard and seat cupboard tops. have just to change wheels to 14" rims, make the curtains, re-upholster the dining area and register and we will be ready to roll.
Will post photos shortly.
It had been on site for the last two and half years, but had been garaged for 18 to 20 years previously. So it was in extremely good order. But am still trying to date it.
The price seemed reasonable as it had a new bar fridge and a good microwave included. It also had the original annex and side skirt (in need of slight repars).
It still has the original fridge,sink and flyscreens, which will have to be re-fitted and/or repaired.
All original fittings are still present except for the fuel stove, which has been replaced with a Rinnai hotplate/grill.
Quite a bit of TLC needs to be applyed then she will look a treat.
Maria and Self spent three nights in it over new years in it and totally fell in love with it.
Sent a photo of it to our son in Melbourne and he said it looked like a Noddy van, so we have tentively named it "Noddy". Guess we will have to call our 70's 16' Coronet "Big ears".
[/img]
[/img]
Front and rear external views.
[/img]
Annex is dark green rather than the blue shown in picture.
Interior is still in good condition, still have stove door that needs to be refitted.
It will be a full restoration project and I will post some photos as work continues.
Went and picked up the fly screens and sink (complete with original pump) today 14/01/05, and to my surprise they even had a second spare wheel for the van as well.
Update 18/01/2005
Have had a couple of weeks to think things over with the van.
e.g. Restore to as original as possible or modernise to as un-original as possible.
We have decided to leave it on-site until around April then bring it home and start work on it. Have decided to restore to as original as possible. The van is still close to original and it would be a shame to ruin what it has spent its' life as.
As there were no gas fittings originally, only kero fridge and fuel stove and no 12 volt light system. we think the only modernising may be a small generator or voltage convertor unit and convert the fridge with a modern 12/240/gas unit (working parts only), keeping the original fridge that had been converted to 240 volts and we will hide a small gas bottle under the van if we are using on a none powered site. Plus we will look out for a fuel stove to restore as well.
we are planning to stay in the van at the end of the month, when I will refit the fly screens, now that we have them.
The garden at the front of the van has already been removed to allow access to the coupling and to reduce the likelyhood of corrosion occuring.
Update 28 Jun 2005
Appologies for not updating sooner as have been quite preoccupied of late.
Moved the van to Hobart a week after Easter, had to trust the 15 inch tyres as could not find replacements. So towed for the first 20 kms at no more than 30 km/hr, then stepped up every 15-20 kms by 10 km/hr. Finally maintaining around 80-90 km/hr. Worked on this scale as the van had been sitting for two years on the tyres. The plan paid off as we got Gypsy home safetly, after about three hours of towing (normally a 1 hour drive without van).
Will post a photo of the compliance plate soon, have started to strip back the paint work, which is proving to be quite a chore. Have found small holes in the outer aluminium skin which have been filled with Selleys Metal Filler, which is excelent.
The original owner found the original Metho stove which although functions just fine, will need re-chroming, plus also had the original front cushions with original coverings. Only thing missing is the original mattress, but prefer an innerspring anyway. So will have to get one custom built that folds in the middle to make a couch.
Update 29 January 2008
Sorry about delay on any updates, have had a few family set backs over the last two years, but are getting back on track again. But have progressed well with new paint work on exterior and interior. Replaced bed cupboard and seat cupboard tops. have just to change wheels to 14" rims, make the curtains, re-upholster the dining area and register and we will be ready to roll.
Will post photos shortly.
......this was a common practice in quoting the length of a van.