Post by vintagecaravans on Apr 13, 2008 19:59:10 GMT 10
Hi all! ;D
I have just got back from picking up my new van, it is a Carapark Astronaut 15/5, twin single bed model and it has lived its relative easy life down in the Apple Isle.
I first saw this van back in August 2005 on this forum when the then new owner (Astronauty) asked for information on how old his van was, then shortly after info on how to polish it. I fell in love with the huge glass areas, and perspex wrap around windows at the front of the van, I immediately asked him if he ever sold it I would be most interested!
Astronauty picked up his new van and that was the last we heard from him until he replied to a wanted ad by Gringo for an Aircraft Aluminium Van, hinting it MAY be for sale, so back onto him and after five months of procrastination, the van has now changed hands.
Astronauty has assured me this van was a major prize won on Bob and Dolly Dyer's Pick a Box, and has lived in Tassie all its life, he bought it from Georgetown from the Husband of a local Real Estate Agent who had decided the room it had taken up in the shed for all those years could be put to better use!
Astronauty towed it home to Hobart and set it up as a holiday accommodation for family members that came to stay, much better looking at a "quirky and kinky" Carapark than a late model van. After deliberation he thought it better to let someone restore the van than let it sit in the vege patch and rot away, so he has arranged alternate dwellings for the holidays and thought about selling the van.
After many emails and a few telephone calls we struck a deal and I am off to collect the van from Hobart! the picking up of teh van was a story in itself, but needless to say we demolished fences and driveways in the name of relocating the Astronaut, all with smiles on our faces! (hope the fence is OK)
It was all I could do to keep from grinning from ear to ear all the way home to Melbourne on the Spirit of Tasmania, many many people came and toured the van whilst waiting on the docks, and of course plugged the website to all and sundry! had one man tell me his family had a zestline they used for family holidays (long gone now) when he was a child and this one brought back many wonderful memories for him! anyway, off to board the boat!
The most wonderful part of my trip was yet to come, Melanco got out of bed at a ridiculous hour Saturday morning to meet me at the boat, and we set up the two Carapark Vans at the end of the Station Street Pier, where she proceeded to cook up the most sumptious brekky for myself and a couple of other forum members that are interested in having a look at a the Zestline and Astronaut caravans! (she is nothing short of the most wonderful person on this site I have met, and she reminds me it is one thing to say something, she just did it - once again Mel a million thanks)
ANYWAY, a great morning was had by all, and a number of people interested in looking for a vintage van have now been pointed in the right direction!
So the following are some pictures of Astronaut I have named Anna, I hope you enjoy!
Matt
I have just got back from picking up my new van, it is a Carapark Astronaut 15/5, twin single bed model and it has lived its relative easy life down in the Apple Isle.
I first saw this van back in August 2005 on this forum when the then new owner (Astronauty) asked for information on how old his van was, then shortly after info on how to polish it. I fell in love with the huge glass areas, and perspex wrap around windows at the front of the van, I immediately asked him if he ever sold it I would be most interested!
Astronauty picked up his new van and that was the last we heard from him until he replied to a wanted ad by Gringo for an Aircraft Aluminium Van, hinting it MAY be for sale, so back onto him and after five months of procrastination, the van has now changed hands.
Astronauty has assured me this van was a major prize won on Bob and Dolly Dyer's Pick a Box, and has lived in Tassie all its life, he bought it from Georgetown from the Husband of a local Real Estate Agent who had decided the room it had taken up in the shed for all those years could be put to better use!
Astronauty towed it home to Hobart and set it up as a holiday accommodation for family members that came to stay, much better looking at a "quirky and kinky" Carapark than a late model van. After deliberation he thought it better to let someone restore the van than let it sit in the vege patch and rot away, so he has arranged alternate dwellings for the holidays and thought about selling the van.
After many emails and a few telephone calls we struck a deal and I am off to collect the van from Hobart! the picking up of teh van was a story in itself, but needless to say we demolished fences and driveways in the name of relocating the Astronaut, all with smiles on our faces! (hope the fence is OK)
It was all I could do to keep from grinning from ear to ear all the way home to Melbourne on the Spirit of Tasmania, many many people came and toured the van whilst waiting on the docks, and of course plugged the website to all and sundry! had one man tell me his family had a zestline they used for family holidays (long gone now) when he was a child and this one brought back many wonderful memories for him! anyway, off to board the boat!
The most wonderful part of my trip was yet to come, Melanco got out of bed at a ridiculous hour Saturday morning to meet me at the boat, and we set up the two Carapark Vans at the end of the Station Street Pier, where she proceeded to cook up the most sumptious brekky for myself and a couple of other forum members that are interested in having a look at a the Zestline and Astronaut caravans! (she is nothing short of the most wonderful person on this site I have met, and she reminds me it is one thing to say something, she just did it - once again Mel a million thanks)
ANYWAY, a great morning was had by all, and a number of people interested in looking for a vintage van have now been pointed in the right direction!
So the following are some pictures of Astronaut I have named Anna, I hope you enjoy!
Matt
