Big Day Out

[Mark T]

Little Bro & I went cruzin' in the country today and had a top day ......we had a few beers & lunch at a lovely little country pub, & took in the following scenery:

These pics are of an Olympic van we found in excellent condition, still registered & still with its original "UU" series plates that were issued to WA caravans & trailers in the 1960's.
Can anyone tell me approx what year this van is?
Ian (bro) was real keen & left his contact details.......











It had an interesting early caravan club sticker:



And this little beauty, unfortunately too far gone for restoration









Mark

[Jim]

Isn't it amazing the difference that a cover over a van makes..

Could I add to your graveyard pictures Mark..

I found these vans a while ago, both in a bad way..



Maybe the time in history isn’t quite right yet, but there will soon come a time when the cost of restoring vans like these, and the one you've shown, will be viable.

I guess there will always be people like Retro1 who are prepared to do a total reconstruction and faithfully follow the original design.

Take lots of photos and measurements, salvage whatever fixtures and fittings can be reused and start again.

In the meantime the only consolation with the vans in this picture is they are now under cover, scant as it may be.

[HDTodd]

Hi Guys,
If those vans were closer to me and were for sale I would be happy to rebuild them.
When I bought my van I thought there was only a bit of rot in it but as I started stripping it I found a lot more rot and ended up reskinning the whole van as well as replacing bits of the frame. This was much easier than it sounds and I only did woodwork in High School. You also don't have to worry about stripping off old paint. If anyone comes across vans like this please let me know as I have been bitten by the caravan restoring bug and as I've nearly finished mine I'm looking for another, is Cobber's free to a good home still available?

[Deleted]

Mark

Take chainsaw..Travel at warp speed.... Bring home porthole and clearance lights of van..

"UUT 245"

I seen this 2006 issued NSW RTA number plate on an old Val ute ( should i say Dodge) the other day.
It was being driven by one of those new age pimply faced dislexic P platers that spell everything wrong "3"s for "E"s and UUT for Ute. These dickheads pay $200 a year extra on thier rego for the priv3lig3.

BUG- 3R THAT MAT3

H3,H3, H3 ;D

R3dDo

[cobber]

Todd,

“Free to a good home” is still for sale and she is in much better shape than the photos indicate..... The hole in the roof is smaller than it looks.....the dirty old sink has now been stolen......last time I looked I found a two foot section of the frame work that wasn’t rotten.....the tow ball looks as though it is missing, but I still have the broken bits...the glass in the windows is still reusable...the wheels may look rusty but they are much
better than the tyres...the inside cupboards may look dilapidated but you could easily make new ones..the electrical wiring is new (well, it will be after you replace it).
All in all, it is fair to say this van is a restorers dream, there is so much to restore. In fact I have decided that an exchange of money will be necessary......I will pay you to take it away.

Send me a “PM” if you want it.

Cobber.

[humpty2]

Re the Olympic........it is an earlier one, if you can get the number off the underside of the drawbar that would be a good start......I know where one of the earliest Rivieras lives
The van is early sixties at an educated guess, the swing out section in the door ( later had a drop piece) and the heavy guage aluminium section at the joint (later ones had a lighter but wider piece)plus the absence of moulded vents in the bottom of the door indicate all this.

[Mark T]

Little Bro heard from the owner of the Olympic today ......it is for sale ......for 6 big ones

I'll do a "for sale" post once I get all the details ......

Humpty ......I never had a look for the No under the drawbar .....which I had

[will and Lyn]

Thats sad Mark
I posted that Olympic riviera last year in Mandurah
for sale $1500.00
Tucky found it I personally dont like the shape but it must turn some members on

Will

[humpty2]

Six grand ....ya gotta be joking!!!
say $2500 if its good......$4000 if its excellent!!

[Deleted]

Hey Mark.

Did ya wrestle the old grey Holden motor thats sittin beside the rotted van back to your car.
There nearly as rare as portholes ya know. .......

Reddo