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Post by melsparkles on Apr 11, 2017 19:28:41 GMT 10
Hi all, I just had this wee van delivered. I had believed it was 1974 and homemade but was just told it is 1957 and brand unknown. Super stoked at that!. Does anyone have any info on this van they can share? The inside is all timber and in pretty bad condition. I will keep as much of the original interior as possible. Can't wait to find out more. Since I posted this it has been suggested this is a Viscount Alumvan or a Viscount Valiant...I have looked at pics of both and it is similar but not the same. Escort is also similar but still not there yet. Thanks in advance. Mel:-) Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
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Post by Roehm3108 on Apr 11, 2017 20:04:59 GMT 10
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 11, 2017 22:03:38 GMT 10
Hi Melsparkles,
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your acquisition.
Roehm3108 may be right about it being a Viscount, although I don't think we've seen one with cladding with the same profile as on the bottom half of your van. And the slope outwards on the bottom half of the rear of your van looks a bit more pronounced than on most Viscounts.
One thing I can tell you is that the profile of the cladding (ie the pattern of ridges) and the coloured panel indicate that it was probably built somewhere between 1963 and about 1965. It definitely isn't 1957 - the cladding wasn't available then, and that shape van wasn't built until the 60's. It definitely isn't a 70's van either - again the cladding and shapes of the van had changed by then.
Are there any numbers or letters on the A-frame of the van? They may be just numbers created out of weld on the draw bar. If there are, that may tell us something about the van's origins.
Also can you show us some photos of the front and back of the van, and some photos of the inside? Again they might provide some clues.
Don Ricardo
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Post by melsparkles on Apr 25, 2017 7:30:27 GMT 10
Ok thanks for replies. The number is M41274. When I bought it I thought it was 1974...the sellers brother said it was 1957...I don't know how he came to this conclusion. I have looked at Viscount Alumvan and Valiant which are similar but not the same and yes Don Ricardo the rear is more pronounced and the edges at the front and back above and below the windows aren't as curved. Ok thanks again for responses. Cheers Mel Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
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Post by melsparkles on Apr 25, 2017 7:32:46 GMT 10
Here are some more pics. If there is anything I can post that helps to identify further please let me know. Thanks again Mel:-) Attachment Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2017 9:37:03 GMT 10
Hi melsparkles, Your van is definitely not a Viscount,it looks very much to me like a home made going by the waistline and shape. The interior doesn't look factory made either. I would go by what DonTicardo says,it's most likely from the sixties. Cheers hughdeani
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Post by Franklin1 on Apr 25, 2017 15:36:49 GMT 10
G'day melsparkles,
Is that number definitely correct? I'm wondering if you don't have an early Millard van, but the chassis number would more likely be M1274 or M4274 rather than the 5 digits you've given.
The profile of the aluminium cladding on the lower section of the walls points to the van being from 1962 or '63 (assuming the cladding was applied during original construction, and is not a later 'add-on'.)
The sloping side windows were introduced into the industry in about 1963. Do your windows have any stickers still attached to them showing their manufacturer? (eg. Qualcraft)
cheers, Al.
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Post by melsparkles on Apr 25, 2017 18:41:59 GMT 10
Hi Al,
Thanks, the numbers are definitely M41274...just double checked. There's no stickers on the windows and so far no other info to identify it. Hopefully I will know more when I remove the inner walls.
Thanks again:-)
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Post by melsparkles on Apr 25, 2017 18:45:10 GMT 10
Thanks hughdeani,
If it is homemade I think whoever made it modelled it on an early Viscount. I saw a Viscount in the Viscount section of this website that was very similar...it is one that has had the trailer removed to go on a truck. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Cheers Mel
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 26, 2017 11:19:01 GMT 10
Hi Melsparkle, Well, your caravan is a bit of a conundrum! Not that that makes it any the less worthwhile as a project, or any the less enjoyable to use. In fact, if anything, it makes it more interesting to vintage vanners like me who get their kicks out of trying to work out the origins of unusual vans! The serial number you've quoted does sound like a Millard number. Franklin1 commented on it having 5 digits instead of 4 after the 'M'. Later Millard serial numbers did have 5 digits. The only problem is that I've checked the Millard/York serial number list put together by forum member Twocutekelpies here, and the closest Millard serial number to your number is from 1975 - and your van definitely doesn't look like a 1975 model caravan, Millard or otherwise. If you have a look at the Millard thread in the Down History Lane section of the forum, there are some Millards from around 1964 which have similar cladding to your van, ie plain aluminium on the upper third, a coloured panel at window height, and ribbed panelling on the bottom half with just the single rib (as opposed to the multi-strand ribbing which was introduced by some manufacturers at about that time). The only problem with that is that your van doesn't look at all like any of the Millards we've seen from around that time. For various reasons - with due respect to Hughdeani who knows his stuff - I personally don't think that your van is home built, just that we haven't worked out who built it yet! That's not entirely surprising - there were a lot of caravan manufacturers out there in the vintage era, and some of them only built very small numbers, which means that we don't know a lot about some of them as yet. One question for you - can you tell me which state your van came from and/or was registered in? That info sometimes helps to narrow the field down a bit. Don Ricardo
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Post by melsparkles on Apr 27, 2017 6:02:50 GMT 10
Thanks Don Ricardo, It almost looks like a Millard/Viscount mixed. So a Alumvan or Valiant crossed with a Safari! I see that the Millard took over viscount in the 60's. Tried to watch the video but it kept stopping. This is the rego that the seller had on it. His Dad guessed the details. I am in QLD and it was registered here. Thanks heaps I appreciate your detective work. Melsparkles:-) Attachment Deleted
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