Viscount duralvan

[marcduravan]

I there - I have a 1968 viscount duralvan tandem axle with vin A2438 I am looking at. Does anyone know what the frame is made of - aluminium or wood and any idea in tare weight. It is in near original condition but needs some love and I have an opportunity to purchase - cheers any help appreciated

[Franklin1]

G'day marcduravan, and welcome to the forum!

The term "Duralvan" means it has an aluminium frame.

Something doesn't seem to match with a chassis number of A2438 and the year 1968. One or the other perhaps isn't true.

Approximate tare weight can be calculated by measuring the cabin length of the van in feet, and multiplying by 52kgs. Then add another 100kgs for the second axle in a tandem van.

For example, cabin length is 18ft...
18ft X 52kgs = 936kgs
Add 100kgs for second axle...936 + 100 = 1036kgs approx tare weight.

cheers,
Al.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Franklin1 and Marcduravan,

I've checked Twocutekelpies' Viscount register and serial number A2438 sits right in the range of viscount Duralvan serial numbers for 1968, so that date does seem right to me. (Sorry to run counter to what you're saying about the date Franklin1.) According to the register, the van should be clad in multi-strand unpainted aluminium cladding with the 'racetrack' coloured flashes on the side. 'Racetrack' refers to an open, looped flash which looks a bit like the shape of a racetrack seen from above.

Does that all sound correct, Marcduravan? It it doesn't, post some photos or point us to a link or something for the van to have a look at, and we'll try and work out what's going on. (There's info on how to post photos in the 'Forum Guidelines & Helpful Hints' section of the forum (check the forum Home page).

Don Ricardo

[Franklin1]

Hi DonR, no worries about challenging my thoughts.

I had checked the Viscount DHL thread, and there is a 1964 Viscount showing with A714 chassis number. A rough calc in my head suggested there would have been more than a couple of thousand built between '64 and '68.

However, it shows the value of databases such as Shelley's (which I didn't check.)

cheers,
Al.

[leeron]

Hello Marcduralvan,
The frame is made of durallium aircraft aluminium on all the straight spars in the walls and across the roof, the front and rear window shelves are timber, and curved edges that the front and rear alloy outer skins wrap around are wood on the top and bottom bends as alloy bending wasn't too refined at the time.
Don is correct with the serial no.
My A1573 is a 1966 model Viscount Duralvan 14'6 van.
Hope this helps.

Leon.

[marcduravan]

Hey all - huge help thanks... the owner has had it 25 years stored in shed and didn’t tnink it was aluminium frame but now the info received makes sense - some timber AND alloy. I’m hoping to make an offer. Does anyone know how these handle being towed? Would I be silly to purchase it with the view to tow iir regularly??? And yes has exposed aluminium with flashes on the side..... Thanks for the help all - will keep u listed!

[marcduravan]

Thanks again all.... purchased the duralvan but yet to pick it up. It’s 25ft do hope will tow ok🤔. I’ll try to post some photos when I get it home.... I’m not hugely tech savvy though! Thanks again 😁

[Mustang]

Hi Marcduravan
If you are going to tow it home? I would be paying attention to the 25yo tires & wheel bearings.
If it is unregistered you will need new tires anyway to get a safety certificate, probably best to get them fitted before a journey.

If you are not savvy with any of the above, perhaps take a knowing friend.
Cheers

[marcduravan]

Thanks for the advice - only a short tow home where I will be able to put it on a hoist. Brakes are working and no play in bearings but I’ll take an external thermometer to check en route. Tyres visually ok.. no cracks etc. In South Australia I can get a permit to move it without safety certificate etc.... 👍

[marcduravan]

Hi again - does anyone “ in the know” happen to have any idea which wheel bearings and rims Viscount used in the 1960’s ( 1968 duralvan twin axle 25ft) I know the rims are 15 inch and tyres FR 78-15 and don’t think Holden pattern but I may be wrong. I was hoping to try and get some spare bearings and a spare tyre/rim as a precaution before I pick up the old girl. I will also be putting new tyres on as a more careful inspection thanks to advice on this forum revealed some rubber deterioration.....