Van Identification ... and then ... restoration

[nigel1500]

Hi All,

Well!  I never thought I'd own a caravan ... but over Christmas we fell in love with a little caravan park on the NSW south coast and bought an onsite van with annex.  We've been there every second weekend since.  Firstly, what is it?  Secondly, can I get advice on restoration on this forum.  I'm going to throw all the questions I have now into this thread:

1. What is it?  Viscount Royal?  It's about 6m long.  What year or yearish?

e-20200216_162708 by Nigel1500, on Flickr

e-20200216_162257 by Nigel1500, on Flickr


e-20200216_162247 by Nigel1500, on Flickr



2. Windows!  Seals are brittle.  Can I replace the seals between the window sash and frame?  If so, where do I get this stuff?  There's an aluminium wedge missing from the corner of the window ... half the rounded windows have this problem.  Can I get replacements somewhere?  The gasket between the glass and window frame is coming out.  How do I fix this?  Also, the little sliding latches that lock the frames are brittle.  Can I get replacements?

e-20200216_163214 by Nigel1500, on Flickr

The window below still has the little wedge shaped aluminium piece.

e-20200216_163751 by Nigel1500, on Flickr

Here's the view of the window hinge profile.  I think one void is meant to have a little stopper to prevent the window sliding out?  What is the other void for? 

e-20200216_163858 by Nigel1500, on Flickr

I think the little stopper is in the next view.


e-20200216_163905 by Nigel1500, on Flickr

[shesgotthelook]

Hello & welcome! I think the window stuff is called glazing wedge seal. Have you made friends with the Viscount owners page on Facebook? They are dynamite on establishing year of build etc.

Have a read of this too;
vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/2038/viscount-caravans-fullarton-cabramatta-dandenong

Then have a read of this;
vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/5310/vintage-restoration-parts-suppliers-information

Lots more info on this site too. Just type in your topic in the search bar & hopefully you will find the right thread.

Cheers, SGTL

[Mustang]

I would think your model is too late for this forum & perhaps have a look at the sister forum "Classic Caravans" link
We renovated a Viscount with the same windows (the one at the top of the page in the Roam advert) link

[starburst]

Hi Nigel1500, your van is a 73 -78 model Viscount Royal. The chassis number on the drawbar (if it still has one?) will disclose the year. It may also be scribbled under the table or in an obscure spot inside a cupboard or under a drawer.
I call vans from those years "rogue Viscounts" because most of the plastic hardware fittings (window windows, hatch winders, window locks, door hinges, etc) were copied from other designs and declared illegal in a court ruling in the late 1970's, due to copyright infringement. Viscount were ordered to cease production. As a result those parts haven't been commercially available ever since, apart from maybe some very old stock gathering dust somewhere.
A couple of members of the Viscount Owners fb page have created 3D files and are printing some parts and selling to other members. For more info try the Viscount Owners fb page.
Cheers, Arthur

[nigel1500]

Gentlemen,

Thanks for your replies.

I have joined the Classic Caravans website and will continue pursuit of information there.