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Post by harold on Apr 20, 2021 16:50:07 GMT 10
Good afternoon All, I've just picked up this 13'6" bondwood aluminium van and believe it is a Wayfarer of about 1962 manufacture. The van is in very good condition and is just going to be resprayed and rewired before we hit the road.
Can anyone confirm the date of manufacturer and the brand from the pics enclosed?
I would like to be able to find a three way fridge that would fit the era but am not sure how practical it is to find and refurbish a fridge of that age? Has anyone some hints?
Regards Harold
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 21, 2021 11:07:22 GMT 10
Hi Harold, Welcome to the forum and to the wonderful world of vintage caravans. I was interested to see the photos of your van, having seen it when it was advertised on Gumtree in 2017. Having looked at the photos quite carefully though, I have some doubts about it being a Wayfarer, although I know that's what it was identified as by the (previous?) seller. While it is a very similar shape to some Wayfarers of the early 60's, it has some features which I haven't seen on any other Wayfarers - and I have been collecting photos of Wayfarer vans for historical purposes for quite a few years. The unusual features are: - The V-shaped front windows which literally extend right across the front of the van from side to side, edge to edge. Most Wayfarers of the era had triple and/or triple wrap-around front windows. Those that had twin front windows didn't have the windows from edge to edge.
- The way the cladding is placed on the back wall around the rear window. All other Wayfarers I've seen did it differently to your van.
- Where the rear wall curves under to meet the floor on your van, there is a little angle or edge. Wayfarer rear walls curved smoothly under the rear to meet the floorline without any discernible meeting point.
- Your van has a two piece door with an opening section for ventilation. Wayfarers in the early 60's had a one piece door with a separate fly wire door inside the van.
In addition to the above, there is something about the overall look of your van that just doesn't quite seem to say "Wayfarer". However, I can't say definitively that it isn't a Wayafarer because they were always experimenting with their designs and as a result produced quite a range of different models over the years. I just have this niggling feeling that this one isn't a Wayfarer...  Of course I am only one person. Other people may think differently to me. One thing to check - is there a serial number welded on the drawbar? If there is and you can tell us what it is, that may help us know one way or another. When the van was advertised back in 2017 the seller claimed the van had been in the one family since 1955. One thing I can say for sure is that that cannot possibly be true. Because of its design, the van is definitely early 60's, and could be 1962 or 1963 as you have suggested. Don Ricardo |
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Post by harold on Apr 22, 2021 11:51:46 GMT 10
  Good morning Don, Thank you for your reply i have added some pics of the chassis number and the unusual step mount it may help with identification. The interior of the van is in great condition supporting the view, of the original 2017 seller, that it had a single owner from new. The serial number is 113. Kind Regards Harold |
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Post by harold on Apr 30, 2021 6:47:03 GMT 10
Greetings Don and Hugh, We have found another of theses vans here in the Riverland for sale on FaceBook, and it is a South Australian manufactured Hardy's Fiesta. The van is listed as a 1960 model but would think it is a later build.
Regards Harold
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