Help identifying a Caravan

[relichunter]

Hello all!
First post in the thread so I hope I’m explaining enough!
My partner and I have recently purchased a vintage caravan - and we can’t seem to find anything about it. I think it’s a Franklin but have been told by a few that they aren’t sure on what it is.
On the chassis there is the numbers 63-151.
No letters or any other numbers. Which could mean it is homemade am I correct?
Any information you have regarding make, year model would greatly be appreciated.

[hughdeany]

Hi and welcome relichunter,
We would need a pic to decipher what make your van is,numbers don’t mean much without a body to identify!😉
Cheers
hughdeany

[relichunter]

Gday hughdeany
Bare with me mate I’m trying to figure out how to upload
Cheers

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Relichunter,

I see you're wanting to post some photos of your van. There is information on how to do that if you click on this link. The easiest way is to use the 'Add Attachment' button.

If you find it a bit difficult, you're welcome to email some photos to me and I'll post them for you: [e-mail]

WE're looking forward to seeing your van. Hopefully we can then help you identify it.

Don Ricardo

[relichunter]

Gday Don.
I’ve sent the pictures through to the email added in your reply. I’m unable to upload through here.

I’ve been told it’s either a Franklin or a Viscount but unable to get a definite answer.
Looking forward in getting some information about it. Cheers.
Cheers

[Don Ricardo]

Photos of Relichunter's caravan posted on their behalf:













As indicated in their post above, the serial number on the chassis is 63-151 and it has been suggested to Relichunter that the van is either a Franklin or a Viscount. I don't think it is either. It is closest in shape to a Viscount Valiant, but differs from a Valiant in the size of its side windows, the wheel arch and some of the inside fittings.

In addition, the serial number does not match the format of either a Franklin or Viscount, but I'm not sure what else it may be. The '63' may indicate that the van was built in 1963, and that would fit with the style and profile of the cladding and the coloured panels at window height.

It's a bit unusual that the profile of the cladding above the coloured panels is different to the profile of the cladding on the lower half, although we do sometimes see examples of that.

What do you think Hughdeany  and others?

Don Ricardo

[hughdeany]

Hi all,
Yes Don I agree,not Franklin or Viscount,but I’m sure I’ve seen others like it with those small windows,just can’t remember what brand it is!Possibly an Orford?
Lots of manufacturers used mis matched aluminium,Franklin especially,probably something to do with supply at the time.
Cheers
hughdeany

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Relichunter,

I was hoping that Hughdeany or someone else might be able to identify your van for you, but no such luck so far. However, I think we can give you some clues which may still be useful:

• I think the fact that your van has a serial number on the drawbar indicates that it was commercially built rather than home built, and I think it may have been the 151st van built by whoever the builder was.  (Of course it may just refer to when the caravan was finished - 15 January 1963 - but that seems unlikely!)
  
• The fact that Hughdeany (who has a huge knowledge about 1960+ caravans) can't identify the manufacturer most likely means that it wasn't built by one of the major, well known manufacturers such as Franklin, Viscount, Coronet, Millard, Chesney, etc, etc.
• The '63' in the serial number possibly means it was built in 1963. As discussed above, the painted, un-ribbed panel used at window height is very 1963-1965 styling, the cladding on the bottom half suggests around 1962/63 and the cladding above the windows wasn't widely used until 1963 or 1964.
• Your van has a couple of pretty unusual features: (a) The depth of the windows from top to bottom is shorter than the front windows. Normally the depth of the side windows is the same or almost the same as the front windows. (b) It appears to me that the side windows at the front are not as wide as the side windows at the back. You can check if that's correct, but if that's the case that's quite unusual on a van this size. (c) The two front windows are positioned very close together. (d) The use of different profile cladding on the bottom half and the top part of the caravan is unusual, although not unknown. (e) The shape of the external wheel arches is distinctive. (f) The height of the painted section of the cladding on the side is unusual, in that the painted section would very often line up with the top and bottom of the front windows, or otherwise might continue around the front under the windows. (g) Inside, the fact that your overhead cupboard doors are hinged on the side is something to notice. A large number of 1960's caravans had cupboard doors hinged at the bottom or the top.
  

Hughdeany can tell me if he thinks I am leading you up the garden path with the above, but hopefully the points listed will help you (and us) to identify your van at some point. Sometimes it takes a while for someone to come along and identify a van, so keep a watch on this thread.

In the meantime, what state (of Australia) did you find the van in? Sometimes that can provide a clue too.

Don Ricardo

[hughdeany]

Hi Don and Relichunter,
I know this a while after the event but I think I’ve found out what this van is,looks like a Carapark Leisureliner that I found in the DHL thread,in fact it looks like the same van.
Cheers
hughdeany

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Hughdeany,

I do believe you've nailed it! Well done and congratulations. There are a couple of quite unusual features which make it beyond doubt! One is the little cover plate in the face of the panel beside the drawer above the frig, but lots of others.

I hope that Relichunter is still watching this thread.

I might send him an email to let me know, just in case.

Don Ricardo