Identify Wayfarer Caravan

[jake90]

Hi all,

I have inherited a Wayfarer caravan - but don't know much more than that!

Could anyone point me in the right direction regarding:

• What year it might be?
• Any other information about these vans?
• Is it a liability or an asset?

Cheers!


photos.app.goo.gl/QtdPsxi2EwzhmTZF6

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Jake90.

Almost always nice to inherit a caravan!

Based on the shape, it's early 60's - say 1962 to 1964. The cladding above and below the coloured panels is quite unusual. I don't recall seeing that profile cladding on that era Wayfarer before. It may be original, but it may have been reclad at some point. The van also looks as if it has been largely stripped at some point and then some new furniture put into it so that it can be used as a spare room in the garden. The van has also lost its rear window along the way.

There's information on Wayfarer caravans if you click here. There's none of your model shown on that thread, but I can probably find some photos of a similar van if you want to see them. Wayfarer was a very well known Victorian manufacturer in its time, particularly in the 60's.

Is it a liability or an asset? Depends on a few things. The most important is what shape the van is in, and whether it leaks or has any rot in it. (That can sometimes be hard to see without a very careful examination). The other thing is whether you want to restore it, either as a static van or for use on the road, or whether you want to sell it. It is sometimes said that no caravan is beyond restoration, just depends on how much money you want to put into it and how much time and skills you've got.

Being a bit biased about vintage vans, I'd tend towards saying that it's an asset, but it does depend on what your goal is and what your expectations are.

Don Ricardo

[hughdeany]

Hi Don and Jake 90,
The aluminium cladding actually looks like the fibreglass sheeting that Wayfarer used for a while.
The rear also looks like it has been remodelled at some stage as there is no bump under where the windows would be,just a flattish tail.
Cheers
hughdeany

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Hughdeany,

That's interesting information.

I did wonder about the rear bump. Some of the early 60's Wayfarers just had the flat back, but as far as I can see they were the ones that were still bondwood clad on the sides and had triple front windows, not the double windows like Jake90's van.

Don Ricardo

[jake90]

Thanks so much Don and hughdeany for taking the time to check this one out, I really appreciate it!
I must admit I didn't think it was as old as the 60's, I guess they really built them to last.

I suspect the condition is pretty good (no leaks, and was road registered in 2021) - but I'll give it a good inspection to see what is what.
I think the wife might like to see it moved on - but if there isn't too much to do it might be a good to use while the kids are still young.

Thanks again!

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Jake90,

Speaking from experience, it's great to make family memories in a caravan. We caravanned with our three boys from when they were very little, and now that they are adults two of them have caravans of their own...although they've gone over to the "dark side" and bought modern vans.     Hopefully the Wayfarer will provide you with some similar opportunities with your family.

Just one question for you. What is the side cladding made of? Hughdeany suggested it might be fibreglass rather than aluminium and I'd be interested to hear if that's the case. Wayfarer did experiment with fibreglass panels at one stage but didn't really pursue it. It would be very interesting to know if your van is one of their experimental ones, in which case it would be quite rare. It probably won't make it any more or less valuable, but it would be an item of interest.

You should be able to tell whether it's fibreglass or aluminium by rapping on the side with your knuckles.

Let us know what you find.

Don Ricardo

[jake90]

Hey Don,

I had a look over the weekend (once it finally stopped raining ) and I'm pretty sure it's aluminium cladding all the way around.

Cheers,
Jake.

[jade74]

Sept 5, 2022 21:29:42 GMT 10 jake90 said:

Hi all,

I have inherited a Wayfarer caravan - but don't know much more than that!

Could anyone point me in the right direction regarding:

• What year it might be?
• Any other information about these vans?
• Is it a liability or an asset?

Cheers!


photos.app.goo.gl/QtdPsxi2EwzhmTZF6

[jade74]

I have just bought a Wayfarer caravan. It’s totally original as far as I can see. I’d love your ideas, thoughts etc on it and also what you think it would be worth. Year built etc. It has a little badge on it that says where it was made at Wayfarer Caravans Pty LTd
497 Burke Rd Camberwell phone BY 4642. It’s clad in aluminium.
I’m trying to work out how to put pictures up…

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Jade74,

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your purchase.

Once we see some photos of it, we can most likely tell you a bit about it and give you some idea of when it was built, etc.

There's info on how to post photos if you click here. The easiest way for you to post photos is using the 'Add Attachment' button, but note that if you're posting from a mobile phone (as opposed to a desk top or lap top) that there's an extra step you need to take to make the button appear. It's explained in the instructions.

Hopefully you can work it out, but if you're having trouble, you're welcome to email me some photos at [e-mail] and I'll be very happy to post them for you so that Forum members can help you. Because the address on your Wayfarer is given as Camberwell, I'm thinking that your van may be an earlier rather than later one (Wayfarer produced caravans from 1956 to 1969). I will be quite excited to see it.

Don Ricardo
for the Admin Team