SELLING: Restored 1959 Kennedy Wayfarer fibreglass van
Jun 8, 2024 23:35:39 GMT 10
griffin likes this
Post by richard on Jun 8, 2024 23:35:39 GMT 10
Hi,
Back in 2011 I purchased one of the four known "Finny" Kennedy Wayfarer vans from Exocet.
Some pics of his are here: vintagecaravans.proboards.com/post/46243
There's some overall info here: vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/17328/wayfarer-franklin-skyline-clipper-fibreglass
And my resto thread is here: vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/8349
Seven years back I crushed one of my vertebra (NOT recommended, it stings a bit) and while I can still walk, I need to switch to a van that needs zero lifting and bending to setup.
So sadly, Lady Penelope is for sale.
I have an unsolicited offer from a friend of my in-laws, but I'm hoping that people on the forum can provide a price estimate?
Per the resto thread, it's fully restored to "as good as I could make it" standards, I found correct replacements for everything and it's setup to be perfectly usable as-is at a serviced site. For "off-grid" you might want an LPG system, to fit the supplied flush-flexible solar panels and check the "never used" plumbing.
Not tested / incomplete / buyer beware:
It's wired and prepped for "off grid", but I've never needed those features so they're not fully installed and tested:
Features:
Photos:
Maiden voyage! Please ignore the blue painter's tape.
IMG_4940 by Richard Lane, on Flickr
Annex Front view:
IMG_6567 by Richard Lane, on Flickr
Annex back view, plus the boot!
IMG_6568 by Richard Lane, on Flickr
Before: As received from Exocet
IMG_1702 by Richard Lane, on Flickr
New Chassis:
IMG_0997 by Richard Lane, on Flickr
Because old chassis...
IMG_1709 by Richard Lane, on Flickr
Back in 2011 I purchased one of the four known "Finny" Kennedy Wayfarer vans from Exocet.
Some pics of his are here: vintagecaravans.proboards.com/post/46243
There's some overall info here: vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/17328/wayfarer-franklin-skyline-clipper-fibreglass
And my resto thread is here: vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/8349
Seven years back I crushed one of my vertebra (NOT recommended, it stings a bit) and while I can still walk, I need to switch to a van that needs zero lifting and bending to setup.
So sadly, Lady Penelope is for sale.
I have an unsolicited offer from a friend of my in-laws, but I'm hoping that people on the forum can provide a price estimate?
Per the resto thread, it's fully restored to "as good as I could make it" standards, I found correct replacements for everything and it's setup to be perfectly usable as-is at a serviced site. For "off-grid" you might want an LPG system, to fit the supplied flush-flexible solar panels and check the "never used" plumbing.
Not tested / incomplete / buyer beware:
It's wired and prepped for "off grid", but I've never needed those features so they're not fully installed and tested:
- Was on Historic Rego, which isn't transferrable, so sold unreg.
- New mattress cushions custom made, but they don't have upholstery covers. We used sheets because with kids we wanted to wash them after each trip.
- I installed waterproof junction boxes on the roof for glue-on flexible solar panels, and wired them back to the charge controller, and purchased the flexible solar panels to suit the above, but never attached them.
- Water tank and sink drain are fitted but have never been used, and I restored the original lever-pump tap but haven't tested it.
- I have the original gas stove, it's cosmetically restored, but I'm not a gas-fitter and modern LPG regs are a pain, so we used a BBQ outside or a one of those butane canister stoves inside.
- Some cosmetic damage to the RHS behind the wheel well that I haven't resprayed. On the shakedown run a Chinese tyre from "reputable trailer shop" exploded at 100kmh, then the spare also exploded. I threw away the last tyre, all three are now Japanese at over double the dollars, but zero explosions since!
- The aluminium trim to upgrade it from two-tone to "TriTone" isn't fitted. The original stuff is rather dull from oxidation and I didn't try very hard to find a replacement. Original comes with the van to refit / user a a pattern / admire / recycle.
- Might need a new battery?
Features:
- Four berth. Two fixed singles at the rear and a dinette-to-double-bed convertible at the front
- Chassis:
- Remanufactured 2013, twice as strong as the original, galvanised steel then fully painted with cold gal after welding.
- New (2011) Alko (?) independent torsion-bar axle with electric brakes.
- New stabilisers, jockey wheel, hitch, etc.
- Electrical:
- Professionally rewired, Narva 12V breaker panel, CTEK D250S charger, small 240v inverter, GFC 240v panel wired to 12V charger and the kitchen socket.
- Otherwise 12V throughout, 12V LED lights in the original fixtures, USB charge points throughout (hidden, of course).
- Appliance also 12V: Vitrifrigo C75L fridge with remote compressor and 12V Dometic range hood
- Shell:
- Sanded back to original gelcoat, any problem areas cut out, reinforced and repaired, entire van professionally filled, primed, resprayed with Northane 2-pack polyester epoxy gloss with windows & interior out.
- Replacement sliding windows made by original manufacturer.
- Curved windows remade in acrylic.
- New hatches, hatch hardware, door hinges, boot hinges & lock, etc, etc.
- Locks replaced and keyed alike (CAMEC) other than original door lock.
- Found correct tail lights (Ford Zephyr Mk 2) and replaced. Close match with other running lights.
- Interior
- Empty shell interior was sprayed with sealer/primer, then insulated before interior was reinstalled.
- Plywood floor was repaired / patched as needed, then fibreglass reinforced over the patches.
- Original: Formica table & bench-top, sink, kitchen, pantry, wardrobe, overhead storage, drawers. Handles replaced with New-Old Stock exact matched items.
- Original light fittings, new LED panels/globes inside.
- Dinette seats, rear beds, all replaced with varnished marine ply, using original masonite as patterns.
- Original vinyl / hardboard interior replaced with "bendy ply" and varnished. Looks schmick, IMO.
- New custom mattress / cushions. Rear beds have lounge backs which are sized to make a "floor mattress" for emergency 5-person sleeping. Dinette backs become table mattress.
- TONS of storage. One dinette seat is "electrical, fridge compressor, tools", second is empty, both have hinged tops. Both rear beds have hinged lids. Front, rear, and side overhead storage, etc, etc.
- Exterior
- It has a boot! Also provides access to the storage under the rear beds.
- Annex room. Inflatable "Kampa Air Pro 350"
Photos:
Maiden voyage! Please ignore the blue painter's tape.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53777473608_874caa4337_k.jpg)
Annex Front view:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/53777591639_bded9521b4_h.jpg)
Annex back view, plus the boot!
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/53777264581_a83ab27b02_h.jpg)
Before: As received from Exocet
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53777686800_f2710dfcd2_k.jpg)
New Chassis:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53777472763_1f90a4578d_k.jpg)
Because old chassis...
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53777686820_337d826401_h.jpg)