Propert Caravans (Newtown & Vaucluse, NSW)

[Roehm3108]

Hi OP. Good to see another Porpert come out of the woodwork and actually being used. After viewing the pics, I'm not too sure about the benefits of the "extensions". It would still let the weather in and doesn't give any extra room or height inside the van itself. An awning attached to the bottom of the outer shell before opening the shells would give the same protection. The best "modification" I have ever seen is the Propert owned by Tom Watson, the Jayco dealer in Coffs Harbour. His actually has a poptop roof in the inner shell, which gives better headroom in the back of the van.

The jury is still out about how to read the numbering system, DonR. Anomalies such as this van have surfaced before, so maybe we are not fully understanding exactly how Mr Porpert numbered his vans.

[gasyakker]

I found some documents with my Propert relating to another Propert, if anybody is interested.

[gasyakker]

We have just purchased a Propert Van Serial No 9.300. I think that means 1969 build and the 300th Propert van built. It has a 3 piece addition that is secured to the roof with 6 hinges (about 25 cm toward the front of the van from the top of the door) . After the outer shell has been rotated through 90 Degrees (approx) and the rear section is vertical, This add-on is lifted and 2 pieces (one either side, hinge down to form a 60cm extension to provide a cover above and beside the entry door. These pieces are held with sliding bolts when not in use and more sliding bolts when they are in position.

I have dismantled the rear addition and several other parts to remove the layers of paint, replace hinges and screws and reassemble it as near as possible to original.

By the way the door is 950 mm wide.

This plate is fixed to the outer edge of the Propert factory added top panel that hinges from the roof about 300 mm from the rear.



The ID plate does not appear to fit the pattern of Propert numbering so I enlarged the pic to show the number clearly.

The van may have been No 300 but not completed with the Rear Modification until 1969

[Roehm3108]

Interesting point here OP. The Propert in your link is number 7/290 and sold in 1967. Yours is 9/300. If yours was built in 1969, then the sales of the vans really slowed down after 1967!

However if you look on the first page of this thread, we have van numbers 310 to 322 all with the 8 prefix and considered to be 1968 models. So something is amiss. Can you check your number top make sure the prefix is a 9?

[gasyakker]

With regards to Watson's Propert 3/257. This van has some similarities to my van, 9.300, in that it started life in an earlier year and both vans have been modified.

9.300 was definitely modified in the factory as the additional Propert patent plate is fixed to the mod. Is it possible that there is another patent plate on the 3.257?

9.300 appears to have maintained the build number and used the year number at completion. 3.257 appears to use the start year at the beginning of manufacture and the build number on completion.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi all,

Many of us have seen the 1956 'Pink Propert' at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, shown here in a photo taken by Roehm3108 in 2005:



This evening I came across a couple of photos on the Museum website showing the Propert being moved in 2010, I gather while some renovations were being undertaken or perhaps just as part of the rotation of exhibits.  The photos are shown below via a link to the Museum website:




(Source:  www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/nation/removal_of_objects_from_the_nation_gallery?result_6095_result_page=2#slideshow-gallery )

The photos are of interest because they show several views of the caravan which can't normally be seen when it is on display:  the nearside (kerbside) with the door closed, and the offside  (driver's side) with a glimpse of the rear.

Note the vertical shape and placement of the window towards the front of the offside - quite an unusual feature.

Don Ricardo

[agrant]

Hi.
We have #221 - 3rd generation of family to have her.
Looking at this page places it as 1961 built
Any docs or info and table design would be appreciated.
couple of pics attached
We are restoring her.
Cheers

Attachments:

221a.pdf (49.95 KB)

221b.pdf (360.18 KB)

[sunny62]

Hi Agrant,

There is a Facebook group called Vintage Propert Folding Caravans. Someone on there posted table plans recently. You could check that out.
Cheers

[shesgotthelook]

www.facebook.com/groups/2083594811690280

[agrant]

cool, thank you

[shesgotthelook]

Propert year unknown. Guessing late 50's by the styling.

[shesgotthelook]