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Post by Don Ricardo on Aug 14, 2015 18:15:12 GMT 10
For the record...Thought I would add the often difficult dilemna of chassis numbers. I have a Millard Capri that I have been told by previous owners is a 1966. This was carried forward through various owners over the years so I presume fairly accurate. The chassis number is M6490. From research here it appears that the Capri's were first produced in May 1966 so this may have been one of the first. I noticed another identified Millard here as a 1966 and the chassis number is M8079, so I am guessing they may have both been produced in the same year. Anway...thought it worthwhile adding this information for future identification and records. Hope this is of help.  I love this forum by the way. A constant source of credible and fascinating information with great inspiration. thankyou to all who contribute:)
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Post by twocutekelpies on Jul 9, 2016 17:13:53 GMT 10
Hi there, just to let you know I've been collating chassis numbers for Millards and Yorks as part of the Millard and York Owners Facebook page, some of them I've collected from this forum and many of the members in the group have contributed theirs, some have also found dates written/stamped in their vans hidden behind wall panels. I only have around a hundred numbers so far for the 60s and 70s but it's enough to narrow down other numbers to within a year or two of their make. Members of the group have access to the spreadsheet which only shows the chassis number and general external features, there is no personal information. I am happy to have anyone send me their numbers either to add to the collation or for info on their number.
Shelley
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 26, 2017 11:32:32 GMT 10
Shaun posted the following on 9 April 2011 here:Hi I have a Millard Capri 16ft Caravan that I am currently renovating but the problem I am having is that the id number seems wrong as normally they consist of an M and then 5 numbers but mine only has 4 numbers after the M, which makes me think it is a 60's model, and was number 6942 off the production line as the chassis number is M6942. Can anyone shed any light on this?? Thanks-
And Franklin1 replied on the same day:G'day shaun, and welcome to the forum! The big question is when did Millard first start numbering their chassis. We're guessing they must have started at No.1 at some time (sounds logical  ) and then continued numbering them until the business closed in 1979. Information suggests any chassis number less than M15000 is likely to be before 1970. We have one example of M8079 that we're told is a 1966 model, which means your number of M6942 is around about a year's worth of production earlier. The best guesstimate at this stage is that your van would be a 1965 model. cheers, Al.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 26, 2017 11:39:55 GMT 10
Millard & York serial number listHi there, just to let you know I've been collating chassis numbers for Millards and Yorks as part of the Millard and York Owners Facebook page, some of them I've collected from this forum and many of the members in the group have contributed theirs, some have also found dates written/stamped in their vans hidden behind wall panels. I only have around a hundred numbers so far for the 60s and 70s but it's enough to narrow down other numbers to within a year or two of their make. Members of the group have access to the spreadsheet which only shows the chassis number and general external features, there is no personal information. I am happy to have anyone send me their numbers either to add to the collation or for info on their number. Shelley Click here to find the latest version of Twocutekelpie's (Shelley's) serial number list for Millard and York caravans. Just click on the 'Download' button to obtain a copy of the list. It's a masterwork! You'll need to be registered with Facebook to access the list. Don Ricardo
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Post by twocutekelpies on Sept 25, 2017 7:25:06 GMT 10
I thought you might like to read a couple of Millard articles I've found while going through newspaper archives on Google. One from 1968 showing a Millard advert as well as an article about 2 caravans supplied by Millard for use on Skippy  source news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19680303&id=XvlXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uOcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2598,1265256&hl=en edit - I can't get the newspaper link above to work because it separates at that comma, maybe someone tech savvy can fix it please  |
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Post by twocutekelpies on Sept 25, 2017 7:26:48 GMT 10
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Post by darlington on Oct 19, 2017 4:08:28 GMT 10
Hi, I'm Shaun. Peter Darlington's son. My dad sadly passed away this in April. My dad built and designed the caravan's. His brother John (deceased) was just the business end. Now I'm not going to put family politics on here. As it's all in the passed now. I'm proud at what my father built. And to this day I still see Darlington and Millard caravan's about.
Thank you
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Post by Mustang on Oct 19, 2017 6:51:19 GMT 10
Hi Shaun,
I'm sure there would be several members here who would love to hear more of your family's wonderful caravan building history.
Cheers
Brent
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Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 19, 2017 14:29:30 GMT 10
Hi Shaun,
Welcome to the forum. We always love to hear from those who were involved in building caravans in the vintage era and their family members, so you are doubly welcome!
As you will have seen from this thread, we only have some very basic details about the history of your family and Millard caravans, so anything that you can tell us or any photos you're willing to share I am sure will be of great interest to forum members. And of course we understand that there may be some information about the family that stays within the family.
I have always been intrigued to read that your grandfather began building caravans in 1947 (was it in Mortlake?), and have wondered what his background was and how that led to building caravans, and then of course wondered what the caravans looked like. Are you able to tell us anything about that?
Don Ricardo
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Post by ilana182 on Apr 18, 2018 9:36:30 GMT 10
We are finally getting close to having our Millard Safari ready to go! We bought it about 4 years ago but really only started working on it last year, just a weekend here or there whenever we get the chance. This is a photo from the day I first discovered her. All the bit and pieces of paperwork I've found points to 1963. Chassis number is M-947. I can't wait to share more pics once we're finished.  |
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Post by twocutekelpies on Nov 25, 2019 6:56:04 GMT 10
Newspaper cutting posted by Franklin1 on 27 May 2010, showing the first Millard caravan: (Source: Unknown) The remainder of this article titled Financial Crosswinds Buffett Caravans can be read at this link in The Sydney Morning Herald dated 17 June 1979, type in 69 at the page number as it's page 69 of 72. It includes mention of Coronet going into receivership and Chesney closing its doors. |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Aug 28, 2020 10:56:11 GMT 10
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Post by bigal1 on Oct 2, 2020 19:20:39 GMT 10
Hi I am the proud owner of a 1961 Millard Deluxe 13ft9inch Caravan I was given. The Van had laid in a paddock since 1982 and was in a poor state of repair. I have restored it to as near as original apart from a later three-way fridge and a better Bed. As Members of the Vintage and Classic Carravanners of South Australia we are enjoying it now that we can use it. The Chassis No is M2012 and as we removed the Aluminum to repair rotten timber we found the build date of 15-7-1961. we found this date and the names of who I believe assembled the Van written by hand in a red crayon on the inside panels either side of the rear window. I don't know if it was originally painted white. but the blue was the first color on the band around the windows.
Allan Price.
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Post by shesgotthelook on Oct 2, 2020 21:48:37 GMT 10
Hello & welcome Allan. It looks like you have done an amazing restoration of your Millard. Would love to see some more photos.
Cheers, SGTL
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Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 3, 2020 19:25:31 GMT 10
Hi Bigal1, Thanks for telling us about your Millard and that you are out and about enjoying it. That’s great and the real joy of vintage vanning. It’s always good when someone is able to tell us the serial number of their van, as well as provide a date found on the van or from an original receipt. That helps us then date other vans based on their serial numbers. Twocutekelpies has compiled a serial number register for Millard and York vans (see higher up this thread), and she’ll be interested in the info you’ve provided - partly because the date you’ve found on your van doesn’t fit the pattern she’s proposed! So I’ll be interested to see what she can tell us. Don Ricardo |
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Post by twocutekelpies on Oct 4, 2020 4:27:31 GMT 10
Hmmm, appearance and date line up, the chassis number is an anomaly, I would've expected a low, 3 digit number for that year. Do you have a photo of the number please and does it appear with the date?
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Post by bigal1 on Oct 4, 2020 9:07:58 GMT 10
Hi twocutekelpies, The van was purchased by the original owner in July 1961 and I am the third owner. The chassis no is welded onto the drawbar and the build date was found on both sides of the rear window when I stripped the Aluminum from the van to repair the frame. I will post some more pictures when I can get my Son to resize them. Regards Allan Price.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 4, 2020 16:10:58 GMT 10
Hi Twocutekelpies and Bigal1, There’s a bit of a mystery about the build dates and serial numbers for Millard vans isn’t there? I think there’s something we’re not getting quite right about the numbering system. We might be helped by also including the Millard branding stickers in the mix. For example, Bigal1’s caravan has the early Millard ‘concentric circles’ logo on it, the same as Humpty2’s van higher up this thread here. Humpty2’s van also has a confirmed 1961 date, the same livery/paint design and is a deluxe van (indicated by the wrap around windows) like Bigal’s. Unfortunately we don’t know the serial number because Humpty2’s standard drawbar was replaced by a Jones Dolly Wheel, however the number ‘98’ may indicate that the serial number is M98x or Mx98 or Mxx98 with ‘x’ being a missing number. In contrast ilana182’s van a couple of posts higher on this page is a standard Millard without wrap around windows, a different paint design (or perhaps that’s how the standard model was painted?), has a serial number of M-947 and documentation indicating a 1963 build date - although we don’t know how conclusive that documentation may have been. But the additional factor is that it has the ‘Safari’ logo, which I am guessing is later than the concentric circles logo? The basis for that comment is that we know that the concentric circles logo was used by Millard in the mid to late 50’s. So how do we reconcile all this? I will be most interested to see a photo of Bigal1’s serial number to see if it is similar In application to others we’ve seen, eg for M1106. Bigal1 please be assured that I am not questioning anything you’ve told us about your van. I’m just suggesting that there’s something about the dating of Millards from their serial numbers that maybe we haven’t quite got a handle on yet. Examples like your van with both a date and a serial number are great to see and hopefully will help us work the puzzle out. Don Ricardo |
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Post by bigal1 on Oct 5, 2020 14:02:24 GMT 10
Hi Guys , this is very interesting. I have got my Son to resize the pictures I have of the restoration. First the story about the Van that was told to me by the previous owners. The Van was purchased by the original owner in Sydney in July 1961, he towed it back to Sth. Australia with a Holden Sedan ( they think it was an FE ). He was a member of the SA Caravan Club for a number of years. The people I got it from purchased the Van from him to live in while they built their house in 1980. In 1982 they moved the van to the back of their property and abandoned it. I was asked if I wanted it, if not it was going to be burnt. The van had a lot of water damage and required a lot of repairs. The only alterations are the fridge and bed. The interior was the same as humpty2s but the pullout lounge come bed was destroyed by vermin so it was removed. We have used the van a couple of times and found it very comfortable and my XF Falcon tows it extremely well. Our next outing will be our group event at Meningie at the end of October ( there will be approximately 90 Classic and vintage vans in attendance ).
Regards Allan.
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Post by bigal1 on Oct 5, 2020 14:03:43 GMT 10
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Post by bigal1 on Jan 5, 2021 12:43:38 GMT 10
Hi twoecutekelpies and Don, I may have come up with the Chassis No. anomalies. I was introduced to a Gentleman who told me he worked for Millards in the early 60s. He told me that the Chassis frames for the various size vans were made offsite, he couldn't remember by Millards or an outside company. They were trucked in and stacked in the yard, they were then taken into the factory in no particular order to be completed into vans. I cannot say how accurate this information is as I don't know this person personally. However this may account for the variation in chassis Nos and dates. Something else I noted, I found some old rego papers in the van and the chassis no was not noted on them. Regards Allan.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jan 8, 2021 19:49:24 GMT 10
Hi Bigal1,
That's really interesting information. That may explain a lot! And also may mean that we don't have to beat ourselves up for not being able to fully "crack" the Millard serial number puzzle!
I will be interested in Twocutekelpies' thoughts.
Don Ricardo
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Post by Don Ricardo on Feb 7, 2021 20:42:01 GMT 10
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Post by hughdeany on Feb 7, 2021 21:23:06 GMT 10
Hi Don,
Stunning van,pretty sure the age is right,possibly earlier by a year or two,there have been a few for sale recently.
Cheers
hughdeany
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Post by twocutekelpies on Feb 7, 2021 21:27:52 GMT 10
Wow, the outside shape is so different, especially the brow above the rear window, but interior detailing is very similar to M956 (1963) - even the diamonds between the cupboards. Not surprised she's sold already!
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Thought I would add the often difficult dilemna of chassis numbers. I have a Millard Capri that I have been told by previous owners is a 1966. This was carried forward through various owners over the years so I presume fairly accurate. The chassis number is M6490. From research here it appears that the Capri's were first produced in May 1966 so this may have been one of the first. I noticed another identified Millard here as a 1966 and the chassis number is M8079, so I am guessing they may have both been produced in the same year. Anway...thought it worthwhile adding this information for future identification and records. Hope this is of help. 
) and then continued numbering them until the business closed in 1979. Information suggests any chassis number less than M15000 is likely to be before 1970. We have one example of M8079 that we're told is a 1966 model, which means your number of M6942 is around about a year's worth of production earlier. The best guesstimate at this stage is that your van would be a 1965 model.
