Roadmaster caravans [South Australia]

[Franklin1]

ROADMASTER CARAVANS [South Australia]:

Manufactured by Dean Mordaunt until 1968
800 South Road, St Marys, SA and later
12 Denis Street, St Marys, SA

Manufactured by the Weeper family from 1968 on

South Road, Edwardstown, SA

15 Furness Avenue, Edwardstown, SA

The 'Roadmaster' brand name appears to have been used by two caravan manufacturers in two different states. The best known manufacturer of Roadmaster vans is the South Australian firm featured in this thread. However, the Roadmaster name was also used on caravans built by McCallum & Brown in East Brunswick, Victoria - for more information click here.

---

Posted by lazza, Apr 18, 2008: "Roadmaster Caravans have been built in SA since 1946. My father owned a 1963 Roadmaster caravan ( 19' bunk bed model) and a 1968 Roadmaster caravan. This van was the last one that the original owners built. Dad then bought the company from them. He moved manufacturing from South Road Edwardstown to Furness Ave Edwardstown. We built caravans there until 1983 when I moved the business down to Lonsdale , a southern suburbs Industrial area about 20 kms further south of Adelaide. Adelma caravans were started approx 1967 by Jan Capolla and his brothers. They were former employees of Roadmaster caravans.They continued building until around 1980 when they eventually closed shop. Roadmaster used to build the Greythorne brand that were sold in Victoria. Adelma then continued to build them for some time ( not sure how long) I will get in touch with Jan and find out more info. As for the other Roadmaster caravans that I have I have just let one of my employees have the 1967 model that is a one owner so he can tow it with his 1963 AP5 Valiant. The other one I have let my best mate have to restore.So both caravans are in great hands. Hope this is enough info to start with. Will post more later when my typing finger recovers. Cheers Larry W"

[Franklin1]

1964 1962 Roadmaster (date provided by Lazza - see Addendum below) :



(source: posted by 313royal, Oct 6, 2006)

----------------------------------------------------------

Roadmaster [...could be the same one as the one shown above?? The seller said it was used as a weekender.]



Description: Early 1960s Aluminium 15ft Roadmaster Deluxe Caravan, Fibreglass Roof, Many original features, Gas stove, New Electric fridge, Annex, Kitchen table folds to Double bed, ALBERTON, SA.

(source: Trading Post advert Nov 2008.)

---

ADDENDUM by Don Ricardo - March 2022: The Roadmaster caravan shown above was eventually purchased in February 2009 by Neilncheryl and restored by them. The van was subsequently dated by Lazza as having been built in 1962.

Following are some more photos of the van as purchased:









Photos of the van after restoration:











0





The story of the caravan's restoration and more photos can be found here.

[Franklin1]

Roadmaster caravan photographed in Tasmania:



(source: posted by sutcac, May 1, 2007.)

[Franklin1]

1956 Roadmaster caravan:

On Nov 1, 2007, Geoff&Jude wrote: when we're thinking of the top ten v.v. makers from the 30's to the 60's, consider how many of the early manufacturers there are that have been in continuous manufacture up to today.

franklin - no, carapark - no, don - no, atlantic - no, globetrotter - no, sunliner - no, home-build - not many, etc, etc. the list goes on.

how many yes's - only two that come to mind (i'm sure this will be extended)

those two being roma (since 1928) and roadmaster.

quality survives while others fall by the wayside.

below is a 1956 roadmaster in original condition that was found last year and now owned by the larry weepers (lazza) of roadmaster caravans in maclaren vale, sa (larry's father started roadmaster caravans in the late 40's). see www.roadmastercaravans.com.au/

it has bondwood sides and a fibreglass roof moulded over canite. ([Roadmaster] still do custom vans, off-road vans, 5th wheelers, motorhomes and bus conversions).



...so, what can i say, roadmaster has survived the pressures of time while their competition has been left to die by the side of the road.

their motto: Good because its Guaranteed, Guaranteed because its Good.

(and that's the way it's always been).

[Don Ricardo]

Roadmaster information and photos posted on behalf of Lazza

---

"Here are a few pictures that I have been given by Roadie to publish for the history of Roadmaster caravans...The photo of the young man holding a piece of board is the original builder of Roadmaster at about 24 years of age. He came and visited me recently and he is now 84 years old. His name is Dean Mordaunt."

[Don Ricardo]

1964 1958 Roadmaster and Greythorne advertisements posted on behalf of Lazza (see editorial note re date below)



Note the statement: "SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVES FOR GREYTHORNE CARAVANS (VIC)"



This advertisement lists both a Victorian (Mont Albert) address and the Roadmaster South Australian (St Marys) address.

---

Editorial note: As indicated above the photos shown above were described by Lazza as being from 1964, however later investigation has revealed that by the early 1960's Roadmaster had adopted a much different style with wrap around front and rear windows, aluminium cladding, etc. In addition this advert is identical to one from 1958 posted further down this thread. For this reason I have now re-dated it as 1958, although it may be from a year earlier or later. Manufacturers often used identical adverts for several years running. Don Ricardo

[Franklin1]

1960s Roadmaster 14ft:



(source: listed on ebay May 2008.)

[Franklin1]

Listed in the Trading Post, August 2009...



Description: "Roadmaster caravan, great for a spare room out the back or an onsite van, as it is very heavy to tow. Sleeps 4, has a double bed and 1 set of bunks. Plenty of cupboard space through out the van. Good dining area and has a great kitchen with working gas fridge and a fantastic little oven also with 2 hotplates."

No size given, but tandem wheels suggest it is up around 18ft or so.

[Don Ricardo]

A group (gaggle, school, flock?) of Roadmasters attended the 2010 Vintage Caravan Nationals in Mildura (with their owners), consisting of vans ranging from 1956 to 1968.

1956 Roadmaster owned by the Myers:



1962 Roadmaster owned by the Hills:



1963 Roadmaster owned by Lazza:



1968 Roadmaster owned by Errol and Linda:

[Don Ricardo]

Restored Roadmaster caravan photographed by Beetlesbailey at the South Australian caravan get together at Tanunda, SA in February 2012:



The same caravan was previously owned by Aussieambo and is shown below before restoration:



This caravan appears to be a smaller model than many of the Roadmaster caravans shown earlier on this thread, and to be identical in shape to the 1962/63 14ft Greythorne van (also built by Roadmaster) shown in Reply #1 here. However, based on the profile of the aluminium cladding on the Roadmaster, it seems likely to be a later build than the Greythorne.

Don Ricardo

[jeanandkev]

hi don just looking at all the roadmasters and i wont one 1962 i will be down for the nats so i hope there will be one to buy caddy shack q.l.d

[slo64]

larry and dean a couple of years ago at the roadmaster factory

[penny61]

Sigh, this all brings back memories...
of "Betsy, she was a 16ft Roadmaster (my Dad says late 60s) my parents used to have when my twin sister and I were kids we were quite sad when we had to sell her... they upgraded to a 23ft Millard ("Millie".... not a very inventive name in retrospect) because Betsy was just too small... I have often wondered if she's still out there someewhere she was a solid old girl.... Probably have photos somewhere but not on the computer....

Vanessa

[stevo]

I just listed my parents Roadmaster in the Wanted/Sale section. It was bought direct from John and Dean Mordaunt who let them choose the colours etc. We have photos from holidays in 1962 so it may have been built in late 61 or early 62. There have been no changes to the interior over the years but it has been unused and in the weather for over 10 years so has deteriorated. There are some photos on ebay.

[Don Ricardo]

On 23 April 2013, Aeroliteej posted photos of his recently acquired Roadmaster.

He commented: "The red stripe is not original, alongside some of the windows are tiny strips of a teal green color,it will be going back to this."

The build date of the van is yet to be determined, but it appears to be similar in terms of design and the cladding to the van shown in Reply #8.



















Hopefully, Roadmaster expert Lazza will be able to date the van for us.

Further photos of Aeroliteej's van and discussion can be found by clicking here.

Don Ricardo

[cathmurr14]

Hi I have a Roadmaster that looks the same as this one, although not in as good condition after sitting in someone's paddock for years. I would love to know how you went and if you found out her year of manufacture. Also if you know of anyone that makes the curved windows.

[Don Ricardo]

1965 Roadmaster listed on Ebuy, November 2011

This caravan appears to be a slightly smaller version of, and similar vintage to Aeroliteej's van shown above. Note the modifications in this van for the larger family (the cot and the extra bed), and the clever placement of a small after market airconditioning unit.

[Don Ricardo]

Information posted by Geoff & Jude here on 12 November 2007:

hi

if you have an old roadmaster (from the 60's) and need new logos for the front, back or side, larry at roadmaster has had them re-made and they are available at a reasonable cost.



you can contact him at:

[e-mail] or phone [phone] (adelaide)

geoff 'n jude

[roadster1168]

Hi All,

I'm very excited to have just purchased my first Caravan, a 1968 Roadmaster. It's all the more special as it has only ever had one owner (my grandparents) who have kept it in absolutely immaculate condition and of course I have some fond childhood memories of camping with them.

I thought you might like to see some photographs as I can't imagine it looking any different in 1968 to what it does now.... It's been pretty much garaged (on blocks) since the 80's. It's a 16foot single-axle Aluminium Roadmaster Luxury Liner manufactured in November 1968.

Excuse the van-spam! As I said, I'm very excited! And the instructions on how to upload photos didn't state a maximum number

Thanks,
Bri

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

Untitled by Bri, on Flickr

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

Roadmaster by Bri, on Flickr

[murray]

Jan 8, 2018 22:42:58 GMT 10 roadster1168 said:

Hi All,

I'm very excited to have just purchased my first Caravan, a 1968 Roadmaster. It's all the more special as it has only ever had one owner (my grandparents) who have kept it in absolutely immaculate condition and of course I have some fond childhood memories of camping with them.

I thought you might like to see some photographs as I can't imagine it looking any different in 1968 to what it does now.... It's been pretty much garaged (on blocks) since the 80's. It's a 16foot single-axle Aluminium Roadmaster Luxury Liner manufactured in November 1968.

Excuse the van-spam! As I said, I'm very excited! And the instructions on how to upload photos didn't state a maximum number

Thanks,
Bri

Love the van-span, immaculate - not even a fingerprint in sight.

Do they still have the paperwork with it ?
What is the little cupboard under the bed ?
Cheers
Murray

[Jennison]

Extraordinary! What an immaculate perfect time capsule

Well done jenno

[Mustang]

Thank you for sharing, such character, so lucky to have a family heirloom.

[roadster1168]

Sorry for the tardy reply murray - I do have the original purchase paperwork including letters from Roadmaster re the specifications. The little cupboard under the bed was a request from my nan to store their outdoor table.

[Don Ricardo]

G’day Roadster1168,

Great to know that you have the documentation and the production date for your van. That’s like rolled gold in vintage van circles! . Apart from anything else, it provides a date that others may be able to use to assist them in dating their vans.

As you’ll see from a post higher up this thread, Lazza has told us that in 1968 his father bought the last Roadmaster built by the original owners, before purchasing the company. It would be interesting to know whether your van was built by the Mordaunts or by the Weepers. Is there any signature on the paperwork that might tell us that, and is there a serial number on the van?

Don Ricardo

[Roehm3108]

A great piece of history. Sure hope you will leave it in its original state (not that it's my business!) These pristine vans are so rare to find, but you've proven that they are still out there. Just go out and enjoy it.