Litecraft caravans - Mayne, Brisbane, QLD

[Franklin1]

LITECRAFT HISTORY: 167 Abbotsford Rd., Mayne, Brisbane.

[Franklin1]

1960s Litecraft Caravan:



Description: Classic Vintage caravan circa 1960. 4 berths, kitchen and built in wardrobe, hatch. Sturdy construction, pine sheeting with embossed aluminium exterior. 14ft long and 6ft 6" wide with mechanical spring assisted brakes. Good condition with fully original interior. Custom 12ft X 8ft fitted stanfast canopy, 2 zip doors and window.

(Source: Trading Post advertisement March 2008 )

[Don Ricardo]

1956 Litecraft advertisement and specifications:







(Source: Keith Winser, Australian Caravan & Touring Manual for 1956, pp 116-117 & 84)

[malabuh]

Hi thanks so much for taking the time to do that - My caravan is basically the same as the Traveluxe, however, I think mine is a bit longer as their is an extra side window - towards the rear the windows are double windows. My kitchentte is a little different as above where the ice box is (should be in mine) their is a curved laminated corner. I have an extra cabinet draw inbetween the single beds and no compartments at the back top as the curve/slope at the rear is quite pronounced because the caravan seems to be longer than the one in the picture. .

[Franklin1]

Circa 1960 "Ace" by Litecraft:



posted by sugarcane 20 Mar 2009. 'Lazy Days' "The Ace Litecraft Brisbane 5541?"
- bondwood covered in aluminium
- towbar is okay - can be towed once new tubes put in tyres
- have the original vauxhill rims and hubcaps for wheels
- things to fix: door, cracked window, outside light cover needs replacing (have the replacement for it), opening in ceiling loose, outside surround of the broken window needs replacing.

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

In December 1961 the following advertisement appears in the Sydney Morning Herald classifieds...

The Ace by Litecraft Pty. Ltd.
Queensland's Finest Light Caravan

In only one size. 3-Berth. 11ft 4ins x 5ft 9ins.
Figured Aluminium. In latest styles.
Dinette in front. Nite-n-Day in rear.
A Beautiful Outfit for only £715.

Sydney Agents: Castle Caravan Co. Pty. Ltd...

By June 1962, Castle Caravans were advertising a new Litecraft 11ft 6 x 6ft 11, 3-Berth, aluminium, at £705.

In August 1962, Castle were advertising a new Litecraft 11ft 4 x 6ft 9, 3-Berth, aluminium, at £695

Then they stopped advertising them new. Various advertisements by sale yards continue up until 1968 for about half a dozen used Litecraft vans of 12ft, 13ft or 16ft.

[Don Ricardo]

1958 Litecraft caravan posted in the 'For Sale/Wanted' section by Katrina on 10 October 2007:

I've got a cute lil 1958 Litecraft, bondwood 12 ft van i'd like to sell. Its very neat and tidy with a full annex, 240volt fridge, cook top oven, water tank, and comfortably sleeps 3 people...

[Don Ricardo]

Malabah's 1956 Litecraft caravan posted on 29 April 2008:













Comments by Malabah posted on 22 April 2008:

Hi I just recently purchased a 1956 Litecraft two owner caravan from an old couple in Queensland. It was in the 1974 floods and so it was reclad in the 70's with aluminium but the interior is original with original mattresses and 'Daisy Plaid' curtains and lace. I have just finished painting the interior in early like colours so as to cover up the hideous eighties cream that the last owners (44 years) painted it inside. It is a 15 foot caravan so quite large but has nearly all the original features but I am seeking two long chrome and glass interior lights as only two of the four original lights remain.

My caravan is basically the same as the Traveluxe, however, I think mine is a bit longer as their is an extra side window - towards the rear the windows are double windows. My kitchentte is a little different as above where the ice box is (should be in mine) their is a curved laminated corner. I have an extra cabinet draw inbetween the single beds and no compartments at the back top as the curve/slope at the rear is quite pronounced because the caravan seems to be longer than the one in the picture.

For further pics and info on this caravan click here

[Deleted]

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

You have gotta admit .. pastels just suit our old vans to a T dont they.

Very nice.

Reddo

[malabuh]

I have just discovered through further research and getting more information from the original owners of my van that the roof front and rear were always aluminum and only the sides were reclad in alum at a later date. I will now have to remove the paint from the front and rear of the caravan. My caravan also has a window cover at the rear same as the smaller ACE caravan above The rear windows were fixed but were altered at a later date so as to open and let in air during rain. Be careful as water leaks through the screw holes of the alum roof cladding and seeps into the honey comb layered wood interior (between roof and ceiling which will cause wood rot. Don't hvae to remove the interior timber/roofing just make sure you dry it out thoroughly by putting a heater in the van and then seal the screws and the roof using sealant. 0404117519 can ask more questions or provide info if you like.

[Geoff & Jude]

Litecraft - Gypsy Comparison

hi all

my neighbour came by this afternoon with a "CARS TODAY" magazine from sept 1955 that he found in his garage clean-up.



he has lent it to me so i could scan and post an article on gypsy and litecraft caravans.

so here it is.







i've also posted the same article under gypsy caravans.

geoff 'n jude

[Don Ricardo]

1954 Litecraft Ace listed on Ebuy, November 2011:






















Note that this van doesn't have the typical Litecraft stable door, nor a rear window. However, it has been refurbished so it it possible these features have been changed from the original.

[Don Ricardo]

Litecraft advert and publicity information from the 1958 edition of the Winser Caravan and Touring Manual:




(Source: K Winser, Australian Caravan and Touring Manual, 10th edition, 1958, pages 127 & 128)

Note the change in front window styling in the 1958 Popular model shown here compared to the 1956 model here.

Don Ricardo

[Don Ricardo]

Photos of a 1962 Litecraft caravan used as a travelling bar by Tinker Travelling Events based in Queensland.

The following photos are from their website:









And these from their Facebook page:





For photos of the interior (or info about the business and the services it offers) click on the blue hyperlink above. The interior has obviously been modified to suit the van's current use.

Don Ricardo

[Don Ricardo]

Afternoon Historyphiles,

Following a bit of discussion with Kerivan regarding her mid to late 50's Litecraft here, I thought it would be of interest to post some photos of Litecraft vans from the Winser caravan manuals from 1960 to 1962 because they show the quite rapid development of Litecraft's design and styling over two or three years, which is quite a short period in the scheme of things.

1960 Litecraft models:






(Source: Keith Winser, Australian Caravan and Touring Manual for 1960, 12th edition, 1960, pages 145-7)

Litecraft's 1960 models seem to have been its changeover point from the 50's styled, bondwood clad vans like the Travelite (shown above), 9 ft 6 in Lite-Mite and 11 ft Ace, to the more modern styled, and aluminium clad 13 ft Satellite and 15 ft Traveluxe models.  The styling of the Traveluxe is not unlike the Viscounts of a year or two earlier.

There are photos of this model Traveluxe posted by Franklin1 higher up this thread.

Note that the tandem 24 ft Golden Dream model was clad in gold anodised embossed aluminium, which would have made it stand out in the crowd in 1960 I would have thought!  But see also some its other features - a Jones Dolly Wheel, a cocktail cabinet, a television and TV aerial...and a sundeck on the roof.  Definitely an unusual van for its time.

1961 Litecraft models




(Source: Keith Winser, Australian Caravan and Touring Manual for 1961, 13th edition, 1961, pages 141-2)

1961 seems to have seen a continuation of the styling introduced in 1960, except that there was some re-styling to the front and possibly rear of the Traveluxe model, with the windows more deeply inset into the body, and therefore larger bulges above and below the windows.  In addition the edges of the wrap around windows are angled at the side, rather than being vertical. No more stable door, either.

1962 Litrecraft models




(Source: Keith Winser, Australian Caravan and Touring Manual for 1962, 14th edition, 1962, pages 150-1.  The inking of the front panel is from a previous owner of the book, not me!)

1962 saw a further modernisation of Litecraft's styling with the adoption of an angled, sharp-edged bulkhead over the rear window, and the flat panel below the front window on the Ace model. This was similar to the styling of some Caraparks, Adventurers and South Australian Clippers of around that date.

Note that the Ace had also now joined the 'aluminium revolution' with embossed aluminium cladding. Only the 9 ft 6 in Lite-Mite model continued to be clad in bondwood at this point.

There is an example of what I think is a 1962 13 ft Satellite model shown in the post immediately above on this thread.

It is good to have this series of photos as an example of how Australian caravan styling changed so rapidly over the first few years of the 60's.

Don Ricardo

[Don Ricardo]

Litecraft caravan listed for sale on the Vintage caravan renovations and sales, Australia Facebook page in January 2019:





















Based on the profile of the front and side cladding, the coloured side panels and the front windows, I am guessing this van is from around 1964.  The van looks not dissimilar to Viscount and Franklin vans of that era, but the curved profile of the rear is typically Litecraft.

Interesting arrangement for the pantry cupboard which opens across the doorway of the van.

Don Ricardo