In need of advice???

[libbeerose]

I have this vintage caravan from my mum and dad, it is very cute and has leadlight windows. I think it is made out of bondwood (is that what you call it?) It looks like the photo of the Don but I have no idea what it is. It has really deteriorated, it has lots of rotted timber. Can it still be restored and are there people that you can pay to restore it or is it something that you have to be able to do yourself? I would love to have it restored as a surprise for my mum and dad...

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Libbeerose,

If you look through this forum you will see that some folk have done some absolutely amazing restorations working from very little, so what you are suggesting may be possible. The amount of work and effort depends on how much has to be done.

Can you take some pictures of your van with a digital camera and post them on this thread? I'm sure that some of the experienced restorers will then be happy to give you an opinion on what may be possible and what would be involved.

You mention that your van has leadlight windows and is the same shape as a Don. Sounds like it might well be a Don - not many makes of caravans used leadlight windows. Have a look around the van for one of the following two items:

• A green enamel 'Don' nameplate on the front and/or the back of the van which looks like the little picture under my details to the left of this post.
  
• A brass manufacturer's plate saying 'Don' on the outside wall of the van near the bottom left hand corner of the door and/or inside the van somewhere around the galley/kitchen area.
  

If the van is a Don and you find one of the brass plates, let us know what the serial number is on the plate. This will enable us to tell you roughly how old it is.

There are some instructions on how to post photos to the website at the following location:
vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=1110436749
Alternatively if you would like to email some photos to me I will be happy to post them for you. You can email me using the little symbol under the Don badge.

It will be good to hear more about your van.

Don Ricardo

[libbeerose]

Thanks Don...I found the silver plate on the van as you suggested. It is a DON and the number is 944. Can anyone tell me more about this van?

[firefighter]

HI Libbeerose

if you go to Technical stuff page 1 go to Don caravan build no
you might be able to work out when yours was built
Geoff ;D ;D

[Don Ricardo]

Hello again Libbeerose.

As Firefighter has suggested there is a list of Don caravans by build number at the following location: vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=technicalstuffboard&action=display&thread=1134569477&page=1
This lists a build no 990 as being a 12 foot model built in 1955, while build no 672 is thought to be 1952/3. This would suggest that your van build no 944 would have been built around 1955.

The next thing to work out is which model it is. Is it:

• A 14 foot model (14 foot 6 inches) with 4 berths, the table at the front of the van and a divan at the back which slides down to make a double bed?
  
• A 12 foot model (12 foot 10 inches) with 4 berths, the table at the back and two bunks at the front?
  
• A 12 foot model (12 foot 10 inches) with 4 berths, and two bunks at the front and two bunks at the back?
  
• A 10 foot model (10 foot 6 inches) with two berths and the kitchen at the front?
  

You mentioned that the van had sustained some damage and/or rot over the years. Are you able to take some pictures of the van with either a digital or a film camera? If you can, this will enable someone on the forum to give you some advice about what is involved in fixing it. If you can take some pictures, I can help you put them up on the forum. If you don't have any way of taking pictures, another V V'er from Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast may be willing to go for a little run to the coast and assist you.

First thing though is to work out which model your van is, and perhaps you can describe it. What colour is it painted inside and out? Does it still have an icechest? Etc.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Don Ricardo

[morry]

Libbeerose,
I'm at Buderim and have sent you a PM if you wish to get photos put on here for others to see. Just PM me back if you are interested.
Cheers,

Morry

[libbeerose]

It's the 12ft with the bunks at the front & the table at the rear. It has the icebox in it. I will get photos this week and post them by the weekend.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Libbeerose,

The model you describe was known as the Don Model 120 (the other 12 footer was a Model 121). There are a couple of other V V'ers who also have 120's.

One of them is owned by Doug and Vicki and required some pretty extensive work to restore it. You can see what was involved from the following:
vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=1135121702
vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=1132750269

You can see from these posts what is possible even in a van where there is a fair bit of damage. As you can see from the photos, Doug and Vicki's van is now just lovely. Theirs is build no 257, so it's a fair bit older than yours (or ours), possibly even pre-war, but you can see that the design and construction is fundamentally the same with probably only some modifications to internal fittings.

Good to hear your van still has the icebox. Sounds as if it is still quite original. We look forward to seeing the photos of your van when you get a chance to post them on the forum.

Regards,

Don Ricardo

[sutcac]

Hi Morry , welcome to the Forum. Good to see another Buderimite join the highly contagious world of vintage caravaning !
PM me if you'd like to catch up for a chat,or................ Ihope to have our van/s on display at the Rotary Car Show at Quad Park , Kawana, later in the month.

Cheers Sutcac

[libbeerose]

I managed to get the photos on the weekend. I would like to know what kind of money I could expect as is if I was to sell it. Also I would really love to have it restored for my mum and dad but have know idea how much that would cost. Can anyone give me a rough idea.

Here's the photos...

















You will notice on the photos of the inside that I could only take photos of the upper half that is because my husband has piled up all this junk inside of it. I couldn't even walk in the door of it.

At least these photos are a start...

[Deleted]

Hi Hi Libbeerose

After looking at the outside rot and almost betting there will be structural rot as well. i reckon you would be up for at least $2500 and as high as 4 or maybe $5000 to have your van professionally restored.
Of course you could save a lot by doing it yourself but it isnt easy working with curves etc.

Sorry to spoil your party but i am speaking from my own experiences .

Reddo

[libbeerose]

Thanks...that is actually good news because I was hoping it would be around that figure.

[Roehm3108]

Gee Libbeerose, what a shame this van is in need of such major surgery. I once spoke to a VV collector in Queenbeyan who had a collection of vans including a Don and he had them restored professionally - cost him a mint!!! You need a guy like a retired Retro who would consider the restoration a labour of love, cos an hourly rate would be horrendous. I agree with JBJ, that perhaps Reddo's estimates are a bit on the light side, cos the more you peel back on those projects the more there is to fix.
Value as is? As much as someone is prepared to pay for it! My personal opinion is that it would not be worth more than $500 as is. Especially when you have to add the cost of cartage, wherever it may go.
Sorry to give you the NOTGOODNEWS!
Cheers
Ray

[libbeerose]

Thanks guys for your advice I will think it over and it may be up for sale as is... I will let everyone know in the next couple of days.

[libbeerose]

Ok...the decision is made...I can not restore it as I can not afford to risk the blow out of costs. If anyone is interested in the van they can PM me. It is located at Maleny on the Sunshine Coast. Are there any lovers of the DON caravan out there looking to save one. It is build no. 944

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Libbeerose,

Sorry to read that you feel restoring your parents' Don is too big an ask for you. However having seen the photos you posted, I can understand your decision. There's certainly a lot of work to be done on the externals and internally around some of the windows and the door. However there are some pluses in that a lot of the internal fittings and furnishings appear to be still in quite reasonable condition.

Hopefully someone will acquire the van and give it lots of love and attention so that you can enjoy it, even if only from seeing it on the forum or at V V events.

It tickled me to see that your van has the switch for the tail light in the cupboard over the galley, just like ours. Some things never change!

Trust you're not feeling too sad about your decision though.

Don Ricardo