Expandable caravans

[Franklin1]

G'day All, from time to time on this forum there is mention made of expandable caravans, usually followed by questions about who, what, when and where made them? There is a van currently in the Trading Post, described as:

MINTERN EXPANDABLE CARAVAN, all fibreglass, one of 8 made, sleeps 4, good condition, brand new tyres, registered, $3200 ono [phone], HEALESVILLE
Item location: VIC, Australia
First published: 5 June 2008
Source: Trading Post - Melbourne


I'm not saying this has anything to do with vintage caravans (because I've never heard of Minterns before), but am just posting this out of curiousity. Maybe it will provide a lead for someone searching for info.

cheers,
Al.

[Don Ricardo]

Jun 8, 2008 22:00:14 GMT 10 Franklin1 said:

I'm not saying this has anything to do with vintage caravans (because I've never heard of Minterns before), but am just posting this out of curiousity. Maybe it will provide a lead for someone searching for info.

cheers,
Al.

Hi Al,

You may say that this has something to do with vintage caravans if you wish, because indeed it has.

Mintern was the gentleman who developed the Expandavan concept. Cobber recounted some of the history of the Expandavan - including the fibreglass version - in the following thread:

vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=chat&thread=2060&page=1

As you'll see it's a story with quite a few twists and turns, not the least strange of which is that Expandavan ended up being owned by Peters Ice Cream - I guess you could say that the story had a few Zigs and Zags along the way. Sorry, I couldn't resist it... ;D ;D ;D

Don Ricardo

[boblor]

Hi V Vers
For the Peters Tagalong see report in Australian Caravan World Aug.1972 pages 16, 17, 18 ,and 19. This article includes some histioy. Feb. 1972 Caravan World has a fully moulded fibreglass version on the cover. !972 Caravan Buyers Manual page 29 features two models, Expandavan deluxe pre moulded fibreglass throughout, Mini Expandavan baked acrylic aluminium version this article also has some history.
Australian Motor Manual Oct.1970 page 39 full page advert. for fully moulded fibreglass model.
In Aug. 2001 we met a Keith Taylor from Dandernong Vic. on one of our trips and he had a1976 fibreglass model he bought new, chassis no 22 and stated about 50 were built. Keith had a lot of knowledge on these vans, someone may know of him ,we have lost contact details. We hope this info is of some help to those interested in these little vans.
Cheers boblor