new to old vans

[Deleted]

Hi dntpitts
Sounds like a good van. Getting harder to find easy restorations.
Can you post some pictures of the van??
See "jims instructions for posting pictures" first topic under "technical section"

Welcome to the site .
Reddo

[Don Ricardo]

reddo said:

See "jims instructions for posting pictures" first topic under "technical section"

Hi dntpitts,

I think Reddo meant to say "first topic under 'Members Photo Albums' section".

On the topic of what's happened to Chesney vans, I remember seeing a few Chesneys around over the years. I think that wherever they were made, they were not uncommon in Victoria. (Others may be able to confirm or deny this.)

Interesting that when I googled 'Chesney caravan history', there were a few references to a 19th century guy named Chesney who wrote on the history of the middle east, including the history of caravan routes (ie camel type caravans). I wonder if there is a connection? Maybe the person who developed the Chesney vans had a sense of history?

Perhaps Cobber can find something in his archives??

Don Ricardo

[krisbee]

Hi All, Don Ricardo pointed out that our new member dntpitts had inadvertently posted the same intro twice, with the result that answers to him were going to two threads, so Al I have moved your reply to here and will now close the second thread.

Welcome dntpitts, have fun with your Chesney.

Kris. ;D

Here is Franklin 1's post.


G'day dntpitts, and welcome to the odd-bod assortment of vintage-caravan-lovers.

No doubt there will be other members who have a better handle on Chesney vans, but I can tell you that Chesney Regal and Pacemaker vans were being advertised in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper from 1968 onwards. If they were a Brissy company, then it probably took a few years to expand sales and advertising interstate. Maybe the Courier-Mail has an archive website section you can tap into to check out Chesney's earlier years.

In the meantime, put another reply here and give us some more details about what you think you will be needing for the restoration, and then sit back and be amazed at the amount of info others can tell you!!

ps. You'll have to be patient, though. Most other readers are still trying to wade through reddo's post over in Reddo bags a "Fugly"

cheers,
Al.

[dntpitts]

Hi Back
I dont have pics yet since we moved the van into the open and tarped up straight away, maybe in a week.
The Chesney is Full bondwood/ply and timber and needs about 2 days work, Yes I am a chippy. and the major job would be to seal the whole skin again. then a few weeks to sand and paint in and out.
The only thing I will be chasing, apart from soft furnishings will be the aluminium strip around the edges and suitable hubcaps, the oldies look like FC FB holden around 58 I think.
It looks like a pig but closer inspection shows only one area of water damage where a water drip has run down the back window and under the sill, about 1 foot of rot a few loose bits whwere nails have rusted etc.
The interior is complete but spartan so period accessories such as lights, shelf rails and the like will be on the shopping list one day.
hoorroo for now,