Propert seen near Lawson, NSW

[Don Ricardo]

Evening all,

I was travelling down the Great Western Highway near Lawson in the Blue Mountains this afternoon when I saw a very tidy, cream "late model" Propert (with trapezoidal windows) being towed westwards by an equally tidy late 40's/early 50's brown Austin A40 Devon. Anybody know anything about it? Is it one on Trodler's list, or is it one we don't know about?

Pity I couldn't read the serial number. Bit hard when we were travelling in the opposite direction. ;D ;D ;D

Don Ricardo

[Deleted]

An A40 towing something UP the great divide... Wooooooooooo
Wooooooooooooooooooooo.... Bloke deserves a medal for bravery.

Or perhaps the Propert was for emergency accomodation when the Austin finally "Failed to proceed" ;D

They tell me there is plenty to see and do on the side of the Great Western Highway before you plateau out at Katoomba.

Reddo

[Don Ricardo]

Point taken Reddo. When last seen, though, they seemed to be making good progress.

As matter of fact they were making better progress than me, and I was travelling down hill! I was in a virtually stationery traffic jam at 4.30 pm on Sunday afternoon. Two and a half hours from Katoomba to West Ryde! Maybe that's just normal for a Sunday arvo on that road, I'm not sure?

Don Ricardo

[a90atlantic]

Hi Reddo

Austin A40's have no problems towing caravans, wheather it be up hill or down. I used to tow my teardrop everywhere with my A40 and never a problem!

I will scan and post a pic of my A40 and Teardrop very soon.
Cheers

[Deleted]

Hi A90

No worries mate.
Just stirring the pot .... I knew i would get a comeback from the MIE car owners.
To clarify......
There is a big difference between towing Teardrop trailers and Properts to towing a full sized 12Ft+ van with a 1500cc 4 cylinder car. I see teardrop vans being towed by motorcycles nowadays.

I am not just talking about the Austins ability to tow a van I am also talking about its ability to stop with a VAN on behind.... not a trailer/propert/TD.

A40s arent a very big car. The brakes are adequate to pull the car up ...but... put a 12ft or bigger van on behind it and send it down a twisty steep mountainside road and you could well be looking for trouble.

My old man had a string of old Austins when i was going to school. A40s, 55s, A90 and at one stage a countryman van.
Some i ended up "inheriting" as bush bashers. Solid old cars. I learnt a lot about engines , gearboxes and cooling systems from those old cars. Mostly about bush mechanic repairs to get the old girls home from miles out the scrub.

No doubt the Austin and Teardrop would have been a good combo. I look forward to seeing your photos

Cheers
Reddo

[bobshannon]

The Propert was returning home to the Lithgow area from the All British Day held at the King's School, North Parramatta. It created a lot of interest there too. Almost 1500 British cars were on display. I understand it will also be attending the Eastern Creek Classic CMC display this Sunday. Two massive car shows back to back!
HooRoo,
Bob

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the info on the Austin powered Propert. I'm always amazed how often somebody on the forum can come up with some info about a van that has been sighted somewhere or other.

Do you know if the Propert is one of the ones listed on Trodler's list, or is it a new one (to us)? (See Reply #1 on the following thread.)

vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=chat&action=display&thread=1988

If it the van is not on the list, do you know the owner by any chance so that we can get the serial number?

Don Ricardo

[Jennison]

Hi Don, talking with bobshannon last nite, the propert belongs to the lady(whose name escapes me) I met at the talk I gave at the Sthn Tablelands heritage auto club last month . She has a couple of VVs regards Jeff

[minor man]

hi I will be at eastern creek on sunday if it is there will get serial number for the list. brian

[Jennison]

It is propert chassis no :206 - reference my thread "found 3VVs" on page 3 this section. Ask to see her scrap book , she has / has had some lovely old VVs. regards Jennison
In ref to her austin A40 , british cars seem to be by far the popular choice amongst the members of STHARC . They have some nice Jags and old rollers - out of interest, did you know that you CANNOT fit a towbar to a rolls - even for a box trailer! regards jennison

[kingy]

But ya can stick a towbar on an E-TYPE ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Jennison]

Be a quick trip!! Jennison

[Don Ricardo]

Thanks for the information on the Propert at Lawson, Jennison.

It's good to know that we have tabs on it.

Don Ricardo