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Post by matches on Sept 22, 2008 15:57:39 GMT 10
hi everyone, i'm luke and my partner and i have just joined the forum as we have an old plywood van. the only problem is i don't know who made it or what brand/ design it is. here is a picture of it so hopefully someone can shed some light on its origins.     any help in identifying the "matchbox" as it has been affectionately named owuld be wonderful as it is a family heirloom that i inheritted when my grandfather passed away. thanks Luke & Kim. |
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Post by kingy on Sept 22, 2008 17:54:23 GMT 10
Great little van luke & kim, i'm sure i've seen similar vans/s on here before - have you looked through ''down history lane'' yet, bet you find what your after. If it's not there, good chance it's home made - which there were many. Van certainly looks very original and would come up very well from what we can see in photo's - love the shape too   Which part of the country do you come from, and what did ya's buy to tow it with - nuff questions  GREAT potential, it's a little gem Cheers kingy |
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Post by atouchofglass on Sept 22, 2008 18:02:38 GMT 10
Greetings Luke and Kim Can't say I know the type..... Unless you count the bad taste joke... It's a Beena Beenatree at one time  Sorry about that one....  Looks like a nice old van to do up. You will be on many a holiday as soon as it's up and running Grandad would be happy to see her done up I'm sure Cheers Atog |
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tonyh
Full Member
"Dolly" 1967 Riviera
Posts: 256
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Post by tonyh on Sept 22, 2008 18:27:10 GMT 10
Hi Luke & Kim, I don't know you van's identity but the wheels on the left are from 1948 Ford Anglia / Prefect era the one on the right looks like VW  Love the palm tree on the door - adds a carefree attitude ;D ;D She,s a ripper and should look great when all finished The original owners must have been short to look out the little door on the entrance  ;D If you need any advice on repairs, you've come to the right place. All the best for the resto Cheers, tonyh |
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Post by Cruz on Sept 22, 2008 18:44:06 GMT 10
HI Great little van Be sure to check the globetrotter section in down history lane as most of thaem had similar names/palmtrees/kangaroos etc in there names.
I love it even if it tuns out not to be the best VVs around GLOBETROTTERS
Cruz
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Post by rfw on Sept 22, 2008 20:29:27 GMT 10
Does the script on the door read -Sweet Eliza? Just curious. cheers
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Post by JBJ on Sept 22, 2008 21:16:15 GMT 10
Hi Luke & Kim,
Great little van.
My guess is its homemade, probably from a kit because the lines are nice and smooth.
I'd guess early 1950's, say 1955 at the latest , but more likely to be a late 1940's because of lack of windows, & the timber framed ones that are there. Also timber chassis indicates to me probably late 40's construction.
With the wheels, I found in the past that the old anglia wheels & early DakDak will interchange. ( but as always I'm liable to be wrong/missed out on part of the fit.) I know we run Anglia wheels on VW front end on a gasser many many years ago, & I dont remember any problems..
Its a GREAT old van, & your lucky to have got it in such good condition. Give it a clean up & repaint, & your grandfather will smile down on you.
JBJ
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Post by matches on Sept 22, 2008 21:37:38 GMT 10
thanks everyone for the warm welcome.
kingy: it is to be towed buy a 1961 ek holden sedan, we're from port macquarie, nsw. and yeah we love the shape too, it seems alot more curved on the leading edge than most we've seen.
ATOG: i hadn't heard that one before, if we can't find out maker/ company i might have to make up a logo with that in it.
RFW: the writing on the side is one thing we're trying to figure out.
JBJ: thanks for the info, very insiteful. i definately came to the right place for help and info.
thanks again everyone for the help and the kind welcome, Luke & Kimmy.
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Post by matches on Sept 22, 2008 21:52:17 GMT 10
jbj, yeah its been under a carport surrounded by hothouses since 1970, heres a few more pics of it    |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2008 22:13:29 GMT 10
whata little rippa  ........ no front or rear window ........haven't seen one like that before, they usually have a front window ...... at least  Is it a "wee kender" maybe That'll be a great project Luke & Kim .....good luck with the resto .....and we luv to see resto progress pics  Mark |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Sept 22, 2008 23:45:36 GMT 10
G'day Luke and Kim,
Neat little van you have there. As Mark has commented, it is an unusual one because of its lack of front or back windows. There are a few vans around with only the front or less commonly the back window, but yours has got a really interesting layout.
There seems to be an alcove next to the sink. Is that for a stove? And does the table fold down in place or does it just unclip from the wall and then stand free of the wall?
Do you have any pictures of the van in use from your grandfather? It would be lovely if you do. No doubt you have a few family stories about it.
Welcome to the forum.
Don Ricardo
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Post by atouchofglass on Sept 23, 2008 6:19:50 GMT 10
Hey L&K Noticed the brackets down both sides and across the front, any idea what they were used for? Perhaps some of our forum members can help you out with that one If you keep an eye out for pencil marks etc you may find some clues to the date of manufacture... In the wardrobe of my 68 Olympic was a date and name that narrowed the d.o.m to Oct 68 Worth a try you never know.. The other place to look is around the A frame.... after it has been cleaned up You may find a date/serial number welded into it. All the best in the restoration Atog |
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Post by matches on Sept 23, 2008 9:22:31 GMT 10
the lack of front and rear windows is the main thing thats making it hard for me to figure it out.
i don't know if thats why the front curve is a lot smoother/ rounder than most seen.
DON: yes there is an alcove just next to the door for a stove, right next to the old icebox.
the table swings down where it is and stradles the end of the small single bed (which is going to be fun for me to sleep in as i'm 6foot 1). i've got one or two pics of it when my pop used it behind his old fe holden. i'll try to find the originals and post them up for everyone to have a look.
ATOG: the brackets were aparently for an awning on the sides and the front i think was for some kind of stone guard.
thanks for the ideas on area's to look for indetification/ dates.
all the help is very much appreciated, Luke & Kimmy.
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Post by cobber on Sept 23, 2008 11:24:43 GMT 10
G'day Luke & Kim, That really is the type of 'van some of us on this forum like to get hold of..... and having the family connection via Grandfather makes it all the more valuable for you . I'm not sure when it became law to have clearance lights fitted but I will check it out... unless somebody knows off the top of their head, I think it would have been in the mid 50's. I expect the turn indicators on the rear are a more recent addition, does the wiring look that way to you ? I see it has a 240volt socket on the side.... does that service just a power point inside the 'van? Another clue to age might be the tow coupling, I'll go through some books and see if I can find the one you have in any of them, it is different. Love the 'van, I think it must be home made because I have not seen a manufactured 'van without windows front or rear. Cobber. |
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Post by matches on Sept 23, 2008 14:32:24 GMT 10
cobber, thanks for the offer to look into the tow coupling ect.
the 240v socket does just go to a power point on the inside
the clearance light don't look like they were originally on the van, i think my pop added them when he got it so he could see the sides better as he hated backing/ towing trailers (he even put clearance lights on a small box trailer so he could see where the sides were.
L&K
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Post by cobber on Sept 23, 2008 15:53:46 GMT 10
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Post by matches on Sept 26, 2008 21:25:53 GMT 10
thanks cobber, it does look the same as the gem coupling.
speaking of clearance lights, where can i buy metal housed clearance lights and taillights similar to the ones on the van presently?
L&K
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Post by matches on Dec 15, 2008 14:11:42 GMT 10
i've been playing around with pictures to try to come up with a paint sceme i wan't for my van. heres what i've come up with, what does everyone think?  L&K |
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Post by sportsman 1 on Dec 15, 2008 15:08:51 GMT 10
Hi L & K, please don't take this as a personal thing, and I know you are trying to achieve the "matchbox" thing but to me the effect over the roof looks like a monster truck has just driven over it.  I don't particularly dislike the Redhead on the side and perhaps the effect will look different in the flesh but I would go for something a little more subtle and perhaps go with the Red theme and just do a smaller redhead somewhere (across the centre of the front to break up the solid panel perhaps) as a highlight. Sorry if this reply is not quite what you were hoping for but you did ask for comments.  And yes, I am getting old. good luck with your terrific little project, cheers, Leigh. |
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Post by matches on Dec 15, 2008 15:50:37 GMT 10
thanks for the comment, yes i knew they weren't all going to be positive. thank you for your honesty.
this was just a rough out, i'm thinking that i'll have the redheads face only come as high as the lower sill of the window.
as for the stripe, i am looking at only having three lines and having the "tiles" larger than these ones.
any other ideas on design would be greatly appreciated as the van never had any lines/ pattern on the sides so i don't really have any idea on other styles to think about
L&K
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Post by atouchofglass on Dec 15, 2008 17:04:11 GMT 10
Hey Matches Actually I agree with sportsman 1 and.... You too The side looks great.... am wondering about using a registered trademark? But the tyre track across the middle not so good There has to be a trade off there somewhere Keep at it you'll come up with a happy medium Cheers Atog |
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Post by matches on Dec 15, 2008 18:53:16 GMT 10
i've wondered about the trademark thing too. i'd probably just change it enough that you know what i'm doing but not as an exact copy, or just contact the company and ask permission. it never hurts to ask. i'd rather have the critisism now while i can do something about it easily.
thanks guys,
L&K
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bobt
Full Member
"Ugly as Sin"
Posts: 458
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Post by bobt on Dec 15, 2008 20:26:24 GMT 10
Hey Matches absolutely positively not what I would do to it. But................ The sides yep looks good. I agree with the others about the tyre track. perhaps you should try a mat finish more in keeping with the strike surface of a match box!! Is your ek stock or modified? The wheels no way if the car is stock... bobt ;D ;D |
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Post by willyn on Dec 15, 2008 20:38:08 GMT 10
hey Matches love your design although I would do the top in a charcoal Great imagination Will and Lyn ;D
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Post by matches on Dec 15, 2008 23:27:21 GMT 10
bobt, i'm really starting to agree about the pattern over the top. no the EK isn't standard (metallic dark red, pearl white roof, hot 186, not sure on wheels yet but i'll have them matching car and van). the idea was to use the proper red paint stuff as is used on matchboxs so i can light a match on the van, (thought it'd be cool at shows)
willyn, hadn't thought of a charcoal, at the moment if i can't get the striker stripe to look any good it'll just be all white over the roof. thanks for the idea though, thats why i've asked for opinions.
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;D
