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Post by Don Ricardo on Jun 23, 2014 23:32:05 GMT 10
Hello Don Ricardo, the Vacation van you have pictured from Broken Hill belongs to my husband & I. Hi Frances, Thanks for letting me know that the Vacation at Broken Hill belongs to you and your husband. I should have been able to put 2 and 2 together and worked that out for myself! Sorry.  I have added that information to the photos of your van on this thread, and to the Broken Hill Nationals thread. Your van is the earliest Vacation we've seen, so that makes it quite a significant caravan. I've noted your comment about it being built somewhere between 1958 and 1962. Hopefully one of these days we'll find some more info that will help us narrow down the date range. Don Ricardo |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Sept 7, 2014 21:44:31 GMT 10
Photos of a Vacation branded caravan posted by Peteandtrish on 16 February 2011:   The sellers of the van dated the van as 1963. It looks as if it may have been significantly modified. For example, the external cladding on the side walls is a bit patchwork, which suggests that it is after-market, and possibly home done, and of course the checker plate is obviously a later addition. However, I am presuming that the shape is original. This van is unlike any of the other Vacation caravans we've seen on the forum, and as shown on this thread, so I am not sure whether it is a Vacation van built by Evans Bros in Ballarat, or not. However, I've posted the photos on the possibility that it may help us learn something about the history of Vacation. It may also be that the van was built by somebody other than Vacation and that 'Vacation' is the model name, or that a previous owner called the van 'Vacation'. The interior of the van has been extensively re-modelled, so I haven't re-posted the photos. You can find them here if you're interested. Don Ricardo
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jess
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Post by jess on Mar 9, 2015 21:44:06 GMT 10
Hi I read with interest about the Vacation Caravan. I have a bondwood Vacation caravan that I am restoring. When I pulled out the beds I found written in texta underneath one of them 3/16 Seray. Underneath the other bed was written in chalk Vacation. I am guessing someone decided to sign their name, I maybe wrong. I have been searching for any other signs of the year it was built but cannot find anything yet. My caravan has a sign on the front 'Betsy', I am not sure if that was put on whenn she was made or done by the owners. I found her sitting under a pine tree in a paddock, I think she may have been there for a long time. She has an aluminuim roof and bondwood sides.
I will try to work out how to attach a photo. I am working on an ipad at the moment.
I would really like some help aging her. Thank you
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 9, 2015 21:51:33 GMT 10
Oh Jess, Welcome to the forum, and what a way to get our attention!  Don't stop now - we'll all be really interested to hear what was written in texta, and hopefully to see some photos of your van. If you're not sure how to post photos, there are instructions in the 'Forum Guidelines & Helpful Hints' section of the forum. Don Ricardo |
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Post by luke77 on Aug 22, 2015 14:59:47 GMT 10
Hello everyone,
I'm new to here not sure what I'm doing yet??
I am restoring an old VACATION van I recently purchased from Benalla Vic, bondwood sides aluminum front, back and roof.
When my father saw it he was able to give me the complete run down, he done his trade with Coronet and Franklin back in the day 50+ years ago. He attended trade school with the guys that made these vans and can still rattle off their names.
One that comes to mind was Brian Cooper who went on to run Brimarco Industries where my father worked as well for a number of years.
My father Barry Franklin (no relation to the caravan) has old documentation from the early 60's that he is attempting to find and should be an interesting read.
If I find out any more interesting facts or if there is anything anyone would like to ask my Father let me know.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2015 16:13:55 GMT 10
Hi Luke,
Would love to know how long Vacation were manufactured,and if the shape changed over that time.
Cheers
hughdeani
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Post by luke77 on Sept 5, 2015 18:42:45 GMT 10
OK looking into it....
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Post by Don Ricardo on Sept 5, 2015 20:35:13 GMT 10
Hi Hughdeani and Luke77,
By coincidence I was reading through Keith Winser's 1968 Caravan Manual and Tourist Park Guide this afternoon looking for some other information, when I came across the following comment:
"Several well-known names have ceased production from this year, as their owners have branched out into other fields - these include Rowvans of South Australia...and Vacation vans of Victoria have come to a halt" (page 61).
Of course the tricky thing about Winser is to know quite what 'this year' means! I have a hunch that the Caravan Manuals were published at the very beginning of the year they are dated, or possibly at the end of the year before, which would mean that the article was probably written in 1967. In turn that would mean that Vacation ceased production in 1967. That's just surmising on my part, but either way it seems that production may have stopped in 1967 or 1968. Hopefully Luke77 can narrow it down a bit from there or get the correct date if Winser was up the creek with his info (which is not unknown!).
Don Ricardo
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Post by Don Ricardo on May 18, 2016 10:49:11 GMT 10
Advertisement for Vacation caravans from the 1967 Winser caravan manual: (Source: K Winser, Caravan Manual & Tourist Park Guide, 1967 edition, p 184) As noted in the post above on this thread, the 1968 Winser caravan manual noted that Vacation had ceased production 'this year' (meaning 1967 or possibly early 1968), so the Avon models shown in the advert may have been Vacation's 'last gasp', so to speak. Interestingly, the Avon Standard model also seems to have been sold by Johns Caravans, and possibly badged as such. Don Ricardo
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cat
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Post by cat on Nov 7, 2016 20:17:54 GMT 10
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Post by Don Ricardo on Nov 7, 2016 21:41:16 GMT 10
Hi Cat, Welcome to the forum. And great to hear about your Vacation - I've had a look at the photos by clicking on the links. I see you've had a couple of goes at displaying the photos in your post, and you're on the right track by doing it via Flickr. However, if you copy and paste the 'BBCode' from the share window (rather than the 'Share' code you've copied), you'll find that the photos then display in your forum post. There's some instructions on how to post photos from Flickr in the 'Forum Guidelines & Helpful Hints' section of the forum - click here. Or if you can't make it work, let me know and I'll send you a PM (Personal Message). There are a couple of Vacations which have the same profile aluminium cladding on the front and rear as yours, so they're probably around about the same time - I'm guessing 1963 - but others may be able to help further once they see your pics. Don Ricardo |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Nov 8, 2016 8:46:01 GMT 10
Hi again Cat, I thought you might be interested to see the photos of a posse of Vacation caravans which attended a vintage caravan event held in Maldon in February 2016. Two of them are already featured on this thread, but I have put the photos in what I think is build date order to show how Vacation Caravans developed their vans over time. First up is Frances' circa 1958 model, although the wrap around front windows might make it slightly later (1959 or even 1960?)...  ...an early 60's Vacation...  ...another early 60's but later Vacation...  ...and Prem's 1966 Vacation:  Your van has wrap around front windows and ribbed aluminium cladding on the front (rather than just the plain unribbed cladding), and the black Vacation logo within a shield shape, so I think probably sits somewhere between the second and third caravans. Can you find a serial number anywhere, eg on the A-frame or on a little plate near the door? Frances' van has the serial number 'VC49'. Don Ricardo |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jan 7, 2018 21:54:37 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2019 12:49:32 GMT 10
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jul 20, 2019 23:30:40 GMT 10
Hi Grumpster01, Thanks for telling us about your Vacation, and showing us some pics. The van has a side, front and rear profile that is a bit different to regular Vacations. In addition, of course, it has had a quite a few modifications, as you have pointed out. As a result it’s a bit hard to work out what is original and what isn’t. However, I think Hughdeany is right with his identification. The most significant clue - given that the van doesn’t have some of the other typical Vacation features - is the serial number which you stated in your other post here is V755. That fits the format of Vacation serial numbers. Franklin used a serial number beginning with ‘V’ in 1975, but your van isn’t that late, and it definitely isn’t a Franklin. Regarding the build date, I think your van is actually quite a bit earlier than 1967. You can see photos of 1966 and 1967 Vacations on this thread, and you can see that they have different styling to yours - particularly around and above the front and rear windows. In addition, Prem’s 1966 Vacation has a serial number of V1414. Yours is much lower than that. Unlike some other manufacturers (eg Franklin) who used a serial number which began at ‘1’ each year, Vacation used serial numbers which were just sequential. In addition Vacation was not a high volume manufacturer. So given that your serial number is only around half Prem’s, that’s why I say that your van was built quite some time (possibly several years) before Prem’s. While we’re at it, I’d be really interested to see your ‘Vacation’ signage to compare it with those on other vans in this thread. Is it the orange sticker I can see on the rear, or is there another? If you can post a photo that would be great. (By the way, seeing that the links to the photos of your van in your thread ‘Graeme’s 1967 Vacation’ are dead, I used my powers as a forum moderator to remove them and replace them with a link to your post with the photos higher up this thread. That means that people who go to your original thread can follow the trail. Hope that’s Ok?) Don Ricardo |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2019 12:13:03 GMT 10
Hi Grumpster01, Thanks for telling us about your Vacation, and showing us some pics. The van has a side, front and rear profile that is a bit different to regular Vacations. In addition, of course, it has had a quite a few modifications, as you have pointed out. As a result it’s a bit hard to work out what is original and what isn’t. However, I think Hughdeany is right with his identification. The most significant clue - given that the van doesn’t have some of the other typical Vacation features - is the serial number which you stated in your other post here is V755. That fits the format of Vacation serial numbers. Franklin used a serial number beginning with ‘V’ in 1975, but your van isn’t that late, and it definitely isn’t a Franklin. Regarding the build date, I think your van is actually quite a bit earlier than 1967. You can see photos of 1966 and 1967 Vacations on this thread, and you can see that they have different styling to yours - particularly around and above the front and rear windows. In addition, Prem’s 1966 Vacation has a serial number of V1414. Yours is much lower than that. Unlike some other manufacturers (eg Franklin) who used a serial number which began at ‘1’ each year, Vacation used serial numbers which were just sequential. In addition Vacation was not a high volume manufacturer. So given that your serial number is only around half Prem’s, that’s why I say that your van was built quite some time (possibly several years) before Prem’s. While we’re at it, I’d be really interested to see your ‘Vacation’ signage to compare it with those on other vans in this thread. Is it the orange sticker I can see on the rear, or is there another? If you can post a photo that would be great. (By the way, seeing that the links to the photos of your van in your thread ‘Graeme’s 1967 Vacation’ are dead, I used my powers as a forum moderator to remove them and replace them with a link to your post with the photos higher up this thread. That means that people who go to your original thread can follow the trail. Hope that’s Ok?) Don Ricardo Hi Don, Many thanks for the insights, the orange Vacation logo is actually hand painted orange over the original decal..    ![]() A further update is that I found the chassis number stamped into the front of the "A" frame after some wire brushing it is legible  |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jul 21, 2019 15:01:26 GMT 10
Hi Grumpster01,
Thanks for posting the photos of the Vacation signage on your van. I was intrigued with the orange lettering, but as you say it has just been painted over the standard Vacation sticker we are familiar with from other vans on this thread. However the signage does confirm the origins of your van.
Interesting to see the numbers you’ve discovered engraved on the A-frame, which does raise some questions. You’ve previously mentioned the V755 number. Where did you find that?
Don Ricardo
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2019 16:21:06 GMT 10
Hi Grumpster01, Thanks for posting the photos of the Vacation signage on your van. I was intrigued with the orange lettering, but as you say it has just been painted over the standard Vacation sticker we are familiar with from other vans on this thread. However the signage does confirm the origins of your van. Interesting to see the numbers you’ve discovered engraved on the A-frame, which does raise some questions. You’ve previously mentioned the V755 number. Where did you find that? Don Ricardo Hi Don, a couple more shots of the "A" frame that may give away some info also the white shelf which is just inside the door on the nearside and would have been above the dinette seat, and the internal top cupboards appear to have the original sliding doors which are held shut with old style roller catches & finally the back of the AC connection point, the pins are quite short and I needed to modify the socket on a new 15 amp lead to allow the pins to reach the sockets. Hope this sheds some more light for someone    All of the varnished timber is only 2mm ply that has been stuck over the original finish with some liquid nails & 10mm nails.   |
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Post by tlromes on Sept 27, 2019 1:13:23 GMT 10
So good to finally read something about Vacation caravans. My 40th birthday present was a 16ft dual axle vacation van, supposedly built in 1964. She’s currently in the middle of a reno. She came with great bones so it pretty much only cosmetic changes we need to do. I was told today by a local caravan sales/repair man that she’s possibly quite rare being a dual axle at only 16ft. Thanks all for the great read on what you do know about the vans.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2019 21:08:33 GMT 10
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Post by Don Ricardo on Dec 4, 2019 16:23:43 GMT 10
G'day Grumpster01, That's a fascinating set of adverts you've found about some Vacation branded caravans built in Naracoorte. For reasons I'll explain in a separate post here, I think this is another example of the same brandname being used for caravans built independently by different manufacturers in different states. As to your question about the funeral directors H Evans & Sons in Ballarat, I think that those Evans may be/probably were related to the caravan builders, but may not be one and the same. According to a page on the Federation University website, H Evans and Sons were operating as funeral directors as far back as 1938 from the same location in Ballarat where they still are - 19 Main Street. The caravans were built in Humffray Street - but then you wouldn't expect that the vans were built in the mortuary or the front office of the funeral home would you? Even now there are several different funeral directors in Ballarat named 'Evans', so it seems like it is a bit of a family profession, and I'm guessing that they all belong to the one family. Maybe 'Evans Bros' who were responsible for the vans were the 'Sons' of 'H Evans'? Don Ricardo |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 17, 2021 22:08:14 GMT 10
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Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 19, 2021 19:55:14 GMT 10
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Post by Don Ricardo on Dec 12, 2022 20:57:36 GMT 10
Hi all, New Forum member Poybangs has sent me some photos of a Vacation caravan that he has acquired. In a message he wrote: Hi Don,
good day to you, I am a new member of this group and hoping to be enlightened with your ideas. I have been following this thread regarding Vacation caravans and seems I can't find any answer. Recently I bought a Vacation caravan and no clue of its year, the van is really in good immaculate condition...It's been in storage under a shed for 40+ years and the van itself is intact and all original including the curtains as the owner mentioned. I wonder if you can help me identify what year the van is?     _Poybangs_Vacation_5.png?width=undefined&height=undefined&fit=bounds) Copy of a May 1976 newspaper found in the van:  In an additional note, Poybangs commented: The caravan was originally owned by the family of a farmer who used the caravan every Christmas for approx 10years and finally stored it in a shed for 45+ years. The van owner was invited to be part of a museum in WA because of its intact condition but Covid stopped them. Comparing Poybangs van with the Vacations shown higher up this thread, it appears to be the same model as Prem's Vacation which has been dated as 1966. If Prem is correct in dating his van as 1966, then the same model was still available in 1967, and the model with the wrap around windows like Poybangs' and Prem's is identified as the Vacation Avon Deluxe. Vacation stopped production in late 1967 or early 1968, so the van cannot be any later than that. The serial number on Poybangs' van appears to be '1218', which would make it earlier than Prem's van with the serial number 'V1414'. However, all Vacation serial numbers we have seen on the forum begin with either 'V' like Prem's, or 'VC' like Frances' early Vacation. So looking again at the number on Poybangs' drawbar, is the serial number really 'V218x' with the last number covered by paint at this stage? Perhaps Poybangs can clean off some of the paint covering the serial number and tell us if the number is any clearer?
Don Ricardo
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_Poybangs_Vacation_5.png?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
