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Post by exocet on Feb 26, 2007 16:47:55 GMT 10
Hi I'm a very new member, but have been visiting this fascinating site for about 18 mths and thoroughly enjoy it! I thought i might mention that about easter time the ABC will be featuring our 1952 12ft ply van "DOROTHEA" on the Collectors programme {fridays 8pm} We also have a 1960? fibreglass van that looks simmilar to a sunliner but it is a Wayfarer about 14ft 6 with a rear boot and fins like i have never seen before,twin vents on the roof, wheel spats, etc in need of resto but very solid and the interior is very good except for lining below the front windows.I will 1 day send some photo's in when i can work it out. I have not seen anything like it on this site yet , and we would love to know exactly how old it is and i'm sure everybody would find it interesting! Anyway cheers James and Sharon
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Post by exocet on Feb 26, 2007 17:42:29 GMT 10
Hi Jailbarjuice, we live in little tassie and yes they do look like mk2 zephyr tailights, was that a while ago that it was posted? we must of missed it! this 1 has been in tassie at least 25 yrs as i have been watching it in a backyard of a shack just near us. One day while driving past it had a 4 sale sign on it, $1000 !! But i had to have it! so i promptly bought it, but all my mates who have no appreciation for such things reckon i paid $950 too much for it!!! We live in Dodges Ferry a little seaside town 40 kms east of Hobart, just across the bay from Hobart airport . An email address might be an easier way for a simpleton like me to send some pics. keep up the good work! cheers james
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Post by exocet on Feb 26, 2007 19:36:41 GMT 10
paying $1000 didn't bother us at all, as we consider it, as we all do, a very important part of our aussie history, and its all good fun! This Wayfarer is totally complete and original except the fridge, but obviously we will be throwing a fair few dollars at it once we start restoring it so it wont be any time soon! Oour van that will be on Collectors is a Gypsy type ply van, totally original,wooden windows,ice chest,original gas stove,everything works and we use it about 5 or 6 times a year, and spent 6 mths travelling from tassie to Hervey Bay in 1998 and she didn't miss a beat! So it looks like we have well and truly caught the vintage van bug and really enjoy it!
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Post by aussietanker on Feb 27, 2007 19:36:10 GMT 10
welcome to the forum exocet ... we are all looking forward to seeing some pics ;D ;D ;D .... i sure that lots of us would like to see that particular episode of the "collectors" and have a great squizz (is that a word  ) at "Dorothea" .... please remind us all again if you get a firm date ... enjoy your stay here, it's a great place .... regards A|T |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 1, 2007 22:20:41 GMT 10
Hi Exocet, Good to have you on the forum. I was wondering how long you have owned Dorothea and whether you know any of her past history? Has she always been a Tassie girl, or did she spend some time in Victoria? I once met a young lady matching her description in Melbourne. Looking forward to seeing some photos of her when you have the time. If it's any encouragement, I found that Photobucket is not hard to use if you have a digital camera and follow Jim's instructions: vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=1110436749Regards, Don Ricardo |
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Post by exocet on Mar 6, 2007 10:08:35 GMT 10
HI, Don Ricardo, yes Dorothea came from Vic about 11 yrs ago, she is 12ft 3 long and had frilly awnings front and rear and was towed by an early falcon sedan [green and white] and in 1994 she paraded thru the city streets of Melb to promote a caravan show. She appears in the june 1994 issue of Caravan World doing just that! Apparently she was born in 1952. Possibly a journalist or photographer used to tow her around Vic and NSW reporting on car and caravan shows according to the young couple from Vic who bought it off that person. the youngcouple came to Tassie with her and lived in her while building their home in southern Tassie, they owned her for about a yr and we bought her in july 1997 and then toured with her for 6mths from jan1998 before returning to tassie in june 1998. Wewent from Hobart up to Hervey Bay and return going along the coast all the way. we now use her about 5 or 6 times a year holidaying along the east coast of Tas. Should have somepics up soon, and at this stage Good Friday is the day she will appear on Collectors. Sorry for the long winded reply but it just great being able to talk about old vv's!
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Post by exocet on Mar 6, 2007 16:20:44 GMT 10
Absolutely identical, where was this one Jailbarjuice? AMAZING!
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Post by exocet on Mar 6, 2007 18:31:51 GMT 10
Well i'm flabbergastered! All i know is that it is a wayfarer and it is exactly the same as the one in Altona. The plan is front dinette, kitchen on right hand side and single beds, everything complete except where the fridge or icechest was. I think it would have been a very flash van in its dayas it has personal lights above each bed and in the dresser between the beds are an ashtray each. It has twin vent roofs as well, but the best piece of course are the fins and carlike bootlid at the rear. The couple that i bought it off about 4 yrs ago had it about 23 yrs and hardly ever used it. i now have it in the garage alongside DOROTHEA so they are both out of the weather. I think a nicely restored EK holden sedan would match it perfectly! IT needs restoring, but mostly it seems cosmetic, and i look forward to getting it on the road again, but presently we have a boat and they tend to keep you poor! Anyway thanks for the info and we are very shocked to learn that it may be very rare. The ABC took some shots of it when they came down to look at DOROTHEA and loved it. They said they would love to have it on the show when it is restored. Thanks Jailbarjuice your a champion!!
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Post by exocet on Mar 6, 2007 19:37:59 GMT 10
Of course, and then paint them the same color, add some whitewalls, maybe aquablue and white, dreaming dreaming ah well, maybe one day! But the owners of that other one should maybe store it under cover or sell it to somebody that would appreciate it, it seems such a waste!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 7:19:37 GMT 10
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Post by exocet on Mar 7, 2007 11:56:22 GMT 10
Truth be known i am actually a Chrysler man, so i reckon a nice powerful ap5 or 6 with nice curves would be good too!
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 8, 2007 20:35:44 GMT 10
Hi Exocet, It's wonderful to hear a bit of Dorothea's history since she lived in Melbourne. Thanks for posting it. It's good to know that she still enjoys getting out and about a bit. She has obviously developed a friendship with the Princess/Spirit of Tasmania over the years! As promised yesterday I am posting a couple of pictures of Dorothea in the 1994 Caravan and Camping Show parade:  This photo was taken outside the Victorian Arts Centre in St Kilda Road before setting off to the Exhibition Building in Carlton. The procession was led by the police pipe band, some clowns (not me!) and a horse drawn caravan. You can see one of the police pipers warming up behind the Falcon. As you can just see behind the rear of the Falcon, Dorothea was using a set of dolley wheels that day. I am guessing that she doesn't use them any more when she is traveling with you? The next photo shows Dorothea in convoy traveling up Swanston Street past the Melbourne Town Hall, a block or two up from where the Caravan World photo was taken. Sorry the photo shows a whole lot more of our van than Dorothea (a father's pride I suppose!), but I thought you might still be interested in seeing it.  I'm looking forward to seeing some up to date photos of Dorothea as well as some internal shots when you're able to post them. Looking forward to the ABC Collectors story too. With the program getting so much publicity from the V V website, there'll probably be a spike in the ABC's ratings which will make the boffins scratch their heads! Regards, Don Ricardo |
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Post by Dorothea on Mar 12, 2007 18:07:57 GMT 10
Thanks Don Ricardo for posting the pics of Dorothea, i can't believe it! If you have any other pics like the one in the email you mentioned, by all means post them,that would be great!As for the other vv we have [the Wayfarer] i managed to get in contact with the guy i bought it off 4 yrs ago and found out a bit more of its history, one fact was that i am in fact only its 3rd owner! and will put together with some pics and story down the track, i have to get it out of the garage to take some better pics, hence the delay! Just on Dorothea again Don Ricardo do you know anything about the history of her at that time of the parade ? would really appreciate any further information! Regards exocet
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 21, 2007 20:11:17 GMT 10
Hi Exocet, As promised, a couple of other photos of the 1994 Caravan Show parade which feature Dorothea. Sorry she's only partly visible in each, but at least you get a glimpse! Also posted is the article you mentioned from the June 1994 Caravan World which featured a rear view of Dorothea, and very comely she is!!    Unfortunately I can't tell you anything about Dorothea's life at the time of the parade, except to say that on a list of the caravans taking part in the parade, her owner (or the person responsible for her?) is listed as 'Mr Neil Rote'. Maybe you already knew that, but if not it may be a piece to add to the jigsaw puzzle. Hope you enjoy the pics. Regards, Don Ricardo |
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Post by exocet on Mar 25, 2007 12:19:23 GMT 10
Thanks for posting the pics Don Ricardo, and no i didn't know the previous owners name, so thankyou. just a note, the ABC have told us that Dorothea will be featured on the Collectors programme on the 20th April [Friday night 8.oopm] so it will be interesting how she shapes up and presents herself! cheers, Exocet.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 29, 2007 20:54:23 GMT 10
Hi everyone, The Exocets have asked me to post some current photos of Dorothea on their behalf. I'm delighted to help. She's still as pretty as a picture: "Here are some very recent photos of Dorothea. The pictures were taken on the 17th March at a free camping place called Lagoons Beach on the upper east coast of Tasmania, it's just like caravanning in the old days. Lagoons Beach is about 400 km round trip from Hobart and is an extremely beautiful place to camp. The weather was perfect and we all had a great weekend.
"Now some details about Dorothea, she is 12ft 3 long and 6ft 6 wide, we believe she was built in 1952, brand and design unknown, I hope somebody can help us with that?? Almost totally original with wooden windows, ice chest, rear lounge folds to a double bed and front dining table folds to a bed. We have owned her since 1997 and she has had 3 different paint schemes in that time, we use her about six times a year, so she has a little wear and tear but not too much.
"She will be starring on "Collectors" on the ABC Friday 20th April at 8pm. We really appreciate it Don Ricardo that you could post these photo's and story on the website for us. Just out of interest Don Ricardo I have never sighted a Don caravan in Tasmania!!!
"The Exocets"       
Addendum - August 2020: Following are some additional photos of the Exocet's caravan from a listing on the Lloyds Auctions website. Don Ricardo  
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Post by exocet on Mar 30, 2007 19:03:11 GMT 10
Thanks heaps Don Ricardo for posting the old girl , but i would love it if somebody could tell us what design or model or brand she is , she has no identification on her, we only know the year was 1952 because the previous owner told us, which would be pretty close because of her features. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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) at "Dorothea" .... please remind us all again if you get a firm date ...
