The oldest caravan I've seen.

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Ditz & I had a look at this van yesterday, a homemade caravan built from Masonite. Its currently on the outskirts of Perth, but came from Capel (near Busselton) in WA.

I would have to say its the oldest caravan I've seen, but unfortunately, too far gone for me to save....the owner is giving it away in the hope that somebody will restore it.

It has really antiquated wheels, and some very antiquated internal fittings, but unfortunately water has got inside and woodrot is rife.

It has the raised roof with a couple of vents, typical of 1930's caravan design (pre using roof hatches).

Under the original lino were newspapers dated 1938.

Its mounted on a wooden chassis and has a part wooden tow hitch extending through the centre of the A frame, as they were in the early days of caravan construction.



the masonite is buckled & poorly painted over flaking paint.








the stove recess has a sliding metal panel cover.





Yuk ......who'd sleep there ......I love the ice chest being between the two single beds though ....really handy if you want to crack a coldy in the middle of the night ;D ;D

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Hi mark and ditzy
I have repied once already on the other posting with this van.
I guessed right it was masonite cladding.
What a shame it is too far gone . The first thing that comes to my mind is Pictures, picture, pictures take a stack of 'em inside and out., templates, measurements of every possible length, width and detail.

Then tell the owner in the nicest possible way that it is probably beyond restoring but you promise to use as many fittings as you can on a complete copy/replica of his van >>> including those great sankey wheels.
At least that way he might release it to you.
If you aren't that keen on tackling a complete rebuild we would soon find someone ( attention Retro ) on this site that would be keen. Maybe even "Will the wood butcher"
Uncanny how it looks so similar ( except for door position) to the van on the site logo? or am halucinating!!!

Ya just gotta bring it home mate!!!. Go on Ditzy .... start nagging him ... Pleeeeeeze Mark can i bring it home??? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze Mark can i bring it home???
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEAAAAAAASSE

Reddo - Have car float ..Willing to travel ;D... no money

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Reddo ......the van on the logo is known as the "Holiday Home" as named in the 1946 edition of Australian Caravan & Touring Manual.

I'm currently restoring one:

www.vintagecaravans.com/holiday_home.htm

My father pencilled the logo, but mistakenly put the door at the rear of the wheel arch.

I have been offered this 1930's van, but I'm running out of room to put these things .....it really needs to go under cover for a long period of time to dry out .....then assess whats salvagable and whats not.

Mark

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Mark
I have plenty of cover at my place. Just crate it up and post it to "Reddos Rescues and Renovations C/- the far side of OZ"

Always wandered what breed of van the one on the logo was. Unusual having a door behind the wheel arch although have seen two doors on the kerb side of large vans . One in front and one behind the wheels.

On a serious note i would spew if i hear that this thing gets dumped, scuttled or scrapped. I love that raised section in the roof and the old wheels just add to the charm of the old girl.
Retro has already shown us that you can work with masonite, and with todays sealing compounds/paints etc you could seriously make a good replica of this van.
Dunno weather the authorities would be happy with a wooden draw bar though.

I am gunna ring Greenpeace and tell 'em there is an endangered species on the outskirts of Perth that needs saving. Keep ya eyes open for a hippy lookin bunch sailing up to your front door shortly in the rainbow warrior.
The dickheads where in Newcastle harbour a few months ago protesting about coal. Too stupid to realise the where onboard a boat that was running on fossil fuel.

Doh, doh, doh.

Reddo - part time greeny hunter and van salvager.