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Post by malawicamper on Sept 27, 2011 17:52:54 GMT 10
Hi! I am new here. The reason why I investigated the web for this kind of forum was a vintage caravan that crossed my ways. I found it in a backyard in Malawi, Africa. Since the it gives me sleepless nights and I consider buying and restoring it. I have no clue about caravans at all, so I would appreciate your assistance. What type and what brand is the caravan? How old is it? Where was it built from when until when? The owner is asking 250$ for the quite dilapidated vehicle.
Thank you very much!
malawicamper
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Post by malawicamper on Sept 27, 2011 17:53:38 GMT 10
another pic
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mezmo
Full Member
Posts: 131
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Post by mezmo on Sept 28, 2011 16:57:48 GMT 10
Hi Malawicamper, I'm a Yank member of the VC forum here. I search the web for info and pics of Travel Trailers/Caravans/RVs etc. as a hobby, especially the older ones, but I find any way shape or form of them interesting as well - world-wide. I saw one like [or very similar to] the one you are ogling, on a NZ auction site last year but there was no brand name given. It was just referred to as "retro". I think it's a handsome looking little caravan. I saw your post earlier tonight when I checked this forum and recognized the caravan as like the one I mentioned, but had no info of use on it, so I just went on and finished out my usual daily check of the forum and went on to other things. Then, by the wildest of coincidences or serendipity, somehow, I was checking on Google Images on something that a UK member of the USA T&TTT forum [ www.mikenchell.com/forums/ ] had posted, when I happened across a pic like the "Unknown Caravan"!!! And that led me to checking it out and then finding out the brand/make [!!!} and some links for you to further check out. It is a Viking Fiberline. Most likely a mid 1960s model. The body style was quite consistent over time. It seems to be a UK brand/ make. Since there is one in Malawi, it must have been exported, or even possibly made in ZA under license [just speculating that]. So here are a few links I came across after It 'connected' to me that I had found out the brand of that "retro" c'van that I had seen on the NZ auction site last year. 'Hope these help you on your info searches: Google Image search for "Viking Fibreline Caravan" - First 7 pps have the most VF images: www.google.com/search?hl=en&sugexp=pfwc&cp=24&gs_id=2q&xhr=t&q=viking+fibreline+caravan&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1024&bih=677&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi A 1979 brochure - still very similar [This is a secure site so you need to type the url into google.]: picasaweb.google.com/Bjorn.Lahus/VikingFibrelineBrosjyreA UK restoration thread: www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6616&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0Another Restoration thread: boardreader.com/thread/Viking_Fibreline_Refurbishment_64s0X7j4.htmlOne UK Classic Caravan site's info [meager tho]: classic-caravans.co.uk/index.php?/Classic-Caravans/Viking/Google "Viking Fibreline Caravan" and you'll get a lot of sites to check out. These should be useful to you I believe. Happy searching! Cheers, Norm/mezmo
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Post by malawicamper on Sept 28, 2011 19:04:40 GMT 10
Yankee, you made my day. I have just bought the caravan, not I need to get my old car-trailer on the road and then bring it home.
Thanks for your help. I linked up with the British webpages you mentioned. There seem to be Viking enthusiasts to assist me when it comes to restauration and missing parts.
Cheers
malawicamper (kraut member...)
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Post by Don Ricardo on Sept 28, 2011 23:52:50 GMT 10
Hi Mezmo and Malawicamper, Mezmo: Well done on identifying Malawicamper's van as a Viking Fibreline! That is a nice piece of detective work, even if it was by serendipity. You definitely get the Sherlock Holmes award for this month! Your deer-stalker hat and magnifying glass are in the mail. I'd send you a Sherlock Holmes pipe as well, but they've all been commandeered by Cobber! ;D ;D ;D So what do you reckon - an American identifies an English built caravan located in Malawi on an Australian V V forum. We've definitely gone international! But there's one twist yet to the story! I checked Andrew Jenkinson's Caravans: The Story of British Trailer Caravans & Their Manufacturers - From 1960 (phew, what a title!), and discovered the following: "Located in an old disused woollen mill in the village of Heads Nook, near Carlisle, one of the best known clubman tourers were built. In 1965, Viking Fibreline Caravans emerged. The Viking was based on the Africavan design, originating from South Africa, called the Gypsy... "...At one time Vikings were possibly the most exported of all clubmans... "...The first Vikings, for 1966, were basically the same as the South African design..." (excerpts from pp 47-49). (The reference to Africavan is to a South African caravan manufacturer.) So that suggests two possibilities. The first is that the van Malawicamper has acquired was one of the Vikings that was exported. The second is that the van is actually a South African built Gypsy. Hopefully he will find a manufacturers plate on the van and will enlighten us. In any case, that adds South Africa to the mix on our very international forum! And Malawicamper: Congratulations on your purchase. We look forward to hearing and seeing more about your van. It's a pity you can't bring it to our Australian Vintage Caravan Nationals in 2012, but I guess it's a bit far to sail the van across the ocean! ;D ;D ;D Mind you, you and Mezmo would be welcomed with open arms, with or without a vintage van, if you cared to make the journey! Don Ricardo
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Post by cobber on Sept 29, 2011 7:21:16 GMT 10
Congratulations mezmo and Don R ... That really is an incredible piece of investigative vintage caravan identifying you have achieved ,wish I could add something but you blokes have said it all (I think ) You came to the right place malawicamper..... aye? Cobber.
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mezmo
Full Member
Posts: 131
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Post by mezmo on Sept 29, 2011 12:32:57 GMT 10
Hi Malawicamper,
Your Welcome! 'Glad I could be of help. It's really frustrating when some vital and basic info like the make/brand is missing! Especially on these older models.
Great to hear you have already acquired it. I'm sure it will be worth refurbishing and provide you with a great hobby and a fine caravan when you are finished.
The one I saw on the NZ auction site was in quite good shape and condition. I think the design is quite interesting. To me it shows the designers/builders put quite a bit of thought into it.
It's also good to hear that those UK sites will be a source of info and encouragement as you start in on the restoration. Every source of info and parts you can get will only be of help.
Keep posting your progress and pics of that. It's always interesting to see the various approaches taken and the problems solved as they arise. They can give others help/ideas in/for their own projects.
Cheers, Norm/mezmo
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mezmo
Full Member
Posts: 131
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Post by mezmo on Sept 29, 2011 13:44:10 GMT 10
Hi Don Ricardo,
Thanks for the "Sleuth" award! Ha!
That van malawicamper has acquired should spiff up quite well. As I told him, I think it to be quite a well designed and thought out van. It's origin will be interesting to see if he can find out further information on that.
One of these days I'm going to have to track down some of those books on the older caravans that you've referenced. They seem to be a treasure trove of information. Even though they are historical in nature and their contents not 'current' practice, I find all the different designs and solutions they show to be very interesting in and of themselves. [As seen in excerpts.]
Like you, I also think the international aspects of this little bit of serendipity to be a bit unique. As, we say here, "who'd a 'thunk' it?" Like you said - an American forum member checking out the Australian Vintage Caravan forum, sees a post by a German forum member who is in Africa in Malawi looking at a restore-able vintage caravan he can't Identify. Then later, while on a different American trailer/caravan forum, the American sees a post there by a UK member of that US forum on a different subject that prompts a look on Google about that post, but while doing so, runs into a pic of the same kind of unidentified vintage caravan, coincidentally like one which the American had seen earlier on a New Zealand auction site [make unidentified there] which had caused the American to note the German/ Malawian posting. Checking out that one pic led to finding out the brand/make of the unidentified van and some useful links about that van brand/make. Then an Australian moderator of the Australian Vintage Caravan site finds more info on the van which is: that it is a UK brand/make that was built from a ZA [South African] design from a ZA caravan builder! What A Circle Of Coincidence! And it'd be great to be able to visit your great country some day and get a few vintage van visits in on the itinery. Unfortunately, since I'm only an average guy I'd never be able to afford such a trip unless I'd win a proverbial lottery! Meanwhile I can do vintage vanning vicariously by following along on the forum.
Hi Cobber,
Isn't it great when things turn out so well!?!
And I agree, the VCs forum is definitely one of the Right Places on the internet!
Cheers, Norm/mezmo
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Post by malawicamper on Sept 29, 2011 18:11:30 GMT 10
Hi again. Thanks again for all the information so far. This morning I was thrilled again when I found a photo on the web which shows exactly "my" oldie. Its from a caravan book, page 49. This picture gives an answer if the strange side appearance of the caravan is genuine. It has no windows on both sides exept the round one in the door. No I am relieved to learn that this is genuine. books.google.de/books?id=D3ZN7344S7gC&pg=PA48&lpg=PA48&dq=viking+fibreline+caravan+1966&source=bl&ots=3eUmuDkzjg&sig=6VJECPD0hNtzqg5rV9R8PXlYSS4&hl=de#v=onepage&q&f=trueWhat thrilled me even more is that the van seems to be a 1966 model. Three years ago I bought a ticket at a raffle of a vintage cars' club in Windhoek Namibia at 5$ - and won the first price. Guess what? A 1966 Jaguar S-type 3.8. I think there is somebody up there doing some funny orchestrating on these things. Looking forward what comes next. Cheers malawicamper
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Post by Don Ricardo on Sept 29, 2011 23:48:35 GMT 10
Hi again Malawicamper,
The book you found online is the one by Andrew Jenkinson that I quoted from, as you may have already worked out.
Good to know that the 1966 van in the book matches yours. It confirms the identity of the van.
You must have been happy when you won the Jag! The car and the van will look great together. We look forward to more pics of the two of them.
Don Ricardo
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Post by malawicamper on Oct 4, 2011 5:57:14 GMT 10
Got it! A weekend sacrificed to bring the Viking Fibreline alias Africaravan Gypsi home. A weekend worth being sacrificed. It started with a last minute registration of the vehicle-trailer which still had a Namibian numberplate. At 16h59 on Friday it was printed - too late to get it insured before the weekend. Next morning off to Monkey Bay at the Lake Malawi. Four hours drive. Telephonical negotiations had been successful. The agreement: 200 $. A bargain for me, a fortune for the owner. Arriving there the challenge was how to pull the caravan, which was much heavier than I expected, out of the thick sand in the backyard. But such problems are quickly solved in Africa. Manpower! In no time a dozen of beachboys appeared on the scene, broke down the fence and pushed the fragile piece of art on my trailer. Just a few small dents and a cracked corner windowglas - but it was up on the trailer. Straps tightened, rubbertape all around the loose parts and windows and off we went. What an amazing image appeared on the screen of my mirrors. Back home I did'nt want to alarm the neigbourhood for help. A bit of technique and the advantage of having a tow-ball on the bull bar of my Landrover helped a lot to manouver the old lady off the trailer and through a very narrow driveway to her provisional destination at my workshop - or shall I say slaughterhouse? All I see inside is a whole lot of rotten plywood and planks. I'm still not sure if I am going to rebuild it as original as possible or redesign the whole thing. Time will tell.
malawicamper.
p.s. the police fined me 5000 malawian Kwacha for the uninsured trailer 20 km before home...
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Post by malawicamper on Oct 4, 2011 5:58:35 GMT 10
The loading team in Monkey Bay
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Post by malawicamper on Oct 4, 2011 5:59:21 GMT 10
offloading in Blantyre
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Post by 1954homemade on Oct 4, 2011 7:56:51 GMT 10
Hi malawicamper, Congrats on the new van. I'm sure the rebuild/restoration will be a rewarding experience. Love the story behind the way you had it loaded. A shame about the fine, but atleast it wasn't alot of money. 5000 malawian Kwacha is less than 32 Aussie Dollars. I wish the fines over here were that cheap ;D Regrads Di
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Post by cruisindoug on Oct 4, 2011 10:04:17 GMT 10
Now thats a unique recovery!
Congrats on securing a great looking van, looking forward to following the resto!
Cheers Doug.
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mezmo
Full Member
Posts: 131
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Post by mezmo on Oct 4, 2011 17:02:13 GMT 10
Hi Malawicamper,
Van In Hand!!! What a great feeling I'm sure.
The exterior looks to be in pretty good shape from the three pics you posted. Keep them coming as you proceed. We'll all love to follow along.
Cheers, Norm/mezmo
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Post by cobber on Oct 4, 2011 18:25:53 GMT 10
G'day Malawicamper Apart from being a surprising find in that part of the country it would have to be a pretty unique caravan to find anywhere wouldn't it In 1995 we had the pleasure of a couple of 2/3 day “stop overs” in Harare and don't remember seeing a caravan... let alone a caravan park and ….. to be thoroughly frank I didn't get the impression that it would be a good idea to go caravan touring too far away from the city...... or too close to the city either, even though I would have liked too. We did do a couple of short “safaris” and loved it . Although I realise Malawi is a completely different kettle of fish to Zimbabwe... more so now than in 1995... can you give me/us some idea of what it would be like to go caravan touring in Malawi ? Cobber.
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Post by malawicamper on Oct 17, 2011 8:53:51 GMT 10
Hi eastward to DownUnder,
I had never expecting that restoring a caravan could have such addictive potential... My wife calls it a "project" which means in Africa, that there is a good idea combined with a decent budget and connected to a timeframe with a touch of eternity. I have given up the idea to restore it as original as possible. One, there is hadly any material available in Malawi and two, space for four will be too limited if I rebuild the sink and the cubboards. It looked quite naked and even more fragile when all the rotten wood came out. When I started brushing the steel I discovered the original plate with the interesting information that the van was built in Rhodesia (todays Zimbabwe) in 1967. Knowing that in Gwelo (todays Gweru) was a Railway coach factory I reckon this was a branch of it. I had to remove the nice plate because there will be a new one being put on with the details of my car trailer on it. This will safe me five months of burocracy at the road traffic to get it licensed. Numberplate swoping - the African way to get vehicles on the road. But that's another story. Back to the state of restoration. Expecting the rainy season I thought it was a good idea to start from the roof. Sanding off the outside was fun in the sun. But the inside was a nightmare. Some pre-owners must have painted the fibre with acrylic paint wich looked like dried riverbed mud. Grinding it off completely was too risky so I had to compromise. Now we have a nice scruffy ceiling structure... Next is then the inside panels. Getting rid of the glass wool and the remaining dust was an itching experience - especcially for my son. He abandoned the project for some days. Tomorrow is Mothers Day in Malawi. Maybe the commemorated family member will grant the working team some extra hours off for the final high gloss roof layer.
Malawicamper
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Post by malawicamper on Oct 17, 2011 8:54:52 GMT 10
child labour in Africa...
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Post by Daggsey on Oct 17, 2011 13:22:29 GMT 10
My wife calls it a "project" which means in Africa, that there is a good idea combined with a decent budget and connected to a timeframe with a touch of eternity. Malawicamper ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D..............sounds familiar......I think this is a worldwide phenominum Daggsey
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Post by malawicamper on Oct 28, 2011 20:49:44 GMT 10
Here comes a pic of an image that will look very much alike of the one you are going to see one day in the press with the headline: "1966 Jag with a 1967 caravan set off for Cape to Cairo" Greetings from Africa malawicamper
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betsy
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by betsy on Oct 30, 2011 19:04:43 GMT 10
Thanks for a lovely story to all involved in the investigative work . Good luck with your lovely van ! betsy
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Post by oldschoolsa on Dec 2, 2014 0:26:34 GMT 10
reviving an OLD thread.... I just bought a 1969 Gypsey Viking here in South Africa, busy redoing the interior. Got the original tent with sides, and the main roof has a label stating "made in Bulawayo" I would love to get a high resolution image of the VIN plate if possible, as mine is faded, and would like to restore to original....? Cheers Johann
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Post by oldschoolsa on Dec 2, 2014 0:31:13 GMT 10
When I started brushing the steel I discovered the original plate with the interesting information that the van was built in Rhodesia (todays Zimbabwe) in 1967. Knowing that in Gwelo (todays Gweru) was a Railway coach factory I reckon this was a branch of it. I had to remove the nice plate because there will be a new one being put on with the details of my car trailer on it. This will safe me five months of burocracy at the road traffic to get it licensed. Numberplate swoping - the African way to get vehicles on the road. But that's another story. Malawicamper
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Post by oldschoolsa on Dec 2, 2014 0:34:01 GMT 10
More photos of my '69.....
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