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1941 Sovel Electric Van ~ Restoration extraordinaire!
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roverdriver



Joined: 18 Oct 2008
Posts: 1210
Location: 100 miles from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 9:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow!!! To tackle such a job, you are a much braver man that I am, but to not only tackle it, but achieve such a result is absolutely fantastic!
Very well done, a credit to your fortitude.
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 11:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Dane,

I can't take any credit for this resto Dane, I am merely posting it all on here for your enjoyment,
this van was rescued by friends of mine in Switzerland, and France, Jean-Louis, Emile (welder fabricator) and Didier (Electrician).

Here are some links to the whole story:

http://nezdecochon.forumparfait.com/sovel-vr-1941-da-couverte-et-sauvetage-juin-2010-vt3870.html

http://nezdecochon.forumparfait.com/sovel-vr-1941-restau-carrosserie-sept-2010-avril-2012-vt1057.html

http://nezdecochon.forumparfait.com/sovel-vr-1941-la-partie-a-lectrique-da-pose-et-restau-2011-15-vt3871.html

http://nezdecochon.forumparfait.com/sovel-vr-1941-ma-canique-peinture-et-remontage-2011-2015-vt4930.html

http://nezdecochon.forumparfait.com/l-incroyable-sovel-vf54.html

Enjoy.
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 11:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

And here it is!

https://youtu.be/bVy3NsCwMFE
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Ellis



Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 1382
Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales

PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 11:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That was amazing.

I wish I had a quarter of those guys' skills
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1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7113
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 11:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A true labour of love!

Amazing result.

Peter
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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon
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billysugga



Joined: 01 Jan 2017
Posts: 55
Location: Carlisle

PostPosted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 8:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Flipping heck you're making me feel tired just looking at the pictures.
Very nice
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I just wish one was working!
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Bill Fillip



Joined: 06 Apr 2017
Posts: 17

PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 10:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fascinating vehicle. I love oddballs like this. According to "The Complete Encyclopedia of Commercial Vehicles" by Nick Georgano, Sovel began making electric vehicles in 1925, and was still making them in the 1970s when the book when to print. The wartime-era vans, such as this one, must have been a continuation of the series of small vans introduced in the later 1930s.

Favel, on the other hand, of which I also saw a 1941 example on this forum, was only made during the war, from 1941 to 1944.
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 6:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bill Fillip wrote:
Favel, on the other hand, of which I also saw a 1941 example on this forum, was only made during the war, from 1941 to 1944.


Hi Bill,

Welcome to the Forum, the Favel and Sovel are both owned by the same chap.....

Cheers Steve
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Bill Fillip



Joined: 06 Apr 2017
Posts: 17

PostPosted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 5:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

D4B wrote:
Bill Fillip wrote:
Favel, on the other hand, of which I also saw a 1941 example on this forum, was only made during the war, from 1941 to 1944.


Hi Bill,

Welcome to the Forum, the Favel and Sovel are both owned by the same chap.....

Cheers Steve


Hi, Steve:

Thanks very much for the welcome. This is a great forum. I'm shocked I hadn't discovered it sooner.

What a lucky guy your friend is, to own two wartime French electric vans! I've always been a fan of the unusual vehicles; and civilian, civilian-type, and civilian-derived vehicles from the World War II period interest me greatly. France undoubtedly was the biggest producer of electric vehicles during the war. I have a few publications that show the plethora of interesting electric passenger cars that were available there then.

Best,

Bill
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 4:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are a few more here Bill, at the bottom of the page click "suivant" to navigate to next page....

http://nezdecochon.forumparfait.com/anciennes-electriques-vt4614.html
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Bill Fillip



Joined: 06 Apr 2017
Posts: 17

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

D4B wrote:
There are a few more here Bill, at the bottom of the page click "suivant" to navigate to next page....

http://nezdecochon.forumparfait.com/anciennes-electriques-vt4614.html



Ah yes, very interesting! It seems to me I was once a member of that forum. I have been part of several French forums but haven't visited them in ages.
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6284
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 12:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

WOW! I am totally in awe of what has been achieved. The guys there must really know their stuff to take on and succeed with such a difficult restoration/ rebuild. It all seems far too complicated. I wouldn't know where to begin such a task.

Absolutely fantastic - and great pictures.

Many thanks for posting. Very Happy
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 4:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glad you enjoyed it Ray.

As if the body fabrication wasn't enough to put them off, the work involved in the electrics completely stunned me!!

And after all that, he has just found an electric lorry in a similar state,
but that will be a whole other story Shocked Cool

Cheers Steve
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