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Austin A30 Van 1956. Refurbishment Now Finished .
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gresham flyer



Joined: 06 Sep 2008
Posts: 1435

PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 6:42 pm    Post subject: Austin A30 Van 1956. Refurbishment Now Finished . Reply with quote

Although I intended to keep the van as found,I have now decided to give her a respray in the original colour of County Cream.

She is very original and solid.

The very old paintwork had developed very small crack`s in the paint finish.....only one remedy for this....strip it all off to bare metal.
We do want it to last.!!

The doors,bonnet,windscreen,side windows,bumpers (complete with tow bars) were removed.

The paint stripping was then begun.

A friend who wants to learn about classic cars volunteered to come and give me a hand at removing items from the van..every little help speeds the job along.

The following photo`s show the van as it becomes devoid of paintwork.
M.M




Last edited by gresham flyer on Sat Mar 08, 2014 8:05 pm; edited 5 times in total
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gresham flyer



Joined: 06 Sep 2008
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 6:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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gresham flyer



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PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 6:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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gresham flyer



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PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 8:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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gresham flyer



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PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 8:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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gresham flyer



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PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 8:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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gresham flyer



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PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 9:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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gresham flyer



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PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 9:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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kevin2306



Joined: 01 Jul 2013
Posts: 1359
Location: nr Llangollen, north wales

PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 10:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Love it!
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 11:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are you going to leave it as an estate, or return it to being a van?

Looks very sound indeed.

RJ
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gresham flyer



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PostPosted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 11:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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Ironhead



Joined: 28 Mar 2010
Posts: 458
Location: Leicestershire

PostPosted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 2:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

tow bar on the front? Confused
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4748
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 3:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
Quote:
The towbar was for a small caravan he built and towed with the van all over Europe. the towbar on the front was used when the mountain roads got too steep and he would reverse up them towing his caravan.

See http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13527&highlight=a30+van

It would also be usefull for pushing a trailer down a narrow alley.
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gresham flyer



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PostPosted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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gresham flyer



Joined: 06 Sep 2008
Posts: 1435

PostPosted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 7:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is the story I was told....I do not disbelieve him.

He fitted the towbar on the front when steep inclines impeded his progress.

Wish I had a photo of the van and caravan.

Remember it was in the early 1960`s that he was touring abroad around France. The road system was completely different to how it is now.

Just "N Roads" between towns and cities. And when you strayed off the main roads the " C Roads " were little more than cart tracks.

Now the country has super smooth modern motorway`s etc.

How many people even today,with modern breakdown services,courier and postal services to send spare parts,the credit card (to buy yourself out of trouble) and the mobile phone.....would take a 1956 Austin van and caravan around France or the continent for their holiday`s.?



He was driving abroad long before the days of Juggernaut lorries. High powered motorway cruising cars doing 100mph, like you see passing by now day`s.
Even the young girl in her Clio on the way to work drives like a maniac.

In France in the early 1960`s the 2CV looked modern. Or you drove a Dauphine,which took the place of the Renault 4CV.

Or if you lived in the country you drove a motorised dustbin (citroen).

Or they rode bicycles,wore stripped jersey`s and had a bunch of onions around their neck`s.

Oh how we love the French.!!


G.F


Last edited by gresham flyer on Mon Dec 23, 2013 9:57 am; edited 2 times in total
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