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Thomson caravan
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22777
Location: UK

PostPosted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:29 pm    Post subject: Thomson caravan Reply with quote

News of this caravan came through the other day, in case anyone fancies it..



"I am sadly clearing my father's garage and garden
following his death last year. I have found a home for his engine and
gearbox from his Commer Karrier Travelling shop! Now I am looking for an interested
party to love his Thomson Tourer caravan! I thought I may find such a person
by finding out about it (date etc.) on your site.It's in brilliant condition
and gave us many a happy holiday as children. Although I have been told its
scrap value is high I would rather it went to a good home, I am travelling
down today to give it a wash and take a photo.

Tel 01289 382321 although this is a Berwick upon Tweed no the caravan
is at Seaton Sluice near Whitley Bay"
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Mytocon



Joined: 03 Dec 2007
Posts: 47
Location: Beds (but not the sleeping type)

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

At a guess, I would say that is a late 60's Glenelg, the 14 foot one. I had one in the late 80's and should never have sold it. A fine van!
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47p2



Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 2009
Location: Glasgow

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The only down side of the Thomson vans were their weight.
You really need a big car to pull them, but great vans all the same
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Joined: 18 Sep 2008
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Location: West Lothian

PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 2:59 pm    Post subject: Not so heavy Reply with quote

47p2 wrote:
The only down side of the Thomson vans were their weight.
You really need a big car to pull them, but great vans all the same


It all depends on which Thomson you have, the smallest was designed to be pulled by a mini 900cc and is still one of the most sought after.

The largest I have on record is the 1300kg Gleneagle, which by today's standards is very average. I had a 1979 Glennevis which I have pulled with a variety of cars, including a 1.4 Astra, 1100cc Maestro and more recently the Xsara piccasso which tows at around 35mpg, almost double any of the previous cars and it is just a lowly 1.6deisel.

and yes they are great vans, we now have a 1981 Glennevis which is in excellent condition, dare I say even better than some coming off the assembly line today! (-;
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http://www.thomson-caravans.co.uk
Thomson Caravans History and Information

Graham P Thompson
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Rick
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Location: UK

PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What was the smallest Thomson out of interest? I've heard of the Mini Glen.

welcome to the forum by the way Smile

Rick
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gordon28



Joined: 28 Sep 2008
Posts: 38

PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:38 pm    Post subject: Mini Glen Reply with quote

Rick , i know where their is a Mini Glen about 5 miles from me in pretty good condition too. i'll get a pic as soon as i can and post it on the forum. cheers gordon Very Happy
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rick wrote:
What was the smallest Thomson out of interest? I've heard of the Mini Glen.

welcome to the forum by the way Smile

Rick


Hi Rick, thanks for the welcome.

The Mini-glen was the smallest, designed to be towed by the BMC Mini, originally the wheels were interchangeable with Mini wheels which meant a further saving on weight as you did not need to carry a spare for the caravan if you used it with any of the Mini range. Introduced in 1966 the mini-glen became very popular at the low end of the market. Total length was just over 9ft. For the size of van it was amazing just how much space was utilised and it even boasted a loo, something that was a fairly new innovation in caravans of such small size.
Ex works weight was 9cwt it is said that some motorbike enthusiasts of the day also towed the mini-glen although as yet I have not found out if that is true or not.
Further back in time I suppose the Dart was smaller still, I believe there are still a few examples of these still doing the rounds and I know there is one in the stores at Falkirk Museum, which you can view by arrangement. The Dart in many ways looks like the more modern tear-drop type trailers and is possibly a forerunner of them, there is a chap in Canada who has two darts both in fully functioning order and ready to go when the season over there starts.
Feel free to ask anything about these fine old caravans, I am slowly getting a fair amount of detail amassed and added to the website that I started as a hobby before it started to take over, still keeps me out of mischief.
Sorry got carried away, one of my wee problems when it comes to Scotland's caravans, once rated as second in the caravan manufacturers league, the sprites beat it for a while.

BTW if any of the members have info on Thomson caravans I would love to hear from you, especially that rare breed, The Thomson Owner! (-;

1949 Dart - I would love to hear from the new owner, it was sold on Ebay in 2005/6.
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Thomson Caravans History and Information

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:02 pm    Post subject: Re: Mini Glen Reply with quote

gordon28 wrote:
Rick , i know where their is a Mini Glen about 5 miles from me in pretty good condition too. i'll get a pic as soon as i can and post it on the forum. cheers gordon Very Happy


Hi Gordon, look forward to seeing the pic(s) please feel free to e-mail me them and I will happily add them to the out and about photo album on my site, it may be I already have had contact with the owner, if not give me a mention please! (-;
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Thomson Caravans History and Information

Graham P Thompson
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:07 pm    Post subject: Re: Thomson caravan Reply with quote

Rick wrote:
News of this caravan came through the other day, in case anyone fancies it..



"I am sadly clearing my father's garage and garden
following his death last year. I have found a home for his engine and
gearbox from his Commer Karrier Travelling shop! Now I am looking for an interested
party to love his Thomson Tourer caravan! I thought I may find such a person
by finding out about it (date etc.) on your site.It's in brilliant condition
and gave us many a happy holiday as children. Although I have been told its
scrap value is high I would rather it went to a good home, I am travelling
down today to give it a wash and take a photo.

Tel 01289 382321 although this is a Berwick upon Tweed no the caravan
is at Seaton Sluice near Whitley Bay"


Hi Rick I have had a message from the a chap giving away this Glendale
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Thomson Caravans History and Information

Graham P Thompson
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Posts: 36
Location: West Lothian

PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mytocon wrote:
At a guess, I would say that is a late 60's Glenelg, the 14 foot one. I had one in the late 80's and should never have sold it. A fine van!


I would agree that it is probably a Glenelg, pre 68 as I think that was when they changed the outside handles to flush fitting, I have pics of 68/69 vans with flush handles but the mini-glens of 67 had the old style ones with chub like keys. Smile
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Thomson Caravans History and Information

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Onlyrwd



Joined: 04 Oct 2010
Posts: 185
Location: Market Rasen

PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 9:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Long time since this post but does anyone know what happened to it? Is it still around or was it bad and got scrapped?
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78 Cavalier GL
78 Manta Berlinetta

67/68 Thomson Glenelg WANTED
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 12:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Onlyrwd wrote:
Long time since this post but does anyone know what happened to it? Is it still around or was it bad and got scrapped?


As far as I am aware it was sold. I willdo some diggingand see if I have the details.

Cheers

Graham
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Onlyrwd



Joined: 04 Oct 2010
Posts: 185
Location: Market Rasen

PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 1:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Graham, was a long shot I know Laughing Still looking for a Glenelg.
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78 Cavalier GL
78 Manta Berlinetta

67/68 Thomson Glenelg WANTED
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