Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[bubbleman]

I have now cleaned out this rather odd small caravan I rescued from near Windsor. In doing so I found the chassis plate. This informs me I have a 1960 Peka caravan by Nord Sud Plastik, which weighs just 240 kg. A big caravan for such a light weight achieved by a two part GRP moulding plus another for the full pop top. Inside is wood framing and thin veneered ply panelling and cupboards which give the upper additional stiffness being very thin GRP. The roof has lost its insulation and would have been cloth covered I think. The floor is exterior grade type ply bolted and screwed onto the GRP shell. The whole is mounted on a none braked torsion bar axle and frame by Walter Winterheim. The lighting is Hella mainly. All pointing to Germany as its home though Peka only seems to translate directly from Swedish as 'Point' or 'Pointed'. This the caravan is at the front with no window. It is thus similar to an early type Eriba Puck save by construction and in width which is quite generous.

The floor is weak round the edges and requires replacement. See string preventing middle age spread. Indeed most restoration will be woodwork but all the original is there as patterns. The front outrigger of the chassis under the door has rusted and failed due to water ingress. A simple repair but sadly the shell has slumped just enough to put a small tear in the roof. Not a difficult repair and a few more years and I think the top would have split and the caravan have lasted very little time thereafter. I am less sure as to how to get a good surface back on the over painted GRP. THe Hella lights are available save I am uncertain as to what the mid one looked like. The light switch is worth £45 on its own being the same as Messerschmitt etc. There is an awning frame, cooker, table and kitchen bits too. Some has been disposed of as it would be a health hazzard, like an ancient tin of corned beef!

I have found no information of the manufacturer nor the Peka model. It deserves saving, though when I would get time to do it I do not know. It is tow-able by so many small classic cars as a 'proper' caravan not otherwise available. Also it is slightly bonkers in its hunch back styling. Will attempt to post images, newbie so bare with me on that. It could be the only one left as it is very lightly constructed and 50 plus years old.

[bubbleman]

http://www.rumcars.org/forum/index.php?topic=3296.0

Picture posting a bit complicated on this set up for the siliconly stupid but they appear with known info at the above link if you care to click on it.