Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

My first caravan was a Bessecarr. Lovely caravan but a bit on the heavy side. I traded it in for a Monza and used it for a couple of years and then gave it up in the early Eighties.
About 10 years ago I bought a beautiful Viking Fibreline and later on an Abbey. We never went on holiday in them but used them for long weekends at classic car shows. I havent had one for 2 years now since I got completely bogged down at Selkirk.
What I would like to get a hold of is a Sherpa Highwayman with a knackered engine as I have a marina 1800 engine in my garage.There have been a couple on ebay but they have been in the south of England.
I dont think I would have a caravan again.
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The Clan Chieftain

victor 101 · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 446 Location: East Yorkshire

We bought our first caravan a year ago, a 1988 Vanroyce 2 berth, very light and well built. Only used it once last year for a weekend away, and was very pleased with it. We have already planned on a trip to Pride of Longbridge this year, and from there down to South Wales for a couple of days, and maybe some sightseeing on the way home. Whether I will still be sane after a week in it is debateable.

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7211 Location: Edinburgh

I'm with Mr Clarkson on this one.

Peter Twisted Evil

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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4232 Location: South Cheshire

Roger-hatchy · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 2135 Location: Tiptree, Essex

Mother had a static in Pegwell bay in the 70's and 80's.

Never had a road going van, plenty of time under canvas though, still do.

I am contemplating a teardrop to go behind the DLM, did see a small home made caravan last year at a show.
Would have been just right size behind my car, when I asked the owner if he could tell me the size I was told it was 8x4, that's the size of the sheets he bought. Laughing

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

The marina estate towed the caravan no bother to shows. I think Jeremy Clarkson would have been in his element if he had seen it. But 30 years ago it was commonplace.
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The Clan Chieftain

emmerson · Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 1268 Location: South East Wales

After two years in tents, I bought my first caravan when my little boy was one year old. Had a couple of campers in between, but found Royale caravans twenty-two years ago, and never looked back.
My little boy is now 46. I think, if we keep trying, we'll get to like it soon!

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

I had a 1971 Baywindow VW camper. Shocking things, slow, thirsty, agricultural, it was comfortable to drive but that might have been the Van Den Plas seats I fitted. In winter the rear seats had heat, as the driver I had to dress like a Russian Ski trooper as I had none. The engines are easy to lift out and onto the bench at about 180lbs, as the twin port heads liked to crack. Hateful things, I cannot see the fascination or price for them. Laughing

IanAl · Joined: 15 Jan 2013 Posts: 60

We have a caravan but it stands on a private site and never goes on the road.

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

I had one until 3 weeks ago when I cut it into not so tiny pieces and deposited it in a skip. I inherited it with the building plot that is in our garden.

I don't know what type it was but it was horrible! (Except the swallows and mice loved it.)

Our Rural decay (3) by peterthompson, on Flickr

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

Peter, with that view it could have become a holiday rental Cool

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

RUSTON · Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 144 Location: Matlock.

I had a 1978 VW Type 2 Devon Moonraker 2 litre aircooled for 22 years but have now owned caravans for the past 19 years as they give us more room at rallies etc. The VW became a little cramped with two adults, two dogs plus a cat and a parrot, it did get us noticed though! Smile

Had three Cotswold Windrushes and now own a 1997 Swift Fairway, complete with the compulsory Swift feature of damp. Rolling Eyes

Pete.
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Measure twice...cut once!

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

52classic · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 493 Location: Cardiff.

We did our share of caravanning back in the 70's & 80's.

Our first was a Sprite Alpine which I bought in 1977 from some gypsies and restored including a paint job to match our (then new) Triumph Dolomite in Honeysuckle. Next a Safari 2 berth which was lovely but really too heavy for the Dolly. A Rambler 4-44 was a better bet and that served us well for a while, mainly weekending whilst the kids were small.

Next came an Abbey Warwick which was the biggest tourer available on a single axle and with 2 doors and 2 awnings was like erecting a bungalow on site. Even behind our Volvo estate it was evil to tow.

Driving with one's buttocks clenched together is very uncomfortable so we sold to someone who wanted to site the thing permanently and bought a 14ft Swift. What a lovely caravan! Sadly it had to go when we were getting some money together for a business venture and that was the end of caravanning for us.........

Until recently when a Cotswold Windrush caught my eye on ebay. On that occasion I was beaten by a fiver but you never know!