Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

gresham flyer · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435

You may remember a few years ago I posted photo`s and told how I found this caravan sitting in a farmyard about ten miles from where we live.

The untrained eye would have dismissed it out of hand as a project they did not want to take on.

The inside of the caravan was disgusting and the outside had been painted with a roller and what looked like debris off the floor thrown into the wet paint.....yes the finish was that good.!!!!!

I purchased the caravan from the owners with them still telling me how they were going to restore it and sell it on Ebay for a fortune.

As mentioned before on the forum , I posted a full story of its restoration back to its former glory.
Look under...Cheltenham Sable Restoration.

I had not even had the chance to get it out of the workshop before an elderly chap I know came round one day and wanted to purchase it.
The next day a big bag of money was put on the table and the deal was done.

Another project was looming so I moved onto that one.

I delivered it to the farm where it was to be kept in a large building.
They left it outside intending to put it away later.

Time passed on, the elderly chap stopped visiting me and only phone calls followed.

He became ill, spent time in hospital and stopped driving altogether.

He told me he had never got round to using the caravan, although he had someone fit a brand new fridge, floor covering of his choice and other personal items.

I did hear he may sell the caravan from a relative but did not push the issue.

Last Monday we sold our Carlight caravan, and did not intend to purchase another so soon.

Monday teatime the thought of the Cheltenham got the better of me, I just had to phone him up and see what was going to happen to it.

When I got to the farm this is what greeted me....it was still siting outside where I had left it a few years ago..

It is nice to see a former vehicle you owned at a show or event looking clean and shiny under the summer sun, but to see one sitting on the grass in a farm yard is disheartening.

I spoke to the owner and his son....I just had to get it back.....within 20 minutes the caravan was on the back of my van and on its way to my workshop.

The last three days have seen it transformed back to its former glory after I restored it all that time ago..
It was only because it had had a bare metal respray, interior refurbishment and mechanical overhaul that it has survived so well.

Once the mould and algae had been powerwashed off the exterior it started to look like the old caravan again.
The paintwork has been cut back and polished, the interior thoroughly cleaned and every nook and cranny wiped clean.

The wheels have had new tyres fitted and the rims painted.

All of the metal work i.e corner steadies, tow hitch and exposed chassis rails have been repainted.

This weekend it will be taken on the back of one of our classic cars to a steam and country show we have entered.

Do not think any old farm yard or barn found caravan will clean up so well.
They normally need total refurbishment if original or badly restored in the past.

G.f

P.S Finished outdoor photo`s will be posted tomorrow.