Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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49barndoor
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
Posts: 81
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 Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:02 pm Post subject: Re: willerby vogue |
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| alan 869 wrote: | | Ranger2 wrote: | Well what a job! At the bakerlite museum in somerset a Vogue was there on display, Willerby had one too and also a chap I know near Hull restored one fab job too he did. A guy in Sweden bought one from Scotland and another guy here in UK restored one. About 115 built in 56/7 basically a flop in sales, proved expensive and also to heavy. two layouts were available - oh James Lambert was the guy at Hull not heard from him for some years - great chap and very clever at restoration. The other wILLERBY grp van was the Vista another heavy strange looking caravan - now the last one I saw of those was in Hereford 1970!!
Ranger 2 |
Hello all, just joined 
I´m -a guy in Sweden- 
There were 3 interiors to the Vogue: Toilet where the ovan window is on the near side (mine). Chest of drawers in the same place instead of toilet (Peter Jollys). Third being Tiolet in the corner rear, off side (only seen this in the brochyr). The first vans had sliding down oval windows (Peter J´s) later they were fixed (mine and James L´s). In the beginning it had a barn door (Peters again) but later just one piece (again mine and James´s). 16 inch Austin Somerset c:a 1954, steel rims (mine had a 13 and a 14 inch on it when I bought it  ). Lucas lamps type Morris Traveller
They started coming off the production line autumn 1956 and about 115 were made. I have a Willerby add including the Vogue from 1958. Small, expensive and very front heavy. You could buy a van nearly twice the size of the Vogue for the money. I would say that there are about 8 vans restored or being restored. Should be a number -out there- but are in the same condition as this one (not for the faint hearted )
There is a firm near me that is also a teaching school for vehicle/boat bodywork. Mine was with them for just over a year Mine had no -spats- over the wheels (you have to take them off to change the wheel).
I was a member of the Historical Caravan Club and bought mine from an add in there (2001-2) It had resided on a -ledge- 20 meters or so from the North Sea, south of Montrose. Owned by a bloke who is a salmon fisherman. The refreshing salt air hadn´t done the metal work much good. The framewas in one piece but very under dimentioned (new frame now, galvad). The doors hinges had rusted away so the the 2 halves were thrown inside the van. All the windows were shot and I think he´d kept rabbits or the like in it. My son Robert (then 12 now 21) and I took a mates car trailer from Linköping where we live, down to Gothenburg. Over to Newcastle and up to Montrose. Loaded it up and then back to Linköping. That was beginning of November 2002. Bar the cushions, it´s now -finished- 
-AP plastic- was the first type of fibre glass. Not exactly the same apparently. Now 50+ years on, very hard and brittle. To be able to use it the entire floor plan and the join where it is bonded to the sides have to be strengthened. The cipboard floor was a part of the intigrual strukture. Without that, the side walls-wheel wells tend to bulge outwards (be warned) Otherwise it will just crack in a number of places along the -ribs- in the floor, after the first season on the road (ask Peter  )
Mine was a total. It was so bad that there were cracks everywhere. Then it fell off the axelstands it was on, in a strom over here, and that sparated the flooplan from the sides. It was very close to being dumped then . But then the apprentices at the body firm took it on. The inner ceiling sags with age and begin to rest and crack where the furniture reahes the ceiling. The bodybuilders bonded the inner and outer shells and strategic points to stabilize the inner roof. One half of the wheel bearings doesn´t exist any longer. The makers had just 2 left when I asked and wanted about 1500 each for them Mine were okay and the other half of the bearing set up is available. so get that sorted asap . With being stood for say 30 years, the grease in the bearings settles in the bearings, giving the upper halves exposure to condensation etc..... rust and pitting. The window frames are assymetric not -straight- as you might think. all mine were slightly different (we are talking early 50s  ) so each window back and front goes only in the appature they are in. Mark them up or you will have fun and games
I made new moulds for the wheel spats (James L let me have his). From the moulds we had some carbon fiber ones made up so they shouldn´t crack the first time you have to change a wheel. Could get some more made but of course a bit pricey
Any probs let me know. You seem to be very able concerning the bodywork so it should be okay. But ask first if you get stuck BEFORE doing something you might later regret
[/img] |
I know the old guy at the salmon fisheries (David) where you bought the Vogue, I visit him from time to time to talk old cars/caravans.
He did tell me about the Vogue he sold to a guy from Sweden, Its nice to see what eventually came of it, Great work |
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simonyatesvw
Joined: 09 Aug 2010
Posts: 54
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:47 pm Post subject: willerby man |
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nice 2 see everybody knows each other through one vogue or another.
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willerby vogue man
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geoffslater
Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 10:05 am Post subject: willerby |
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I've been trying to get to grips with the restoration. What a job it looks to be. The fibreglass is very brittle and thin in places. I think there was a problem in original manufacture as there are two places on the roof where old fibreglass has been overlaid onto some very thin areas. The interior roof lining is mostly destroyed although the side are in one piece. I intend to reinforce the whole body from the inside with new fibreglass.
It seems that the body will distort once the floor is removed. How do you support the body in order to prevent this? Once the floor is removed will it be possible to access the chassis in order to reinforce it.
Does anyone have a magic wand they can lend me?
See you soon
Geoff |
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alan 869
Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 388
Location: Linköping Sweden
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:01 pm Post subject: Re: willerby vogue |
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| 49barndoor wrote: | | alan 869 wrote: | | Ranger2 wrote: | Well what a job! At the bakerlite museum in somerset a Vogue was there on display, Willerby had one too and also a chap I know near Hull restored one fab job too he did. A guy in Sweden bought one from Scotland and another guy here in UK restored one. About 115 built in 56/7 basically a flop in sales, proved expensive and also to heavy. two layouts were available - oh James Lambert was the guy at Hull not heard from him for some years - great chap and very clever at restoration. The other wILLERBY grp van was the Vista another heavy strange looking caravan - now the last one I saw of those was in Hereford 1970!!
Ranger 2 |
Hello all, just joined
I´m -a guy in Sweden-
There were 3 interiors to the Vogue: Toilet where the ovan window is on the near side (mine). Chest of drawers in the same place instead of toilet (Peter Jollys). Third being Tiolet in the corner rear, off side (only seen this in the brochyr). The first vans had sliding down oval windows (Peter J´s) later they were fixed (mine and James L´s). In the beginning it had a barn door (Peters again) but later just one piece (again mine and James´s). 16 inch Austin Somerset c:a 1954, steel rims (mine had a 13 and a 14 inch on it when I bought it ). Lucas lamps type Morris Traveller
They started coming off the production line autumn 1956 and about 115 were made. I have a Willerby add including the Vogue from 1958. Small, expensive and very front heavy. You could buy a van nearly twice the size of the Vogue for the money. I would say that there are about 8 vans restored or being restored. Should be a number -out there- but are in the same condition as this one (not for the faint hearted )
There is a firm near me that is also a teaching school for vehicle/boat bodywork. Mine was with them for just over a year Mine had no -spats- over the wheels (you have to take them off to change the wheel).
I was a member of the Historical Caravan Club and bought mine from an add in there (2001-2) It had resided on a -ledge- 20 meters or so from the North Sea, south of Montrose. Owned by a bloke who is a salmon fisherman. The refreshing salt air hadn´t done the metal work much good. The framewas in one piece but very under dimentioned (new frame now, galvad). The doors hinges had rusted away so the the 2 halves were thrown inside the van. All the windows were shot and I think he´d kept rabbits or the like in it. My son Robert (then 12 now 21) and I took a mates car trailer from Linköping where we live, down to Gothenburg. Over to Newcastle and up to Montrose. Loaded it up and then back to Linköping. That was beginning of November 2002. Bar the cushions, it´s now -finished-
-AP plastic- was the first type of fibre glass. Not exactly the same apparently. Now 50+ years on, very hard and brittle. To be able to use it the entire floor plan and the join where it is bonded to the sides have to be strengthened. The cipboard floor was a part of the intigrual strukture. Without that, the side walls-wheel wells tend to bulge outwards (be warned) Otherwise it will just crack in a number of places along the -ribs- in the floor, after the first season on the road (ask Peter )
Mine was a total. It was so bad that there were cracks everywhere. Then it fell off the axelstands it was on, in a strom over here, and that sparated the flooplan from the sides. It was very close to being dumped then . But then the apprentices at the body firm took it on. The inner ceiling sags with age and begin to rest and crack where the furniture reahes the ceiling. The bodybuilders bonded the inner and outer shells and strategic points to stabilize the inner roof. One half of the wheel bearings doesn´t exist any longer. The makers had just 2 left when I asked and wanted about 1500 each for them Mine were okay and the other half of the bearing set up is available. so get that sorted asap . With being stood for say 30 years, the grease in the bearings settles in the bearings, giving the upper halves exposure to condensation etc..... rust and pitting. The window frames are assymetric not -straight- as you might think. all mine were slightly different (we are talking early 50s ) so each window back and front goes only in the appature they are in. Mark them up or you will have fun and games
I made new moulds for the wheel spats (James L let me have his). From the moulds we had some carbon fiber ones made up so they shouldn´t crack the first time you have to change a wheel. Could get some more made but of course a bit pricey
Any probs let me know. You seem to be very able concerning the bodywork so it should be okay. But ask first if you get stuck BEFORE doing something you might later regret
[/img] |
I know the old guy at the salmon fisheries (David) where you bought the Vogue, I visit him from time to time to talk old cars/caravans.
He did tell me about the Vogue he sold to a guy from Sweden, Its nice to see what eventually came of it, Great work |
I sent an email to David a while ago to show him what had happened. Didn´t get any reply though. Give him my best |
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alan 869
Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 388
Location: Linköping Sweden
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: willerby |
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| geoff.slater wrote: | I've been trying to get to grips with the restoration. What a job it looks to be. The fibreglass is very brittle and thin in places. I think there was a problem in original manufacture as there are two places on the roof where old fibreglass has been overlaid onto some very thin areas. The interior roof lining is mostly destroyed although the side are in one piece. I intend to reinforce the whole body from the inside with new fibreglass.
It seems that the body will distort once the floor is removed. How do you support the body in order to prevent this? Once the floor is removed will it be possible to access the chassis in order to reinforce it.
Does anyone have a magic wand they can lend me?
See you soon
Geoff |
You need to hang it from the corner window appertures (see my photos). Leave it like that untill the sides are roughly vertical. Support the floor by using planks on axel stands, so that the floor stays straight. When the wheel arches (looking at them from the inside) are more or less level along the top and perpendicular along the sides, then it´s time to get the new floor in. The floor has to be tight up against the sides and then bolted onto the frame. When that´s done, fiber glass all along the joins to strengthen it all. I have pics of this but not with me as I´m working away from home. |
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49barndoor
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
Posts: 81
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:42 pm Post subject: Re: willerby vogue |
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| alan 869 wrote: | | 49barndoor wrote: |
I know the old guy at the salmon fisheries (David) where you bought the Vogue, I visit him from time to time to talk old cars/caravans.
He did tell me about the Vogue he sold to a guy from Sweden, Its nice to see what eventually came of it, Great work |
I sent an email to David a while ago to show him what had happened. Didn´t get any reply though. Give him my best |
Yes I will do that and print off a few of the pics just on the off chance he missed the email. |
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alan 869
Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 388
Location: Linköping Sweden
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:52 pm Post subject: Re: willerby vogue |
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| 49barndoor wrote: | | alan 869 wrote: | | 49barndoor wrote: |
I know the old guy at the salmon fisheries (David) where you bought the Vogue, I visit him from time to time to talk old cars/caravans.
He did tell me about the Vogue he sold to a guy from Sweden, Its nice to see what eventually came of it, Great work |
I sent an email to David a while ago to show him what had happened. Didn´t get any reply though. Give him my best |
Yes I will do that and print off a few of the pics just on the off chance he missed the email. |
Great, thanks |
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simonyatesvw
Joined: 09 Aug 2010
Posts: 54
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:56 pm Post subject: willerby man |
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the best way to do it is to extend the chasis as the back end of the caravan has no support when driving down the road and was only really strong when the fibreglas was nice and strong un like now because it is brittle and weak and is seriously thin to cut down costs. and also aland way is best to lift it but if roof is cracked use a panel across the door the strengthen it when lifting or you could just use supports from underneath and lift it from there.
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willerby vogue man
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Fluffle-Valve
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 521
Location: At my computer in a bungalow in Duston, Northampton.
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:26 am Post subject: Re: willerby man |
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| simonyatesvw wrote: | | the best way to do it is to extend the chasis as the back end of the caravan has no support when driving down the road and was only really strong when the fibreglas was nice and strong un like now because it is brittle and weak and is seriously thin to cut down costs. and also aland way is best to lift it but if roof is cracked use a panel across the door the strengthen it when lifting or you could just use supports from underneath and lift it from there. |
I'm just notice-ing the size of your signature pic. Nice VW, but a bit big, ain't it.
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 Series 3 1972 LWB Truck Cab Pick Up. My daily drive. |
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alan 869
Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 388
Location: Linköping Sweden
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 7:56 am Post subject: |
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Afraid I don´t agree with lengthening the chassi. Spoils the design of the van. The floor pan on mine was strengthened with new fiberglass which made the ridges in the pan stronger. Where there were signs of cracking the whole piece was cut out and redone.
One of the reasons I like the van is just the floorpan and the way the suspension was set up. This van is the most daring design done, shame to cut half of it away |
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simonyatesvw
Joined: 09 Aug 2010
Posts: 54
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| Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 9:59 pm Post subject: willerby vogue |
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we all have our own oppinions but we only extended the chassis as there was nothing left of our floor anyways so we decided to redisign to a useable standard.
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willerby vogue man
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alan 869
Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 388
Location: Linköping Sweden
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:11 am Post subject: |
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| Well of course if there was nothing left of the back of the floor pan then that was the only thing to do As long as it got saved is the important thing. I have a photo from the factory where they show just the floor pan before it was joined to the shell. Will get it up when I get home (working away from home again this week) |
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Willerby
Joined: 21 Mar 2011
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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Hi all, been watching this a while and finally gotten round to registering. I am the chap from Norfolk who restored a Vogue and blogged it in 2007/8 - www.willerby.littleplumstead.com
I still use it a dozen times each summer and spend most of each March repairing the fibreglass breakages ready for the year ahead - it really is very brittle stuff after 50 years.
I can honestly say that despite the ridiculous amounts of money I paid for a shell similar to the one pictured (although I did at leats have an interior) and the thousands spend on restoration, the Vogue is a fantastic caravan to tour with.
Like Geoff I had various cracks appearing on the ceiling due to not strengthening the rear floor and in the end bit the bullet and had everything out, the floor up and added fibreglass box section internally to hold the rear end together. This has so far worked well and is much lighter and easier to do than adding additional chassis rails.
Another area to watch is expansion and contraction. The old stuff will contract more than new fibreglass in cold weather and so all holes/patches will eventually show again and need refilling at the edges and painting. My own is re-gelled which was a mistake in hindsight. It gives a fantastic finish when done but after three winters it has bubbled as it too expands/contracts at a different rate to the original stuff.
Looking forward to seeing more photos from Simon of progress
Peter |
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gillberry
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 702
Location: Norwich
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Willerby
nice to see you on here at last after we came and saw you we changed ours for a larger model and are making the most of it each year like you |
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simonyatesvw
Joined: 09 Aug 2010
Posts: 54
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:15 pm Post subject: willerby vogue |
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will try and upload some of new pictures as soon as possible as we are almost onto the sanding stage now. not to long now.
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willerby vogue man
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