Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Barry Lord]

This 1930's Cheltenham is outside a house five minutes from where I work, and looks very similar to the one in the pictures posted by Old Van Man. As you can see from the pictures, taken this morning, its condition is not nearly so good. The lady who owns the house has lived there for 40+ years and told me when I spoke to her a couple of years ago that the caravan has been in the garden for as long as she has lived there.

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[old van man]

Nice one Barry, any chance of a rescue, have got space in the workshop at the mo ( there was a van like this, on the road to the Bliss hill museum is it the same ? ) Regards OVM

[gresham flyer]

I never see any interesting caravans in my neck of the woods.

It`s not for the want of looking.

In the morning I will be crossing the fens,nothing of vintage caravan interest will be seen,unless they are all in barns,or your looking for an old fordson.(even they are getting hard to find)

The farmers who could afford caravans in the 1930`s or 1940`s,were perhaps too busy to take holiday`s in those poverished times.

When looking for certain types of items I think it is very geographical,what do you think?

I have always found interesting Jaguars in say Norfolk (farmers) or Suffolk (retired city folk, bankers).

Vintage cycles are more likely found in Fenland, than perhaps the Peak District. (too many hills).

Now where can I find a nice 1930`s commercial to tow my caravan?

[rangerover125]

Well if OVm doesn't have it I'd love to go after it. I'm crawling up the wall without a project.

[gresham flyer]

Barry only posted some photo`s.

You two have brought it,restored it and now its on show!!!

The old lady perhap`s has a young nephew who looks after her affairs and thinks it`s worth a fortune,a city banker no doubt.

It`s happened to me!!!!

[rangerover125]

I'm a long way from the restoration and showing stage but if you don't ask you never know.
I was offered a stirling, sat for 40 years, let water in for at least 10 years and the A frame has dropped off a bargain at £1500.

[old van man]

Dear gresham flyer, if it wasn't for the past efforts of the HCC you would not have your van now
when i spotted your van it wasn't for sale, i had to contact the owner broker a deal (this took months )then do three round trips (over 500 miles) to recover it
The van had been outdoors for the last 40 years and needed a fair bit doing to it just to get it towable,
what i am trying to say is old vans dont grow on trees
i found most of my vans before the internet took off
i found them though adds, conntacts, looking, and the most important one ,the club
in a way the internet makes it look to easy
if you wont to find old caravans you need to try harder and keep trying
they are still out there to be found

[rangerover125]

I agree withOVm, there are 2 vans I know the location of, one has took several years for me to be allowed to get close to and hopefully one day either the owner or myself will do something about restoring it. That one is in the hands of the owner but he does know I'm here for advice and help.
Some owners actually don't think of getting rid of vans for the simple reason they think because the van has sat in one place for so many years it is beyond recovery. I am waiting to hear abut one such van, with a broken a frame and in such a tight location it will be a delicate operation for it not to slip into the waterway next to it, but recovery is all part of the fun

[rangerover125]

There is also the forgotten vans. Last year through Ebay I bought a 1959 Sprite, although the van looked familiar I couldn't place it. When my son came home on Army leave, he reminded me it was the same as the van at a Norfolk farm that we stayed at when he was 4, a couple of phone calls later and yes it was that very van

[gresham flyer]

Hello,
I had no intention of upsetting you both,i was just having a laugh.

Barry posted some photo`s and within a short time there were two messages asking about buying the van.

I was just in a humorous mood (which I normally am) and saw the funny side,as he did not even mention the van was for sale.

I thought for a minute you were going to charge me petrol money @30.00p a mile,for 500 miles,after originally locating my caravan years ago .Phew!!!!

If you knew me you would know I collect anything and everything,as long as it is old and interesting.

I scour the country for my items,farm sales.vintage auctions,antique and collectors fairs,adverts in nearly every free ads magazine,cards in village shop windows,car boot sales,visit farms and old buildings during my working day.

Even on weekend breaks or holidays,we cycle all over not only looking at our lovely landscape, but always on the look out for interesting things.

I could sit here all day telling stories of rescuing abandoned vehicles and machinery.from all over this country and abroad.

I have brought a tractor back from the Dordogne in France,on a whim, even whole contents of French Farmhouses.

My wife never knows what I am bringing home after a day out.

Ok I am lucky to have the room to store my stuff undercover and correctly,a friend of mine has a collection at his farm which takes the whole day to look around,even clubs visit.

Another lady farmer we visit has built bygone shops ,workplaces and coverted barns to display the vast collection she has aquired.

When you spend your day with avid collectors and restorers like these,or see the characters at the vintage autions ,you see and hear of some really funny things that have happened , or people say.

I had a call from a chap in deepest suffolk to look at a jaguar,I took along a car transporter,and stuffed cash into my pockets,pulled into the farm driveway,to be greeted with howls of laughter.

I will give you this lad,I only asked you to look at the car,he said.

I suppose you will offer me money next,It turned out he owned half of suffolk,and I was trying to sway him with bundles of cash.He told me he never carried anything smaller than £50.00 pound notes,and always a few grand in his pocket,you never know what you might see he said.

When reading the forums I see and read some funny things beyond the writting of the scribler.

Some of us work hard on projects saving them from decay,others are armchair restorers,some of us have a gift for restoring, others talk it up.


When reading my comments have a scotch at hand and read with a tongue in your cheek.

I appreciate and admire the interest, and knowledge, you have of vintage caravans.
All the Best.

[Dalek63]

Its just gut wrenching to see you guys posting these photo's of all those old caravans to be found, when around us there is nothing to be found at all and belive me I've looked. We would be over the moon on finding a caravan like the one pictured here. Seems all the good stuff is up north
_________________
I can resist anything except temptation ! ( Oscar Wilde)
"Don't try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." ( Mark Twain)
http://www.period-classic-caravan-club.co.uk/

[Uncle Alec]

Everything's up north from you!

[Dalek63]

yes thats true, but some things are further north than others ,
_________________
I can resist anything except temptation ! ( Oscar Wilde)
"Don't try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." ( Mark Twain)
http://www.period-classic-caravan-club.co.uk/

[rangerover125]

HI Gresham, dont worry I take everything light hearted, my wife is like you, collects old relics, thats why she married me.
I've done the tractor bit, in fact last year I drove my Fergie round dresed as Santa giving sweets out to my daughters school and then was asked to do a santa run for special needs children. The tractor has now gone but the Santa outfit stays just incase
Well hopefully I'll have a project n the driveway soon and the replica is being built round the back of the house, but not until the warmer weather. I have to work outside only

[cobber]

O V M AND A COUPLE OF HIS MATES ON A RECOVERY MISSION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f5ByjQgU4o

Cobber.