Our Touring Past

After a long wait,i got this honey home about 2-3 weeks ago.

After a very quick attack with the heat gun to get the old paint removed and a splash of paint i had left over from other projects she got a tidy up.

Her first public outing was 4 days over Easter at the local Driver Reviver centre where i volunteer.

So i got to bunk in her for the 4 days and even though it rained, not one drop of water entered the inside

A restoration will start in about 2 weeks time........... in a huge big Man Cave

Dave


(If this is in the wrong section Richard, please feel free to move it to the correct section

Hi Dave.
How have you been????
I missed catching up with you at the Vintage Caravan Grande Parade a month or so ago.

Great little van you have there! Do you know any of its history?
Looks to be in pretty good nick with 30's or 40's rims on it, I also noticed that the wheels are a fair way towards the back from centre.

Cheers.
Richard.

Gday Richard,
I had 2 weeks in hospital when the parade was on here in SA. I had a van ready to go, we were booked in with smiles of our faces and busting to go then whammo........ hospital

The little home made van sat at a spot in Vic called Indented Head for 40 plus years,ive known about it for about 18 months.

A sparky mate of mine said the power has been added to the van in the early 1940s (every power point and light still works well ) But for safety sake i will have it up dated and an Earth Switch with 15Amp inlet socket for power but still retain Bakelite switches and sockets.

The axel/ hubs and rims are from a late 30s Ford visually visualy terrific to look at. When i repacked the bearings for the trip home they were still in almost new condition.

It still has the original Ice Box with all its accessories.(Which will be retained)

Inside is near perfect as most old vans are seeing they are not subject to the elements like the exteriors are.

Large double at the rear of the van and a single at the front (which will be converted into table that will fold down back to a single.

We have just secured a nice home with a HUGE Man Cave, so it will be nice to have the space to stow things while the van is being restored as well as park the van


Im in love with little van,its the shape and size (12 foot) that ive been looking for and of HOPING to be able to get it to Canberra for the event there in October

Well since starting the van on May 3rd,its come along way in that short time, im getting it ready for Canberra in October.

Seeing we all like photos, here are one or two of her progress


Dave.

That's both sides done now, just waiting on the 3.2 Masonite for the front and rear to arrive.

Started painting a few bits and pieces, Canberra is looking good

Oh, bought a little perfect condition Globe the other day, last rego sticker was 1972 and the people I purchased it from bought it new in 1959.

Hi Dave.
The restoration is looking good.
I have been following it on Facebook.
Love the Globetrotter. How did you come across that one?
Cheers.

Its getting there mate, measure 51 times cut once !!

My shed only has 3 sides, no doors at all. And since I started it in May I've had people slow down as they drive past and check out the progress, a few have stopped to have a chat, so me being me I invite them in for a coffee and a close up look at the van. One was a lady who walks her two little dogs and they "talk" to my Zappa at the back gate. Any way a few months ago she was telling me about an old Globey her and her husband (dec) bought new in 1959 and one day she promised to show me.

Well the other week she invited me over to have a look at her Globe and asked if I was interested in it, and the deal was done

Hopefully I will have the rear of my old van done by tomorrow evening so as I can wire in the new lights, after I make a wood mounting block for them, oh, and get the wiring ready for the clearance lights. Bought new lino for it this afternoon at Masters

There is still a lot more work to be done to get her up to spec, lets see if I can get it done one time

Saw a very nice Hawthorn van in town yesterday and had a delightful chat with the owners as well

Spotted this little van in Melbourne last week.

Doing the window frames on my van at the moment. I've never built a bloody window frame in my life so im pretty pleased with the effort


Dave

Off to Melbourne to bring this one home tomorrow

It brings new meaning to putting a caravan on blocks doesn't it !!!!!!