I love photos of those older vans.
It takes me back to a time when most things in life were simple and uncomplicated.
Nothing like those great memories.
It is 50 years old Jim but who is counting.
Tell me, when you restore a van like this, what does it entail?
Do you redo walls, floor and roof plus rewire?
Do you make it look like it would have in 1969 or fit it out with all the latest mod cons.
I have seen both approaches in my travels and either reno looks great.
Grandad5, that will come up great when finished. Pop a thread into 'show us your rig' and keep updating with pics as you go through the reno. It's always interesting to watch someone renovating a van.
Keep Safe out there.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Oh, dear. Maybe the kids and grandies are right. I'm losing it.
My excuse is that I also drive a classic car as my daily driver and it was built in 1988. Around about the time my daughter was born so I equate the age of the car from her age. Just got the wrong vehicle in mind when I wrote.
This model Franklin was one of, if not the first composite panel vans built in Australia. It was called Thermopanel from memory, which if it isn't already obvious is something not totally reliable. Basically, 4mm ply, 25mm polystyrene and aluminium bonded together using an adhesive developed by 3M for the purpose. Subsequently, there is no frame to speak of and requires the walls to be flat on the bench to reline.
To further answer your question, I started with making a whole new chassis drawbar and Alko suspension. The outside is basically original. the inside has a similar layout and being constructed in materials that "look" more vintage than the van actually is. So, lots of polished timber and no laminates.
Appliances are all 21st century powered by a battery setup designed by 'he who's name shall not be spoken aloud'.
Dougwe, I'm not sure this is the appropriate forum for such a build thread. To the best of my knowledge, I've not come across a single nomad travelling in a vintage van. I do have a build thread on the Vintage Caravan forum but I shut it down after the basic chassis and bodywork was completed as the remainder of the work is not in the spirit of the vintage van movement and is not something I want to encourage. it is a bit like someone finding an old bondwood and then detailing how to convert it into a coffee van.
That thread now has a, as yet unsolved problem with the photos having dropped off. I will consider a condensed version for here if you think it may be of interest to other nomads.
Actually, one repeated tip we hear in the VV crowd is to have a board to put out in front of your van if you go to a caravan park that details the van. It seems our generation is the most curious and always have heaps of questions. The board satisfies most of those inquiries. So I will consider your suggestion.
Cheers
Jim
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Thanks for the info Jim. I would love plenty of pics of the various stages. I have always enjoyed old boats, cars, buses and trains. Just something about them really interests me.
The info board is a good idea as I reckon when you get this little beauty up and rolling you will spend 90% of waking hours having your ears bashed by people like me wanting all the guff.
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