1971 Viscount Supreme Colonial F8681A

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Hi all.
I have a 1972 Viscount Supreme with the Fibreglass ends that has been in the family since new.
I know the vin numbers are sketchy around this year and wondered if anyone could verify mine for me?
Vin is: F8681A

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[ForumMod]

G'day 72Supreme, and welcome to the forum!

Lucky you having a family van that has been so well looked after!! I guess the pressure is on you to make sure it continues to be well looked after, huh?

Yeah, the Viscount history around the 1971/72 mark is still pretty sketchy. The best I can do is give you some information, and let you decide what you think is true or not.

Firstly, the only other Viscount I can remember on the forum with fibreglass ends on it is this one: Viscount Supreme F5839A Back in 2009 when that thread was started, we were still finding our feet as far as the history goes, so anything in that thread could be considered "open to verification". Now that your van has appeared, it's quite possible the "F" prefix designated the fibreglass version, and the rest of the chassis number followed the usual Viscount numbering pattern.

I've pitched your van as a 1971 model, and have changed the heading accordingly, but I certainly wouldn't bet my house on it. If you have a read through the first part of the Viscount History thread in our "Museum" section, you'll see how the painted designs on the sides of the vans changed in those early 1970s years.

The other interesting thing about your van is the "Colonial" sticker on the side. As you read through the history bit, you'll see that Viscount announced a Colonial layout being available in early 1971, and there is an example of that layout further down in the second half of 1971. Your interior pictures don't seem to be all that 'colonial', so I'm wondering whether Viscount released a Colonial model, as well as producing a colonial layout in this time period. (So many questions, huh?! )

All in all, I don't think you'd be too far out if you called it one or the other - 1971 or 1972. If you want me to change the heading back to 1972, I can do that easily.

Now, I think you should go and gladwrap that van and put it back in the shed. Nobody should touch it unless they are wearing white cotton gloves!

What a beauty!!

cheers,
Al.

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I agree,a beautiful van!
hughdeani

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Al
First thankyou for the valuable info regarding our van it was brought new by my late grandfather and he used it regularly
Now having a young family myself we get out as often as possible the kids love the experience and it's amazing the comments you get from other caravaners at parks it really is a time capsule they just don't make things like they used to did they
Found this forum whilst searching for a window catch that broke on our Christmas holiday and has started the search for info regarding the van if only I had asked him
I'm sure the receipt of purchase would have been kept thanks again Al