1978 Millard poptop MM3230 16ft

[paganorcaluva]

Just got our 'new' caravan yesterday, but we aren't sure of the year/model of it.
I'm sure someone here would be able to tell us!! It's prob about 76/78......
It has 4 bunks up the back, if that would give you a better idea!
Thanks.

[paganorcaluva]

it appears to be in good condition, but there is a bit of water damage to the front.
I was just going to prime, then paint over it. After reading on here for half an hour, perhaps that's not such a good idea!!

[millard1399]

G'day paganorcaluva, and welcome to the forum! ;D

I'm not gonna ask you how you came up with the log-in name. Sounds like something too complicated for me to understand...

Your Millard poptop is a 1978 model. Look for the chassis number on the front drawbar, just beside the jockey wheel somewhere. It should be an aluminium plate with the letters "MM" followed by some numbers. The MM stands for Millard Mini, and your numbers should be somewhere between 1500 and 3000 maybe.

Looks like there's quite a bit of water damage in the front. I wouldn't be surprised to know the framework around that area is also severely damaged. If you read the first few pages of the thread about my 1977 Millard poptop, you'll see the exciting discoveries I made when I took the cladding off my van. Click on this link: 1977 Millard pop-top caravan

If you decide you want to repair all that damage, you'll be in for a fair few weekends of work/frustration/expense. If you are not enthusiastic about spending all that time, I'd give it a coat of paint and see how it goes.

The main thing you have to ensure about the van now is that it doesn't leak anymore. That might mean you have to take the aluminium edge cover strips off the front and reseal them.

Keep us posted on what you decide to do.

cheers,
Al.

ps. just looking at your photos a bit more closely, I can see an aluminium rivet holding the inside wall panelling in position. Are there rivets on the outside holding the cladding on, or are they screws? You might have an aluminium frame, if rivets are used. But the aluminium frames would only be the sides, joined with timber from side-to-side. This means your window frames are still likely to be timber, and would still have suffered from the water damage in the ceiling above.

pps. there's nothing in the Millard History section for poptops yet. Slack ol' me hasn't got around to putting the information in there. Too many projects, and not enough hours in the day!

[paganorcaluva]

Hi Al. Thanks so much for your reply! I'm still trying to figure out the photo loading to this site!! lol....
I've been looking at your reno job, and it's awesome!!!! If anyone knows what they're talking about, it's defiantly you! The job you have done on your van is inspirational.
Our van is all dry, after raining today, so I think the previous owners did a good job of water proofing it. But I am concerned about the internal walls being damaged. Although that job is kinda out of our league!
I have looked today at the pop awning, and I can see that it is screwed on, so can be easily removed. This is great, as we can take it to our local repair lady, with great pleasure, so she can put in new screens!
I think our best bet is to give the whole internal a lick of fresh paint, I'd like to make new curtains, and recover all the cushions, to make it more 'modern'. Eventually, down the track, we may replace the BBQ unit & fridge, but they do work , so it's not a great hurry!!
It's going to be a big transition for me to be in a caravan..... We do a lot of camping, and have an awesome tent, with all the do dadds and gizmos to make our holidays so much more luxurious, being in a van will be strange!
Thanks again for your help, no doubt I'll have more questions to ask!
(and the username is because I love orca whales, and am a Pagan!!!)

[paganorcaluva]

righto, just went outside and had a look, and the number on it is MM3230.
On the outside it has screws from the door, all the way around the front, there are rivets from the door all around the back. The inside is all rivets.....

[millard1399]

G'day p-o-l (see how I shortened your name? No RSI on the keyboard for ME! ;D ;D )

You'll also notice I've changed the first heading of this thread, so in the future people can easily see what the thread relates to.

The chassis number MM3230 puts the van well in the 1978 year. I have no idea what the highest number for these vans is (ie. how many were made in total), so it would be interesting to find that out eventually. The poptop roofs were metal clad to begin with, then changed to fibreglass (as yours is). The windows were double louvres to start with (yours and mine), and then changed to single-pane windout windows later (I think in 1979).

They don't make it easy to suss out the frame, do they?! Part screws and part rivets! I guess the fact there's rivets in the internal panelling means it's got an aluminium frame on the sides.

Keep in touch and let us know how progress goes with freshening up the van. Your photos are ok to me, so you seem to have mastered the Photobucket Challenge.

cheers,
Al.

[paganorcaluva]

Oh you did too! Cool, thanks for that!!! ~ that's funny with the name too!
We were actually talking lastnight about replacing all the windows with the newer sliding ones. Found some ranging in price from $120 to $180 for the double size, (is that about average?) It shouldn't be too hard to replace them..... I had a bad run in a few years ago with a Louvre window, have the scars to prove it! Will gladly get rid of THOSE buggers! ;D
We will end up taking the front cladding off to see the damage to the front internal structure, better make sure it's not too badly damaged.
We're kinda hoping that it is all supposed to be riveted, but someone in the past has already stripped her off to repair, then screwed it all back on *crossing fingers*..... I really hope that is the case!
Was looking on the net lastnight about finding replacement ply for the internal, it's pretty hard to come by, so I've found. Or maybe I'm just looking in the wrong spots!!! lol Have you got any websites you could recommend? There's not much locally that we can source, kinda a drag living in a remote town!
BUT we will get there! Now comes the fun part!!

[millard1399]

Oooh...I can smell some major work coming on here!

Once you undo that first screw, there's NO TURNING BACK, so think very, very carefully before committing. As I said to someone else on this forum recently, your children will have children of their own by the time the van is completed. Vans can be repaired/restored/refurbished, but it does take time, and a lot more time than first anticipated.

You will have trouble trying to match the ceiling panelling. Stuff like that just ain't made anymore, so you'll have to go looking for alternative stuff. I used the Classic Blonde pattern plywood for my repairs. It's made by Gunnersons (link: Rezilience Wall Panelling ) and is stocked by Bunnings at $26.50 per 2400 x 1200mm sheet.

If you want to try painting a plain sheet of ply in a white colour to nearly match what you've got (you won't get the speckled pattern in it though), then just buy plain internal ply 3mm sheeting, about $13.50 from Bunnings for the 2400x1200mm size.

You'll need one sheet to cover from the poptop roof opening down to the top of the front windows.

I do hope your window frames are not damaged too much when you get to see them. Having to repair/replace the frames is quite a bit of work.

Sliding windows should work ok if you can get sizes to fit. Millard used sliding windows in some of their full-sized models in 1979.

$120 to $180 would be about right for a small sliding window. Standard wind-out windows in caravans are about $250-$300 for something around 700mm wide x 600mm high.

Here's a photo of a 1979 Millard poptop with the rounded windows. These would be heaps better than the louvre windows you and I have got. Also notice it's got the full size window across the back, rather than the two sets of louvres we've got. Nice looking van, I reckon...



cheers,
Al.

[paganorcaluva]

oh yeah, those windows look great! I don't even mind the cost of them!! Defiantly like the whole window across the front & back.....

I did manage to find some 3 ml paneling in our local Home Hardware store. They actually had 3 different styles to choose from *hmmm, decisions, decisions!!* So now I know when we take the internal out, we have something to replace it with. I'm not planning to replace everything the same as it is now, going for a whole different look. What I'm thinking of using now is a teak coloured wood panel, like wood grain.... Will look nice with that I think! Could just use plain ply wood, and paint it......
I might even replace the cupboard doors with the same, then paint the cupboard frames...... Not quite sure which path we will take on THAT one!
(thanks for the hint about how much we'll need, I'm guessing 5/6 sheets??)
My Hubby told me to make the decisions, and he will just do the hard stuff!!!! I had a good giggle at that, he has no idea what he's in for!!! ;D ;D He's good with a drill, screwdriver, & heavy lifting, I'm good with a paint brush, sewing machine & artistic flair!!!

(wonder how old our 1 year old will be by the time it's finished!!!!!!)

[paganorcaluva]

ah, bugger, 1220ml isn't long enough... I need 1840, from side to side Otherwise it's gonna have a join line in it..... ~ Although, I should see what it looks like before I complain..... hmmmm
Unless I go the other way to put the paneling on, but then that's a big pain in the

But apon closer inspection, I can take off the cupboard doors & trim pretty easy, so I can use them for a template. Few screws and it's done......No measuring needed! Awesome!!
Even the fridge paneling comes off, easy to replace!

[philouise]

G'day P.O.L. & Hubby and welcome to the Millard Group.

With the roof panels, i would cut the 2400 down to 1840 and then have the joins across the van roof to match the joins on the pop top (if i'm looking at the picture right). These joiners are plastic and come in brown or white.

The ply i know about is generally a bit splintery if you buy the unpainted. We bought a painted ply but we had to sand it thouroughly to be able to repaint in our colour.

Anyway, you can't go wrong if you follow Al's advice.

So, happy renovating from Phil & Louise

[paganorcaluva]

Hi guys! Thought it was about time I added an update. We've done a bit of work in the caravan since I last logged in. Let's see if I remember it all!! lol

'Big Bertha' as she has been named, has had a facelift, of the cosmetic kind! Hubby spent a day cleaning the growing algae off the pop top & giving her a wash & wax..... She looks almost new compared to when we first got her. ;D


I made some new net curtains for all the windows, which I then used velcro to stick them to the walls. But we went camping for a week over Easter & it appears net curtains are only good for summer, The first night at the bottom of Mt Remarkable was FREEZING so I had to pull out the ugly orange ones again! lol




We have fixed all the windows, so they now all open & close quite easily. Just waiting on some parts from Caravans Plus, to replace all the weather strips for the tops of the windows & the glazing wedges for all the windows.
I fixed all the fly screens, & canvas in the door, so they are all looking lovely.
I was thinking of replacing the whole door lock, but I spoke to a locksmith friend, & he said he'd be able to cut keys for it, so we took the lock in to him & got a key cut for $4.00. So we got 3!! No more worry about someone stealing anything out of the caravan!

Hubby & FIL spent a day checking the braking system & replaced all the ball bearings, got some new tyres & over hauled the suspension. Then they tackled the lights. Replacing all the globes with new ones. Now all the lights actually work! Just waiting on some replacement light covers.

We spent another day replacing all the pop rivets throughout the 'van as most were knaffed with age, & some weren't holding anything. The front weather guard got a good fixing too. & it actually holds up properly. She's all tightly held together now. ;D

The previous owner did do a good job of sealing it, as it no longer leaks. It's had a coat of varnish, but haven't managed to get around to painting it yet. The paint is still sitting in the shed, but should be done in the next month or so. The interior will be lemon yellow & white. With lemon yellow curtains (of the block out variety!) & cupboards. Then white walls & roof. The net curtains will be alright for the warmer months, but they are no good for cooler months

We took her out over new year for a week, & had the campsite set up perfectly. We had the awnings of the tent attached to the awning rail of the caravan, & it made it 10 degrees cooler. Was very well set up!


all that algae is gone now, thanks to some elbow grease, & a ladder, lol




then we had the kitchen awnings opened up too.....



one half of the camping gear,



then when the campsite is set up, it reveals our bed, with such ugly curtains!!


Will post some more when there's a bit more work done.

[paganorcaluva]

It's been a busy week! I've repaired the windows, replacing the weather strip, & glazing rubber in the windows. I've still got to do the foam inserts for the inside of the windows, but they've come up a treat so far!


In this photo here, you can see the difference between the top & bottom windows, can you tell which one has felt the wrath of the steel wool & elbow grease? lol ;D



We've just bought some new light covers from my new fav online store, www.caravansplus.com.au
as well as a new water filler, tap & second Millard sticker, so I'll be eagerly awaiting the postman!
It's all happening pretty quickly now, watch this space!!

[atouchofglass]

Looks like she's coming together for you real well
The windows are looking nice and bright.
Elbow grease and steel wool are a potent mix.
;D ;D ;D ;D

Bit concerned though....... you seem to have a moth infestation on the windows...... colourful as they are.
Probably attracted to the frangapani's on your car. ;D ;D ;D ;D

Cheers
Atog

[paganorcaluva]

Hi atog, ha, ha, moths..... lol
Thanks, The windows are turning out quite nice. Not as nice as Al's, but we don't want to pull them apart like he did, so they are getting scrubbed in situ!

there's no frangipani on the car though, nothing but a pentagram! I just have a thing for butterflies!

Does anyone know where I can get a 'classic caravans' sticker??

[millard1399]

G'day p-o-l,

You will know by now that I've replied to your PM to me about your windows.

I think your van has come up really nice, and is a credit to you all for the hard work you've put into it! ;D

Gees, I thought we carried a heap of stuff when we ventured out on the highways, but you guys beat us hands down!!

As far as the Classic stickers go, they were a good idea at the time but the postal system ended up losing half of the print run, which left a couple of people out of pocket, and a limited number of stickers for distribution. If you desperately want one or two, send me a PM with a mailing address. Cost is $3.50 per sticker postage included. I have a few spare, but there's not many left.

cheers,
Al.

[paganorcaluva]

OMG.... I just spent ages writing out a reply, then BANG. Computer froze & it didn't post reply. *face palm* I will write out another reply, once I've watched my telly show!!!

[Deleted]

hmmm..... wonder what happened to my old log in name? The email address is no longer in the system for this website? Weird..... Wanted to ask millard1399 a quick question..... Are you still around mate?

[Michael 1978 Millard 158-10]

Hi,
I'm just a guest here at the moment, and will sign up shortly.
My wife and I just purchased a 1978 Caravan from the original owner, with original sales receipt etc.
We were going to do a little renovations here and there, but the more we look at it and sit in it, the more we want to preserve it.
3 single bunks, a double on the dining table and another double at the rear.
We would like to source some sunset type stickers x 2, any ugly curtains to keep ours going into the future and any orange and brown/red striped cushion material.
We are on the Gold Coast. [e-mail]