'62 EK HOLDEN Wagon & '74? Franklin Pop Top

[Deleted]

Hi Guys and Gals.
We've been on the forum here for quite some time now, but been too busy to actually put too many pics together.
Those who have read 3FIFTY1's posts about our '74 Franklin? would be aware......
I should have been towing this van around with a Satin Black 1936 Chev ute. ;D
But time has been short, plans have had to change and now we have altered the design of the Van to go behind our
1962 EK Wagon till the Chev eventually gets finished

Anyrate.....here she is.........all original 50 year old paint/interior, never been bogged or repaired/resprayed


or reupholstered


Rebuilt 1961 AWA Transistor radio for cruizin duties and a modified a modern water heater/blower and snuck it in the glove box to keep the missus toasty in winter......


and even have a 1954 "Swampy" evaporative air conditioner that I throw in during summer drives ;D but have no pics of it in the car yet

Here is how it looks at the moment with the windows tinted and suspension lowered a little.


Tows the 520 kg FRANKLIN quite well, when loaded right


..........and has not missed a beat for many thousands of kilometers since we've had it............8 months for memory


little secret.........it's been fitted with a 186, 4 speed, HR disc front and HR drum rear end.....so it does go/stop and steer more modern than the original body was used to ;D

All the best....."Doc" Bob and "3FIFTY1" Helen.

[bobt]

That is a real nice combination you have there

Thanks for sharing

[Deleted]

Hi fellow vanners........... racked up quite a few miles since the first post here. Many trips out the wheatbelt, up the bush and a great long weekend from Waroona to Geraldton over the long weekend in September....1100 kays in one weekend!






Looks a bit different to when we first got the van.........


Got to meet Gary, the founder of the Vintage Caravan site, and his wife which was great to pick his brain and find out more about all the amazing old vans they own.





The old EK has till not missed a beat and the missus is still busy slowly adding more paraphernalia inside the van
I have been adding a few finishing touches including some chrome "beehive" tail lights and a few new badges to match the EK's trim.

Will post some more pics as we go............happy vanning, Bob & Hel.

[ForumMod]

G'day docbob,

It's amazing how different your van looks when you compare it in the 'before and after' photographs! I have to say it's one of the "cutest" little vans I've seen on the forum. There's something about the shape and style of the van that catches my eye every time I look at it.

cheers,
Al.

[drylander]

Hi Docbob nice car Just wondering ...in the pic with the girl in it.. the
engel loking box is that a genset or fridge? Asking because it looks like the 240 is coming from it. Seems too close for a genny but thats why I ask
Pete

[Deleted]

Cheers for the comments guys

Yep the van was an old "teenagers retreat" complete with a variety of bad pastel colours on every surface! Most parts unused for years and left sitting outside out in the open.
Surprisingly very little damage to the van at all considering it's not so well looked after life.
Still yet to identify the van.........EVERYBODY we have seen/talked to cannot put their finger on it
We say '74, but that is just what was on the old paperwork when we got it. The actual outer cladding and original veneers inside suggest it to be more likely a late 60's or 1970 model at the most.
May find out the real information one day

The "yellow box" is a mid 1980's 90 litre Engel Fridge.
My old man bought it new back in the day and has seen many thousands of kays of Northern Territory and Central Australian deserts

Now retired, they bought a brand new Waeco with all the bells and whistles, and were going to sell the old Engel, until I persuaded them to donate it to a worthy home!

Now it is still clocking up the miles with us and still going strong.
We find it holds alot more than the old van fridge, as well as cooling down faster and staying colder when switched off overnight.

We have a few more things to do yet, will keep updating when we can...............all the best............Bob.