|
|
Post by asxmits on Jan 24, 2012 15:48:24 GMT 10
Hi all
I am very very new to the world of owning a caravan... I have bought today a 1976 (so I am told) Viscount Royal 17ftx8ft single axle. My wife and I like all things retro, so we are very pleased with its bright orange "leather" wrap around couch and original interior fittings. Inside is in great condition and the body work is in good condition, the orange stripe will be resprayed in the next few days. I was wondring where I would find the build year and model plate... Any info on these vans would be great.... I will try and post some pics of it soon. Also what would one of these weigh? I am hoping my 2.0ltr Mitsubishi ASX (a small SUV) would tow it ok..
Cheers
|
|
|
|
Post by asxmits on Jan 24, 2012 16:51:49 GMT 10
I have found the serial numbers.... R3LL5L. Pretty sure thats it
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2012 18:16:27 GMT 10
Hi asxmits, my 16' Viscount weighs in at roughly 1350kgs, that's with a full water tank, luggage, microwave, tv, aircon etc...
I think the ASX has a 1050kg tow rating (correct me if I'm wrong) but it's the download on the ball which is a real problem. I think Mistu allows 105kgs download.
Even if you put the Viscount on a diet and got it in under the 1050kgs, from personal experience i reckon it would tow like a dog with only 100 odd kilos on the ball.
You'd probaly get away with these weights on a pop top but full size vans suffer the conditions and passing trucks a bit behind smaller tow cars.
To be sure of your van weight you'll probaly have to visit a weigh bridge though.
Let us know how you get on anyway and hope it all goes well.
|
|
|
|
Post by bobt on Jan 24, 2012 21:32:41 GMT 10
Hi Ya asxmits
Welcome aboard. Congratulations on your first purchase. Big step. What condition is it in, what are you planning on doing to it.
Photos are a thing we all demand.. so go show us how good ya are and post a couple for us. ;D
As for the ASX as a tow vehicle. Sorry but no idea if it would be good or other wise. What you need to find out is what the maximum tow capacity the car can take. It will be in the owners manual. When your ready run the caravan down toa weigh bridge get it weighed.
As long as the caravans weight does not exceed the max tow capacity of the car you will be ok.
photos please..
Bobt
|
|
|
|
Post by millard1399 on Jan 24, 2012 22:14:11 GMT 10
G'day asxmits,
The chassis number you've quoted isn't quite the right series of numbers. There won't be any "L"s there, so maybe they could be the number 1??
For Viscounts from 1973 up to and including 1979, the first number in the chassis number is the year of build, so if it's definitely a 3, then it's a 1973 Viscount. The remaining numbers after the 3 are the consecutive numbers of chassis built during the year. This means that the first chassis of '73 chassis got No.1 and the last chassis of '73 got a number up around 6000 or maybe higher.
cheers,
Al.
|
|
|
|
Post by asxmits on Jan 28, 2012 13:24:24 GMT 10
Ok.. Finally worked out the chassis number ..... R34454. So I presume its a Royal 1973 model and number 4454 built that year?? Is that correct?
Cheers everyone. I must say I am loving this caravan!
|
|
|
|
Post by millard1399 on Jan 28, 2012 21:45:16 GMT 10
Yep, you have the 4,454th chassis built in 1973.
And just for your interest, each year after 1973 the chassis numbers went back to 01 at the start of the next year series. Therefore, you could find a 1974 Viscount that is the 4,454th chassis built in 1974. There would only be one number different in the whole chassis number between that van and yours (ie. the first number).
cheers,
Al.
|
|
|
|
Post by asxmits on Jan 31, 2012 6:06:29 GMT 10
Hi all  Now thanks to this site I have established the year of my van (1973). I was wondering what peoples thoughts are on changing the original color of the interior (cupboards, draws and walls) and replacing it with a more 70's retro theme (very pale blue, black/white check tiles etc). This will also include replacing the cupboard and draw handles and knobs...... The viscount is in excellent condition inside and out. Everything else about the van will stay as is. When I find some time this week I will try and post some photos of the van in its current form. Cheers  |
|
|
|
Post by millard1399 on Jan 31, 2012 15:25:55 GMT 10
G'day asxmits, Anything you do to your van to improve it is worthwhile. Whether everybody else agrees with what you do to your van is neither here nor there. It's what suits you and your requirements that matters. There are a lot of Viscounts from the '70s whose laminex colours are a bit overpowering, and need things done elsewhere in the van to tone down that colouring. I personally think that pale colours are preferrable, but the next person might prefer fluoro pink and lemon. Doesn't matter what you do. If it looks like a pretty good job, we'll applaud you. If it looks like you cut up a 44 gallon drum and nailed it to the panelling, we'll applaud you...for ingenuity! ;D ;D All we care about is photos.  Doesn't matter what's in 'em, we just like lookin' at 'em. ;D cheers, Al. |
|
|
|
Post by asxmits on Jan 31, 2012 18:26:34 GMT 10
Here is my Viscount Royal The photo's have been taken by my iphone with a photo alteration app to make it look like its from the 1970's Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by asxmits on Jan 31, 2012 18:27:33 GMT 10
The very comfy couch Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by asxmits on Jan 31, 2012 18:35:42 GMT 10
My wife & I went and bought 70's retro stuff for the kitchen..... Attachments:
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2012 22:35:28 GMT 10
love the Viscount and the retro look. Got any more photos of the other side and maybe more of the inside?
regards
Jean
|
|
|
|
Post by millard1399 on Feb 1, 2012 8:24:20 GMT 10
G'day asxmits, You'll notice I've grabbed all the other posts on the forum about your van and moved them over into this thread. I've also changed the heading at the start to include the chassis number. Now we've got the complete story of your van in the one thread, so it's much easier to follow your story. The van looks great! What sort of condition is the rest of the inside like? I don't suppose your iPhone could make a 16ft Viscount appear in MY driveway?? Nah...the technology is not that good, eh?!   cheers, Al. |
|
|
|
Post by asxmits on Feb 4, 2012 19:24:09 GMT 10
Photo looking at the sleeping area Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by asxmits on Feb 4, 2012 19:25:36 GMT 10
The kitchen Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by asxmits on Feb 4, 2012 19:28:13 GMT 10
Looking towards the front Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by asxmits on Feb 4, 2012 19:31:11 GMT 10
A patriotic rear view of the Viscount Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by asxmits on Feb 4, 2012 19:33:55 GMT 10
R/hand side of the van Attachments:
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2012 15:28:12 GMT 10
Very nice looking van, love the orange!!! and all the 70s retro stuff you have collected to go inside it ... just don't eat from that plastic, I'm pretty sure it's full of some nasty stuff ... 3 course petro-chemicals anyone? After we had purchased our daffodil yellow van my sister admitted she really doesn't like the yellow but would have preferred orange ... betta get a good wheel lock Subbie |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2012 21:43:56 GMT 10
Hi axsmits, I have just bought a 73 royal R32291. I like the orange and the condition looks great. Mine is being towed to my place this weekend and it will be the first opportunity of seeing the inside (bought sight unseen and prepared for the worst). I am getting a friend to show me how to put photos on computer and if they turn out half as good as yours I will be very happy. I am keen to see current photos of your royal as this post was in January. Did you change anything? Cheers Stu
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2012 11:25:19 GMT 10
Hi there, I was just admiring your van, my partner and I have one the same  so I was thinking you might know where we might get a new annexe or maybe get ours fixed the stiching is starting to go. I love the orange I'm always telling Mark to enbrace the orange ;D any advice would be great thanks. Michelle & Mark |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2012 12:24:15 GMT 10
Love the van! The interior looks to be the same as ours, but shows what has been altered in ours. Ours is in terrible condition, but we are hoping to change that. Love the pics! jemma
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2013 11:06:08 GMT 10
Wow, she's a ripper. Ive got a 73 Royal also. Loving it, very comfy van to use. Mine is blue where yours has the orange stripe and bluey green upholstery inside. Unfortunately I don't think it's in as good a nick as yours but it's OK. Have fun with it, I've noticed where
ever I go people want to talk about it....even other vanners with very nice, new expensive ones haha
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2014 9:32:49 GMT 10
Hi,we love your van.ours is very similar,from info we are slowly gathering,it's a 1973 viscount royal r33636.we bought it yesterday 4/1/2014 at a steal of $1200. The interior looks very similar to yours with the couch being White etc and laminate being Brown as an exception.I'm not too familiar with this as my husband and I are very new to caravaning,but it looks to be 2 axle.did you end up finding out the weight of yours? Would be very interested to know.I will try and attached photos.yours would be the closest info and looks to what ours is that I have found so far.we too are into the retro look,and renovating our little babe.thanks for your info etc,it's been great to read and follow.
|
|
so I was thinking you might know where we might get a new annexe or maybe get ours fixed the stiching is starting to go. I love the orange I'm always telling Mark to enbrace the orange ;D any advice would be great thanks.