1972 Viscount Royal 4170E

[Deleted]

Hi there.

Introducing my self , and looking for some help identifying the caravan I just took ownership of. I can tell its a viscount royal but have no idea of the year, any ideas how I might find out? I looked everywhere but could not find any clues.

The van it self will be a full restoration, and I'm planning on documenting it on the tech area of the forum. It has lived about 100m from the sea for the last decade or so and bears the scars. The biggest issue is the roof which is rotten, as I expect a lot of it too be.

The short amount of time I had with it ment I could not figure out if it was wooden or metal frame, but I have a suspicion it's wood.

Also got to find some wheels for the old beast so I can move it from its current location.

But beside that all good.


-Ben

[bobt]

Welcome aboard bricktop.

The Viscount looks pretty good from this angle.

On the drawbar you should find a series of numbers welded on, these are the chassis no/vin number. Post them on here and I am sure someone will be able to give you an indication of the year it was built.

Sorry no idea what the stud pattern is, good luck with the wheels and the move.

bobt

[Deleted]

Thanks bobt, I will check it out.

Also checking out the photo I posted there's a very nice view of the ocean in he left widow to prove how close it was.

-Ben

[millard1399]

G'day Ben,
Yep, I think you'll find your Viscount is from around 1972, but send that chassis number through and it will help us to confirm that. I think the chassis numbering system in 1972 was based on numbers followed by the letter "A", but it could be anything.

I also think you'll find the frame is full aluminium. There may be some timber bits in the front and rear window area, but the majority of the frame should be aluminium. Check out the history of the Viscounts in our Museum section, or simply click on this link

cheers,
Al.

[gavo]

G'day yourself Ben.

As Al has said being a Viscount it will have an aluminum frame, which is why I bought a Viscount, you will most likely find that there will be a combination of timber and aluminum used in the roof bows.

Have fun with the resto, there are a few of us on the journey with our Viscounts at the moment.

Cheers
Gav.

[Deleted]

May 27, 2012 18:03:16 GMT 10 gavo said:

G'day yourself Ben.

As Al has said being a Viscount it will have an aluminum frame, which is why I bought a Viscount, you will most likely find that there will be a combination of timber and aluminum used in the roof bows.

Have fun with the resto, there are a few of us on the journey with our Viscounts at the moment.

Cheers
Gav.

Thanks gav and Millard

That makes sense. I took a quick peek in the (fairly water damned and rotten) roof and spied a glimpse of aluminum frame, but it seemed to be on top of a wooden beam. I hope it it's aluminum, but I look forward to ripping the walls off and finding out.

In relation to the draw bar all I can find in the way of lettering is "western axle co" maybe I might find some vin numbers when I get the wire wheel out and clean it up.

[millard1399]

Ben, the chassis number is usually welded on the side face of the drawbar arm that's on the door side. Most jockey wheels are clamped to this arm, and the chassis number is welded between the jockey wheel clamp and the tow coupling.

[Deleted]

Thanks Millard.

, I need to get wheels on this thing ASAP to get it on a carrier and back to my garage.

Any ideas of what wheels might work? 5 stud patten.

[drylander]

wheels will be either ford or holden pre 1980's. borrow a trailer wheel that you know the breed of or get a rim fom wreckers and try it. They were 13inch originally but 14 inch will fit
Pete

[olfarts]

What Pete said.


Dave

[Deleted]

Cheers gents. Appreciate the info. I havee a feeling I'm going to need a bit of it on this journey! Looking around the forum I can see there a great wealth of info.

[Deleted]

My van is a 1974 viscount royal , the wheels are HT Holden 14 inch,

13inch holden is the same pattern but may not fit over the brake assembly

Regards

Cam

[Deleted]

So does anyone know if Cam's is a 1974, and has the wrap around windows and mine does not would that make it older or younger. So to speak.

[drylander]

Just to make it clearer the wheels could be either as most makers would fit the wheels to suit the buyers vehicle.
Pete

[Deleted]

Ok so had another look at the van and the serial. The welded umbers and letters in the draw bar read 4170E

Can someone crack that code?

-Ben

[millard1399]

G'day Ben,

Looks like you've got a Viscount Royal cabin that's been built on an Ambassador chassis number. I've seen other examples of the same sort of thing, but I don't know why it happened. Your van doesn't have the usual wrap-around windows that the Royal model tended to get, so it might have been a case of a customer ordering the higher spec interior but not wanting the wrap-around windows. I seem to remember in the advertisements from that time period that Viscount were offering 64 different floor plans that customers could choose from. I guess Viscount fulfilled those orders by mixing and matching various combinations of chassis numbers and cabin layouts.

The fact that your chassis number has the "E" at the end of the numbers confirms it is from around the 1972 period.

cheers,
Al.

[Deleted]

Thanks Al.

I must have an connection with things from 1972 because my last project, a VW kombi ute was also a 72 model.

Anyway today was a bit epic. The caravan itself was about 30km from where I live so I needed to get it home.

As mentioned it had no wheels so I took off the existing hubs and went searching for a fit. That part was easy, went to a old local bloke and we identified Holden rims to suit ( as everyone on here advised) the problem was no nuts fit the studs. The studs were more like ford studs ( fatter) than Holden studs, unfortunately no ford nuts fit. I ended up going to all 4 tyre places in my town, plus supercheap and no one had studs to fit.

So in the end, and after ALOT more searching I got 10 new studs to fit from an auto store, knocked out the existing ones and fit the new. Then I went to the local tyre place and they sorted me out with some multi fit 14 inch rims and tyres and hey presto we were mobile.

Finally got the tow truck to pick her up and deliver to my house. All that took most of the day.

Here's a pic of the new wheels.

Attachments:

[olfarts]

If they are fatter than Ford then they are Valiant.

Two Valiant types of rims.

1962 - 70/1 1970/1 - 82.

Dave

[Deleted]

Hi Ben,

I have a '73 model & it has 14" ford rims.....just to confuse you even more!



Ian

[Deleted]

Ok here are some inside shots. Before being disassembled.







And to show you the water rot to the roof, I put my finger in the roof and this happened.

[millard1399]

I put my finger in the roof and this happened

Struth!!

[olfarts]

Thats one big finger you have there


Dave

[Deleted]

Hi Bricktop,

Welcome to the forum from another Viscount owner. I don't know anything about total reno's, we only did a partial one. But I did notice you have what looks like lino tiles on the floor of the van. We moved an old stove out of a kitchen and exposed some black and white lino tiles and our plumber told us they are asbestos and not to disturb them at all. As the van is early 70's they could have asbestos in them. Apparently old carpet can also be contaminated as they recycled the hessian bags that were filled with asbestos and stuck them underneath carpet. Oh the good ol' days hey ??

Subbie

[Deleted]

That's a good point.

[Deleted]

Today got a bit of work done gutting the old girl. The wardrobe and bed were bashed into submission and removed while the seats, table and kitchen were dismantled to be used as a template when new ones go it.

Lots of rot found, these old vans seem to be held together with staples.









Floor to go next and then chassis will be attended to.