1974 Viscount Ambassador - "Old Betty"

[Deleted]

Hi there all, I am new to forum, and looking forward to sharing our journey of old Betty, we are planning on taking everything out, and cleaning here up, she is a mess!!!!
We are a family with 3 kids (11,8,3) and one Nana who loves to come camping with us, lol.  We bought Betty this weekend for $600, and it will be a slow and researched project, so we get it right, looking forward to some helpful info and ideas from fellow renovators.

Have a great night.
Shell
xx

[ForumMod]

G'day oldbetty, and welcome to the forum!

Looks to me like you've got a Viscount Ambassador from around 1974 or thereabouts. Can you tell us the chassis number welded on the drawbar please?

There'll be plenty of info available on the forum to help you through the tidy-up process. Finding the info is the easy bit - finding the time to do it is the real challenge!

cheers,
Al.

[Deleted]

Hi there, we are picking Betty up next Sunday so will let you know chassis number then, thanks

[Deleted]

Hi there, I have been trying to load some new photos of Old Betty, but every time it loads it say, " this page has exceeded it's picture download" or something like that lol, and won't let me do it, was doing the same thing yesterday as well, am I doing some thing wrong, thanks in advance xx

[ForumMod]

G'day oldbetty,

If you are trying to upload pictures via the "Attachment" method, I think you might be out of luck. I've got an idea that the Admin for this forum has switched that option off, and photos can't be loaded like that anymore (I'll have to confirm that).

The best way to get photos onto the forum is via Photobucket, Flickr, or one of the other methods. Your best bet is to read the threads on our sister forum for Vintage Caravans, and they will explain the various methods: Forum Guidelines & Helpful Forum Hints

Most of us here use Photobucket, but you can choose whichever method you prefer.

cheers,
Al.

[Deleted]

[ForumMod]

G'day oldbetty,

I've shifted your thread over to the Hall Of Fame section, and you can just continue to add to the thread as you work your way through fixing up the van. I've also changed the heading to reflect what I think your van is. I can change that again once you get the chassis number to clarify the identity of the van.

Congratulations on being successful with your first attempt at Photobucket. Some people tear their hair out trying to get the hang of it, but you've managed to do really well.

I gather from your first photo above that the van was a "garden ornament"?? Was it used as a bit of a retreat for somebody? Looks like the inside needs a bit of love, but I'm sure you'll make it all shipshape in no time at all.

Happy fixing up!!

cheers,
Al.

[Deleted]

Hi Al, thanks for doing that, yes garden ornament she was, for a long time to i think.lol.
cant wait to get my hands dirty!!!
thanks for making me feel so welcome!

[supreme78]

Good choice of van to get started on. Alloy frame and solid built van. I would suggest you only remove the minimum required from the van as these vans were built from the inside out. Cupboards and walls then outside paneling last. If you need to reline a section like the roof trim away the damaged part and fit a new section over the top of it with liquid nails or similar. Add some insulation as you go to make the old girl cozy. I have restored 2 viscounts now and have a fond attachment to the make.
Keep any timber framing in good condition as it's meranti and you can use it for smaller jobs. Ply is available from bunnings or direct from gunnersons in melb. It's called wall art.
Good luck and enjoy the journey.

[Deleted]

Lots of new photos , as picked up van early this morning and have been very busy already, thinking we might have to keep the front and back end top cupboards because we had enough trouble getting the lounge etc out as they are screwed in the frame on outside, and hubby does not want to take off outside of van.....lol so looks like we are keeping a few. Not much water damage at all, around vent on top of roof is the worst, but fixable....













I have had a look through the museum but unless I have missed it can't find anything that resembles what is on our chassis.
ours says ......L923H/25. Any ideas would be appreciated, thanks

[ForumMod]

G'day oldbetty,

Firstly let me tell you a bit more about Photobucket and posting photos on this forum. You can post as many photos into the one post as you like, when you use the Photobucket method. You just copy and paste the first photo code into the post, and then hit your [ENTER] button a couple of times, and then paste the second photo code, hit [ENTER] a couple of times, paste the third, and so on and so on. If you want to have any text before each photo, just type that in before that photo code.


You can write a story that looks like this...


Here is our van when we picked it up:

Photo 1 code


There are a few things that need fixing, such as the roof:

Photo 2 code


And the rear window:

Photo 3 code


And a bit of love needed on the inside:

Photo 4 code

Photo 5 code



Savvy??




As far as the chassis number is concerned, I think someone has put that onto the van at a later date after it was built. Usually the Viscount chassis numbers are welded on the actual drawbar, almost beside the jockey wheel at the front of the drawbar. Can you see any indication of a chassis number next to the coupling? I have no idea what that number on your van means, nor why it has been fitted the way it has.

If you have any wall panelling left in the van that you are going to strip out, have a look on the backside of the panelling to see if there's a chassis number and date written there in black crayon. There have been lots of people who have discovered the chassis number and date of their Viscount when they've pulled it apart.

Looking at all your photos so far, I would estimate your van to be a late 1973/ early 1974 model. The push-out windows, the hatch style and cover, and the painted band on the side all point to a Viscount made in this time period. I would expect the original chassis number would have been A3xxxx or A4xxxxx

Is there anything left of the Viscount stickers above the front and rear windows? Anything at all that you could try and make sense of? Even the outline of the sticker is a help. If there's anything there, can you post a photo please?

cheers,
Al.

[Deleted]

Ok Thankyou, so sorry didn't mean to cause any trouble at all, thanks for your help though and I have learnt my lesson. I will have a better look tomorrow and see what I can find, thanks for all the info though and I will keep an eye out on the back of the walls.

[ForumMod]

Ok Thankyou, so sorry didn't mean to cause any trouble at all,

Crikey, no apologies necessary - no harm done at all.

With the Photobucket thingy, I could see you'd mastered the first level, and were ready for the next level. It'll save you a lot of mucking around once you get the gist of posting more than one photo in the one post. I think the record I've seen on the Vintage Caravans forum was about 30 photos in the one post.

cheers,
Al.

[Deleted]

ok had a better look today and the L at the front is actually a 4, looks like at some point previous owners moved welding for jocky wheel as there is two spots for one , both now broken off. so jyst assume it is a 1974 viscount Ambassador.....

[supreme78]

This is a pic of a normal viscount vin number as taken from a late 70's van. As you can see it's directly onto the chassis itself.
maybe the draw bar has been replaced and another number added?

[greedy53]

looks like a lot of fun happerning there happy building and keep us all in ya loop

[Deleted]

Well we have old have old betty all cleaned out , right now after a shower, I am feeling sore in places I never knew existed......lol but it's worth it to know she is all gutted now. Now to save some money up and get a quote for new wiring inside, ??

[ForumMod]

I think that's what they call a "blank canvas", heh heh

Now you can spend days and nights just sitting in the van, working out what you want it to look like when it's finished.


Make sure the van is protected against strong winds while it's in its current empty state. You wouldn't want it to end up like this poor member's van back in 2012.

cheers,
Al.

[Deleted]

oh my goodness, thats horrible!!! note taken though thanks