|
|
Post by awbeattie381 on May 15, 2014 13:06:41 GMT 10
Interested to hear your thoughts, but in my experience searching for a suitable small viscount for the wife and I (and possible future child) I seem to come across a lot of 16 footers. Were these seen to be the 'perfect' size for the masses in the 70s? Those with 2 kids so you could have 2 bunks at the rear and a decent size 4 seater table in the front.
The 13-15 foot viscount range seems to be very rare!
|
|
|
|
Post by ForumMod on May 16, 2014 18:55:50 GMT 10
I'm not sure I think the smaller vans are particularly rare. There certainly wouldn't have been as many of them as the larger vans, but there were plenty of them made by various manufacturers in the early 1970s. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the larger six cylinder Holdens/Fords/Valiants were starting to be challenged by the 4-cylinder Japanese onslaught, and people were looking for full-sized vans that these smaller car engines could tow. You have to remember that the caravan industry was booming in the late '60s and early '70s, and people wanted to "keep up with the Joneses" by at least having some sort of caravan to show in the caravan park (camping in tents just didn't cut it in the fashion stakes anymore).
It was one thing to have a full size van to show your neighbours you were as good as them, but it was quite another thing to try and squeeze all the family into the smaller vans (even though people had been doing that for many years in the 1930s, 40s and 50s).
People would have been caught with the dilemma of having a small car for year round daily use, and then come Christmas holiday time they have to pile all the family into the teeny van. No wonder Mum spat the dummy and threatened to stay home next year if "Ol' Stingy" didn't buy a decent larger van.
The evolution of the 4-cyl cars is the reason why camper trailers started to become popular in the early '70s. Light enough for the 4-cyl cars to tow, but the camper could be expanded to a decent size for a family. Add another tent to the side for the kids and you're laughing. Mum's off the ground in the camper, so the spiders and ants don't get her; the kids are out from under her feet; and Dad's got her off his back about buying a larger van. Everybody happy. The camper trailers would have also chewed into the market share of the smaller vans.
So, I'll concede you don't see as many of the small vans on the market as you do for the larger vans, but the littlies were still churned out in significant numbers in the old days.
cheers,
Al.
|
|
|
|
Post by awbeattie381 on May 18, 2014 19:48:44 GMT 10
Interesting points you raise. I am really enjoying learning about the various viscount models through the 70s. I guess we are have having another caravan boom with the baby boomers all at retirement age moving around the countryside in their palaces on wheels. Seems to be the larger the better!
|
|
|
|
Post by ForumMod on May 18, 2014 23:21:14 GMT 10
I'm also associated with our sister forum for Vintage Caravans built before 1970, and some of those old vans can be as small as 9ft cabin length. Many of the old vans from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s were less than 12ft, and whole families fitted in them somehow. These days, when the vintage mob have an event, it is not unknown for grey nomads to approach our people and ask them, "Do you actually sleep in that?!" [Errr, no - I tow it for the dog to sleep in...  ]. Some people just can't comprehend being in anything shorter than a 20-footer tandem van. And that's usually just for two people.  cheers, Al. |
|
|
|
Post by awbeattie381 on May 19, 2014 21:02:03 GMT 10
haha thats too funny. My aunty and uncle just bought (well about 6 months ago) a brand new tandem axle thing with laundry in it. When my mum asked them what are you going to wash while on holidays they said 'well it only just fits two towels and we like fresh towels every couple of days...'
They have used the van once.
|
|
|
|
Post by bobt on May 20, 2014 17:48:44 GMT 10
Hey awbeattie381 Way down here in mexico, when I was growing up, the caravans were all 13-14 footers. During my time at home my folks had a bondie a tear drop and a 14 foot Franklin. We use to travel to FNQ every summer to spend time with my father’s family, to see a big caravan was unheard of. I do remember seeing VW Beetles towing caravans and wondered how they did it. None of our neighbours had caravans but then none of them had TVs or telephones either. Keep your eye open something of a suitable size will pop up. A little bit of patience might help too (I fail in that space).  bobt |
|
|
|
Post by awbeattie381 on May 22, 2014 21:22:50 GMT 10
Thanks bobt, seems the older (pre 70s) vans were much smaller than 70s onwards. Maybe that was the point of change/move towards bigger sizes.
My other grip is most suitable vans reside in Vic/SA with a few in Qld. Us NSW folk dont do caravans apparently! haha.
We are in no hurry to buy (still waiting to sell my Mini). Ideally I would like a van by next summer, so hopefully that is patience enough.
|
|
].
