Can you help ID our van make/model?

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We recently purchased a van for our upcoming Australian Family Adventure.

Upon attempting to get insurance, I noticed that the details on the Rego papers state "Avondale 01/2001" and the compliance plate is a small metal plate, engraved with that date and matching vin off the rego papers.

I made some enquirers to the approved inspection place, and he informed me that that date, plate and vin would have been created specific for the van when it was made compliant for Tasmanian Roads to be registered.

We can not find any indication of details on the draw bar to give us any thing else to investigate.

All my "google" searching comes up with are very few "avondale" branded vans, and they seem to have VERY different layout, but my dad tells me (he is helping with the current renovations) that its not in its standard form.

I've seen someone recently list a "viscount 1987" and queried this as the paint/decal has the "avondale stripes" and from what I have looked at,
"viscout" was more a band or two tone colour paint job.

The sticker on the front/rear roof states Avondale Seasider Deluxe.

Thanks!!

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[Deleted]

Hi acs21,
Your van is definitely an Avondale,late 70s I think,but could be a little bit earlier.
Avondale had lots of different sizes and layouts,yours looks like front kitchen,mid table and lounge and rear double bed against the wall?
Are your roof hatches wound up via one handle or two?Or are they the 4 flap sided ones? (Four seasons hatch)
The stripe is not original,and of course neither is the checkerplate fitted to the lower body.
Also looks like there was an original annexe,replaced by the rollout awning.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
hughdeani

[Deleted]

Hi Hughdeani.
Yes, this one did have a kitchen at the front.
Roof hatches have one winder, but will be getting replaced with, unfortunately smaller ones, as they are both cactus, but money restraints mean we can't afford to spend upwards of $800 just to put 2 new big ones in.
We were aware the checker plate was only added by the previous owner when he did some modifications.
Do you know if it was made in Australia? or imported?
I have found an Avondale page that links to UK, but non of the images (although few on the page) seem to look at all similar.
Thanks for the help.
ACS21

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Oh, and yes we have the annex also, but the annex runner is along the rim of the roof and previous owner did add the awning, and the solar panels, and the diesel heater, and all new wiring, and water tank. We are simply "refitting" the inside now to suit our needs.

[Deleted]

Hi again,
Yes your van is Aussie made,no relation to the English Avondale.
Those hatches put your van at early to mid seventies.
If the hatch winders are ok and the hatches are plastic,you could get metal ones made up.A much stronger and cheaper option.
You will love the diesel heater ,so good on a cold morning!
Cheers
hughdeani

[Deleted]

We have had a hicup. Finally got the van finished, electrical and gas and then contact the insurance company to get it sorted so we can hit the road and they tell me "Avondale" is an imported model, and unless I can prove it was not imported, they won't insure us, so I will be contacting a new insurance company tomorrow to try and organise the insurance! Not happy as I had made contact with CIL months ago and was told what was needed as we (at the time) firstly could not find year of manufacture (we discovered fridge was a 75 so figure so is van!) and it was being refitted internally.

[Deleted]

If you send them a photo of the van,any insurance company worth their salt will see it's NOT an imported caravan.
Try Shannons,reckon they will help.
Cheers
hughdeani

[tim]

Tell the insurance company to get stuffed.

All it means is that when the person in the call centre looked it up on the computer it didn't pop up in their list of recent caravans. I had the same problem getting insurance for one of my motorbikes, it wasn't on their list so they all said "its too old", or "its imported". Finally I rang Shannons and spoke to the guy in the local office. He said, "Oh yeah, thats a 650 twin isn't it, no worries". In the end I moved all of my vehicles over to them. I quite enjoyed telling the old insurer why I was cancelling.

Tim