silver aluminium viscount ambassador. A5715

[Deleted]

Hi all.
I've been reading since first bidding on our sparky on ebay a few months ago. Finally joined and figured out the photo procedure. was looking at old vans for sale on the web for months thinking it was realy just a fantasy. I have fond memories from childhood of 'camping' in a plywood pumpkin on a bushblock my parents owned. The 'Mr' was thinking more of a pop top(no way!). But we saw the van and it was in our fantasy budget so we won the opportunity to buy it. It was in far off gippsland about 5 hours from melb so we didnt even inspect it. A gamble that has payed off. We were expecting the worst when she finally arrived but considering her age in great condition. We are not so handy in the re-conditioning department but we cleaned her up and I can sew up some new curtains. Also enjoyed trying to find authentic 70s things to fill her with (many trips to the oppie). Still have to get around to registering but for now parked at parents where we take the littlies for sleepovers and a campfire (the Mr is a pyro). We plan to get a few things fixed up and get rego for our annual trip to Wilsons Prom in nov.
I think she may be 1971 after reading the great articles in this forum. Can anyone confirm? On the pullbar is A5715 which may fit the formula. vic roads had no record of that or the numberplate but there was a parcial rego sticker in the window from 2002.
Well anyway we're hooked and the kids get so excited about staying in her. Its inspiring how much work some of you guys put into these vans. I just hope we dont trash her too much. Is there anyone geelong way or west of melb who would be reccomended for minor repairs?

[bobt]

Hi Sparky

Welcome aboard. You purchase looks just fine. Yes the kids and their parents will have lots of fun in that van. Congratulations.

I recon half the fun is hunting down the bits and bops that you need to make a caravan comfortable. Especially if your looking for period bits. They exist you ... in our travels we spend many hours in op shops and the like looking for little bits and pieces.

I am not the one to help with the age of yours but I am sure there will be someone else on this forum that will be able to help..

As for work on the caravan try Prestige Caravans in Geelong. They have a good reputation not to sure what rates they charged but I am sure they will be helpful.

Bobt..

[Deleted]

Gidday Sparky,

Welcome to you and Mr.
Well what a beaut of a van you have there. A5715 according to one of the learned collegues on this forum who has researched viscounts do a great degree indicates that your van is a 1975 model and the 715th one to be manufactured in 1975. The A is a model code indicating that your van is an Ambassador so she is a 1975 Viscount Ambassador and was built early in that year as Viscount were producing about 5000 caravans per annum in that period. ;D ;D

You can find all this info and more as you search this forum at more depth, Try Ye old classic museum on the main page and see how you go, put together mainly by millard1399 who is a veritable mine of information about viscounts.

Keep up the posts because we love to hear about other people and their vans.

And once again welcome

Kiwicarl

[Deleted]

just had a deeper look into the museum/chronicles and noticed a few details which may help date the van. Seems like nothing is definite. there are photos in the viscount factory about 69 which show the same clock as in sparky above the dining table. in a great section on 1971 vans some interior shots look identical to ours including clock and tripple towelrail above sink( almost the family as well). I am amazed at how paper thin all her laminate on the cupboards etc are, I guess that helps keep her so light but I'm suprised there are no holes in them. The stripes and arrows on the exterior are seen on the earlier vans as is the older style door. I need to take a better pic of the faded old logo as i cant remember it accurately. to tell the truth I realy want her to be a 1971 as that is a meaningful year to me. bit sentimental I know.
Question?? At the bottom left front of the stove is a space about 10 - 15 cm long that has metal bits at each end. It looks like a globe or long battery would go in it but I dont understand it. Does anyone know what it's for.

thanks for the welcomes
sparky

[Deleted]

Here are some more pics which may help date my van. the faded old logo, the original clock, the older style door also the windows are not wind up.

here is the space in the stove I was wondering about. what is it for? maybe a globe or battery? should i post this pic in the tech section?

thanks

[atouchofglass]

Hey Sparky
She looks in good order for her age
The interior seems to be pretty good as well
Nice to see some take care of their vans before they become yours ;D ;D

Keep the photos coming as you clean her up and use her
You will soon be on the road with the widest of smiles
These older vans are just a great sight to see on the road and out camping

Cheers
Atog

[Deleted]

, G'day Sparky,
That's a great looking Ambassador you have there. Atog is right, whenever you see these old vans on the road they seem to have more character than the newer ones, although the newer ones are very nice inside. Keep the pics coming and congratulations to you and Mr' Sparky for winning this one.

Cheers,
Ross.

[millard1399]

Hi sparky,
Can I just try and shed a bit more light on the history of your van...

From the research that I've done previously, it is a Viscount made in 1968 or 1969. By mid-1969, Viscount had changed over to the new fully painted cladding (white with the coloured flashes/stripes). At the time of the change-over, you could order a Viscount either with the new cladding, or still with the plain cladding (as yours is). But by the start of 1970, you could only buy a new van that was fully painted.

The chassis number on your van (A5715) was the numbering system used for the Viscount model in the late 1960s...An 'A' followed by four numbers. The Ambassador model had a 'B' followed by four numbers, and the Valiant model had a 'C' followed by four numbers. None of the numbers relates to the year. They are just consecutive numbers which appear to have started back at zero at the start of each year.

The Viscount logo above the front window of your van would have looked like this one when it was new (except it would obviously have the word VISCOUNT instead of the word VALIANT)...



It is not until 1973 that the chassis numbering system changed to be a Letter followed by FIVE numbers, with the first number being the year number.

Your van is a lovely old van, and should serve you well for a good many years. The Viscounts were extremely well made for their time, and with a bit of care and attention will easily outlast you and your following generations.

The age of your van means you qualify for membership of our sister Vintage Caravans forum if you wish, however you can keep staying here with us if you prefer (we're a smaller friendly bunch of people here ) And we don't get hung up about the qualifying age of a van here either. We just have fun together!

cheers,
Al.

[Deleted]

Thanks for the info and for not kicking us out for being too old. Nice to know a more definitive age for sparky. I love reading about what you guys are up to with your vans. I don't feel the need to jump ship. Will just enjoy the van and the classic community. thanks

[bobt]

Hi sparky

Discrimination is NOT allowed on this web site.....

either that or I would be kicked out too..

bobt

[Deleted]

Gday Sparky
Yes you have a great looking van there ...hope you have some fun times in her.

That area below the stove is for batteries for lighting the gas .

Let me know if you need a grill/toaster or rings... HELL if you want another stove like you Have for parts you can have one as i took it out my Ambassador and have no need for it
Cheers
Bazz

[Deleted]

Thanks for the kind offer bazz.
The stove is in pretty good knick for now. I still haven't tried the batteries for lighting the stove must get onto that!
sparky.

[Deleted]

All packed up and ready to go on our maiden voyage since getting Rego. Yeeha! We’re legal! Spent 10 wonderful days at Wilsons Prom. What a great place it is. We go every year with the kids but now we stay in ‘style’. Must say the towing side is not so much fun. I see why some states have an 80 kph rule for towing vans. And no we don’t have the most powerful tow vehicle. But once we got there Sparky was fantastic. When putting her on the weighbridge for registration I was amazed how little she weighed. If I’d taken a few more things out she would technically not need rego for being under the weight a trailer needs to be registered. Although I think we would have trouble convincing the authorities if ever pulled over on the road.



What a great surprise to find the annex is almost as new. With 2001 written on the canvas looks like a previous owner had all the good intentions of much use but didn’t get around to it. The guy we bought Sparky from hadn’t even opened the annex so it was a bit of a lucky dip. Turned out lucky for us. Looks a bit more used now, seagull poo and the odd rolled up bull ant.



Enjoy. Sparky. :

[bobandjacqui]

G'day Sparky,

Welcome to the classic caravan world. Very nice looking van you have there. We've had two of them over the years and have many happy memories of family holidays in the years that we had them. Great to see that you are enjoying yours.

Cheers Bob and Jacqui

[[e-mail]]

i have a 1969 vicount i hav e put it apart and re built it its cost me over 10.000 all ready but i can say its better than a new one inside if your in the west of melbourne send me a massage and pop around and have a look at mine