New Zealand Cresta Craft

[philouise]

Hi C'Cers
I have moved this item over from the Vintage Van site because it could be either 60's or 70's van. I have placed it in this section but can be moved if required

Saw this van some time ago near home.

the draw bar was almost rusted off at the van front, van had no clearance (no springs), and inside was badly water damaged, so i decided it was too much work

then one day louise says to me"oh, you can have it"

so here it is at home.

always wanted a bay window

the missus, kids,grandkid & his dog all jump in and sit up the back.Van pops off the towball.That was lucky.Here i am, telling others to hire a tilt tray.

inside front

[philouise]

couldnt fit all the photos in-thought they were small enough-apparently not.

inside back

gas light and tow system (push down to release from ball.

cooler by crestacraft

veneer peeling off (top left)

suspension system with chassis "surface rust"

and side window manufacturer

nearly forgot the kitchen sink .
I have contacted crestacraft but they haven't made vans since the 80's and couldnt help with a year of manufacture.
cheers, phil.

[philouise]

and here are some replies.

1. from KiwiCairns. (vintage vans)

i remember seeing these when i was a kid caravaning with my parents.
i think it would be 1967-1971 model.
its close to this one.


2. from Cobber (vintage vans)

In response to your PM I thought I would answer on your thread.
In the book "Vantastic a Pictorial History of Caravans in New Zealand " There is mention of "Cresta Craft" caravans.
They were founded by Don Killner in 1957. He started by making traditional English style caravans calling them Royale and Caravella.
Killner pitched his caravans at the upper end of the market.
The book indicates he started building fibre glass 'vans.... but they don't say exactly when.
In the late 1970s he rode out the economic slump by only using fibre glass on the front and back ends.
He died in 1987 and the company was sold to Graeme McCaw.

3. and from our own KiwiJim via a P.M.

What you have there is the genuine item,
One of only a very few Cresta Vans that escaped across the pond from N.Z.
Although I can-not be sure of the exact date of manufacture,
I would guess that it would be no newer that the very early 70's
I know that the use of gas lanterns such as is fitted to your van were banned by the mid 70's
It does actually have springs, they are the swing arm type,
the tubular axle has a rubber insert inside and the off set stub axle is pressed into the rubber,
these early suspensions were prone to reversing them-selves if hitting a big pothole,
that is they would go up alright but to far and would not return to their proper position, leaving the wheel firmly stuck up in the wheel arch.

4. I have contacted Cresta Craft and N.Z. Transport Agency.
Both replied but had no information to help me.


Cheers. Phil.

[Deleted]

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