Executive Caravan???

[beachsandman]

Help!!

Does anyone know of the caravan brand 'Executive'?

We just bought a 1987 Executive Styline Supreme and tried to insure it and the insurers say it doesn't exist in the glasses guide. I note though that it is mentioned, though not highlighted, in the list of vans on this site.

The one we got is a 17' pop top bunk van, with 3 bunks at the rear and a double bed up front. I'll try to get some pics up in between rain showers that we're having today.

Maybe it had another brand name back then? Does anyone know who/where they were made.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Peter.

[atouchofglass]

Hey Peter
Welcome to the forum
Have had a quick google and they do come up as Executive Supreme .... but no mention of styleline.

If you google it maybe you will find a photo of a similar van.
Worth a try

Cheers
Atog

[beachsandman]

Yes and the one that comes up is a much later model. I'll send the Minister for Photos out now to take some pics. I can work big complicated digital cameras, but blowed if I can get the little ones. LOL

[beachsandman]

Any ideas?

Attachments:

[beachsandman]

Another pic

Attachments:

[beachsandman]

And another.

Apparently there was a dealer in Victoria in the 80's who stuck a sticker on any van that came into his yard, regardless of make and model, that said "Executive Styline Deluxe".

Attachments:

[millard1399]

G'day beachsandman,

Apparently there was a dealer in Victoria in the 80's who stuck a sticker on any van that came into his yard, regardless of make and model, that said "Executive Styline Deluxe"

There were a number of dealers who did the same sort of thing over the years. Your van looks a lot like a Viscount that's been rebadged. I have no idea what the Viscount chassis numbers were for the late '80s, so even checking your chassis number won't shed much light on the subject.

I've seen the Executive label on other brands of vans, so I'd be inclined to think your van has had the same "treatment". I can't find any records in my collection of magazines from the 1970s that says Executive was actually a manufacturer.

cheers,
Al.

[beachsandman]

Many thanks Al. It looks like a Viscount to us too. We think we've found a way to have it insured. In an online quote, we simply called it 17' Viscount poptop bunk van, so............ No lies told eh? LOL

[Don Ricardo]

G'day Beachsandman and Millard1399,

I am not sure whether you found it, but there is an entry on Styline Executive caravans in the Down History Lane section of the Vintage Caravan forum here. As you have worked out, Styline was not a manufacturer, but refers to a sticker applied to all caravans sold by a dealer called Doug Thorley.

To this day there are a lot of onsite caravans of assorted makes in Victorian caravan parks with Styline Executive and Doug Thorley stickers on them.

Don Ricardo

[wazza]

I bought a 1984 caravan over 2 years ago now, and it also has executive styline stickers front and back. I cannot trace what make of van it is. I am new to this sight and will try to work out how to add a photo, in the hope that someone may know what make of van it is. Cheers

[Caprinut]

Hey, these stickers are a great way to accessorise a van.
Mine had the classic- FULLY INSULATED- sticker but no insulation! What a quick way to upgrade a van.
I'm now looking for a - TWIN TURBO- sticker to really make my van fly!
Pete

[kiwijim]

Saw an old 67 Viscount up North many years ago,
stuck on the side of the road with a broken axle,

Had a sticker on it "Independent Suspension"....Yer Right !!!

Well it has now. ;D ;D ;D

kiwijim

[Deleted]

Hi Pete,
years ago "fully insulated "meant there was an "Air cavity"between the walls,which meant there was an air pocket that insulated the van!
Took years before people started realising what it meant!
Cheers
hughdeani

[Deleted]

[Deleted]

Hi Everyone, It looks like the text became seperated from the pics, sorry.
I came across some old posts about Executive Caravans and thought this information may still be of interest.
I own an Executive Van. It is an 18ft with a single axle and is registered as a 1982 Executive Caravan VIN S1923 with a tare of 1150. I purchased it in 1995 and I think this weight may have been an estimate when it was re registered. I weighed it some time later and I think it was about 1550. It has a front kitchen with full oven and cook top, a drop down table with a 3 seat sofa opposite, a double innerspring bed plus a shower and an electric pump and an instant gas hot water service. I was informed these were all standard when it was new.
It too had a "fully insulated sticker" by the door. I decided to repair the frame and re skin it about 5 years ago and the only insulation was a sheet of silver foil in the roof. It is NOW fully insulated.
The point of interest as to the origin of these Vans was found when I was talking with the people who rolled the aluminium for me and they introduced me to a staff member who was the Foreman at New Home Caravans who made the Executive range for Doug Thorley Caravans. Thorley kept them so busy they never actually made any under their own name. The smaller Vans were more budget and the larger vans were more up market in their finish, fittings and price. Things like every joint was glued and screwed especially to the frame helped them see the test of time. I am not sure about the Styline Executive but the name appeared on the later models with the V front.
I have done a few modifications like altering the sofa to a table for two and removing the origional table and seats and replacing it with a couple of leather recliners. The bed had a very heavy angle steel frame and it was replaced with a lighter weight more modern slat base. I also moved the shower so as I could fit a cassette toilet. Obviously a TV, sound system and Microwave was necessary but the most amazing thing was that I found a match for the wall panelling in stock at Bunnings 26 years later.
My Van still does about 6000km a year and after 45 years of Caravanning I still caravanning in my Executive. Possibly the best Van I have ever owned. Hope this is of interest.
P.S. Can anyone enlighten me as to what ages determine a vintage and a classic caravan?
Executive

[Deleted]

Interesting post I found on the Caravan & Motorhome Forum was from a member who said he went to school with Doug Thorley at Coburg Tech. "always looking for a deal". He brought a 1982 Jayco Swan from him. Suggests he died at the Gold Coast in 2009. He certainly did his bit in selling huge volumes of Caravans in the early days. He and Kevin Dennis I think were around in the same era. I also googled "New Home Caravans" and found a site where they claim to have started making Caravans 30 odd years ago and have recently started again in 2011 over in Campbellfield. The father started the business and the siblings are now involved in the restart.
Executive.

[Deleted]

Hi executive,
Your van is actually a Statesman,which became Windsor in the 70s.
They were a very up market van for their time and still look good IMO.
You will see lots more for sale now you know where it was really built!
Cheers
hughdeani

[Deleted]

Hi Beachsandman,
your van is (I think) an Equator brand,built for Doug Thorley in the late 70s and early 80s.
Does it have a chassis number beginning with "E"?
Doesnt matter for rego now though!
cheers
hughdeani

[shaneb]

Hi, I think I have the same van as you. Mine is a 22ft styling executive from Doug Thorley. My chassis number is L1938, could you provide any guidance on the year?

[shaneb]

I think I have the same issue here. My chassis number is L1938. Could anyone prove some light on it? It’s a 22ft styline executive by Doug Thorley

[vintagemel]

Hey all, I know I am a bit late to the party! We have a "Panorama Styline Executive Deluxe" - I have read this thread with interest - but I'm still not 100% sure WHAT my old girl actually IS!! She was an onsite van for many years in a Torquay caravan park. So there was a chassis number K183. But this didn't provide any info to identify her. We feel she isn't a Viscount - she's too curvy.
Her layout is a front kitchen, l shaped dinette with couch opposite, wardrobe and double bed along back wall. Sounds very similar to the one Deleted has written about above

I'd love your help!

[hughdeany]

Hi vintagemel,if you put up a pic of your van I will be able to tell you who built it,as Executive used a few different builders.
Cheers
Hughdeany

[paul59]

Hi I’m new try to find out what type of van l have but can’t figure out how to put photo up cheers paul59

[snoops]

Hi Paul, have a look through this thread - ditzygypsy.proboards.com/thread/4420/post-photos-on-forum

Cheers.

[til]

Help please !
We have purchased this beauty which has been previously registered as a 1982 Supreme Executive Stylin 18ft. But I can not find anything about it or similar anywhere, it has been renovated so very hard to tell what it is.. any help appreciated