The History of Caravans

brue
brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
1000 Comments
edited January 2017 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Now that we have a facility to post photos maybe we can enjoy some views of vanning in the past. I have a photo of my Gt Uncle and Aunt with their van. I think it's in the 1950s? No-one else in the family had a van although some of my family went camping. I don't know the van or the car can anyone help to identify the photo?

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,147 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2017 #2

    The van shape is much the same as our Bluebird but all vans were probably similar at that time in the same way as they all look the same now.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #3

    Would the entrance door usually be on the other side? Just for fun, a few more at last years National Rally.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,147 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2017 #4

    Our door is on the 'right' side but yours isn't. I've seen pics of other old vans with the door on the 'wrong' side as well. I can't explain it. Some even had doors on both sides.

     

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #5

    Thanks TW.

    Not sure what is happening but I can't see the other photos I put on here? I had a look on my phone too, nothing there til I pressed refresh but that hasn't worked with my laptop. frown

  • scoutman
    scoutman Club Member Posts: 441 ✭✭✭
    edited January 2017 #6

    Is the vehicle a Bradford Station Wagon? 

  • ChrisRogers
    ChrisRogers Forum Participant Posts: 435
    edited January 2017 #7

    My late dads Sprite 400 built circa 1960's, I think, photos taken late 1970. Towed by a trusty Hillman Minx

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #8

    I don't know whether the photos I took of the vintage vans at the national were removed or vanished of their own accord. So one more attempt.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #9

    double post edit

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,147 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2017 #10

    It definitely looks as if that was the van shape of the time. 

    I can remember holidaying in a static Bluebird that had leaded windows.  It was very small by present day standards.

  • The Ovaltineys
    The Ovaltineys Forum Participant Posts: 196
    100 Comments
    edited January 2017 #11

    It was a caravan like the one in the OP which started my touring caravan life 50 yrs ago. My parents, my sister and I had travelled to North Wales ( on spec!) to find a static for the week, unfortunately no vacant ones could be found ( can you see a trend here laughing) and we had to return home.

    We then heard that a distant friend had an old static tourer on a site in Sedbergh in the Yorkshire Dales, so we went and spent the following there. It was brilliant and soon after we bought our first tourer. Since then there has always been at least one van in the family.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,147 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2017 #12

    Was it an Astral Ranger by any chance?🤐

  • The Ovaltineys
    The Ovaltineys Forum Participant Posts: 196
    100 Comments
    edited January 2017 #13

    No, it was an old Knowsley, gas lamps etc

Categories