Fantastic bit of work Simon [^]
"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club
"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club
My 1969 Tourstar
- Thread starter arty1
- Start date
arty1
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Thats fantastic Panky, to actually talk to the people who worked on your van. Ive always admired the showmans caravans from the 20's and 30's with all that beautiful furniture and cut glass, but they are very expensive, but I hanker for one. Thats why I did my own van, as an experiment, to my design and I know what went into it, so its not mickey mouse. Having owned a couple of caravans, that seemed to be made from just chipboard, the Commer is just so well put together, its a real credit to the coachbuilders talents. I wonder if they thought at the time , that their vans would still be around today. My old Bsa b31, is almost 60 years old, yet is 100% reliable, has never had a rebuild and is still on its standard bore.
Something that made me laugh , was when I was in conversation with a chap who was showing his Austin paralanian at a local show, he said " They do wobble a bit, especially when you stir your tea, it will make you sea sick " he was refering to the soft springs on the van ! Happy days !
Something that made me laugh , was when I was in conversation with a chap who was showing his Austin paralanian at a local show, he said " They do wobble a bit, especially when you stir your tea, it will make you sea sick " he was refering to the soft springs on the van ! Happy days !
arty1
0
Thats fantastic Panky, to actually talk to the people who worked on your van. Ive always admired the showmans caravans from the 20's and 30's with all that beautiful furniture and cut glass, but they are very expensive, but I hanker for one. Thats why I did my own van, as an experiment, to my design and I know what went into it, so its not mickey mouse. Having owned a couple of caravans, that seemed to be made from just chipboard, the Commer is just so well put together, its a real credit to the coachbuilders talents. I wonder if they thought at the time , that their vans would still be around today. My old Bsa b31, is almost 60 years old, yet is 100% reliable, has never had a rebuild and is still on its standard bore.
Something that made me laugh , was when I was in conversation with a chap who was showing his Austin paralanian at a local show, he said " They do wobble a bit, especially when you stir your tea, it will make you sea sick " he was refering to the soft springs on the van ! Happy days !
Something that made me laugh , was when I was in conversation with a chap who was showing his Austin paralanian at a local show, he said " They do wobble a bit, especially when you stir your tea, it will make you sea sick " he was refering to the soft springs on the van ! Happy days !
13K [:0] It doesn't even have an engine, suppose it's less likely to brake down :I
www.commervanspares.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/commervanspares
www.commervanspares.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/commervanspares
arty1
0
Just been to check progress on Betsy-Anne. New tank plumbed in ( Thanks Tim) new tyres fitted to blasted and painted rims, electrics sorted in cab, and she is starting on first turn of the key. Here engine is as sweet as a nut.Now she has having her underside wire wheeled and a coat of zinc will be applied before the waxoil goes on. The garage think she might be ready for her mot in about a week. Boy, am I getting excited or what!
Nice pic John, we could recreate it in Sept, if I haven't sold it before then 
www.commervanspares.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/commervanspares
www.commervanspares.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/commervanspares
Wow. Stunning.
arty1
0
Huge thanks to Panky for uploading my photos for me.!
The work on Betsy-Anne has been very intense. She was dented in the nearside and had a couple of badly repaired tears in the aluminium above the side window. My Guru, Bob, repaired these , and you would never know they had been there. The gutters had damage where the van had caught something and needed a lot of gentle shaping. The steel screws around the roof to frame had rusted and made holes in the fibreglass, so repairs were carried out and every seam on the roof and gutters was resealed with Sikaflex. Gutters and all screws replaced with stainless steel ones in the correct pattern . The door bottoms were corroded, so repair panels were purchased from Mr Maltas and duly fitted along with a new front valance. The van had at some time had a hit in the front drivers side lower panel, just near the valance, that explaines why one of the beauty spot badges was missing! The garage pukoed out the remaining dent .
I removed almost a wheelbarrow of old paint from the van , using an industrial strength paint stripper. It took three gallons to finally get it to bare metal ! Weeks and weeks of prep including refitting all the doors so they shut nice, a complete reconstruction and strengthen of the rear step and back door. The off side body panel was removed to gently panel beat a few dents out before being refitted. The framework underneath is as good as the day it was made . I refinished all the windows , after stripping and cleaning everything. She is now finished in a period green and cream two pack paint, and the photos were taken the day after the paint was put on. The cab is painted inside too, and phase two will be to refit everything on the outside and retrim the cab and the soft furnishings. I didnt intend to go "concourse " but guru Bob is such a perfectionist, that i feel obliged to do the very best for Betsy-Anne .
The work on Betsy-Anne has been very intense. She was dented in the nearside and had a couple of badly repaired tears in the aluminium above the side window. My Guru, Bob, repaired these , and you would never know they had been there. The gutters had damage where the van had caught something and needed a lot of gentle shaping. The steel screws around the roof to frame had rusted and made holes in the fibreglass, so repairs were carried out and every seam on the roof and gutters was resealed with Sikaflex. Gutters and all screws replaced with stainless steel ones in the correct pattern . The door bottoms were corroded, so repair panels were purchased from Mr Maltas and duly fitted along with a new front valance. The van had at some time had a hit in the front drivers side lower panel, just near the valance, that explaines why one of the beauty spot badges was missing! The garage pukoed out the remaining dent .
I removed almost a wheelbarrow of old paint from the van , using an industrial strength paint stripper. It took three gallons to finally get it to bare metal ! Weeks and weeks of prep including refitting all the doors so they shut nice, a complete reconstruction and strengthen of the rear step and back door. The off side body panel was removed to gently panel beat a few dents out before being refitted. The framework underneath is as good as the day it was made . I refinished all the windows , after stripping and cleaning everything. She is now finished in a period green and cream two pack paint, and the photos were taken the day after the paint was put on. The cab is painted inside too, and phase two will be to refit everything on the outside and retrim the cab and the soft furnishings. I didnt intend to go "concourse " but guru Bob is such a perfectionist, that i feel obliged to do the very best for Betsy-Anne .
Betsy-Anne is looking fabulous, I think I recognise that colour scheme from somewhere!
arty1
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Still a lot of work to do , The heater box needs rebuilding, and she really could do with a new radiator and ........ooh ... one of Martins lovely stainless steel exhaust systems! Ive got all new lamps to fit along with all the refurbished side tims, windscreen rubber, and numberplates, hubcaps and badges. Im also going to make nice battery boxes for inside the cab, etc.
arty1
0
Thanks Panky, I would still be muddling along without your help. Happy to oblige on the bacon butty and beer front.No problem happy to help, but you owe me a bacon butty and a beer
Betsy looks stunning and the paintwork suits her down to a tee, she deserves it
I see the avatar worked too