Bonnie Custard

Oh. Hadn’t looked that far down. Whoops. Does look lovely though. Last time I really looked on that site was over a year ago:oops:
 
Hello, I’m new here! I’m thinking about selling my vintage caravans and having a Campervan instead for easier get-away-ability. I love the look of a Commer. What are the pros and Cons and what should I budget for a reliable roadworthy one? Not too fussed if it needs bodywork attention, would just like to have something on the road this summer. Do you have a buyers guide?
Loving the look of Bonnie Custard... does anyone know if she’s still for sale?
 
Hi and welcome. They aren’t that common so finding one you like is probably the trickiest bit. I’ve had mine a couple of years and I think he’s great and doubtful I will ever sell him. Martin can make any panel etc and folk on here are great for advice and encouragement etc
 
Hi Jo and welcome to the Madhouse :)
That's a brave decision to make in moving on your caravans, which type do you have?
There's quite a few conversions out there including coach builts from the Highwayman to the Jennings and at least half a dozen more in between, one particularly gorgeous Tourstar recently went for a shade under £14000 but generally you can find good examples for a lot less, certainly no where near VW prices - yet;)
Cons are pretty much what you would expect when buying an old vehicle - rust and rot, so make sure you have a real good look around under and over the van so nothing unexpected is lurking. They can be frustrating, while a lot of owners have pretty good reliability other seem to be plagued with problems, usually though they are well known issues that can easily be sorted.
Pro's. Pretty rare vehicles but parts and panel availability is good and not ridiculous prices, brilliant use of space in a van that is well suited for conversion to a camper, very robust mechanical parts if serviced regularly.
The van mentioned in this post (Bonnie Custard) looks gorgeous but even this one could have potential issues. Look at the lower side panels, the ones that run the full length of the van, they should have three grooves or flutes pressed into the panels and door bottoms and continue around the front and rear valances. The van has obviously had some work done in these areas but I would be very careful to check that the repairs have been done properly and not simply loaded with filler. The blue and white Commer on that site has had similar repairs done, take a look at some pics of other vans and compare them to what you can see, If I where to be paying top prices for a van then I would expect it to be right and any differences should be reflected in the price.
Good luck - I hope I haven't put you off, they are fantastic vehicles really:)
 
dodgeram said:
Howdy Jo.H, welcome along. :)
According to the above link it's still for sale. I would go see it.
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No response from the mails addresses mentioned on the site and looks like they haven’t been trading since 2017. I’m in Kent so Bonnie is nearby if she’s still opened by them if anyone knows the owner please put them in contact with me [email protected] so that I can arrange a viewing.
 
Panky said:
Hi Jo and welcome to the Madhouse :)
That's a brave decision to make in moving on your caravans, which type do you have?
There's quite a few conversions out there including coach builts from the Highwayman to the Jennings and at least half a dozen more in between, one particularly gorgeous Tourstar recently went for a shade under £14000 but generally you can find good examples for a lot less, certainly no where near VW prices - yet;)
Cons are pretty much what you would expect when buying an old vehicle - rust and rot, so make sure you have a real good look around under and over the van so nothing unexpected is lurking. They can be frustrating, while a lot of owners have pretty good reliability other seem to be plagued with problems, usually though they are well known issues that can easily be sorted.
Pro's. Pretty rare vehicles but parts and panel availability is good and not ridiculous prices, brilliant use of space in a van that is well suited for conversion to a camper, very robust mechanical parts if serviced regularly.
The van mentioned in this post (Bonnie Custard) looks gorgeous but even this one could have potential issues. Look at the lower side panels, the ones that run the full length of the van, they should have three grooves or flutes pressed into the panels and door bottoms and continue around the front and rear valances. The van has obviously had some work done in these areas but I would be very careful to check that the repairs have been done properly and not simply loaded with filler. The blue and white Commer on that site has had similar repairs done, take a look at some pics of other vans and compare them to what you can see, If I where to be paying top prices for a van then I would expect it to be right and any differences should be reflected in the price.
Good luck - I hope I haven't put you off, they are fantastic vehicles really:)
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Thanks for all the advice. I’m used to old vehicles as I drive a 1972 Citroen DS 21 Pallas as my daily ride. My other car is a 25 year old Landrover defender - I’m not easily put off!

I have six vintage caravans in various states of repair/useability:
1972 Carlight Continental
1972 Cheltenham Springbok
1970 Carlight Cassetta
1965 Pearman Briggs Safari
1967 Pearman Briggs Safari
1974 Constructam Condor

Listing them above makes me think that actually I really don’t want to part with any of them!
 
DS - one of my all time favourites :cool: The closest I've been is a BX GTi - loved that car.
Impressive line up of some seriously nice caravans, maybe keep a couple and have the best of both worlds:)
 
Great stuff, I have driven a fair few Land Rover's but not the Citroen:cool:.
A standard Commer van will struggle to pull any of those trailers you have there on anything resembling an uphill slope. Would the Constructam Condor be lightest there?
 
Yes the Constructam by far the lightest. I bought it to tow behind my DS but I haven’t had a tow bar fitted yet and it’s still white and needs to go Vert Agur to match matchy. This was my inspiration (obvs not a DS in the picture!)

I hadn’t actually thought of towing with a Commer....I was thinking it was a getaway vehicle just for me and I’d leave everyone else behind! (I have four children and a husband)

 
A Commer might just about cope with that Constructam at 700Kg, if you planned the route carefully:). That green VW seems to manage on your link
 
I
Jo.H said:
Yes the Constructam by far the lightest. I bought it to tow behind my DS but I haven’t had a tow bar fitted yet and it’s still white and needs to go Vert Agur to match matchy. This was my inspiration (obvs not a DS in the picture!)

I hadn’t actually thought of towing with a Commer....I was thinking it was a getaway vehicle just for me and I’d leave everyone else behind! (I have four children and a husband)

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Have to try to find ways to get the daughter and pram and wife and "stuff" in the van. Should I risk leaving them at home?
 
With a few of the available upgrades (SU and exhaust conversion, 6 speed box etc) I'm sure a Commer could tow a small caravan OK.
 
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