Mansels' Walk Thru

studiocommer

studiocommer

0
Thought Mansel would like his walk-thru to be mentioned in dispatches so will do a posting for his 1967 walk-thru on his behalf, as it is such a lovely van.

He bought it from a garage in Haverfordwest 22 years ago and had it as his mobile shop which covered the Pembrokeshire area for many years. When he first got the van, the garage asked him what he planned to do with van as it was going to be used to carry food - he would have to have a petrol engine - diesel not allowed (no idea why) so has a 2965cc Humber 6 cylinder engine. The inside was converted with wooden shelves as a mobile shop. Now he has retired, the shelves are now gone and it has been converted to camp in - and he & his wife go to shows regulary in it - got back from Nantwich a few days before going on the 80 odd mile Pembrokeshire road run.

With the new ministry testing rules coming in this year, he had to provide information on its' dimensions and weight for the first time in its' history. He had to take it to a local quarry to get it weighed
where I think he mentioned a figure around 2.73 tons - hence it only doing 18 to the gallon.

He has advertised it for sale in the last few years, but always talks people out of buying it when they show an interest - I'll admit I wouldn't want to part with it if it were mine.[^]
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Fella in pic isn't Mansel, will try and get photo of him with van
 
Caught up with Mansel today at Dinefwr Park near Llandeilo. Got a chance to have a proper chinwag - pretty special fella, now 78 and still takes walk thru to shows in Chester and Hereford areas and takes pushbikes in the back to ride into town. He was telling me about when he was still doing deliveries around the farms and rescuing spares from abandoned walk-thrus that he saw on his rounds - apparently has 7 sets of front windscreen glass tucked away in the spare bedroom and what sounds like an extremely interesting shed.

He was also telling me about the 2 stroke commer milk floats that had 3 cylinders with 2 opposed pistons per cylinder with no valves, just ports which meant that you had to open a cover plate on the top of the engine block to manually clean out the coke build up otherwise it would pour black smoke out the back. This type of engine was supposed to be really good on fuel consumption - and you couldn't use it for engine braking down hills as it didn't slow you at all.

First pic is Mansel with his van, then a couple to show lovely location he invited me down to today

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He seemed pleased when I told him I'd do a write up - he doesn't do internet himself but have included him as honorary forum member and it might be possible to include him in a forum line up sometime - he does travel up to Chester, Nantwich and Hereford over the summer so you never know.:)
 
bring him with you to the next gathering (meet)tell him you are returning the invite :pwould love to sit round the fire & hear some of his stories [^]
 
Mansel's Walk Thru looks great... not many left in UK now (probably more in Holland than here I think).

Have spoken to Mansel a few times... you're right about him not wanting to sell it, even after advertising it (think it's been in the calssified section of Classic Van & Pick Up before!), but can't blame him!
 
Mansel has now sold his van[V] he was starting to find it heavy going so it has gone to owner unknown in the midlands somewhere, if I find out any details about new owner will pass on forum address to them and would love it if anyone sees it and lets me know where it went. I sure will miss seeing it around :( but hope new owners enjoy it and give it loving home:)
 
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