Nice van Richard, an addition to the N.C.M. by any chance?
George
Carapark Caravans.
Re: Carapark Caravans.
A great old vintage photo of a Carapark 10/9 being towed by the faithful old Holden.
I was also wondering if this may have been a hire van as it has what looks like 558 painted on the front below the window.
Photo from the Vintage Canberra collection on Facebook.
I was also wondering if this may have been a hire van as it has what looks like 558 painted on the front below the window.
Photo from the Vintage Canberra collection on Facebook.
ourtouringpast.com THE vintage caravan restoration website
and home of The National Caravan Museum.
and home of The National Caravan Museum.
Re: Carapark Caravans.
Hi Richard
Great old photo of the Holden in action. One has to wonder about the load though, or the rear springs with the way the rear end is dropped, I should think he enjoyed 'light' steering during the trip.
George
Great old photo of the Holden in action. One has to wonder about the load though, or the rear springs with the way the rear end is dropped, I should think he enjoyed 'light' steering during the trip.
George
Re: Carapark Caravans.
Here's and advert for the Superb from Motor Manual , May, 1952 with all the mod cons in the bathroom.
They even managed to get a ladies bare back past the censor in 1952.
And from Modern Motor, Oct, 1958 a couple of photographs of a Carapark shown at the Motor Show that year. The text and photos were a bit of a dogs breakfast in their layout so I've combined the photos and the text follows.
Caption for the photos reads: 'GIGANTIC "home-on-wheels" by carapark was pride of caravan section. Its lounge and kitchen are lavishly equipped, include cocktail bar, stove, fridge, TV, washing machine. Front contains bedroom.'
It certainly is lavish with curtains and venetian blinds, and the owners didn't want the public soiling it, seems they only got to drool on the windows!
The body of the text read: 'In the caravan section, the outstanding exhibit was undoubtedly the 25ft. 9in. mobile home in the caravan section. With its double-bed stateroom, shower recess, spacious lounge, dinette and kitchenette it had all the comforts of a sizeable flat - down to carpeted floors, a cocktail cabinet and a TV set.
Made to order for a client by Carapark, the aluminium-sheathed van was magnificently finished. So it should have been too -- for 3250 pounds. And, with a weight of 36cwt one imagines the owner would have to spend nearly as much on a vehicle sturdy enough to tow it around.'
So, obviously the owner was no slouch when it came to having a quid in the bank and I thought it might have been Bob and Molly Dyers van from an earlier post but the the colour scheme seems to be reversed.
Anyway, looks like a nice unit, and interesting that the the ratio of $ spent on a van compared to the tow car still seems to be the same. I wonder what did tow it back then, a truck?
George
And from Modern Motor, Oct, 1958 a couple of photographs of a Carapark shown at the Motor Show that year. The text and photos were a bit of a dogs breakfast in their layout so I've combined the photos and the text follows.
It certainly is lavish with curtains and venetian blinds, and the owners didn't want the public soiling it, seems they only got to drool on the windows!
The body of the text read: 'In the caravan section, the outstanding exhibit was undoubtedly the 25ft. 9in. mobile home in the caravan section. With its double-bed stateroom, shower recess, spacious lounge, dinette and kitchenette it had all the comforts of a sizeable flat - down to carpeted floors, a cocktail cabinet and a TV set.
Made to order for a client by Carapark, the aluminium-sheathed van was magnificently finished. So it should have been too -- for 3250 pounds. And, with a weight of 36cwt one imagines the owner would have to spend nearly as much on a vehicle sturdy enough to tow it around.'
So, obviously the owner was no slouch when it came to having a quid in the bank and I thought it might have been Bob and Molly Dyers van from an earlier post but the the colour scheme seems to be reversed.
Anyway, looks like a nice unit, and interesting that the the ratio of $ spent on a van compared to the tow car still seems to be the same. I wonder what did tow it back then, a truck?
George
Re: Carapark Caravans.
A Carapark promotional photo of a 12/9 from the mid to late 1950's.
Love the ribs on the lower half as it takes away some of the plainness.
Love the ribs on the lower half as it takes away some of the plainness.
ourtouringpast.com THE vintage caravan restoration website
and home of The National Caravan Museum.
and home of The National Caravan Museum.
Re: Carapark Caravans.
Another photo from the ourtouringpast photo archives. This time its a 1955 Carapark amenities van, which was built for the Snowy Mountain Scheme and had no running gear, but had legs so that the height of the van could be raised or lowered depending on the snow depth.
ourtouringpast.com THE vintage caravan restoration website
and home of The National Caravan Museum.
and home of The National Caravan Museum.
Re: Carapark Caravans.
Production photo of a tri axle Carapark Zestline.
ourtouringpast.com THE vintage caravan restoration website
and home of The National Caravan Museum.
and home of The National Caravan Museum.
Re: Carapark Caravans.
Really nice, and the tow vehicle might be 
George
George
Re: Carapark Caravans.
An advert from Royalauto, September 1957, with details of the Melbourne distributor C.R. Snelling.
And this item from the Nepean Times, March 1962 showing that surplus stock was being reduced.
George
- 1962-3-20 Carapark.png (237.8 KiB) Viewed 20732 times
Re: Carapark Caravans.
1954 vintage caravan ad for a couple of Caraparks that were an Art Union Prize.
I wonder who the lucky winners were?
I wonder who the lucky winners were?
ourtouringpast.com THE vintage caravan restoration website
and home of The National Caravan Museum.
and home of The National Caravan Museum.