Alan’s interests include classic cars, older motorhomes and caravans
How did you get into old classic cars?
Well, I guess there is a catalyst to all of us, and I think mine must have been visiting someone with my father while on holidays in Sydney around the age of 16, and seeing an immaculate ‘Isabella Borgward’.
Then when I was 17, I had the chance of buying a Ford Anglia tourer, and the only way I could afford to get it on the road was to do all the work myself. I painted it with an Electrolux Vacuum cleaner and cut and sewed up the upholstery on the family sewing machine. It was a great car in all, except the powerplant, the gearbox, suicide doors, drafts, and not to mention the lack of brakes.
However, I still have a soft spot for the tourers and still have one in my collection to restore. All I saved off my original tourer was a rim, which came off the rolling cow yard my Uncle had used the rear axles for. Next car was my grandparents Morris Major and a real ladies car - easy to drive, great suspension, and rack & pinion steering, but that’s another story.
Family
I have a lovely wife who has endured and indulged all my passions over 37 years. We have 5 children, and only one has so far joined in the old car movement with a Mustang. We live on a small property out of Bendigo, so storage is not an issue. I recently balanced up the ‘Brownie Points’ when I finally finished my wife’s MGY sedan, she’d purchased it 20 years earlier.
I’m a restorer, but not a purist. I restore as close as possible to original, but will include changes where I see a benefit. I do nearly all the work myself. At the 1989 Motor Show at the Exhibition Buildings, I received only an honourable mention award for a 1936 CX Ford, which was pipped at the post by a professionally restored MG.
Back to the beginning
It was 1980 before I bought another Ford Anglia Tourer, and had to go to Canberra to get it. I also joined the Veteran, Vintage and Classic Club in Bendigo, which ran this amazing Bendigo National SWAP Meet. If you’re not in a Club of some sort, join one. The camaraderie and escapades with like minded fools is awesome.
This period saw the start of a real passion for little Ford sidevalves, and over the years I built up the largest collection of small Fords in the World (around 50 at its peak), with visitors from England, Germany, and USA calling in. I traded cars to and from NZ, USA, and Germany. The collection included virtually one of each 8hp and 10hp sidevalve models made from 1932 to 1956, with representation of tourers, roadsters, utes, and sedans, but never a coupe.
Today only the skeleton of the collection remains, having been replaced by a variety of other motoring interests - Big Austins (A125 & A135), MGY’s, and Austin Atlantics (which are in the process of being sold back to the UK). I do however still own the most valuable of the Ford sidevalves which is a 1952 Ford Popular plumber’s ute, which has only done 38 miles since new, and still has the ‘tits’ on its tyres and fresh paint on the underside of the mudguards.
Modern cars
I’ve had my fill of moderns as ever since I commenced work, I’ve been fortunate enough to have had either access to, or been provided with, a vehicle for work. This goes through to my current employment where I have a Holden Colorado crew cab which returns 8.8L/100km around town, as low as 7.5L on a trip and 16.4L/100km towing a 20 foot caravan. As nice as a modern is, I’d rather a classic any day as I struggle to spent $35,000 on a new car and find 2 years later is only worth $16,000.
Starting the Vintage Caravan Hire Business
We get so much interest when we take a vintage caravan out on display that I reckoned there had to be an opening for a Vintage Caravan Hire business. This would be targeted at those enthusiasts wanting to try before possibly buying a vintage caravan - “Wrong”. The most interest has come from people wanting a wedding with a difference or a honeymoon to remember. Which reminds me of a story of a mate who on his honeymoon night never made it 10 miles from home on his caravanning trip. Proves that with a caravan you have surety of accommodation and warm bed behind you, so you can stop anywhere. Our first caravan is an Australian made Don, available for hire now and fully restored. We also have a very rare 1938 Paramount caravan (only 3 known) which is useable, but still slowly being restored.
Photo below is Christine (wife) standing next to the 1947 Austin Princess.
Then when I was 17, I had the chance of buying a Ford Anglia tourer, and the only way I could afford to get it on the road was to do all the work myself. I painted it with an Electrolux Vacuum cleaner and cut and sewed up the upholstery on the family sewing machine. It was a great car in all, except the powerplant, the gearbox, suicide doors, drafts, and not to mention the lack of brakes.
However, I still have a soft spot for the tourers and still have one in my collection to restore. All I saved off my original tourer was a rim, which came off the rolling cow yard my Uncle had used the rear axles for. Next car was my grandparents Morris Major and a real ladies car - easy to drive, great suspension, and rack & pinion steering, but that’s another story.
Family
I have a lovely wife who has endured and indulged all my passions over 37 years. We have 5 children, and only one has so far joined in the old car movement with a Mustang. We live on a small property out of Bendigo, so storage is not an issue. I recently balanced up the ‘Brownie Points’ when I finally finished my wife’s MGY sedan, she’d purchased it 20 years earlier.
I’m a restorer, but not a purist. I restore as close as possible to original, but will include changes where I see a benefit. I do nearly all the work myself. At the 1989 Motor Show at the Exhibition Buildings, I received only an honourable mention award for a 1936 CX Ford, which was pipped at the post by a professionally restored MG.
Back to the beginning
It was 1980 before I bought another Ford Anglia Tourer, and had to go to Canberra to get it. I also joined the Veteran, Vintage and Classic Club in Bendigo, which ran this amazing Bendigo National SWAP Meet. If you’re not in a Club of some sort, join one. The camaraderie and escapades with like minded fools is awesome.
This period saw the start of a real passion for little Ford sidevalves, and over the years I built up the largest collection of small Fords in the World (around 50 at its peak), with visitors from England, Germany, and USA calling in. I traded cars to and from NZ, USA, and Germany. The collection included virtually one of each 8hp and 10hp sidevalve models made from 1932 to 1956, with representation of tourers, roadsters, utes, and sedans, but never a coupe.
Today only the skeleton of the collection remains, having been replaced by a variety of other motoring interests - Big Austins (A125 & A135), MGY’s, and Austin Atlantics (which are in the process of being sold back to the UK). I do however still own the most valuable of the Ford sidevalves which is a 1952 Ford Popular plumber’s ute, which has only done 38 miles since new, and still has the ‘tits’ on its tyres and fresh paint on the underside of the mudguards.
Modern cars
I’ve had my fill of moderns as ever since I commenced work, I’ve been fortunate enough to have had either access to, or been provided with, a vehicle for work. This goes through to my current employment where I have a Holden Colorado crew cab which returns 8.8L/100km around town, as low as 7.5L on a trip and 16.4L/100km towing a 20 foot caravan. As nice as a modern is, I’d rather a classic any day as I struggle to spent $35,000 on a new car and find 2 years later is only worth $16,000.
Starting the Vintage Caravan Hire Business
We get so much interest when we take a vintage caravan out on display that I reckoned there had to be an opening for a Vintage Caravan Hire business. This would be targeted at those enthusiasts wanting to try before possibly buying a vintage caravan - “Wrong”. The most interest has come from people wanting a wedding with a difference or a honeymoon to remember. Which reminds me of a story of a mate who on his honeymoon night never made it 10 miles from home on his caravanning trip. Proves that with a caravan you have surety of accommodation and warm bed behind you, so you can stop anywhere. Our first caravan is an Australian made Don, available for hire now and fully restored. We also have a very rare 1938 Paramount caravan (only 3 known) which is useable, but still slowly being restored.
Photo below is Christine (wife) standing next to the 1947 Austin Princess.
Why love an Austin?
Because it’s a classic looking car and justifiably earned the name of ‘Poor mans Rolls Royce’. It is the pride and joy of our fleet - it’s comfortable, brakes well, sits with modern traffic, and best of all, it takes our caravan on holidays. (Who cares about fuel consumption when you can travel in comfort and style?)
This vehicle is an unusual version of the Sheerline because it is badged Princess, and differs from the ‘normal Sheerlines’ in that it has all the extras a later model Princess has. E.g. - It is still the Sheerline steel body, with sun roof and big Lucas P100 headlights, but also has chromed grille surround, chromed horns, chromed spare wheel holders, chromed gear change lever, detailed hubcaps, picnic trays on the rear of the front seat, ashtrays in the arm rests of the rear seat, silver door pulls on the driver and passenger doors, roller blinds on each of the rear passenger windows, leather front seats and worsted wool cloth rear seats, a light in the boot, pearl steering wheel, and scripted Princess 4.0 litre boot badge.
Another oddity is the fact that one side of the car has wood internally below the windows and around the door handle (as per Sheerline), whilst the other side has wood and laminate, as per the later aluminium bodied Princess. One old fellow who used to repair Sheerlines when they came in damaged from their sea surface trip from England said, “It stands to reason, the car was most likely given to Vanden Plas to provide the listed modifications, as a forerunner to the aluminium body Princess. It was then sold off overseas so as not to confuse the English Market”.
The Poms refuse to believe such a car exists and say someone has modified it with the extras. This may be true, and I can’t prove one way or the other, but who would go to so much trouble to change things in such odd places as the spare wheel clips? The car is unlike any other Sheerline in existence, and all other cars badged Princess have an aluminium body and headlights in the guards.
The vehicle had four previous owners and resided for a while in Tasmania. It’s first owner was from Wangaratta before moving to Melbourne. I spoke with the second owner who had bought it from a local Doctor and he said he remembered it as I’d described, with all the extras. The vehicle was shedded for 15 years from 1968-83, during which time it received significant water damage to the passenger side.
Purchased by me in 1992, it had done a genuine 160,000 mile. I had delivered a kids cubby I’d manufactured and had to carry panels in past the Princess. I commented, “If it’s ever for sale, let me know” As a wife would say, she said it was, and I left the cubby as a deposit and became the proud new owner.
Back on the road gain in 1996 with a new engine, electronic distributor and radials fitted, it drives like a modern vehicle and tows my other passion - vintage caravans - like a dream. The rebirth was a pushed along by my daughter who wanted to use the car for a friend’s wedding, and I was still working on the upholstery just hours before collecting the bride. The 4 speed manual and long stroke engine gives it huge torque. Original Autocar articles sometimes stated that a Sheerline was a car that only needed two gears as it would pull from 20mph like an automatic.
One other story I had from the second owner was a trip up the Hume Highway when it was a much narrower road, and he got a flat and had to pull to the side. A nice Mustang owner pulled over to help and apparently his eyes nearly popped out of his head when the Sheerline owner pushed a button and the 2 tonne car lifted itself off the ground ready to change a wheel.
We have travelled to Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and Hobart and lots of places in between. Other work has been carried out as required to keep the car going and it is still in regular use over 20 years on from being rescued.
Because it’s a classic looking car and justifiably earned the name of ‘Poor mans Rolls Royce’. It is the pride and joy of our fleet - it’s comfortable, brakes well, sits with modern traffic, and best of all, it takes our caravan on holidays. (Who cares about fuel consumption when you can travel in comfort and style?)
This vehicle is an unusual version of the Sheerline because it is badged Princess, and differs from the ‘normal Sheerlines’ in that it has all the extras a later model Princess has. E.g. - It is still the Sheerline steel body, with sun roof and big Lucas P100 headlights, but also has chromed grille surround, chromed horns, chromed spare wheel holders, chromed gear change lever, detailed hubcaps, picnic trays on the rear of the front seat, ashtrays in the arm rests of the rear seat, silver door pulls on the driver and passenger doors, roller blinds on each of the rear passenger windows, leather front seats and worsted wool cloth rear seats, a light in the boot, pearl steering wheel, and scripted Princess 4.0 litre boot badge.
Another oddity is the fact that one side of the car has wood internally below the windows and around the door handle (as per Sheerline), whilst the other side has wood and laminate, as per the later aluminium bodied Princess. One old fellow who used to repair Sheerlines when they came in damaged from their sea surface trip from England said, “It stands to reason, the car was most likely given to Vanden Plas to provide the listed modifications, as a forerunner to the aluminium body Princess. It was then sold off overseas so as not to confuse the English Market”.
The Poms refuse to believe such a car exists and say someone has modified it with the extras. This may be true, and I can’t prove one way or the other, but who would go to so much trouble to change things in such odd places as the spare wheel clips? The car is unlike any other Sheerline in existence, and all other cars badged Princess have an aluminium body and headlights in the guards.
The vehicle had four previous owners and resided for a while in Tasmania. It’s first owner was from Wangaratta before moving to Melbourne. I spoke with the second owner who had bought it from a local Doctor and he said he remembered it as I’d described, with all the extras. The vehicle was shedded for 15 years from 1968-83, during which time it received significant water damage to the passenger side.
Purchased by me in 1992, it had done a genuine 160,000 mile. I had delivered a kids cubby I’d manufactured and had to carry panels in past the Princess. I commented, “If it’s ever for sale, let me know” As a wife would say, she said it was, and I left the cubby as a deposit and became the proud new owner.
Back on the road gain in 1996 with a new engine, electronic distributor and radials fitted, it drives like a modern vehicle and tows my other passion - vintage caravans - like a dream. The rebirth was a pushed along by my daughter who wanted to use the car for a friend’s wedding, and I was still working on the upholstery just hours before collecting the bride. The 4 speed manual and long stroke engine gives it huge torque. Original Autocar articles sometimes stated that a Sheerline was a car that only needed two gears as it would pull from 20mph like an automatic.
One other story I had from the second owner was a trip up the Hume Highway when it was a much narrower road, and he got a flat and had to pull to the side. A nice Mustang owner pulled over to help and apparently his eyes nearly popped out of his head when the Sheerline owner pushed a button and the 2 tonne car lifted itself off the ground ready to change a wheel.
We have travelled to Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and Hobart and lots of places in between. Other work has been carried out as required to keep the car going and it is still in regular use over 20 years on from being rescued.
Summary
1947 Austin Princess
Weight of almost 2.0 tonne, 16 gallon fuel tank (returns 15-19 mpg).
Turning circle of 43 feet, Automatic jacking system at the push of a button.
6 cylinder (4.0 litre), 4 speed column shift, front seat arm rests (2 for driver & 2 for pass.)
1952 Austin Motorhome - see photo above & below
Weight loaded 4.6 tonne, 88 gallon fuel tank (returns 10-12 mpg).
Turning circle of 43 feet, Wheel base 3.3m, Genuine 73,000 miles.
First registered 12.11.59, GZE-212, 6 cylinder (4.0 litre), four speed floor shift.
Special features include the following:
Built in Shower, toilet, wash basin and cocktail cabinet.
Hot water service heated by Kero Fyreside, Kerosene fridge.
Portable washing machine, burglar alarm on doors and a black and white Television.
Exhaust fans at stove and in shower and intercom bell from van to cab and roof racks.
12 / 240 volt self starting generator - built in and able to be remote started from inside van.
People seeing the 1952 Austin Motorhome belonging to Alan and Christine of Bendigo will often make the comment “This must be the first ‘Winabago’. It was purchased in December 1998 and Alan is the third genuine owner and they have driven to Canberra, Melbourne, Alice Springs and Broken Hill including many local trips.
Camping
Well if you’ve got the camping bug, what better way to enjoy Australia than by caravan or a motor-home. A simple slogan to which many grey haired nomads are only recently applying the equation. Alan’s camping history goes back to childhood when he remembers his father building a version of the Carghill Caravanette and going on many holidays around Victoria, especially Christmases at Rosebud or McCrae.
Alan later enjoyed camping with mates from school, etc including a week at Yallourn North where years ago they lived for a week on quail, eel, wombat and rabbit ( legally able to do so back then). Then came marriage and the artful application of moving a bride from the understanding of 5 star accommodation to the ‘starlight Menzies’. The tent trick didn’t work but a move in borrowing a caravan created the link. The eventual purchase of a vintage caravan and having a vintage Austin Sheerline made a viable outfit to join others on vintage car club campouts. Mind you there is a modern caravan with shower and toilet in the fleet too.
Tips for choosing a caravan to restore
Be sure it meets your needs eg small enough to tow but big enough to accommodate you. Eg Teardrops look great but are mostly for fine weather camping. Check all external joins and corners for rot damage. Then check corresponding areas internally. Look for water damage inside. Capillary action doesn’t always mean where you see damage is where the water is coming from. Make sure the caravan is as complete as possible with original internals. Eg stove, water pump, icebox fridge, light fittings and switches.
Check the 240 volt all works before you buy as this could be a bargaining point. Always get a permit if you wish to tow the van home. Always pull off the wheels and grease the bearing with fresh grease as it will otherwise usually be old and hard. Check tyres and better to take rims away and have new tyres fitted than have one blow on the way home. Do not fit wider tyres than originally designed for as they can cause rims to split.
Don’t even consider chasing spare parts as there are no caravan wreckers. Best bet is to find something to make do if something is missing. But also see if you can find old caravan dealers in any towns you visit.
Motorbikes
Another of what I call a lasting passion. In 1970 I was building a horse coral at Narbethong and the son had a 1969 Yamaha 350. On completing my job I made an offer and bought the bike and began my life long companionship with it as I still own and still ride this classic. (About to tick up riding 50,000 miles on it - that’s right - miles: and on a two stroke.)
The R3 was the model Yamaha really began to make their statement on the race track and this was reinforced with the release of the new R5. I’ve since purchased a spare bike and have been buying NOS to restore it when I find I get too old to climb in and under a car.
Cartalk tip from Alan
‘Use them and enjoy it before you lose it’
So what if they get dirty or worn! Too many leave their run too late, have a nice car, get too old to drive and the family then sell off a pristine car for someone else to actually use. Alan reckons he’s travelled almost 3 million kms since gaining his licence. Lost a few points along the way but never the licence.
Profession: Financial Counsellor - North Central Victoria.
Alan has worked in agriculture all his life and at one stage was travelling over 100,000km each year. He works currently in Central Victoria as Rural Financial Advisor with the farming communities. Alan’s parents live near Westernport and Dad always said if I wanted to be a farmer I needed money and to get money it would be best if I became an accountant. However that wasn’t the way things went, and I’ve visited and had more farms to look after than I can poke a stick at, and all across Australia.
Contact Alan if you have any queries, PH: 0428 303 125 Email: [email protected]
Note: This article was completed in 2013 and Alan provided the photos.
links
www.federation.asn.au
www.vintagecaravanhire.com.au
http://www.rmauctions.com/results
http://austincar.co.za/aPrincessinfo.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Princess
1947 Austin Princess
Weight of almost 2.0 tonne, 16 gallon fuel tank (returns 15-19 mpg).
Turning circle of 43 feet, Automatic jacking system at the push of a button.
6 cylinder (4.0 litre), 4 speed column shift, front seat arm rests (2 for driver & 2 for pass.)
1952 Austin Motorhome - see photo above & below
Weight loaded 4.6 tonne, 88 gallon fuel tank (returns 10-12 mpg).
Turning circle of 43 feet, Wheel base 3.3m, Genuine 73,000 miles.
First registered 12.11.59, GZE-212, 6 cylinder (4.0 litre), four speed floor shift.
Special features include the following:
Built in Shower, toilet, wash basin and cocktail cabinet.
Hot water service heated by Kero Fyreside, Kerosene fridge.
Portable washing machine, burglar alarm on doors and a black and white Television.
Exhaust fans at stove and in shower and intercom bell from van to cab and roof racks.
12 / 240 volt self starting generator - built in and able to be remote started from inside van.
People seeing the 1952 Austin Motorhome belonging to Alan and Christine of Bendigo will often make the comment “This must be the first ‘Winabago’. It was purchased in December 1998 and Alan is the third genuine owner and they have driven to Canberra, Melbourne, Alice Springs and Broken Hill including many local trips.
Camping
Well if you’ve got the camping bug, what better way to enjoy Australia than by caravan or a motor-home. A simple slogan to which many grey haired nomads are only recently applying the equation. Alan’s camping history goes back to childhood when he remembers his father building a version of the Carghill Caravanette and going on many holidays around Victoria, especially Christmases at Rosebud or McCrae.
Alan later enjoyed camping with mates from school, etc including a week at Yallourn North where years ago they lived for a week on quail, eel, wombat and rabbit ( legally able to do so back then). Then came marriage and the artful application of moving a bride from the understanding of 5 star accommodation to the ‘starlight Menzies’. The tent trick didn’t work but a move in borrowing a caravan created the link. The eventual purchase of a vintage caravan and having a vintage Austin Sheerline made a viable outfit to join others on vintage car club campouts. Mind you there is a modern caravan with shower and toilet in the fleet too.
Tips for choosing a caravan to restore
Be sure it meets your needs eg small enough to tow but big enough to accommodate you. Eg Teardrops look great but are mostly for fine weather camping. Check all external joins and corners for rot damage. Then check corresponding areas internally. Look for water damage inside. Capillary action doesn’t always mean where you see damage is where the water is coming from. Make sure the caravan is as complete as possible with original internals. Eg stove, water pump, icebox fridge, light fittings and switches.
Check the 240 volt all works before you buy as this could be a bargaining point. Always get a permit if you wish to tow the van home. Always pull off the wheels and grease the bearing with fresh grease as it will otherwise usually be old and hard. Check tyres and better to take rims away and have new tyres fitted than have one blow on the way home. Do not fit wider tyres than originally designed for as they can cause rims to split.
Don’t even consider chasing spare parts as there are no caravan wreckers. Best bet is to find something to make do if something is missing. But also see if you can find old caravan dealers in any towns you visit.
Motorbikes
Another of what I call a lasting passion. In 1970 I was building a horse coral at Narbethong and the son had a 1969 Yamaha 350. On completing my job I made an offer and bought the bike and began my life long companionship with it as I still own and still ride this classic. (About to tick up riding 50,000 miles on it - that’s right - miles: and on a two stroke.)
The R3 was the model Yamaha really began to make their statement on the race track and this was reinforced with the release of the new R5. I’ve since purchased a spare bike and have been buying NOS to restore it when I find I get too old to climb in and under a car.
Cartalk tip from Alan
‘Use them and enjoy it before you lose it’
So what if they get dirty or worn! Too many leave their run too late, have a nice car, get too old to drive and the family then sell off a pristine car for someone else to actually use. Alan reckons he’s travelled almost 3 million kms since gaining his licence. Lost a few points along the way but never the licence.
Profession: Financial Counsellor - North Central Victoria.
Alan has worked in agriculture all his life and at one stage was travelling over 100,000km each year. He works currently in Central Victoria as Rural Financial Advisor with the farming communities. Alan’s parents live near Westernport and Dad always said if I wanted to be a farmer I needed money and to get money it would be best if I became an accountant. However that wasn’t the way things went, and I’ve visited and had more farms to look after than I can poke a stick at, and all across Australia.
Contact Alan if you have any queries, PH: 0428 303 125 Email: [email protected]
Note: This article was completed in 2013 and Alan provided the photos.
links
www.federation.asn.au
www.vintagecaravanhire.com.au
http://www.rmauctions.com/results
http://austincar.co.za/aPrincessinfo.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Princess
