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Oct 18, 2011 17:06:08 GMT
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Lol pretty nifty purchase!
My dad broke the news to me the weekend that I can HAVE his caravan! Which I'm chuffed about, although not quite as retro!
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Last Edit: Oct 18, 2011 17:06:25 GMT by Deleted
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Oct 18, 2011 18:43:39 GMT
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Free is even better than cheap ;D
Measured the body today-10ft. ::)Does that make it a 400?
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89 Masterace Surf
03 Astra
03 V40 Sport
09 E90 M Sport
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Oct 18, 2011 18:48:44 GMT
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I've relooked at pictures and it could be - from memory the 400 was 4 birth table at back bunk above and then double at front like yours. The Alpine was the same layout but you gained a toilet cubicle and extra cupboard space. I only know as we originally had a 400 then went to a brand new 1980 Alpine - oh the luxury.
So yes if no toilet cubicle it's the 400.
I'll see if i can blag some pictures of ours off my mum ;-)
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Oct 18, 2011 18:57:17 GMT
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Funnily enough my mum sent me pics of their old sprite too! Mine has no toilet and is incredibly small. Single with bunk at front by the door, small wardrobe just inside door then double to the rear! Apologies for poor photos- taken on phone as scanner goosed  These were taken about 1987 judging by my clothes. It was already an old van by then!   |
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Last Edit: Oct 18, 2011 19:15:56 GMT by bigalan
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89 Masterace Surf
03 Astra
03 V40 Sport
09 E90 M Sport
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jabbo
Posted a lot
soy un perdedor
Posts: 1,151
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Oct 19, 2011 13:16:54 GMT
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Looking good for £50. I've got a bit of a soft spot for old Sprites. I'd love to find a 400 or even the miniscule Cadet which I think was only about 8ft long with the door in the back! We used to own a Cadet, think it was a '72. Was a good little caravan.   |
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Last Edit: Oct 19, 2011 13:18:19 GMT by jabbo
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Oct 19, 2011 17:32:19 GMT
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That's very neat! So small!
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89 Masterace Surf
03 Astra
03 V40 Sport
09 E90 M Sport
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Oct 23, 2011 11:07:06 GMT
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Quick update as I finally got a chance to look at the beast today. Turns out the 240v does work- the thermal cut off must have been tripped on my extension cable when I tried before:-) Found an old campinggaz cylinder and regulator in my garage so hooked them up. Now have working job, grill, oven, gas fire and a gas light! How safe are these lights? The fabric bit shaped like a bulb has a bit missing, is that important?  Total expenditure so far is still £50, but looking at the tyres suggests I'll need to replace them shortly! Are.caravan tyres the same as car ones? Size is 155r13. Any ideas if car alloys would fit a caravan?   |
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89 Masterace Surf
03 Astra
03 V40 Sport
09 E90 M Sport
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Oct 23, 2011 13:22:14 GMT
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You'll struggle to find any alloys with that fitment. IIRC they'll be 4x5.5" pcd on those. You probably could use car tyres so long as the load rating is sufficient.
The bit missing from the gas lamp is the mantle. You'll need that to get anything like a decent amount of light. They are still available from some old school hardware shops.
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1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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bigsyd
Part of things
Posts: 179
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Oct 23, 2011 14:33:43 GMT
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still trying to find pics of my old one. but you seen it any way m8...
BUT
if it was my van m8 i'd rip all the gas stuff out and replace with electric(gas cost you extra)
as when you book on most sites you pay for your electric anyway why add to ya cost with gas too. for lights use 12 volt and ad a solar panel to charge battery up!!!!
yes you will spend saay 100quid but if think it will and does say you alot on gas.
this is what i did to our old one and the van after that................ INFACT YOUR THEARD HAS MADE ME
BUY a 1989 spirte major that needsa make over.
it will be getting moded so my missus can use it(ill health reason we sold other van)
as she misses going away. now need to get her a biggish automatic so she can tow it herself
as she cant drive the astra any more as its a mannual.....
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2001 astra sri {soon to get a retro inspired make over)
1990 golf(put away for now)
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skinnylew
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,719
Club RR Member Number: 11
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19?? Sprite Something Caravanskinnylew
@skinnylew
Club Retro Rides Member 11
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Oct 23, 2011 15:43:25 GMT
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best off getting trailer or caravan specific tyres, the sidewalls are reinforced for the weight and time spent sitting in the same position, I believe..... Have some pics of our old Ci Sprite and granada set up, then upgraded to Galaxy TDi and Swift Challenger   95/96 I think, guess my old man had a nudge in the Granada as it wears colour coded bumpers in one, it is the same Granny though, D227RTW long since dead after an argument with a skip lorry!! 2.0 GL with ghia spec (leccy's etc) but cloth. Did a lot of miles sat in the back of that  LHS ones are 91 or 92 Taken at Royal Agricultural Showground, Stoneliegh in Midlands. My dad was site manager at a church bible week and some of the youth/young 20's tent magically disappeared whilst they were in a meeting ;D We awoke in the morning to find our caravan lookign like that^ all the site bins/signs etc ;D  The right hand side one is 95 at a Camping and caravan site in Crowborough were a load of families went every May bank Holiday (all photos are from crowborough bar the stoneliegh ones!) Then what we upgraded to! A young lad open his door after the car went past and took out the side of the caravan as we left Stoneliegh, writing off the caravan  Dad smashed the Granny up shortly after so we upgraded all round Galaxy had a really rare Ford roofbox which sealed to the top of the windscreen and bolted down very low to the roof. A very cool feature, loads of space but most importantly brilliant for smoothing the airflow for towing Was an awesome set up |
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simes
Part of things
Posts: 734
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Oct 23, 2011 15:43:30 GMT
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With regards to the date of manufacturer.
I think if you have a look at the drawbar there should be a date stamp.
Ps. Years ago we had the Sprite between yours and the Musketeer....Musketeers always tended to be pulled by Maxi's.
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Simes
205Mi16 - 262 cams, Jenvey Throttle Bodies, Emerald managment blah blah......
E91 320D MSport
Honda NC30
Vespa 300GTS
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Oct 23, 2011 17:59:31 GMT
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still trying to find pics of my old one. but you seen it any way old bean... BUT if it was my van old bean i'd rip all the gas stuff out and replace with electric(gas cost you extra) as when you book on most sites you pay for your electric anyway why add to ya cost with gas too. for lights use 12 volt and ad a solar panel to charge battery up!!!! yes you will spend saay 100quid but if think it will and does say you alot on gas. this is what I did to our old one and the van after that................ INFACT YOUR THEARD HAS MADE ME BUY a 1989 spirte major that needsa make over. it will be getting moded so my missus can use it(ill health reason we sold other van) as she misses going away. now need to get her a biggish automatic so she can tow it herself as she cant drive the astra any more as its a mannual..... The plan at the moment is to use this for day trips with the kids and dogs. Should be cheap as we bought a V40 last month with factory lpg setup! Gonna keep the gas at the mo as my dad has a matching gas cylinder half full going for free. The van has 12v lights that don't work off the 240v, but found a leisure battery connection so will try to source a cheap one. 240v will hopefully be taken care off- been given a 690W generator with a snapped pull cord (but full of fuel) and a broken chainsaw with pull cord intact. Will try to combine the two next weekend! Stick up a picture of your new sprite:-) |
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89 Masterace Surf
03 Astra
03 V40 Sport
09 E90 M Sport
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555 
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Oct 29, 2011 20:47:08 GMT
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That's definitely a Sprite 400 of early/mid 1970's vintage. If you look on the drawbar you should find a plate with a serial number on. Yhe first two numbers are the year of manufacture.
The Sprite range back then went Cadet/400/Alpine/Muskateer/Major. Both the bigger vans pictured in this thread are Muskateers, the 16-foot Major was recognisable by it's full-width skylight running across the part where the roof kicks up.....which is why few Majors survive as it used to leak like a sieve.
PCD is the same as both Ford 100E and Peugeot 504/505.
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Oct 29, 2011 21:05:05 GMT
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Cool, will check out the drawbar in daylight tomorrow. Had it out for the afternoon with the kids yesterday and it was great. Couple of wee issues - mantle for gas lamp is disintegrating rapidly, and door is catching on frame.
Mantles are available on ebay so will get on to that. Door will require some finessing with a hammer I feel:)
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89 Masterace Surf
03 Astra
03 V40 Sport
09 E90 M Sport
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mr
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,620
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Oct 31, 2011 11:15:34 GMT
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i did a thread in the other mod section bout my retro caravan,everyone should have one .
love it mate, love old caravans me and for £50 you got a real bargain. i painted ours with acrylic house paint! people love real old vans on the sites when you turn up too. ive got me a tow bar for my 82 granada so i can tow mine behind it. theres a "gobour" on ebay right now for £100 or so quid. thats a folding jobbie and just looks the danglies.
i recon retro caravans will be the "new" camper vans.
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Got the car from 105 bhp at the crank to 152 at the wheels.nitrous going on next.....if it ain't broke,keep bolting on go faster parts until it is........ www.fordgranadaclubuk.freefo.de |
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Oct 31, 2011 18:16:07 GMT
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I did a thread in the other mod section bout my retro caravan,everyone should have one . love it mate, love old caravans me and for £50 you got a real bargain. I painted ours with acrylic house paint! people love real old vans on the sites when you turn up too. ive got me a tow bar for my 82 granada so I can tow mine behind it. theres a "gobour" on ebay right now for £100 or so quid. thats a folding jobbie and just looks the danglies. I recon retro caravans will be the "new" camper vans. Saw your thread the other week mate, I posted my old folding Casita on it(behind my old 740). Your thread is what made me have a look at Gumtree which is where I found this one:-) Love your paint job- looks great! My Casita was a real crowd pleaser on sites. So far I've only used this one twice for day trips and have had three folk come over to have a chat about it! Retro caravans are for WINNERS :-D |
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89 Masterace Surf
03 Astra
03 V40 Sport
09 E90 M Sport
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mr
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,620
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thanks mate,i like green cars so it wasnt gonna be any other colour. caravans are the new big thing apparently and so are camping holidays too. plus you get a spare "room" when people stay round your house too. ive got some chrome hubs for mine but i need to weld lugs onto the rims to fit them. got a set of blue dots too just to keep it retro. everyone likes old stuff and what better accessorie to a retro car is there?  ? you gonna paint yours i was tempted to get the sides hand painted with pinstripes but we'll see how things go. mines hiding at the end of the garden for the winter......till next year when itll be taken everywhere. "Retro caravans are for WINNERS :-D " here here!!!!!!!!!well said |
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Got the car from 105 bhp at the crank to 152 at the wheels.nitrous going on next.....if it ain't broke,keep bolting on go faster parts until it is........ www.fordgranadaclubuk.freefo.de |
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No plans to paint mine yet- will maybe think about that in the spring. My sister's an art teacher and wants to mural it :-)
Pinstripes could work- yours looks long n low so would well suit that:-)
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89 Masterace Surf
03 Astra
03 V40 Sport
09 E90 M Sport
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mr
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,620
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a muralled caravan sounds a bit different,a heavily but tastfully graffitti'd one would look cool too if done properly. hadnt even thought of that.
if i get a chance ill probably look into lowering mine a bit too. may need to lose the sprung arms and fit leaf springs a back axle off an escort or similar though
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Got the car from 105 bhp at the crank to 152 at the wheels.nitrous going on next.....if it ain't broke,keep bolting on go faster parts until it is........ www.fordgranadaclubuk.freefo.de |
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well heres mine ! 1972 sprite ariel it similar to a cadet 10ft long and 4 berth i ll post a couple now its almost finished when I'm back at work ive not seen any others yet its a bit of a strange model as its inbetween the cadet and 400 and the alpine its got a ally plate on the side of the a frame with a date and name on it in case yours is there too oh and it was £50 too  |
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These were taken about 1987 judging by my clothes. It was already an old van by then!
[*]
Dad smashed the Granny up shortly after so we upgraded all round 
Ax GTi Turbo
?