Caravans West goes classic

Melbourne dealer Caravans West had a mix of classic and cutting edge at this year’s Melbourne Leisurefest, displaying two, brightly-coloured vintage caravans alongside the latest Kingston Bell models fitted with innovative Sky-Deck balconies.

Attracting plenty of attention, the cute 1950s green bondwood caravan and early-1960s yellow/silver Millard Florida van are part of a growing collection of classive RVs owned by Caravans West boss Alan Bell.

Still in excellent working order, the 14ft 6in Florida van was built at Millard’s Smithfield, NSW factory at a time when it boasted around 250 employees and was one of Australia’s major caravan manufacturers.  

Some of the nostalgic features included a textured, bare aluminium rolled-over roof design typical of the era, along with other period details like an ice box and methylated spirits cooker.

Despite ‘Not for Sale’ signs, Bell said he had many serious offers “above $10,000” at the show, mainly from owners of classic cars looking for a period-matching caravan.

Bell, who started working in the caravan industry in 1973 and established Caravans West in 1999, said he currently has four vintage examples including a 1979 Viscount Supreme on display at his Springvale, Victoria dealership. 

“I’m gradually getting together an iconic example from each decade, that’s my plan anyway. We’ve got the room to house them, and it does get our customers interested in seeing stuff that they probably enjoyed as kids,” he said.

The oldest is a motorhome based on a 1929 Chev LQ light truck that was originally used as a “sanitary carting vehicle” before being converted by a Sydney-based commercial builder.

Currently in a dilapidated condition, Bell plans to restore it back to original condition but only when his staff find the time in Caravan West’s busy service and repair centre.

Bell’s affinity with old caravans is not surprising considering he’s sold and worked on many of the models during a 40 year career that includes the halcyon days of the late-1970s when more than 30,000 caravans were built annually in Australia, compared to around 20,000 today.

“I can remember those days when you only had to stand there with a cap on and people would grab your clothes and fight over you to buy that caravan that was sitting in front. It was unbelievable,” he said.

“Most of the manufacturers from that era died when world oil prices were pushed through the roof by the Arabs. That finished off Franklin, Chesney, Coronet, Glendale… most of the iconic brands known in those days all died within two to three years of each other because nobody would buy a six cylinder or V8 car because the price of driving it virtually doubled overnight.”

Bell is always on the lookout for other examples to join his collection, as long as they’re an “unmolested original unit” and he's currently pursuing a 1974 Viscount Supreme in close to original condition after being stored undercover for much of its life.

“We get a bit of pleasure out of people looking at them and saying, Wow, I remember when Dad bought one of those,” he said.