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NEWS
Old is vogue again
Vintage caravan display at Melbourne Leisurefest proves popularVintage caravans are high fashion again, with the Bondwood and early fibreglass models from the 1940s to 1970s guaranteed to draw a crowd at any caravan park or RV show.
This year’s Melbourne Leisurefest featured a
display of golden oldies coordinated by enthusiasts Doug and Vicki Barratt and its fortuitous placement under the Sandown grandstand ensured a steady stream of visitors on the rainy opening day of the show.
Garnering most interest was their striking, cream and red 1940s Bondwood teardrop camper that with its ‘pop-top’ roof was designed to provide cool comfort on beachside holidays in the days long before mobile air conditioning.
A 1960s timber and fibreglass Mintern Expanda van, 1960s Pixi polished aluminium van and fibreglass Olympic Debonair also drew lots of interest from passing bystanders.
What surprised some visitors was how little caravan design has really changed over the years, with items like ensuites, opening roof hatches, interior kitchens, hot water services and café dinette seating seen on models built many years ago.
The principal difference of course in modern caravans is in the lightweight materials used, their larger size and the wider range of domestic-style appliances now incorporated as standard.
A further highlight of the display was the pairing of some of the vintage caravans to classic tow vehicles, with a Holden FC and a Fairlane 500 hitched up for the show.
In the days before recreational 4WDs you really had little choice between a family ‘sedan’ and a small truck to haul your van, although the smaller size and lighter weight of the older caravans demanded little more and highway speeds were much lower.
Another trend being observed on the road is for people to use classic cars and
even modified ‘street rods’ to haul late model lightweight caravans and pop tops, adding an element of style and a great talking point to highway holidays.
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Written byMichael Browning
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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