Rockin' retro van from Suncoast Sunnies

Got a thing for vintage vans but don’t want the hassle of owning or restoring an older classic?

One solution is to get in touch with Suncoast Sunnies, a new Queensland-based company that has just started to manufacture reproductions of the 1960s fibreglass Sunliner caravan.

Created using a mould from an original ’65 Sunliner van, the Suncoast Sunnies vans mimic the minimalist, round-edged styling of the ‘60s original but benefit from modern construction methods as well as modern fittings and appliances.

At just 13ft long, the vintage-look van has a Tare of 540kg and ATM of 750kg, making it towable by most vehicles.

Ken Bannister of Suncoast Sunnies got the idea to produce the retro vans after owning a 1966 Sunliner van and discovering through vintage van clubs and hot rodding circles that there was still demand for the charming classics after all these years.

“We got involved with the vintage caravan movement about three years ago and (the Sunliner vans) have become popular everywhere,” he explained. “I started by creating a mould off a ‘65 Sunliner and produced some for my (five) boys.

“I then got a heap of enquiries, and spent $40,000 on the body alone to get it perfect. We then took a mould off it, and we’re not far off getting our first customer-ready one finished”.

According to Bannister, the trend-setting Sunliner caravans were originally produced by Mid North Coast Moulded Products in Forster, NSW from 1958 until the factory closed down in 1966. 

Like the original, the Suncoast Sunnies van has a fully reinforced fibreglass body, albeit built using modern boat-building construction methods.

“We put extra foam in the roof for insulation and strength, and we’re building them a little bit thicker than the original bodies were,” he says.

Other updates include Camec tinted windows and modern hinges and locks, while the large flash along the side of the original Sunliner vans have been replaced with more subtle spears to identify the new versions as reproductions.

The fibreglass body is mounted onto a powdercoated box chassis with an extended drawbar that’s 320mm longer than the original’s. Leaf spring suspension, 15-inch wheels and Al-Ko electric brakes complete the underpinnings.

The interior layout includes an innerspring double bed (or two singles) at the rear, with fibreglass cabinets running along all four sides and a club lounge/dinette at the front that can be converted to another bed.

Although a sink with tap connected to a water tank is fitted, a cooktop will be optional to help maximise interior space.

“We’re trying to convince people to have a BBQ and cook outside,” explains Bannister.

Powering the 12V/240V Waeco 80 litre fridge freezer and LED lighting is a 12V electrical system which includes battery, charger and 240V inverter.

Buyers will be able to customise colours, trim and floor coverings, adding ‘60s style fabrics and multi-coloured cupboard fascias if they desire.

“We’ll give you some options on what retro look you want,” he says.

Bannister says most interest so far has come from vintage van enthusiasts as well as hot rodders who like to customise old vans to match the period-look of their unique tow vehicle.

Pricing starts at $27,500 on the road, with the factory able to custom-build up to 40 vans a year if there’s sufficient demand.

Bannister says he plans to have a website up and running in March, which will include photos of the first completed van. In the meantime, you can contact Suncoast Sunnies on 0499 060 656 or email at sales@suncoastsunnies.com.au.