Portafold caravan.

Hi, Does anyone who may be looking in or lurking own a classic caravan.? One that comes to mind is the Portafold. Pat.

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Pat
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I've got a mid-1930's Eccles caravan (apparently)! It's rotting away in my garden and is full of garden tools and mini parts. It hasn't moved since 1964...

-- Howard Rose

1966 VW Beetle 1300 Deluxe 1962 Austin Mini Deluxe 1964 Austin Mini Super Deluxe
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Howard Rose

Hi Howard, That is a shame ...have you ever thought of restoring it.? Would love to see a photo of it...do you have one you could send me. We are soon to have a portafold a 1960's fold down caravan. It only weighs 7cwt. However I would love to see your 1930's one. Pat.

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Pat

I've been *told* it's 1930's, someone on this newsgroup found a photo on an identical caravan in a book which stated it was a 1936 Eccles. I've been trying to date it, but there seems to be no chassis number that I've found (yet!). I've seen a similar (but larger) 1930's Eccles which does look very, very similar in it's design!

It was in the garden of a house I moved into 2 years ago, the previous owner moved it there in 1964 to use as a storage shed and it hasn't moved since. The tow hook has rotted away, and it's looking a bit sorry for itself... but it does look restorable - with a lot of work. It's timber-framed with aluminium panelling on the outside with 16" wheels.

I've uploaded some photos, I took this set in October 2001...

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The 1960's portafold sounds interesting, any photos? :-)

-- Howard Rose

1966 VW Beetle 1300 Deluxe 1962 Austin Mini Deluxe 1964 Austin Mini Super Deluxe
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Howard Rose

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Bernard

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Howard Rose saying something like:

Jeez, I'd throw a gallon of petrol in that followed by a match. Hang on though, 'Jerry' might be interested in it, seeing as how it's a 'real classic'.

Reply to
Grimly Curmudgeon

Why? It's a very useful thing for storing Mini parts in :-)

-- Howard Rose

1966 VW Beetle 1300 Deluxe 1962 Austin Mini Deluxe 1964 Austin Mini Super Deluxe
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(cars and email on website)
Reply to
Howard Rose

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Howard Rose saying something like:

I'm surprised there's a floor still left in it that would take the weight of any Mini parts. It should be thoroughly rotted out by now.

Reply to
Grimly Curmudgeon

Old caravans were built of sterner stuff than modern ones. My 1987 ABI has had two new floors in it. But the 1979 Thomson that the kids play in has tongued & grooved floorboards - heavy, but strong!

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Chris Bolus

Hi Howard, Thank you for taking the time to post them. A friend of mine is into old caravans so I will let him take a look. As we as classic cars owners know what restoration is . Lots of hard work. Bet someone ...somewhere would make a lovely job of that. But as a storage place bet you keep lots of things in there since taking the pictures. :-) When at car shows we see lots of old caravans from the gypsy type to the portafold. Restored with loving care. Pat.

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Pat

Hi Bernard, That was really interesting . Sounds very much like a portafold. However it cannot be as Portafold are UK made. Or at least were. Would love to know the make and anymore about it that you might find out. Pat.

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Pat

Hi, For those who might care to see the portafold. Here is the website of two Portafold being the first.

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you scroll down you can see how it is erected.Bernard you might be interested in that.Would love to know if your friends is similar.Pat.

Reply to
Pat

It's not rotten, just really tatty...

-- Howard Rose

1966 VW Beetle 1300 Deluxe 1962 Austin Mini Deluxe 1964 Austin Mini Super Deluxe
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Reply to
Howard Rose

Assuming it gets out of it's current position in one peice I hope that someone would restore it. I have a feeling it would have to be dismantled if it was ever to be moved though. It wouldn't be too hard since the framework is all screwed together!

It's only rotten in a few places, as I mentioned wooden beam that held the tow hook has rotted away (only on the hook end, under the caravan itself it's perfect since it's not exposed), and the wooden support under the doorframe "floor" isn't too solid either. Apart from that it seems fine.

But as you say, it would need a *complete* restoration from the ground up...

The original colour seemed to have been a dark green, slightly lighter than British Racing Green. It's been about 3000 different colours sinec :-) Never seemed to have any mountings for lights or registration number. The tow hook was a "loop" type.

If your friend can shed any light onto it, I would be keen to hear! The only caravan I have seen that looks similar is this one taken at the Dorset Steam Fair in 2002:

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That's was apparently a 1933 Eccles, and although a lot bigger than mine the "style" was really very similar. Unfortunately I didn't get to speak with the owner.

-- Howard Rose

1966 VW Beetle 1300 Deluxe 1962 Austin Mini Deluxe 1964 Austin Mini Super Deluxe
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(cars and email on website)
Reply to
Howard Rose

That looks very cool!! A friend of mine had one of those (looking at the pictures it MUST have been a Portafold), but unfortunately sold it a couple of years ago.

-- Howard Rose

1966 VW Beetle 1300 Deluxe 1962 Austin Mini Deluxe 1964 Austin Mini Super Deluxe
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Reply to
Howard Rose

Hi

I have a portafold caravan purchased by my Aunt in 1973, I have the original bill of sale which was £365 + awning.

It stood many years as a garden shed but on her death I inherited it, cleaned it up and it can be seen at rallies in Yorkshire.

Tows really well particularly behind my 74 Transit Landliner motorhome when you can't see it in any mirrors which makes reversing fun!

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Tony Simons

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T.Gee

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