Ice cream vans
Discussion
Back in the early 2000's when Michael Schumacher was at his prime and winning races every-other Sunday, our local Ice Cream van (obviously a MS / Ferrari fan) used to roll round playing the German and Italian national anthems on his chimes..
...which really pissed the OAPs in the street right off!
...which really pissed the OAPs in the street right off!
Leptons said:
True of course, but still plays havoc with my mechanical sympathy. They must get horribly sootted up.
Interesting. I had no idea until tonight that a diesel runs cold at idle. We often idle our cars at work for long periods with no apparent ill effect, even on the DPF. I had always thought it odd that you could idle a diesel on a hot day for ages and still not trigger the fan on switch off. ambuletz said:
in my area there used to be an ice cream van that had the 'if you go down to the woods today' song as its jingle. only ALL of the notes would go out of tune when he was driving around slowly. it was very creepy.
Not in Wavertree Liverpool by any chance? There was one there when I was at uni. Same out of tune melody. Never used to sell any ice cream either....Valgar said:
It's probably because even he old ones are still worth a lot of money, to be honest it's not the vehicle that's worth the money, it's the machines. I once looked into getting an ice cream van myself but even for an old mid 90s transit with a proper soft machine on board was/is £10k+
Also the body conversions aren't cheap either initially.
As much as the machines are worth a lot of money - its the "business" you are buying as well, the opportunity to make a lot more money than you shell out. Also the body conversions aren't cheap either initially.
Those under a contract with Walls or similar, get yourself a pitch at a big festival or similar and even after paying site fees, overheads and what have you, can still clear £500/day
Vandenberg said:
In the early 90s, the local ice cream mad used to do a nice sideline in european hardcore filth.
Must be something like this going on with the chap who lives up the road from me - he goes out in all weather's, chimes a-chiming come rain, shine, snow, sub-zero temperatures etc. Its that or he's the local drug dealer (which is always what urban rumours tell you about anything)
Not sure if this one's still in use (the 1928 Morris, nearest)
http://www.hockingsicecream.co.uk/Images/pic_vans1...
http://www.hockingsicecream.co.uk/Images/pic_vans1...
We have a small fleet of classic vans that do events, most Mk1 Bedford CF's.
A few facts: A "whippy" machine is usually an italian Carpigiani, they cost a fortune (new one is circa £15K) and parts for them are ridiculously expensive. They mostly run off the engine, hence why the engine is left running. The new machines can run off electricity via an inverter.
A new LWB Sprinter to a good spec will be at least £80K and possibly over 100K.
Used old vans fetch very good money if they are "soft" vans...ie not scoop. The problem is you will spend more time fixing the ice cream machine in a badly maintained old van than selling ice cream, not difficult to spend £4 or 5 grand refurbing a Carpi machine, hence when you see a very clean well maintained T/W/X reg Sprinter van with a whitby morrison body they are still £15-20K.
Finally the business is obviously seasonal and VERY weather dependent, rain kills it stone dead.
Those doing the streets during the winter time will be lucky to earn minumum wage
A few facts: A "whippy" machine is usually an italian Carpigiani, they cost a fortune (new one is circa £15K) and parts for them are ridiculously expensive. They mostly run off the engine, hence why the engine is left running. The new machines can run off electricity via an inverter.
A new LWB Sprinter to a good spec will be at least £80K and possibly over 100K.
Used old vans fetch very good money if they are "soft" vans...ie not scoop. The problem is you will spend more time fixing the ice cream machine in a badly maintained old van than selling ice cream, not difficult to spend £4 or 5 grand refurbing a Carpi machine, hence when you see a very clean well maintained T/W/X reg Sprinter van with a whitby morrison body they are still £15-20K.
Finally the business is obviously seasonal and VERY weather dependent, rain kills it stone dead.
Those doing the streets during the winter time will be lucky to earn minumum wage
Edited by POORCARDEALER on Monday 27th June 12:19
Baryonyx said:
Leptons said:
True of course, but still plays havoc with my mechanical sympathy. They must get horribly sootted up.
Interesting. I had no idea until tonight that a diesel runs cold at idle. We often idle our cars at work for long periods with no apparent ill effect, even on the DPF. I had always thought it odd that you could idle a diesel on a hot day for ages and still not trigger the fan on switch off. 
king hell, the return on that must be almost a lifetime, shirley?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff