New 'old iron' warning- not sporty.

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Perhaps some may be interested to see my new toys, its a 1928 Vauxhall 20/60 tugging my 1929 Eccles Deluxe caravan. If you see me about at shows come over for a freshly brewed cuppa.

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Thank you for generous comments, although the outfit chugs along at a reasonable pace of 40mph on the flat, it is of course slow by modern standards. Careful watching what is stuck behind and use of laybys makes sure were all happy on the road. Petrol consumption is 12-13mpg when towing (ouch)
Amazingly, I am just the third owner of the caravan, the first owner was 1930 - 1988. second owner restored the caravan back to original spec' and I purchased last year. Caravan is complete with all original fittings and fixtures as supplied by Eccles when new. Pots and pans + crockery are all original. Biggest worry is fire, it would go up like 'Top Gears' caravan a few years ago!

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Toffer said:

Fantastic!

Is there room in that cosy-looking caravan for the lucky heather and clothes pegs?

Maybe! wondering if I should change from crankedup to .

edited to remove non pc name.

Edited by crankedup on Thursday 21st March 17:10

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eccles said:

It was the least I could do.


Great looking set up. Hope to see some, or all of it at Ufford.

Yup, looking forward to Ufford, not sure if I will take my Eccles, bit concerned peeps will think I'm the burger van Vauxhall is awaiting the laying on of hands at the Scole car hospital, top end overhaul and new piston rings.

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extremekiter said:

Thats is stunning!!!!

Myself and WIJ933 (Neil) are in the caravan industry and have been for many many years and i have to say i didnt know Eccles made caravans that long ago.

I would love to have a look at sometime, thats truely stunning!!!

Justyn

Thanks for compliment, Eccles started making caravans and had the first on the road in 1919, my one is amongst the last of the 'cottage on wheels' style. In 1930 they started production on the streamlined style (rounded at both ends basically. The 'cottage on wheels' were all hand built with no production line at all apparently.

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Atlantic1952 said:

crankedup said:

Perhaps some may be interested to see my new toys, its a 1928 Vauxhall 20/60 tugging my 1929 Eccles Deluxe caravan. If you see me about at shows come over for a freshly brewed cuppa.

Hello David,
Your Eccles is lovely. I am restoring a 1930 Eccles 16c (google it and you will see on Flickr) and need to reproduce the brass plaque for the draw bar. The trouble is I have no idea what it should look like. Can you send me a picture please?
Many thanks, George

Hi George, good to hear from a fellow vintage caravan/car owner. Your Eccles 16c, that is the 'wind down' collapse and tow tourer, very rare and desirable. I couldn't find a link to your images though, perhaps you can provide a direct link as I am very interested in your caravan.
As for the manufacturers plate for the draw-bar, to my best knowledge they were never used, I could be mistaken. I do know that Eccles used a manufacturers plate inside the early caravans and it was fixed above the door. It was the oval brass plate used.
Please P.M. me for a discussion and detail exchanges.

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Thanks for sorting the caravan link Eccles. Weather permitting I will be bringing along my caravan this year to Ufford.

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Thread update!!
Sold the Eccles and now enjoy a ‘Angela’ caravan of c1925 (the Eccles was a little to modern

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eccles said:

That'll look nice behind your Fiat coupe...

It will have to be towed behind a modern unfortunately, the pre war iron has gone now. (Hope Ufford is on next year).

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irocfan said:

wow!! I have to admit to not liking caravans (a childhood spent doing that was enjoyable but that's my limit) but that is quite something (in a good way!)

Edited by irocfan on Thursday 16th July 15:31

Thank you, and the Duke also.
It has a paraffin cooker c/w oven, a nod to modernity and comfort. Have to confess I use a modern two burner calor hidden up in the caravan.
I use the caravan for stoping over long weekends at steam rallies, absolutely freezing start of season and near end season as well, no heating and very draughty. Wife refuses to join me, can’t imagine why

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boxy but good said:

crankedup said:

Thread update!!
Sold the Eccles and now enjoy a ‘Angela’ caravan of c1925 (the Eccles was a little to modern

Is that the one you had when I came and sorted your drains ?

Yup, hidden under a cover at the time.
Apparently ‘Angela’ the company who built it as a prototype, by time it was completed to satisfaction the style was outdated by the new streamlining entering into fashion around 1928/9. Also it was far to expensive to build, so that’s it, just this one. It’s a lot lighter than my old Eccles far easier to move around.