Morning all,
This is the new project, then - a Series IIA 109" Carawagon with the six-cylinder petrol engine. Whereas I turned the Series III around in a year, this is going to be more of a long-haul job. I'd been after a Carawagon for a couple of years and this was the first to come up with the spec I was ideally looking for - cost rather more than I hoped at auction, but given that the plan is to keep and use it for the long run, I'm telling myself that that won't matter too much in the grand scheme of things!
Currently it falls into the 'derelict' category - prior to being trailered home, it hadn't moved from under a tree for eleven years and had an ecosystem of its own. It rolls without any worrying noises, and the engine turns by hand, but that's about all I can say for it at present. The bulkhead needs the usual footwells etc., but is solid in the main. I haven't had a proper look over the chassis yet, but early impressions are that a new one may well be the sensible option. The driver and passenger seats need re-covering, probably along with the main bench seat/bed. The cupboards are in good nick, and the canvas beds in the roof are okay too - I've tested them and they're holding up fine - surprisingly comfortable, too! Unfortunately the original stove is missing. Wiring looks like being the worst job once again - it's been done really badly in the past and there are block connectors everywhere. Much of it is held in place by duct tape. There's also an LPG system that hasn't been used since at least 1998 - that'll be going.
Anyway, photographs.
Arriving in the tipping down rain, which naturally stopped the instant we'd finished unloading:
Engine bay looks fairly chaotic, with all sorts of aftermarket electrics. Help. Note LPG vaporiser:
Flora and fauna:
Roof still lifts okay, albeit with much creaking:
Looking a touch happier about life post-jet-wash:
I believe the metal strips on the bonnet and wing-tops are original and once retained rubber matting of some sort:
Left things to air for a while - cable is for a de-humidifier. Attracted some funny looks from passers-by:
Main roof section still looks quite tidy inside:
Wooden side panels are badly rotted. They look straightforward enough to replace, however:
Perspex roof windows are quite 'cloudy':
Hand-pumped tap works fine still:
Roof-rack is original, I think. Plan is to replace the wooden parts and retain:
Gearbox with standard sludge coating. Unsure when the overdrive was fitted:
Both wings have some filler which is cracking. Otherwise, panels are pretty straight:
Carawagon badges are faded, but legible:
Electric hook-up where the fuel filler should be. Currently there is a military type under-seat fill tank:
Pull-out awning support above the rear door. Haven't got it to budge yet:
Paint is worn through to the metal in places:
Looks almost usable from this angle!:
Dash is mostly quite tidy, front seats less so:
Interior with roof down. Mostly in good order:
My initial plan is to re-build the top end of the engine and hopefully get it running again - I'll have a look at the state of the bores while I'm at it. If that goes well, the clutch hydraulics will be up next to see if it will move under its own steam. I can't finance a full re-build yet, so for now it'll be a case of removing and refurbishing what I can, to hopefully make the main job quicker when it comes. This is my first IIA, so I'll have quite a few questions in terms of what's standard/original, and what isn't, before we even get to the Carawagon conversion. It's going to be a few years, but I'll keep you all posted!
Phil