Brian Bowmer from Brisbane
Australia is restoring this Dormobile camper. The camper was originally
privately imported from England so has the English badging rather than
the badging found on the factory imported Australian units.
Most of the mechanical work
has been done and the camper interior is progressing well. The rear seat
folds forward to sleep two and a further two sleeping berths are
available in the roof extension.
These are two of mine
that are being restored to a 1960's theme. The first Thames I owned in
1976 was painted like this - very similar to a VW Kombi van. One of
these is a 1963 van with side door (3 speed) and the other is a 1965 van
with no side door(4 speed) and is one of the last ones built. (Badged as
Ford)
The 1963 van has been
signwritten for Midtown Bakery as in the above photo and the other one
will be done the same. The red colour is a bit too modern looking so
will shortly be redone in a darker post office
red.
A recently repainted van in
Perth West Australia. Still used in a business and still going
strong.
 
Update 20/01/03 Some photos
from Mark Hoyer of California USA of his friend Ray's 1961 van. Original
3 speed gearbox has been replaced with a late model Ford 4 speed
box.
 
Interior shots showing the
driving position of a left-hand drive Thames. Pre 1963 models had
indicators and horn in the steering wheel centre, after 1963 they were
moved to the side of the steering column.
 
Update
26/01/03 John Timmons and Stuart Goodwin
built this chopped van a couple of years ago. The van features a
mid-mounted Rover V8 and a Jag rear and was featured in Street Machine
(UK) magazine.
Stuart's website is at http://www.chinga.co.uk/stu-art
 
Graham Coventry in the UK owns this green and white van and
recently aqquired blue dormobile
 
Graham is also a
Raliegh Chopper enthusiast and has a fantastic website at
 
Chris Hutchinson from Brisbane owns this van with side door and pop-up roof seen at the All British Day recently.
The van appears to be another British import as it has a "15" badge on the front and different numbering to the local Australian models. The pop-up roof supporting
frame is contructed of wood.
John Altonen in
the USA owns this pre- '63 van with side -door
 
Jim Harlaar from
Victoria Australia has a large collection of Thames vans aquired over
many years. Jim and his father have been driving, repairng and
modifying these since new. The grey and blue van above may be the
oldest Thames remaining in Australia with a chassis number in the
18000's making it about mid 1958. It has been fitted with a mark 1
zephyr six and auto.
 
  
 
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