FOUND!! Wally Byam's '55 Cruiser - 1956 European Caravan trailer

[goransons]

Today I finally had some cooler weather (80's) and was able to cut almost all the new metal. I'm adding two additional outriggers to tie the step into the shell. I hate mushy step areas. We are also adding a piece of angle iron halfway between the #1 bow and the angle iron little outrigger by the front window to help better support the 200 lb krefft refrigerator better. Everything is mocked up with some temporary angle iron straight edges and lots of clamps. The splice on the tongue will also get an 1/8th in plate added on both sides.

[Bostap]

Attachment 292121

A Quick search. This looks a lot like it!

[Bostap]

And the picture

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Bostap

And the picture

This is similar, but appears to be missing the fuel(?) tank at the seat post and the rear support for the front fender also differs from the Solex seen in the above photo with Rally.

[Bostap]

I will keep looking. Prices vary from €200,00 ( not running) to €1000,00 for really nice ones.

[goransons]

Thank you Bostap!

[goransons]

Today I did more prep for welding. The step which was a disaster area is finally getting put back together. A repair to the left arm is cut and clamped. The front handle and catch is all straightened and working correctly. Lastly I finished stripping paint off the tongue to prep for a couple welds on the bottle holder and so I can shoot all the por-15 at once.


Oh and I finally broke down and rebuilt my H-20 lock. New lock cylinder, new handle and spring. Works pretty good but the latch return spring seems weak. I'm hoping it's just a bit stiff and the lubricant will help it free up.

Last thing if anyone knows where I can find the right outlet I found a vintage porch light, never used but need the right plug. Looks like this

[66Overlander]

I suspect that the Solex Bostap found is possibly a 1010, 1400, 1700, or 2200, all of which used that same frame. The 1010 had an updated motor compared to the 660. The later models had various other upgrades. The 3300 and models that followed had a different frame.

It appears to me that any of the 660, 1010, 1400, 1700, or 2200 would look much like Wally's Solex with only small differences.

Interestingly, Wally's Solex appears to have a spare fuel tank mounted to the seat tube (the main tank is attached to the engine). I have been unable to find a photo of any other Solex with this tank.

One more finding. The 660 was made from Sept 1955 thru March or April 1957.

[goransons]

While we wait on our welder I'm working on pulling the rest of the front belly pan off so I can begin to make a replacement. The front curb corner is the worst panel on the trailer due to a jack knife and tons of added vents for different refrigerators over the years. Today I pulled the pieces off like the access door to work on them and prep to remove the panel and found more of Wally's hand painted list. Sure wish it could be saved but most paint has failed, panel is buckled and Swiss cheese. I did get a picture for measurements. The one vent I can't make go away totally is on the first end cap segment. What do people think, leave it with a patch behind it or just patch the hole neatly and paint? Which is going to be less noticeable? . Last picture is an old one for reference of the vent location

[goransons]

First round of welding done. More this weekend. Adding outriggers to tie the step and door frame together. Also adding one more support for the krefft refrigerator.



Before he comes back I'll finish grinding the weld where we spliced and cut some plate and get those clamped in place. Slow but it's progress!

At least now I can cut the marine plywood and get the edges sealed.

[66Overlander]

Looks good!

Don't forget that your new fridge outrigger cannot be a full 4" tall, as the belly wrap tapers significantly in the corner. It can be 4" at the rail, but will have to be less the closer it gets to the edge of the trailer.

[goransons]

Thanks Joe, actually it's going to be 1/8" wall 1" angle iron that goes from outrigger by the shell over to main frame rail at an angle so that the outrigger helps support it (otherwise all the stress would be on the plywood and c channel still). Pretty much like the front most little one. I figure every bit helps!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by goransons

Today I pulled the pieces off like the access door to work on them and prep to remove the panel and found more of Wally's hand painted list. Sure wish it could be saved but most paint has failed, panel is buckled and Swiss cheese. I did get a picture for measurements.

If you save the panel, you can do better than a photo. You can use it to get exact measurements of letter height and width and font, etc., at least until you have the list repainted.

Originally Posted by goransons

What do people think, leave it with a patch behind it or just patch the hole neatly and paint? Which is going to be less noticeable?

If the patch is going to be noticeable thru the eventual new paint, I'd probably just leave the vent and close it off behind. To me, visually, the vent would be preferable to a patch and it would be a nod toward the later history of Wally's trailer, having been added some time after it returned from Europe.

Being a curved corner end cap panel, getting an invisible patch might be difficult, but maybe not impossible with bondo or epoxy that could be contoured appropriately. If you can make the hole go away completely, that would also be OK in my mind.

These are just my opinions. Others may think differently.

[goransons]

My summer is quickly disappearing. I test fitted the front plywood and sealed the edges with epoxy. We have more welding to do before we can install it for good. Felt nice to have it in place a bit.



I'm two clips short of being able to put glass back in. I did my best with some scrap 2024 but it's a little brittle and cracked in the corners. So I'm going to try some other kinds. Here was my first attempt (which wasn't good enough for my taste). I've since made a better template of the old one but didn't bother using the same material again.



FYI these weren't Hehr windows. They use 3" clips for the glass and springs to hold it in. If anyone has a donor window I'd be real interested.

While I was at it I made up a new refrigerator access door. I realized the inner hinge has a crack. Anyone have about 10" of this laying around?

[Adiredneck]

Originally Posted by goransons

Thanks to Joe (WBCCI Historian) I have a picture! Not sure on the model number though! Thanks for keeping an eye out!

Is this Wally working on his tow vehicle?

[streaminwild]

I'm glad this trailer found you goranson. Wally is smiling up there somewhere I would patch and paint any extra holes to bring it back to original condition. My 2cents. Let your gut feeling guide the way. Very impressed on how this restoration has expanded to a car and bicycle. Keep up the good work.

[goransons]

Well I finished up the cuts and prep for the rest of the welding this weekend. Tongue was painted with 2 coats of por-15 yesterday and top coated with 3 coats of Alpine White.

Tongue jack is a day behind but it's been stripped, desmantled and por-15'd and will get its top coat tomorrow. Hoping for shell touchdown on the new plywood on Monday.

[David F]

Is the hinge material the same stuff used on the over bin doors (aka circa 1967)? If so, I have some. PM me.

Originally Posted by goransons

My summer is quickly disappearing. I test fitted the front plywood and sealed the edges with epoxy. We have more welding to do before we can install it for good. Felt nice to have it in place a bit.

Attachment 292437

I'm two clips short of being able to put glass back in. I did my best with some scrap 2024 but it's a little brittle and cracked in the corners. So I'm going to try some other kinds. Here was my first attempt (which wasn't good enough for my taste). I've since made a better template of the old one but didn't bother using the same material again.

Attachment 292441

FYI these weren't Hehr windows. They use 3" clips for the glass and springs to hold it in. If anyone has a donor window I'd be real interested.

While I was at it I made up a new refrigerator access door. I realized the inner hinge has a crack. Anyone have about 10" of this laying around?

Attachment 292442Attachment 292443

Attachment 292444Attachment 292446

[goransons]

Sent you a private message. I don't know if it's the same but sent you measurements. Thanks for offering!

[HiHoAgRV]

My '63 has 3" non-hehr windows. Is your trailer a California build also?