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

[goransons]

Rear window help..

Does anyone know a source for the hinge for the sash (glass half not screen half) on the emergency window in the back? The window fell out today and finished off the glass. Figured out the just crammed it in there and painted it shut. I'm not sure I can ever straighten it enough. I'm open to suggestions!

[HiHoAgRV]

Geez, that hinge is a rough one. I have made some short sections but it was not easy. I built a special shoe to go into a finger break, even then it was trial and error and error and error

[goransons]

I'm guessing l need to find a donor window but I'll remove the hinge and see if any local shops feel like a challenge.

That's some amazing work by the way!!

This morning I had a real productive day of paint removal. I finished the bottom curb side rear corner and 5 1/2 rear segments. I can start to see the light and the end of the tunnel for this stage of work. I'm just finishing gallon #6

[66Overlander]

Boy you can now see that the prototype 7-panel end cap segments are not as rounded as the eventual 1957 to 1963 shape. True one of a kind.

[goransons]

Well we are "done". Just some steel wool to remove the last of the etching primer and we can move on to the next stage, front frame repairs. I picked up everything so I can mock up all the steel this weekend so our welder can do his magic.

I've paid for a Kreft refrigerator and shipping on it. I hope to have it by the end of the month.

Here's some pictures of where I stopped today. Will be all aluminum tomorrow. Not so pretty but considering the roofing seal coat plus layers of paint that are gone, it feels great. Oh and the cans, the story they tell

Last picture is my poor rear bumper. Anybody have tricks on how to bend a new one?

[goransons]

Not much work has happened lately. We've been camping a ton! Welding to start soon but wanted to share that my refrigerator arrived yesterday. Found it digging around the forums on old threads in Pie Town, New Mexico. We Purchased it almost a month ago but it took awhile to arrange shipping. Looks great, and just plugged it in to see if by chance the electric element works. If not thankfully prairieschooner has a great thread on his restoration (1958 Traveler Restoration).

[Monza]

Very cool find and thanks for the super informative entertaining thread!

Keep up the good work, good luck with the research and restoration.

[goransons]

Thanks! It's an adventure. Reading the manual and the other thread I realized this is missing the electric element and the materials at the top to trim it out. Guess the search will continue! Also am going to need one more shelf and 2 shelf pegs. But not a bad unit overall. I guess I'll dig out a spare regular and see if I can fire it up on gas.

[57Vintage]

Here's a photo of the electrical element, in case you haven't seen one. I found a couple more pieces for the frig the other day. I'll send them with the hehr roof vent bases. I will try and get them to you before we leave for the black out rally.

Also attached a photo of the wall heater control so you know what matches the one you picked up.

[prairieschooner]

I made a couple of comments on my restoration but all of my thermostats are newer. A couple of the front posts for the shelves were broken so I made new ones & will try and get a couple of pics of those as well.
You inside panel for the door looks much better than mine. Mine was so bad I replaced it with a sheet of ABS & traded the extra parts to 57Vintage.
Door Gasket came from Antique Appliances;
http://store.antiqueappliances.com/D...skets_c_8.html

[prairieschooner]

In case you missed these on my restoration pages here is a link to a Norcold Manual and the Krefft as an attachment;
http://vintagetrailertalk.freeforums...gerator-manual

[goransons]

Thank you for the manual! Is that forum still active?

Today I did a bunch of cutting. I'm happy to report that with just over 3 feet removed I'm back to good metal.

Tomorrow I'll cut the new steel and remove the one crossmember.

I'm going to double up the step outriggers on both sides because neither bolts to the body and I hate flex at the door. Lots of clean up to do before welding left to do, but cleaned up most of the front 8 feet for por-15 which will go on after welding.

[prairieschooner]

yes just that I am moving on to my '52 Pontiac as well as finishing up the Traveler

[goransons]

Great article on our trailer by Joe The historian on page 30 and 31 in the Blur Beret August issue

[Bostap]

Hi
Just got the new issue of the Blue Beret and read the about your find. We live in The Netherlands and have a 55 safari (planning a 6week summer trip in 2018 to the USA with oud Safari and our 67 international crewcab).

I can help you find the solex here if you are not able to get it in the USA!

Kind regards
Dick van den Bos
28255

[Hittenstiehl]

Yes very nice write up. Beautiful save.

[goransons]

Originally Posted by Bostap

Hi
Just got the new issue of the Blue Beret and read the about your find. We live in The Netherlands and have a 55 safari (planning a 6week summer trip in 2018 to the USA with oud Safari and our 67 international crewcab).

I can help you find the solex here if you are not able to get it in the USA!

Kind regards
Dick van den Bos
28255

Thanks! That could be really cool. I've kept an eye out on Craigslist around our area and have seen 1 or 2 mid to late 60's models turn up in the $800-$1000 dollar range but they don't have the same look. Let me know if you come across something. I'd rather find something turn key if I can work that in my budget. With the money pit the trailer is plus the 55 Cadillac I bought to fix up to tow it I have more projects than I can shake a stick at and a huge hole in the bottom of my wallet.

[Bostap]

Do you have pictures what it should look like or model name/numbers

[goransons]

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

[66Overlander]

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!

Searching on-line, it appears Wally bought a VeloSolex 660 after the caravan arrived in Europe. The VeloSolex 660 was only offered in 1956 & maybe early 1957 (according to history on the below linked web site), rather than the slightly curvier VeloSolex 330 that was last offered in 1955. The VeloSolex 1010 apparently replaced the 660 in 1957. To me the 1010 looks a lot like the 660, in case one of those is easier to locate, but the 600 should be the most correct model.

https://cyclemaster.wordpress.com/page-17-velosolex/