LRCC

Afternoon all,

I've been on the forum for a short while, but have only just got round to starting a thread on my vehicle. A number of you will be familiar with it from the Seriously Series forum. After two years of searching for a Carawagon, I acquired this 1968 Series IIA 109" with the 2625cc straight-six petrol engine at auction in September. It had been stood under a tree for eleven years by that point, and as such is in need of a full restoration.

As recovered, complete with assorted lichens and mosses:


Just before Christmas, following the clean-up operation:


The general condition report is that the chassis and bulkhead appear quite easily save-able, inside the engine looks pretty good (thanks to Calum for his advice there), and the interior is in reasonable nick (though unfortunately missing a stove). The lifting roof needs the wooden side panels, 'piano hinge,' perspex windows and all seals replacing, but otherwise looks sound. The wiring has been thoroughly bodged around, so I'll start from scratch with that. It currently has an LPG system, which will be removed.

I tend to record things very thoroughly, and have had a couple of comments on Seriously Series saying that the detail in my thread there may well make it a useful resource to other Carawagon owners, or people looking to build their own camper conversion from scratch. I'll also be updating this thread as I go along with the re-build, but with extra emphasis on the construction of the conversion. The standard mechanical side I will leave to Seriously Series. Hopefully what we'll end up with is a thorough pictorial guide to how a Carawagon conversion fits together. There'll also be an album on Photobucket into which absolutely all of my relevant photographs will go, should anyone wish for even more detail!

I've previously re-built one other Series Land Rover: a 1979 petrol 88" which is my daily runner. Pictured below to demonstrate the current limited scope of my classic camping experience:


This is going to be a very long job, with work occurring a bit at a time, as and when I can. I'll do my best to keep the updates reasonably regular.

Cheers,

Phil

Thanks Phil

I tend to just get on with it and don't think about taking pictures, so hopefully your record will be a great resource.

Cheers,
Robin.

G'day matey, i followed your purchase of that truck and look forward to how you get on, watching people repair rather than buy new i always find fascinating. I wish you the best of luck in your quest to bring your tied old gal back to life and hope you enjoy.

Regards your 88 she looks a little gem and i hope you are proud.

Catch you later. R-Rose .

Hi Phil,

Fantastic project, the bodywork looks in really good condition, good luck.
I have finally managed to finish the restoration of my 1975 carawagon roof, the rest of the vehicle is a rolling restoration as and when it needs more work for the mot. Currently replacing leaking fuel tank, welding the chassis ( OH, not me), cleaning and painting the repaired chassis (me) and behind the tank while I can get to it.

I bought (several years ago) a 1968 carawagon back body with a damaged roof much the same as yours, (much to the disgust of my OH, there was a lot of stress bringing it home). It had the cupboard on the drivers side missing. The aluminium roof sheet is completely beyond repair but will be used for a pattern, I may need to contact you for some photos and measurements of your lovely carawagon.

Regards and all the best

Christine

If it is possible/practical to make a copy of a Carawagon roof, I'd be interested in copies of patterns and contacts for the materials, especially the special roof panel, please.

Yes, anything is possible, but a Carawagon roof might not be the easiest design to make from scratch.

Big Dave on here sourced a modern equivalent to the original Duralim to replace his roof panel, so perhaps a message to him might be worthwhile.

Personally, unless I wanted it to look like a Searle Carawagon roof, if starting from scratch I'd probably go for an X-Panda type HERE , though I would make it for a LWB and hinge it at the front rather than the back, which would mean strengthening across the top of the windscreen for the hinges and probably gas struts.



I would also love to make one like the Calthorpe conversion on Terje's LR HERE which might be simpler to make than the Carawagon





Cheers,
Robin.

Hi
I see ypu have a very nice 2a carawagon
I happen found one myself in pretty original condition..
I see you nention a stove. Seems mibe is missing also how does it look like and can they be found??
Thanls
Eagle

Have you got any pictures of the inside of your Carawagon?

If it's a 'standard' layout (ie. the most common) the stove could have been on the left just inside the back door, above a fridge or cupboard, or it could have been a folding one on the rear door.

This is a more modern stove, as fitted to my 1972 project:


Earlier ones used Dudley stoves, more classic looking:



However, as Carawagons were built to order, anything is possible. It could be that it never had a stove, or was mounted somewhere else.

There was even an oven option, as fitted to Calum's Carawagon.

Pictures would help us to help you.

Cheers,
Robin.

Sorry found the stove...
Its all there.
Eagle