Geoff, Kirsty, and Sol, 7, enjoy holidays in a renovated Anglo Imp caravan named Pipi. He says he spent every spare hour for four months refurbishing the once-mouldy rig. Photo/Ben Fraser
Geoff, Kirsty, and Sol, 7, enjoy holidays in a renovated Anglo Imp caravan named Pipi. He says he spent every spare hour for four months refurbishing the once-mouldy rig. Photo/Ben Fraser
An element of the classic Kiwi summer is back-more stylish than ever. Interest in old caravans is spiking, evidenced by rising prices and membership in retro and vintage clubs. Weekend reporter DAWN PICKEN spoke with caravan connoisseurs to find out what it takes to turn a decades-old towable from trash to treasure.
THE OLD GIRL was in rough shape when she was discovered at the back of a rental property in Rotorua's Western Heights.
The early 1970s Anglo Imp is, as her model name implies, tiny. She stretches a mere eleven feet.
New owner Geoff (he's asked us not to use his surname due to the prevalence of caravan theft) says he spent a thousand dollars to buy the "rolling wreck", complete with rotted woodwork, mould and mildew. He repaired or replaced wood, reframed steelwork and stripped down the Imp, removing even rivets and aluminium beads.
New benchtops, sink, curtains, linoleum and wiring were installed.
Geoff says he renovated every night and every weekend for four months. The whole family got involved. Wife Kirsty chose colours while son Sol,7, drilled holes and sanded.
Geoff, Kirsty,
and Sol, 7,. Photo/Ben Fraser
The family named the caravan Pipi, after the shellfish.
Geoff estimates they've invested five to six thousand dollars in the renovation.
"People have told me it's worth $15,000 to $20,000. It's hard to believe. But it was a lot of work. My heart and soul went into it."
Pipi's teal and white exterior is complemented by what Geoff calls an old school awning, complete with old wooden poles. "We did it just to make it fun, summery and to use as it was always intended, as a cheap little family holiday. It was never done as a showpiece, but it kind of ended up that way."
While Geoff's caravan project was a one-off, others have found a niche in renovating old towables for both fun and profit.
Mike Wells of Whakatane is another renovator who searches for oldies to turn into goodies.
He owns a business called Retro Custom Caravans and will restore customers' rigs or find caravans for clients. A blue caravan called Get Rhythm won Best Retro Caravan at the Whangamata Beach Hop both this year and last. His oldest project is one he's currently renovating-a Gypsy bought from a 95-year-old woman.
"They got it new in 1955."
Wells' caravan makeovers start at around $10k. "They used to put caravans in demolition derbies," he says. "They won't now, because they've escalated in price."
His first caravan, called Memphis Belle, sits outside the Blue Haven Motel in Mount Maunganui. Wells bought the early 70s Oxford model for $200 in 2010, stripped it back and rebuilt it into a 16-foot showpiece.
Paula and Craig Jamieson bought the Memphis three years ago. The caravan is done in red, white and black, American diner-style down to the checkerboard linoleum floor.
While Wells renovated the interior, the Jamiesons added their own touches-Marilyn Monroe pictures, Coca-Cola neon clock and tray of faux food.
Craig Jamieson has a retro caravan done up like an American diner. Photo/George Novak
"People come stay and want to rent it and stay in it, but we don't want anyone else using it," says Craig.
He says someone at the Beach Hop offered them double the $16,500 they paid for the caravan. "He came back with a chequebook open twice. We'd had it for a week and refused. Ever since, prices have just gone up, but there are none like this one."
When 48 Hours visited, Craig was on his way to see-who else?-The Beach Boys.
A1973 Classic caravan sits on Murray Holdaway's Papamoa section where she's getting a makeover. Not just a facelift but a rebuild from axle to ceiling.
When 48 Hours visits, Holdaway says he's three-quarters of the way done with the refurbishment and trying to decide on exterior colours. Holdaway says he discovered his knack for refurbishing vintage caravans (defined on some websites as pre-1970; classic caravans date from 1970 - 1980) when he bought a dunger for himself to go on holiday.
"We looked at a few, they were dirty and smelly. We thought we'd strip one out and start again."
A full-time painter and decorator, Holdaway says that first project was so successful that someone offered to buy it. He agreed and a new business was born.
Murray Holdaway restores old caravans. Photo/ George Novak
"People our age [he just turned 50] were brought up in them and they like that style."
Holdaway buys mostly early 70s models.
He says vintage caravans have been restored inside (keeping fixtures such as original cabinetry) and retro projects are completely stripped down and rebuilt with features such as insulation, fold-up sinks and solar panels - items not available in caravans of yore.
It can take Holdaway 150 hours to bring a rig from scrap-worthy to snap-worthy.
"It's not really a money-making scheme. I hate to see them in a paddock going rotten."
Image 1 of 15: Geoff, Kirsty, and Sol, 7, with their caravan. Photo/Ben Fraser
Restoration involves stripping out the inside, including cabinetry and wall linings ("I usually find leaks and often rotten corners"). Rotten framing gets cut out. New framing and plywood are installed, along with polystyrene for insulation. An electrician rewires the caravans so plugs and lights are up to code.
Holdaway builds new cabinetry and installs beds, and his partner's mother makes curtains and upholstery.
Interiors and exteriors get painted, bumps and dents fixed and new awning rails, window rubbers and windows are installed.
"It's like building one from scratch," he says.
Holdaway says that as long as the chassis is good, there's nothing he won't do. Holdaway is on his 14th caravan rebuild and will customise to suit a buyer's tastes. He cruises Trade Me, gets tips from people and find projects sitting in paddocks.
"When we first started, we got them for $500. Now, they've become quite popular and people are looking at doing them up, so we're paying $1500 to $2000-and that's for a pretty grotty old one."
His oldest project to date was a 1961 model, the youngest circa 1978. One of his renovations, a 12-foot 1961 Cresta Craft is listed on Trade Me for $16,900 by its owner in Mount Maunganui.
Geoff of Rotorua says one of his most memorable encounters happened last summer at Mount Maunganui's Beachside Holiday Park. He set up near a $200,000 converted bus.
"It had a garage in it-the biggest, grandest thing I've ever seen. The guy who owned the bus couldn't get enough of our caravan. I could just about park mine inside his. People were pointing, saying, 'Look at that little caravan.'"
Point all you want-Geoff says Pipi is off the market. "I have no intention of selling it. It's just too much fun. It's the perfect old school Kiwi holiday."
BIG DRAW New Zealand Motor Caravan Association: -760 members listed in Rotorua area -60,000 members nationwide - Membership took 40 years to reach 10,000, while the leap from 50,000 to 60,000 has taken two years - Average member spends 75 nights away from home per year Source: www.nzmca.org.nz
MORE INFO ONLINE: - North Island Retro Car & Caravan Cruiser's Club on Facebook - NZ Motorhome & Caravan Forum & Community: www.nzmotorhome.co.nz - Caravanning Camping NZ (Inc.) www.caravanningcampingnzinc.com - Bay of Plenty Caravan Club on Facebook -Mike Wells: www.retrocustomcaravans.co.nz
