Hello... 1952 Safari or ...?

[esmerelda]

Hi
We're the proud owners of this old caravan which we've been assured is a 1952, we guess a Safari. It's got a lot of original stuff in it, some new, tows ok, and structurally very good.
We're mid restoration, and I found this great forum and would love to know, for a start, that this really is a Safari (some say it's a Cheltenham?!).
Looking forward to sharing more, Jonathan

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[Brian M]

Jonathon - Welcome to the group.

Your SAFARI is already in my albums, number 298 in this album:

rides.webshots.com/album/342661779jKTaMq?start=60

I am sure it is a Safari Senior 4. I think it is the only one on here, but there was another one at Stapleford Park last year.

[esmerelda]

Thanks - that's her! They were the Ebay photos which first caught our eye two years ago. Great to know the model at last. What year would you put her at?

We've spent 2 happy summers touring in the caravan, and we feel like lucky caretakers.

We've done a lot of work inside, partly to remove the fittings which had allowed it to be lived in in a barn for some years before we took it on - for example, it had a 13A cable coming out of the front with a plug on to plug into a domestic socket, and sockets all over, including even obscuring the sink. The end centre cupboard had also been ripped out and replaced with an electric coal-effect fire, so that went and we've rebuilt that unit and added one next to it.

This year we've done quite a lot of structural work on it as the corners had rotted out, so lots of replaced timber in them, resealing them. We've also scraped off the old paint from all joins and resealed, primed and now the good weather is here, about to repaint. The floor has also been reinforced from underneath to seal and strengthen it (someone in the past had put in a chipboard, yes, chipboard floor).

We were first pulling with a 2000 petrol Avensis which didn't really cut it, now a 1993 Disco TDi which is a bit steadier. We fitted a bulldog stabiliser bar which improved things but it's still not very happy above 50.

Lots more to do, of course. I would like to connect with someone who has experience of tow gear: it looks like this has been welded at some point in the past, and I'm concerned it still has integrity.

Looking forward to some good connections!

Jonathan

[Brian M]

Dating it is a problem, I assume you don't have any sort of serial number anywhere? Did you see any numbers on the back of wall boards that you have removed, sometimes these can be part of the serial number.

1952 is the earliest date I have come across for a Senior, and there is a reference to it continuing until the classic shape Safari was launched at the end of 1961. In the absence of any supporting numbers or documentation that is the best I can do!

[esmerelda]

Thanks,
Only a chassis number: Pearman Briggs S91356

[Brian M]

Jonathan

Pearman Briggs was the conpany that made Safaris so this is your serial number.

I think your number starts with a 5 and is therefore from the model year 1959. The remainder of the number is more puzzling as it usually represents the sequential number for the production of your Safari but the number 1356 is very high. Production was about 7 Safaris a week at its height which means approximately 350-400 in any one year. Could you please have another look at the numbers, as the stamping was not very carefully done and some errors have already been noticed on other Safaris.

[esmerelda]

Hi Brian

You are quite right, it's a 5, not S. So it's a 1959.

The rest of the digits are clearly 1356, no doubt. Guess they had a busy year that year.

Are there any other owners out there of Senior Safaris? I'd really love to swap notes. Where's the best place to put this out to the Forum I wonder - I'm new to this.

Best, Jonathan

[Brian M]

The owner of the other Senior I know of is not a member on here, but if I see him again I will pass on your email.

If you put a new message in the top section of the forum with Safari Senior as the title, everyone who logs on will see it for as long as it is the most recent thread, and hopefully anyone with any knowledge of them will read it.

There was another Senior sold in 2010 by the ebay vendor "iluvtat" from Taunton it may be worth seeing if you can track them down to find the purchasers. It was in immaculate condition so it should still be around.

[michael1]

Hi it is a 1959 but looking the side the door is in the wrong place to be a 18 foot senior as the door would be at the back it looks like 14 foot 4 berth standard and yes when it was made we used chipboard on the floors

[Brian M]

Thanks for the correction Michael - I had created a new model "Senior 4" and appreciate your clarification.

[esmerelda]

Thanks Michael for this clarification. It is indeed a 14' 4 birth.

Interesting to hear it was built with a chipboard floor. I'd be suprised if this was the original, as the bottom was uncoated / painted and just exposed to the elements under the caravan. As a result, it was breaking up badly from the face explanding as it got wet then dried out again. We've just lined the entire underside with 3mm ply to seal it and so we don't end up putting a foot through any of the weak areas. Would the original not have been lined underneath, or even insulated?

I'm going to post to the main forum now...

Cheers, Jonathan

[paeroa2]

Jul 28, 2012 20:50:59 GMT esmerelda said:

Thanks Michael for this clarification. It is indeed a 14' 4 birth . Iw

Interesting to hear it was built with a chipboard fSafaris on be suprised problem for you!!!!!! this washaven'triginal, as the bottom was uncoated / painted and just exposed to the elements under the caravan. As a result, it was breaking up badly from the face explanding as it got wet then dried out again. We've just lined the entire underside with 3mm ply to seal it and so we don't end up putting a foot through any of the weak areas. Would the original not have been lined underneath, or even insulated?

I'm going to post to the main forum now...

Cheers, Jonathan

Hi Jonathon
just saw your pic and would like to contact you re our old Safaris, we have one almost the same 
as yours but ours is a Senior. I am told ours dates from 1958 to 1962, not sure yet as I haven't
found the serial number yet. 
Feel free to drop by, we live in New Zealand which may be a problem for you!!!!
But we will be in the UK from May till October this year and I would like to look at Safaris similar
to ours. 
I will look on here but maybe you could contact me by email?
 [e-mail]
My Safarii is in reasonable condition and I am working on it but yes the chipboard floor is not
the brightest idea they had.
Would be nice to hear from you or anyone with a similar late 50s Safari.
Thanks.
Chris