Does anyone know the make and year of this caravan?

[Tukums]

Hi all
Have found some old photos of our first caravan. We bought it in 1987 after camping in tents then a trailer tent. Does anyone know the make and the year it was built? I never did find out. Under the front window it had a badge ’Elite’. The door was at the rear and looking to the front, on the left midway was the sink and cooker unit. Two gas hobs, grill and….. a cooker hood with a 12v extractor fan!, fridge, single cold water tap. On the right midway, toilet and wardrobe, front double dinette and a single at the rear with a roll up bunk to slot in. In the centre a 12v light and gas light at the front, a small 12v light in toilet with a fold down sink, no tap.
We had this caravan for a year and found it was damp with some rotten wood, so sold it to a scrap dealer for the same price I paid! a years caravanning at no cost, a good start. The bug then got us and progressed from there and have enjoyed caravanning ever since.
Tow car, Ford Escort Estate 1.3 petrol, probably towing at 100% but it did do us for a holiday in mid Wales and managed the hills well.
So, not much to go on, thinking caps on, make and year, have looked in the history books by Andrew Jenkinson and cannot seem to find anything.
Thanks
Chris

 

[Jenko]

Hi Chris

Nice pix - and yes your right I dont think I mention that make in my book !!! Well its an Elite caravan from Elite Coachcraft. These clubman tourers were very distinctive and began life in late 1976. Built near Bridlington the company built special trailer units but entered caravans at the September Hull show week. Begining with the 13ft 13/4 which yours looked to have been they were aimed at the mid upper luxury market. they were also wide for that time being 7ft 2 in so interiors were spacious. Pumped water to the washroom as well as the kitchen was a feature plus a Port potti was standard and 12-volt sockets and aTV aerial exterior socket too. Prices were around £1400 - by the following year more models were added plus 20 plus dealers were taken on-board. French names such Piccardy and Provance were used as the range grew. By 1979 the Eiltes profile had changed and items such as fridge, heater, hot water and shower plus mains were all standard. But by July 1980 the Elite name was no longer. About 200-300 were built each year and they were popular but I must admit I havent seen one for a good while.
Hope this helps Chris

Jenko

 

[spardoe]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for taking the time to get back to Chris, I knew you'd be the man to ask. You're right, they are great pics.

Speak soon, Stacie

 

[Tukums]

Thanks Stacie and Jenko for your help.
I think I paid £500.00 for it in 1987 and got £500.00 for the scrap dealer!! how times have changed in caravan production, design and prices!

 

[Jenko]

Hi Chris / Stacie
Love stuff like that - thing is I remember them being launched!!!!

Ps - Chris great choice of car - Octavia 4x4 is great car - I have a VRS and it tows my Ranger GT60/500-5 a real treat - Alpine 4 also a top choice!
Jenki

 

[Tukums]

One thing, it will be worth waiting for, ordered it in June, build date the second week in December.
Found this interesting website for the Octavia.
http://www.octinfo.com/index.php?p=main_en

 

[forestgump]

if its got glass windows that should help as they changed late 70s .

 

[Guest]

I did not recognise the van at all but the awning looked strangely fimilar?
It's surely an NR awning which would also have been a new brand in 1976... still going of course!