This vehicle was quite different to any we had before.

About this time, we had started something that we would continue to do for the rest of our lives: camping.

With our current car, the Ford Escort (No 20), this meant loading the trailer up with gear and hooking it to the little Ford, a car that did not take kindly to a trailer on the back with its puny 1.3 litre engine.

I could see the versatility of a van such as this, a workmate had a similar one and told me of his exploits in the weekends, where he and his family would throw camping gear in the back and just head out of town.

The one I brought I converted it into a camper, I installed a cupboard with cooking and sink facilities, a fold-down bed, a TV, etc.

As a family, we travelled halfway around the country in this van. It was, however, very slow with its 1.6 L engine, it also lacked comfort, it was of course, a commercial vehicle designed to deliver groceries, etc.

It was a good vehicle. Another friend brought an almost identical model, and together our two families did a lot of camping. We would drive these vehicles to places some 4x4 owners would balk at!. 

I do fondly recall we took Pams Mum and Dad for a trip to Sydney in this van, it had no seats in the back, just a bed on a steel frame I had made, Pams dad sat on a fold-up camping chair for the trip!...not the safest thing for sure but back then....!

We also drove around Mount Panorama on our way south, a wee bit slower than some others might go.