Styled in Italy, built in Britain - The story of the blue Ital Van

[Guest Hooli]

Is there enough metal left to use magnetic signs?

 

Says the man with plastic wings!

[flat4alfa]

Can't use metal signs

 

Because travelling metal accumulating community

[Guest Hooli]

Ahh yes, those lovely Caravan Utilising Nomadic Travellers.

[Skut]

I'd keep it stock.  Its more interesting as an artifact of its time than superficially jazzing it up with rostyles and signwriting. 

 

Conversely abit of me would like to see all surving Marinas and Itals retrofitted with chevy small blocks and otherwise kept fairly stock. 

[flat4alfa]

Same here although with a Commer Knocker

[Timewaster]

They can do great things with vinyl print and magnetic signs now.

A decent place could match the background to the colour of the van on magnetic signs cut to fit the side panels.

Then the world is your lobster and you can get what ever you want.

[bezzabsa]

how about a retro shagmobile?? port hole windows, shag pile carpet etc etc???

[Guest Hooli]

God no, he's got enough kids already!

[trigger]

I had some friends over today and watch me do all the welding on the offside rear arch.

 

 

Actually my mate Carl done a cracking job of patching it all up for Me, 5 hours to do just one arch and inner tub! Mind you that just leaves the lower rear 1/4 on the other side and the inner wings to do now.

 

 

 

 

 

That will keep me busy for the next week. I've painted the front valance and fitted the front spolier but I haven't got a photo of that, I did get a photo of the front of the wing which I've mopped, I think that paintwork will look ace once it's all done.

 

 

I've also discovered that the van was sign written as you can see the outline of the letters, it said.

 

W.A. CANE (BUILDERS) LTD

Holland - on - Sea

Plumbing & Heating

Clacton 813181

 

And the company name was in a 3D effect angled font.

[Guest Hooli]

Well that answers what to write on it, it'd be rude to lose it's history.

[Pillock]

Doesn't one of the AS clam have the ability to make vinyl lettering?

 

Can you get any photos of the outline to match it to a typeface?

[DodgeRover]

That would be me for vinyl sign writing.

[trigger]

I "think" the main name font was something like this but the rest was just normal capitals. To be honest I'm just going to polish it and leave it a blank canvas I think.

 

[junkyarddog]

Why not make up a spoof company to get the van sign written?

Such as,

 

           "Knob Polishers"

Your local friendly knocker specialist.

 

Van looks great BTW   

[greengartside]

The paintwork's come up really good - amazing after all those years of accumulating dust and muck.

 

I'd love to see it signwritten with the builders name on it, like others have said - it's in-keeping with the originality of the van; what it would have been wearing from 1984 to 1993. The choice is yours, obvs.

 

Maybe something like this?

 

[flat4alfa]

Clacton 813181 is now Robert Wong Photography so you might have to avoid that by using another number.

 

How about the Sex Shop on 221300. Its on Orwell Road in case you want to pop in.

[Guest Hooli]

Sex in Clacton? but the youngest resident is about 65!

[Timewaster]

Is this a sex shop?

 

Can I have a tenners worth?

[trigger]

The paintwork's come up really good - amazing after all those years of accumulating dust and muck.

 

I'd love to see it signwritten with the builders name on it, like others have said - it's in-keeping with the originality of the van; what it would have been wearing from 1984 to 1993. The choice is yours, obvs.

 

Maybe something like this?

 

That is exactly the font it is!

[greengartside]

That was a good guess! The font is Bullpen 3D.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/5479480.Bill_Cane__Holland_on_Sea_/?ref=arc

 

https://www.essexbusinesses.com/uk/00659647/wacanebuilderslimited

 

Looks like the only remaining trace of the business is the van...

[greengartside]

Using the information in those links, it may be worth asking the surviving members of the Cane family if they remember the van?

[Felly Magic]

How about a 'dealer stock' look for it when showing, with stick on MORRIS 575 plates on & mock up dealer price signs? 

[cms206]

 

 

Why not make up a spoof company to get the van sign written?

Such as,

 

"Knob Polishers"

Your local friendly knocker specialist.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[Timewaster]

Whatever the signage, it needs to include a telex number.

[DodgeRover]

Whatever the signage, it needs to include a telex number.

The conveyancer we last used 5 years ago still had a telex number, a quick google suggests the system is still in existence.

[flat4alfa]

And a Prestel page number

[Brodders]

That was quick. It is nice to see that decent progress is being made on this. Most of us probably wouldn't have got properly started in the space of time it has taken you (and Carl et al) to do all of that.

[Jon]

So glad you picked this up trigger, like many others I can't wait to see the transformation. Looks like we won't have to wait long!

 

Before you mop out all the evidence, take a reference of the size of lettering and where it went etc. in case you change your mind, or want to give a bit of background Doctor style info out to the next owner. If you could get it all decked out in the right font on a magnetic sign though, imagine how astounded the original business owner would be, if they saw it driving down the street!

[Pillock]

The original business owner is probably 130 years old and it would give them a heart attack!