Prototype Autovilla

[piesang]

Wow...... good luck with the rebuilt.

[retrovan]

Well done Mr. & Mrs Fig,

Great historical SAVE........... :



Herman

[didi]

Volksworld January 2011 as posted by Andries Groenewald

[fig]

Here's the pic on the JurgensCI front page:

autovillaprototypejurgens.jpg

Note the differences. The one I've just bought has different windows and engine vents; I suspect the side panels have been replaced at some time. The body trim is also different. The bus has clearly had lots of previous resto work done. Unfortunately the interior has been recently vandalised.

Note also the window above the cab. There's no sign on mine that a window has ever been filled in there. Could they have made more than one of these?

One of my rules is that if there is one, there is another one ...

[retrovan]

Just noticed something.

The clipping said..."Launch of Autovilla....." But the date is 1973.

This can not be correct, as they would have used the Baywindow then..

But your Vin # said it is a 1959 used....

So there would have been maybe two prototypes, with the one with less windows being the older. ??

And upgraded as they went.

just thinking.... thats all .....

Herman

[fig]

Yes, the Autovilla as we know it was launched in late 1973 on a late baywindow base.

I still remain to be convinced this was built by Jurgens. The construction is completely different to Jurgens caravans of the time. I was told it had a Jurgens manufacturers plate, but the seller denies this. I'm awaiting a reply from Andries Groenewald, who has apparently done some research on this bus. This one's VIN dates from February 1959.

Given the pic on the Jurgens-CI website and the general assumption it's an early, possible prototype, version of an Autovilla, it may very well have been built by Jurgens, but that's all conjecture and I've seen no hard evidence.

If it is indeed a prototype Autovilla, then why is the construction like nothing else Jurgens built at the time (and also nothing like the Autovillas), and why did it take 15 years from prototype to production?

I will be doing some digging of my own, but I'd appreciate any info at all that anyone may have.

[Bugger]

Never the less Autovilla or not this is History that can not just be scrapped congratulation on the bus

[splitfan]

Congrats Fig Hope to have a look at it when we see each other again on the "plasie"

[jmvv]

The Jurgens family are no longer involved with Jurgens Caravans.

The remaining Jurgens brothers have founded Travelstar with the head office in George. The number is (044) 382 1516.

I would contact them as part of the research exercise.

Great rescue BTW

[retrovan]

Fig the following is purely memory and hearsay, so I may have it incorrect .... but here goes...

I am sure that in the old days, there where two caravan firms, on was Sprite and the other was Gypsey.

Then the old man Jurgens was still working for one of these firms.

Jurgens wanted to build Motor homes, and the rest did not

Then when the two joined making CI, Jurgens went on his own.

Was around 70's so it could be that he had worked on the prototype with a Sprite body, and took it with him when he left.

When his sons took over, the one wanted to make cars, and the other carried on making motor homes.

Maybe now that I have planted the seed, someone will remember the true story.

Hope it helps

Herman

[Terry Phillips]

Could it also be that the camper body was fitted on a 59 chassis and the body say in the early 70' or 60's just a thumb suck here.

[Sambabus]

^^^^^^^^ I was going to suggest. Its a prototype, a work in progress, so they used a redably available chasis that was cheap,........or maybe they discovered that a split bus chasis was a tiny bit to short, and the caravan body would fit better on the bay window chassis

[fig]

Could it also be that the camper body was fitted on a 59 chassis and the body say in the early 70' or 60's just a thumb suck here.

Yes it's definitely possible. If it/they were experimental it wouldn't have made sense to use new buses, so the builder may have bought say two-year-old kombis. If it was converted to order, then it could have been done any time. I do think the lines of the body trim suggest 50s or early 60s though.

I've only loooked at this camper briefly, but its construction is more like a truck body than a caravan. The front panel, corners and roof are made of steel, while the side and rear panels are aluminium.

[Terry Phillips]

You should phone Godfrey Castle at the caravan mag 0217024200 he might be interested on doing a article on the van and then it will reach a lot of people and you never know what could come out of it.
Good luck

[retrovan]

Being a Trailer manufacturer, I can tall you that from an idea to the commercial sell-able item is not a quick thing.

If you work back ward from 1973, (read from bottom up.......)



Manufacture of the 1st few stock units for launch, Approx. one year.
Having the SABS certify the motor vehicle with tests in Pretoria, approx 6 months.
Building revised units after in house test and trails, ready for SABS Test (3 Units). approx. approx. 6 months.
Testing 2nd batch Prototypes Built on Bay chassis, after 1st test reworks and modification. Approx. 6 year
Building the 2nd batch units for test, after rework from 1st test. Approx. 1 year.
Testing 1st batch Baywindow units for weaknesses.Approx. 6 months.
Building the 1st batch Baywindow units for weakness and endurance testing. Approx. 1 year.
Doing tests and marketing on the original prototype Split window van, to see if there will be a market for these things. approx.6 months.
Building the 1st proper prototype to present to marketing team, to see if there is a market . Approx. 6 months.
Having fun with your 1st vision and enjoying your creation , just before your friends tell you that you should build these funny things. 6 months.
Doing a part time project in between your every day work, to build the family a camper that all think you silly. Approx 1 year.
Getting a cheap truck/caravan body as well as a cheap van to put together ( therefore a Split van) as per the idea in your head, as you not sure if it will work.

If we add it all together, we start this here project in ... 1965 ..

That is why he used a Split bus for the prototypes...............

You will find, the Splits where 2nd to start with, and the older units would have been the cheapest to buy at the time.

hope it makes sense.

Herman