1956 Willerby Vogue Restoration

[CasitaInFL]

Came out amazing. Love the look of that camper. How they built it with all the structural bracing is pretty cool. Interior is beautiful. Love the wheel covers.

[Russell willerby]

Many thanks to all from across the water. Your support and enthusiasm is much appreciated.

[JC_In_Austin]

Originally Posted by Captleemo

Wheel spats, we called them wheel skirts across the pond but now a days they are as rare as hens teeth. They sure look nice on your Willerby.

Stunning trailer! We always called them "fender skirts" ~ down south.

Lots of times people also had "curb feelers" ~ sort of an antenna that stuck out to the side of your vehicle to let you know when you were near the curb ~ didn't wanna scratch those wheels (or fender skirts!)!

[Russell willerby]

That is a useful piece of intel. Thank you JC. Any photos???

[JC_In_Austin]

Originally Posted by Russell willerby

That is a useful piece of intel. Thank you JC. Any photos???

From a google search of "fender skirts and curb feelers" ~ I no longer have pics of the '50s cars my older brothers' friends had with these.

Fender skirts and curb feelers - Google Search

😎

[Jon in AZ]

Curb feelers:

[JC_In_Austin]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

Curb feelers:
Attachment 109804

Beautiful Roadmaster! Wow! They surely don't make 'em like they used to.

[Captleemo]

Yes I think "fender skirts" is the proper name for them but its been a long time since they were common on cars. I used to work at a gas station when I was about 16 and changed a lot of tires as part of my job. As I recall there was a special tool to unlatch the fender skirts so the rear wheels could be removed. I remember those curb feelers as well. A pair of foam dice hanging from the rear view mirror was pretty common also.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by JC_In_Austin

Beautiful Roadmaster! Wow! They surely don't make 'em like they used to.

They sure don't! By every objective measure, modern vehicles are light-years better. But bland, so bland. Nothing says "get out of the left lane" so well as a Roadmaster grille in the rear view mirror!

Now RVs... That Willerby is every bit as functional as a brand-new trailer, as well as gorgeous from every angle . The spats (or skirts) finish it off with unexpected flair. Love the color reversal: Rover dark bronze with off-white wheels and the Willerby off-white with dark bronze wheels .

Thanks for sharing this labor of love!

[Russell willerby]

As the photo sharing website no longer hosts third party sharing, I’ve changed to Flickr.
Please find them now at
https://www.flickr.com/gp/151454283@N06/T27L79
Cheers
Stuart & Myra

[WaltP]

A real beauty, inside and out. Thanks for sharing.

Walt

[Captleemo]

Nice to hear from you again and sure enjoy looking at the pictures of your Willerby.

[CarlD]

You gotta love the taillights!

[Steve Hammel]

Show off!!!! Lol what a beautiful Willerby. Can these still be found in the UK?

[Dan-NS27]

Really nice. Big change from how the project started off.

[Russell willerby]

Originally Posted by Steve Hammel

Show off!!!! Lol what a beautiful Willerby. Can these still be found in the UK?

Hi Steve
Sure it was an American who first said “ if you’ve got it, flaunt if “ 😉
To my knowledge, but not definitive numbers, the UK probably has 4 or 5 of these left.
1. Willerby themselves bought Peter Jolley’s a couple of years ago,
2. another untouched one was last seen in Hull, the owner very kindly loaned me his wheel spats so I could get a mould made, as mine came with spats missing. The same owner, some 12 or 14 years ago, also loaned them to the man in Sweden for his restoration.
3. the Bakelite museum had one, now sold on.
4. My own.
5. A much modified one where the fibre glass “chassis” was cut out and replaced with a standard caravan chassis,

I also know of one on a camping caravan site in France, again much modified as it is used along with 6 other “ vintage “ Caravans for retro weekend rentals.

Did hear of the Vogue which ended up in Sweden, sold to someone in Belgium, then it was wrecked in an accident on its way to a rally in Sweden. Am told it is to be repaired.
Cheers
Stu

[Russell willerby]

Originally Posted by Dan-NS27

Really nice. Big change from how the project started off.

Hi Dan
Good to hear from NOVA.
Thanks for the compliment, reckon approx 3000 man hours from myself and Myra.
Also 40 or 50 hours advice and assistance from my cousin the professional cabinet maker.
Plus the professional company who made the 2 new windows. ( only job I was unable to do myself )
Cheers
Stu

[Russell willerby]

The original link to Flickr appears to be busted, hopefully this one works.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/151454283@N06/0816T11h53
6 years ( minus Covid hiatus ) of touring and still enjoying the Vogue.
Cheers
Stuart