THE CULT OF THE MOBILE HOME.
Page 59
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Details of a Luxurious Eccles Body Mounted on a Leyland Lioness Chassis. Opportunities for the Hiring Out of Such Vehicles.
TN days gone by, when only the /horsed caravan was available for those who wished to enjoy the then somewhat doubtful comforts of a travelling home, it required something of an enthusiast thoroughly to appreciate it. Consequently the number was strictly limited. With the advent of large and comparatively luxurious motor homee, however, the situation has entirely changed, and there would appear to be considerable opportunities for those who hire out such homes, as the public is beginning to appreciate them more and more.
It is always interesting to examine any new designs which are brought forward, although, of course, some of these would, owing to their cost, only make an appeal to the wealthy if purchased outright, which is another inducement towards hiring by persons of smaller means. Such a vehicle is that illustrated, and which has a, special saloon caravan body mounted on a Leyland Lioness chassis and equipped with Roudaille shock absorbers for use on Continental roads; there is also a lighting set of extra capacity on account of the interior illumination.
The vehicle has been designed to be entirely self-contained. The body, which was built by Eccles Nlotor Caravans, Ltd.. of Gosta Green, Birmingham, has interior drive, but the driving compartment is cut off from the rest of the caravan, the seat pulling out to form a bed at night, whilst underneath it are lockers for personal equipment
The main entrance is at the side and gives access to a lobby. From this a door leads to the Eisen chemical lavatory, with basin and tank, the basin draining to the ground. A sliding door on Colrn tracks gives access to the front compartment, which contains a small anthracite stove, with a bevelplate mirror in the overmantel. The dressing table has four drawers and two slides which form tables; there are also two easy chairs (the seats of which lift up to give access to boxes below them),
a wardrobe with bevel-plate mirror and a drawer below, and a cabinet for artist's materials, etc.
Between the driver's compartment and the rest of the vehicle is a partition 12 ins, thick, the bottom portion of this forming cupboards with sliding doors, whilst the upper portion hinges down to make a large bed, 7 ft. long by 2 ft. wide, which is equipped with a spring mattress and feather bed. During the day the whole bed can be folded away out of sight.
A further sliding door gives access to the rear compartment, in which is provided a seat which also forms into a bed; in addition, there is a hanging cupboard with a food safe and coldstorage box, an Easiwork kitchen cabinet fitted with Eccles cooking and table utensils in Eccles rattleproof devices, a cupboard with other utensils, and a sink; whilst for cooking there is a two-burner stove with oven, and above this are an airing cupboard and ventilation pipe.
All doors have private keys. The floor is covered with linoleum, curtains arc fitted to all the windows, and the equipment includes fire extinguishers.
On the running boards there are lockers for petrol, oil, etc., whilst the spare wheel is mounted underneath the vehicle in a special carrier provided by the chassis maker.
It is interesting to note that the price of this body, including painting and the provision of an iron rail on the roof for carrying luggage, etc., was £750. It is finished in light cream, picked out and lined, with white roof.
The body is constructed of hardwood panelled inside in french-polished plywood to resemble Jacobean oak, whilst the outside panelling is in aluminiumarmoured plywood, this giving a light but extremely strong construction. All the windows are in silent felt channels and have chain raisers. The roof is of the clerestory type with ventilators, and all windows are provided with steel louvred shutters and bolts. At the rear are a folding canopy and a platform to make an annexe.