Short Summary
Hello. I'm Lil Mo
I am an Austin A60 half ton van. Well I was until Torcars converted me into an A60 camper van along with 149 other Austin A60 vans.
Torcars was formed at the end of 1968 by Ron & Mary Webster and Alan & Dr Margaret Hutchinson.
At the time It was government policy to try and get businesses to move to rural regions, where jobs were desperately needed. Ron & Alan, liked what they saw at Great Torrington, in Devon, a three-acre factory site, a little over two miles, from the town at High Bullen. They insisted on having extra land beside the factory, for a camp site for potential customers to camp.
In April 1969, Torcars moved to Torrington, and into temporary premises, an old disused bakery in South Street, while the factory at High Bullen was being built for them. They started by producing 150 SunTor campers based on the Austin/Morris A60 half-ton van, of which I am one.
They went on to produce the Marina SunTor, Commer SunTor Major & HiTor, Sherpa BrenTor & SunTor, and the Toyota Hi-ace SunTor.
During the winter and quiet periods, Torcars were "makers of quality handmade wooden toys" in there cabinet shop. With the brand name "Tortoys of Torrington", they produced such things as childrens Blackboard & easel's, Desk & chair's, Stilts, etc. As far as is known, the Tortoys was only sold through Harrods of London.
By the end of 1979, Torcars had ceased trading, and in January 1980, Brownhills of Newark, became the new owners, who bought Torcars for the SunTor brand name. What We Need & What You Get
So there is a bit about how I came to look like this.
We are not sure how many of us are left running but I have seen only two others like me at shows so far, although there have been rumours that as many as 12 have been known to show up at the annual Suntor camping holiday.
Thing is, I am a bit poorly, quite a big bit poorly and If I am to be kept on the road I will need some help from fellow enthusiasts of historical vehicles and camper nuts.
With a new factory boxed engine installed last year, my heart is strong and although I have pretty much been rebuilt from the inside over the last few years, my frame and body contours are not what they used to be.
First up are my underneath bits. Although most of my chassis is still quite solid, the front end needs to be reinforced with some serious welding and cutting away to prevent rust from moving further up towards the other end.
My owner has spent the last year collecting all my shiny new front bits, faring, valance, grill etc and a few of my underneath bits, crossmembers, outriggers and brackets. She has also bought two new sills only to discover that, after cutting away the rot, the inner sills are not looking pretty either and will also need some quite serious surgery.
Right now I am literally in bits and although some of the work has already been carried out, the restoration is at a standstill with the hope and a prayer that my knights in shining chrome will come to my rescue...
I am a rare and beautiful thing and I always raise a smile and a giggle when I drive past folk on the street or race along at 40MPH on the motorway. I don't mind this, they are not laughing at me I just have the 'happy' effect on people which is not such a bad thing.
So here is what I need to get me rolling again.
£2000 will get the chassis in order and all my shiny new bits welded into place. This is a heroic start and although I will look a bit like a patchwork toy car, I will once again be roadworthy.
£3500 will help with a little cosmetic surgery and not only would I be rolling again but I would look pretty cute too.
Anything above that target of course would help restore me to my former glory, which is an ongoing project of re-chroming, body panel restoration, electrics, interior, etc etc etc
For now though I need to be saved from the rust demons and that is what I am hoping I can achieve with the help of the indiegogo community.
Risks & Challenges
As with all vehicles of my age, until the surgery begins we can't be totally sure of the extent of the corrosion and costs involved.
My mechanic has had a good poke around and is confident that a maximum of £2500 will get me through the MOT. If this target is not reached then we will make up the difference somehow and the remaining restoration will have to happen in stages. BUT IT WILL HAPPEN!
If I can keep rolling and my engine ticking over, I'm still breathing!
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't help financially that's okay but if you would be so kind as to spread the word to folk who may be able to help by using the Indiegogo share tools and sharing my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/lilmoa60/ That would be a fantastic help and I thank you.
